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Wildcats Down Gators 29-24

(Thanks to Hope Eggleton for the image above:

The Central Clarion Wildcats moved to 2-0 on the season, with a 29-24 victory over the homestanding Port Allegany Gators on Friday (September 2nd).

Neither team scored in the first quarter.

Port Allegany opened the scoring with quarterback Drew Evans hitting Owen Archer with a twenty-six yard touchdown over the middle at 11:53 of the second. Evans hit Archer again for the two-point conversion, giving the Gators an 8-0 lead.

The Gators scored again just a few seconds later when Nick Wilfong intercepted a tipped ball and ran it down the left sideline for a forty-four yard score. Evans took the ball in on a keeper for two points and Port led 16-0.

Central got their first points, with Clarion at midfield, when Jase Ferguson hit Breckin Rex in the middle of the field at the thirty; Rex stepped around the defender and raced to the endzone. Thomas Ukert was good on the point after and The Gators’ lead was cut to 16-7.

The score remained the same throughout the half.

Central’s Dawson Hotchkisss took the second half kickoff, at the his own five yard line, ran to the left side, broke a tackle, and raced down the sideline for a ninety-five yard touchdown. Ukert was good again on the PAT and the Wildcats were down by two 16-14 at 11:45.

The Wildcats took their first lead of the night 9:09 of the third, when Ferguson connected with Hotchkiss down the right sideline for a twenty-six yard score. Ukert kicked his third extra point of the game and Central led 21-16.

Hotchkiss scored his third touchdown of the quarter, when Ferguson hit him for forty-nine yards down the right side with nine seconds on the clock. There was a bad snap on the point after attempt, but holder Tommy Smith picked it up and hit Noah Harrison for the two-point conversion giving the Wildcats a 29-16 lead. Ferguson had two other long pass completions on the drive, hitting Dawson Smail for thirty-six yards and Smith for nineteen.

Port cut Central’s lead to 29-24 in the fourth quarter, with Blaine Moses going through the middle from a yard out and Evans hitting Moses for two.

Later, with the Gators on the move, Brady Quinn intercepted a tipped ball on the sideline at the 2:16 mark. Port still had one last gasp, but Smith intercepted a pass and took it to the Central twenty-five. The Wildcats took a knee to seal the victory.

Coach Dave Eggleton was very pleased with the Wildcats’ performance, “I am really proud of the effort the guys put forth. We were down early and we never panicked.

“Jase did a great job spreading the ball around to multiple receivers and they made plays with the ball in their hand.

“The O-line stepped up in the 2nd half and gave us time in the pocket.

“Dawson Hotchkiss rebounded after a rough first half and had a tremendous 3rd quarter.

“Our defense played great as well. We knew they had a great line and physical running back. We were able to put them in some passing situations and force turnovers.

“This was a great team effort.” 

Central Clarion will face Union/A-C Valley at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium, next Friday (September 9th). Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00PM.

Way To Go, Wildcats!!!!)

(Thanks to Chris Rossetti and D9and10Sports for permission to gather information from their broadcast!!)