Football: Wildcats Down Gremlins To Remain Undefeated

The Central Clarion Wildcats defeated the homestanding Karns City Gremlins 50-15, in District Nine Football League – Region 1 action on Friday (September 29th). With the win the Wildcats move to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in Region 1 action.

The Gremlins received the opening kickoff and proceeded to move down the field. But with KC facing a fourth-and-four from the Central seven, Jase Ferguson ripped the ball out of a Gremlin ball carrier’s hands in the backfield and ran down the left side for a ninety yard touchdown. There was an offsides penalty on Karns City as Central Clarion was setting up for the extra-point and the Wildcats decided to go for two, with Ferguson finding Dawson Smail on the right side of the endzone, giving Central an 8-0 lead. The score would remain the same through the rest of the first quarter.

The Wildcats scored the only points of the second quarter, at 4:35, with Ferguson connecting on a pass to Ethan Burford, who was behind the defender in the back left side of the endzone, from twelve yards out. Thomas Uckert was successful on the point after attempt, giving Central a 15-0 lead.

Central Clarion scored on the opening drive of the second half. Following some nice runs by Brady Quinn and Noah Naser, the Wildcats faced a second and three at the Karns City fourteen. Ferguson found tight end Hayden Hindman in the left front of the endzone for the touchdown. Uckert was successful on the PAT and Central led 22-0, with 9:53 left in the third.

The Gremlins answered on their next possession, where they ran the ball on every play. And with 5:42 left, Luke Cramer punched it in from the one. After Central was called for offsides, Karns City went for two with Cramer carrying again. The run was successful and the score was now Central Clarion 22 – Karns City 8.

Karns City went for the onside kick, which Central Clarion’s Braylon recovered at the Wildcat twenty-three. After a play for no gain, Ferguson hit Burford with a strike in the middle of the field at the fifteen, with Burford taking it the rest of the way for a fifty-seven yard touchdown. Uckert was good and the Wildcats led 29-8, with 4:52 remaining in the quarter.

Karns City drove for another score on their next possession. The finisher came with Cramer running it around left end from eighteen yards out with thirty-five seconds on the third quarter clock. Zach Kelly connected on the extra-point and the score after three was Central Clarion 29 – Karns City 15.

The Wildcats scored three more times in the final stanza.

The first score came on the opening play of the quarter, as Ferguson threw down the middle to Tommy Smith for a thirty-eight yard touchdown. Uckert was successful and Central’s lead moved to 36-15. Ferguson ran the ball along the right side and in from twenty-two yards out at 5:21. With Uckert’s extra point, the score was 43-15. The final was set with a Noah Harrison run through the middle from twenty-nine yards out, with forty seconds to go. Uckert, as he was all night, was successful on the point after.

Wildcats Head Coach Dave Eggleton said, “It was a real physical game. Karns City has a good line and some really tough backs. I was happy with our offensive line in the run game, but we need to clean up some of our pass protection.

“Jase had another big night and Mason made some big catches for us. Brady Quinn also had a solid game on both sides of the ball.” 

The Wildcats will travel to West Sunbury, to play Moniteau on Friday (October 7th).

(Let’s Go, Wildcats!!!! Thank you to Chris Rossetti and YDL Sports Network/D9and20Sports.com for allowing me to use their broadcast for spotting etc.)