Wildcats Win Big In First Game On Wiser Field
Photos by Bri Kirkland-Kirkland Photography: Above – Wildcats celebrate after historic win.
The Central Clarion Wildcats celebrated their 2023 home opener, in a 57-6 victory over Port Allegany, in District 9 Football League action, on Friday, September 1st.
The game was the first ever on Wiser Field, named for Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) Hall of Famer and former Clarion Bobcats and Central Clarion Wildcats head coach Larry Wiser. The field, behind Clarion Area High School, christened in a pregame ceremony and ribbon cutting that night, has been undergoing major renovation. Friday’s game was the first varsity football game at the field since 2003.
Port scored first with a score first for a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Wildcats answered with quarterback Jase Ferguson hitting Mason Burford, with a long pass down the right side just outside the endzone, with Burford taking it in from there. With Thomas Uckert’s successful point after, Central led 7-6, at the 7:10 mark in the first.
The Gators were forced to punt on their next series. The Wildcats then took the ball down the field and Ferguson again connected with Burford for a touchdown, this time from fifteen yards out. Uckert was good again and it was now 14-6 Central Clarion. A big play on the drive came with Ferguson hitting Brady Quinn with a pass from midfield to the thirteen.
The Wildcats upped their lead to 21-6, with 3:01 left in the second quarter. Quinn rolled to the left and hit Quinn down the left side. Quinn cut to the middle and raced fifty-one yards to paydirt. Uckert was successful again. The score held through the rest of the half.
Ferguson connected on a four yard touchdown toss to Dawson Smail, on the first possession of the second half. Then with 4:20 left in the third. Ferguson hit Colton Kemmerer in stride down the left side for a score. Ferguson picked up a Port fumble and returned it twenty-two yards for the score, with 4:03 left in the frame. Uckert was good on all three of his point after attempts in the third quarter and the Wildcats took a 42-6 lead to the final stanza.
Ferguson scored on a keeper with 6:19 left, Uckert was good again and the score was 49-6. Ethan Rex scored the game’s final touchdown, with a 28 yard run down the run down the right side. Alex Love ran for a two-point conversion to set the 57-6 final.
Wildcats’ Coach Dave Eggleton was pleased with his team’s performance. “: “It was a great effort tonight! It was a great atmosphere here at Wiser Field. I am happy we could christen the new field and honor Coach Wiser with a great win.”
He liked what he saw in the trenches. “I thought our line on both sides of the ball battled hard all night. They really matched a very good Port Alleghany line.”
Coach Eggleton added, “Jase had another phenomenal game on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he did a great job of distributing the ball to our athletes and allowing them to make plays. I particularly thought that Mason Burford stepped up tonight on offense.”
And overall. “We need to continue working on cleaning up the penalties. They could be costly in a close game. If we can clean those small things up, this team has a ton of potential.”
The Wildcats are now 2-0 on the season and are scheduled to travel to Union High School to face Union/A-C Valley.
Great win on a historic night!!
(Way to go, Wildcats!!)