Wildcats Conclude Fine Season With Loss To Westinghouse

The Central Clarion Wildcats saw their fine 2023 season come to a close, with a 46-30 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) State Class-AA loss to the Pittsburgh City League (District 8) champion Westinghouse Bulldogs, on Friday, November 17th at PennWest Clarion’s Memorial Stadium.

The Wildcats finished at 11-1, with this being their only loss on the season. They were 7-0 in District Nine Football League Region 1 action, claiming the title as well as the District Nine Class-AA championship, the second title in a row in each.

Central Clarion fell to Westinghouse last season, when the Bulldogs finished second in the state.

Westinghouse got on the board first, when Ty Abrams had a one yard touchdown run to the right, with 1:38 left in the first quarter. Jordan Reid was successful on the point after and the Bulldogs led 7-0.

After receiving a punt several minutes into the second quarter, Central set up shop at their own thirty-five. A pass down the right side from quarterback Jase Ferguson to Kohen Kemmer netted twenty-one yards. Later a pass from Ferguson to Mason Burford, coupled with a Westinghouse penalty, had the Wildcats set up on the Bulldogs seven, with first-and-goal. Another penalty moved the ball to the three. Ferguson took the ball over the middle, on a keeper for the touchdown. Ferguson ran another keeper for the two-point conversion and Central led 8-7 at 6:35.

Then with time running out in the half, and Westinghouse inside the Wildcats’ one, there was a fumble in the endzone, which was recovered by lineman Sincere Shannon for the score. Quarterback Khalil Green ran for two and the halftime score was 15-8 Westinghouse.

On the first play from scrimmage, following the second half kickoff, the Bulldogs’ Ayron Pride ran for a fifty-six yard touchdown. Jordan Reid was successful on the point-after, giving Westinghouse a 22-8 edge at 11:37.

Lloyd Penn ran an interception down the right side and cut to the middle, going the distance for a sixty-one yard touchdown at 8:36. The kick was blocked and the Bulldogs led 29-8.

Tommy Smith hauled in a twelve yard pass from Ferguson, at 5:28 and with Thomas Uckert’s PAT, the score was trimmed to 29-15.

Abrams ran the ball through the middle, for a thirty-two yard score at 1:19 of the third. The kick failed and Westinghouse led 34-15.

On the Wildcats’ next possession, Ferguson found Smith over the middle at the Bulldogs’ thirty-five and Smith took it the rest of the way for a sixty-four yard score, at 0:23. Ferguson ran a keeper to the left for two, making the score 34-23, Westinghouse, heading to the final stanza.

A seventy-one yard touchdown by Green at 11:18 and a one yard run by Abrams, at 8:00 had the Bulldogs up 46-23.

The 46-30 final was set when Burford caught a pass along the right side from Ferguson, cut to the middle and to the endzone for a thirty-six yard touchdown and Uckert followed with a successful kick.

The team stats were fairly close.

Westinghouse had 13 first downs to Central Clarion’s 12. Total yardage was in the Bulldogs’ favor, 379 (296 rushing, 121 passing) to the Wildcats’ 350 (229 passing, 81 rushing).

Ferguson led Central with 94 yards on twenty carries, and 229 passing yards. he also had an interception on defense. Smith had 4 catches for 103 yards. Burford had 3 receptions for 64 yards.

Green, Abrams and Pride led Westinghouse with 127, 113 and 58 rushing yards respectively. Penn had 2 catches for 69 yards.

Congratulations on a fine season, Wildcats!!!!

(Thank you to Gerry Borovick for help spotting, and to Steve Smail for official stats!! Thanks to those assisting in navigating the stands!!)