Wildcats Move To 4-0 With Win Over Chucks On C-L Homecoming Night

(Above photo courtesy of Nate Girvan) Bobcats were strong on defense all night.

The Central Clarion Wildcats hosted the Punxsutawney Chucks, at the Clarion-Limestone football field for C-L’s Homecoming, on Friday (September 16th) and came away with a 45-7 victory.

After recovering a Chucks’ fumble, at around the ten minute mark of the first, the Wildcats set up shop at the Punxy forty-five. Shortly after, quarterback Jase Ferguson hit Tommy Smith in the corner of the endzone for a forty-two yard touchdown. Thomas Uckert was successful on the point after and Central led 7-0 at the 7:50 mark.

Punxy would tie the game at 7-all, at 3:39 of the quarter when Zeke Bennett ran the ball down the right side, for a thirty-yard touchdown, followed by Peyton Hetrick’s kick.

Brady Quinn intercepted a pass at the Chucks’ forty-four at 9:31 of the second. Then Ferguson hit Ashton Rex with a laser down the middle at about the two and Rex took it the rest of the way. Uckert was good once again, as he was all night, and the Wildcats now led 14-7.

Central moved their lead to 21-7, with 4:40 on the second quarter clock, as Ferguson ran a quarterback keeper through the middle for a six yard touchdown, followed by the point after.

The Wildcats closed out the first half, with :34 seconds left, with Ferguson rolling to his right and hitting Dawson Smail, down the middle, at the goal line, for a thirty-six yard touchdown. And with Uckert’s PAT, Central led 28-7 heading to the locker room.

Clarion-Limestone held their Homecoming Coronation, during halftime.

Members of this year’s Court were Damon Yeany, Kendall Dunn, Austin Monica, Ava Boyer, Bracey Goheen, Karley Renninger, Jordan Hesdon, Jocelyn Henry, Rylie Klingensmith, McKenzie Schimp.

Chosen as the 2022 Clarion-Limestone Homecoming Queen was Ava Boyer. Chosen King was Rylie Klingensmith.

Uckert showed he was good at kicking from longer range, as he split the uprights, on a thirty-six yard field goal, with 6:15 left in the third quarter. And the Wildcats led 31-7 heading to the fourth.

Central added to their total with a pair of fourth quarter scores.

Brady Quinn took the ball around the left side and in for the touchdown, from fifteen yards out; plus the point after, the Wildcats were now up 38-7.

Then Ryan Hummell recovered a Punxsutawney fumble at midfield with 9:13 left in the game. and a little over a minute later, Ferguson hit Rex on a fifty yard touchdown pass. With the PAT, the 45-7 final was set.

The Wildcats had 365 total yards (249 passing, 106 rushing) compared to 136 total yards (104 rushing, 32 passing) for the Chucks.

Ferguson went 112-for-23 passing, for 249 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions, and ran for 53 yards on ten carries.

Ashton Rex caught 9 passes for 161 yards. Tommy Smith followed with 42 yards and Dawson Smail with thirty-six.

Connor Kopnitsky led Central on the ground, with 80 yards on 10 carries.

The Wildcats recovered four Punxsutawney fumbles. Ryan Hummell had a pair of interceptions, with Quinn adding another.

Bennett had a big night carrying the ball for Punxsutawney, with 26 carries for119 yards.

Coach Dave Eggleton was ecstatic about the Wildcats’ performance. “I thought we had a great team effort tonight. We were missing a couple of guys, really key guys on the offense and defense. Several guys stepped up and took over their spots for the week. And other guys stepped up to make up for them not being on the field this week. I just can’t say enough about how well we played as a team tonight, both sides of the football.

“I thought our receivers made some fantastic catches… Tommy’s catch down here in the endzone… Ashton had a great catch over hear… the same with Smail. Just a fantastic team effort.

“Our line, I thought really started to wear them down there in the second quarter and then in the second half, we really kind of took it to them up front. We were starting to hit some big holes.

“And Jase had a nice pocket to throw in, made some good passes tonight. The best I can say is just a great overall team effort.”

Coach Eggleton was very pleased with the defensive play. “A shout out to my coaching staff. My defensive guys especially, coach Louder and everyone coaching those defensive positions.

“I just can’t imagine, at this point in the season, that we’d turn teams over as much as we are. It just goes to show how well they are prepared and they are always in the right position. We’re not over emphasizing stuff like stripping the ball or anything like that, or jumping routes. It just seems like our guys seem to be in the right position, when the ball comes and the opportunity is there.

“Just really proud of the guys, tonight, the coaching staff, the whole (team).”

Central, now 4-0, will travel to Bradford this Friday (September 23rd).

(Keep It Going, Wildcats!!!!)

(Thanks to area sportswriter Steve Smail who compiles offensive stats for the Wildcats for player and team game stats etc. And to Missy Klingensmith and Nate Girvan for their photos!!)