Wildcats Down Union/A-C Valley
The homestanding Central Clarion Wildcats downed the Union/A-C Valley Falcon-Knights 43-6, at Memorial Stadium, on Friday (September 9th).
The Wildcats opened the scoring, at 7:48 of the first quarter, on a one yard quarterback keeper by Jase Ferguson. Thomas Uckert was successful on the point after and Central led 7-0.
Tyler Kopnitsky had a beautiful fifty yard touchdown run at 5:34 of the quarter. The Wildcats went for two after an A-CV/U penalty moved the ball to the one. Ferguson hit Dawson Hotchkiss for the two and Central now led 15-0.
Kopnitsky would score two more rushing touchdowns in the second quarter.
The first was from four yards out, at 6:27. Uckert was good with the kick and the Wildcats now led 22-0.
The second was from one yard out, on a first-and-goal from the one with 1:32 on the clock. Uckert was successful on the point after and Central led 29-0 heading to halftime. The score was set up on a forty-nine yard pass completion from Ferguson to Ashton Rex.
Central had another two scores in the third. Brady Quinn went in through the middle at 7:56 and Uckert was good again, 36-0, Wildcats. The second score was set up when Tommy Smith recovered a fumble at the Falcon-Knights thirty-eight. Shortly after, Ferguson hit Smail in the right side of the endzone from twenty-four yards out, for Central Clarion’s last score of the evening. Again, Uckert was good and the lead was pushed to 43-0.
Union/A-CV avoided the shutout, when Owen Bish ran the ball down the left sideline from twenty-five yards out, with 7:16 left in the game. The two-point conversion failed and the final was set at 43-6.
Connor Kopnitsky did the bulk of the damage with 83 yards rushing on eight carries and three touchdowns. Brady Quinn added eight carries for 35 yards with a score while Jase Ferguson rushed seven times for 30 yards with a score. Central Clarion finished with 202 yards on the ground.
Central had 202 yards rushing. Kopnitsky ran eight times for 83 yards with three touchdowns. Quinn had eight carries for 35 yards and the touchdown. Ferguson carried the ball seven times for 30 yards and a touchdown.
Ferguson connected on 9-of-15 for 167 yards. He had one touchdown and an interception.
Rex hauled in five passes for 110 yards while Smail had three catches for 51 yards.
Dawson Camper ran nine times for 58 yards and had a forty yard reception for A-C V/Union
Wildcats’ Coach Dave Eggleton had this to say after the game, “We played physical. I think we played physical for the last three weeks, stepping up, wrapping up. We’ve seen three really good backs, three weeks in a row. Our guys have been ready for the challenge. We’re not afraid to come up and hit and play physical.
“The other thing we were able to do tonight is run the football. We showed the last two weeks, if you want to give us one-on-one matchups on the outside, were going to take advantage of those. And this week they decided they were going to drop guys out of the box, to stop those big plays. So we were able to sustain drives running the ball.
“My line did a great job moving guys, giving great holes. Our backs all did a great job running the ball. Good vision, making good cuts. I’m really happy with how they played. And when we did throw the ball, Jase made plays down field and the receivers looked good.
“A big win for the guys tonight. I’m excited for where we’re at in the season and hopefully keep getting better each week.”
The Wildcats will host Punxsutawney at Clarion-Limestone Field next Friday (September 16th).
(Note: PA Announcer Dave Constantino pointed out before the game that over half of the KSAC member schools were represented in the game: Clarion, North Clarion, Clarion-Limestone on the Wildcats and Union and A-C Valley.)
(Great Game, Wildcats!!!!)