Wildcats Down Dutch On Senior Night

The Central Clarion Wildcats defeated the visiting St. Marys Flying Dutchmen 59-0, at Clarion-Limestone Stadium on Senior Night, on Friday (October 20th).

The conditions were less than ideal, with a lot of rain throughout the day and intermittent rain during the game, presenting a challenge to the players.

The Wildcats received the opening kickoff and set up shop at their own forty-five. It only took two plays to score. On the first play, Noah Naser took the ball up the middle to the Dutch thirty. From there Noah Harrison ran the ball down the right side for the touchdown. Thomas Uckert followed with the first of his extra points, on an eight-for-eight night and Central led 7-0 at 11:09 of the first.

St. Marys was forced to punt after their first possession and the Wildcats were in business at the Dutch thirty-seven. After an incompletion, Central Clarion quarterback Jase Ferguson tucked the ball and ran through the middle, with some great blocking for the score, at 9:01. With Uckert’s PAT the lead moved to 14-0. Ferguson was in on seven scoring plays, on the night, three running and four passing.

Later, a St. Marys’ pass was batted in the air and intercepted by Brady Quinn, giving Central the ball on the Dutch forty-five with 8:02 on the clock. Ferguson, Jake Smith and Noah Naser each had runs on the drive, moving the ball to the seven. A fumble, that was recovered by the Wildcats, moved the ball back to the eleven. And after an incompletion, Ferguson again ran through the middle, with great blocking, to paydirt and with Uckert’s kick the Wildcats led 21-0, with 5:23 left in the quarter.

The Central Clarion line was solid on both sides of the ball all night.

A St. Marys’ fumble, recovered by Hayden Hindman, had the Wildcats at the Dutch ten, with 3:46 left in the quarter. On the first play, Ferguson hit Dawson Smail up the middle for the score. With the PAT, the score was now 28-0.

There was no more scoring in the quarter.

After a turnover on downs, Central Clarion had the ball at their own twenty-six at 11:48. A long run, up the middle by Quinn to the Central forty-six and another by Smail along the right side, had the ball placed at the Dutch twenty-seven. From there Ferguson hit Mason Burford on the left side, laying the ball in beautifully, with a fine arc that just fell into Burford’s hands. A highlight play by both. With Uckert’s point-after, the score was 35-0 at 10:39.

The Wildcats’ next drive saw Ferguson hit Tommy Smith with a pass down the left side from the Central forty-three to the Dutch twenty. Ferguson ran down the left side again, moving the ball to the seven. And on first and goal, from there Ferguson hit Quinn with a shovel pass. Quinn took it to the right side of the endzone for the score at 6:36. With the kick, the score was 42-0.

Central would score once again in the quarter, with Ferguson running the ball down the right side and in from fifty-nine yards out, at the 2:35 mark. With the point-after, the score moved to 49-0. The score remained the same through the half.

Ferguson hit Burford with another touchdown pass at 2:20 of the third, with Ferguson rolling to the right and finding his target down the right side from forty-four yards out, and with the kick, it was the Wildcats up 56-0.

Another highlight came with Uckert delivering on a forty-two yard field goal, as perfectly down the middle as you would want to see. It was so sure that the cheering started well before the ball made it over. The kick was high enough and traveled far enough, that we were all agreed in the press box, that it would have been good from another ten yards. The slick conditions made the kick that much more impressive. The kick set the final.

This may very well be a Wildcats’ record and a record for a player from Clarion Area.

Coach Eggleton said, “I am really happy with our run defense… We controlled the line of scrimmage and shut down one of the best backs in the league.

“On the offensive side, I thought we did a great job of controlling the line of scrimmage.

“I also thought our special teams were really good. We did a great job pinning them deep on kickoffs.

“The field goal Thomas made was really something special.” 

The Wildcats are scheduled to travel to Redbank Valley on Friday (October 27th), in a battle of unbeatens.

(Congratulations Seniors!!!! Let’s Go, Wildcats!!!!)

Some key Central Clarion stats:

Jase Ferguson completed 9-of-15 passes for 189 yards 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. He ran 6 times for 126 yards. Noah Harrison Noah Harrison had 5 carries for 33 yards, Noah Naser ran 3 times for 50 yards. Mason Burford had 2 catches for 71 yards, Dawson Smail caught 3 balls for 37 yards. Brady Quinn had 4 receptions for 44 yards. Tommy Smith had 1 catch for 37 yards.

Senior Gallery Courtesy of Bri Kirkland-Kirkland Photography – Click on gallery for large photos to show.

Thank You Bri Kirkland-Kirkland Photography for all of your photos!!

(Thank you to Steve Smail for the above and following stats and scoring summary!! Steve provides stats for the Wildcats and to other media in the area, in addition to using them in his own articles. When you see Steve, give him a BIG THANK YOU!!)

Central Clarion 59, St. Marys  0

Score by Quarters

St. Marys                 0 0 0 0-0

Central Clarion 28 21 7 3-59

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

CC- Noah Harrison 30 run (Thomas Uckert kick) 11:09

CC- Jase Ferguson 37 run (Uckert kick), 9:01

CC- Ferguson 11 run (Uckert kick), 5:23

CC- Dawson Smail 10 pass from Ferguson (Uckert kick), 3:42

Second Quarter

CC- Mason Burford 27 pass from Ferguson (Uckert kick), 10:49

CC- Brady Quinn 7 pass from Ferguson (Uckert kick), 6:36

CC Ferguson 59 run (Uckert kick), 2:35

Third Quarter

CC-Burford 44 pass from Ferguson (Uckert kick), 2:20

Fourth Quarter

CC-  Uckert 42-yard field goal, 6:58

                                                       STM                         CC

First Downs                                   4                              16                 

Rushes-Yds                              34-51                         20-243

Passing Yds                                  44                             189

Comp.-Att.-Int.                      3-11-1                       9-15-0

Total Yardage                             95                           432

Punts-Avg.                                 5-31.2                     0-0

Fumbles-lost                             3-1                          2-0

Penalties-Yds                            2-10                      1-10

Individual Statistics

Rushing- St. Marys: Matthew Davis 21-62, Brody Wehler 4-(-9), Tristan Dilley 1-0, Cameron Coudriet 5-24, Team 3-(-26)

Central Clarion: Jase Ferguson 6-126, Noah Harrison 5-33, Noah Naser 3-50, Brady Quinn 1-14, Jake Smith 1-14, Brendon Wright 1-8, Alex Love 1-1, Ethan Rex 1-(-1), Team 1-(-2).

Passing-St. Marys: Cameron Coudriet 1-of-7 14 Yds 0 TD 1 Int., Brody Wehler 1-of-3 2 Yds 0 TD 0 Int., Ben Paul 1-of-1 28 Yds 0 TD 0 Int.

Central Clarion: Jase Ferguson 9-of-15 189 Yds 4 TD 0 Int.

Receiving-St. Marys: Lucas Bauer 2-16, Tristan Dilley 1-28.

Central Clarion: Dawson Smail 2-37, Brady Quinn 4-44, Mason Burford 2-71, Tommy Smith 1-37.

Interceptions: Central Clarion (Brady Quinn).