Wildcats Down Beavers In 2024 Football Opener

Above photo courtesy of Brinley Kiskadden – BK Media: Wildcat offensive line in the trenches with the Beavers

The Central Clarion Wildcats picked up the win in the 2024 season opener at Wiser Field, on Friday (August 23rd), in much the same fashion as their games last year, as they downed the DuBois Beavers 66-14.

The Wildcats controlled the line of scrimmage for the majority of the game, the defense was stellar and the skill players played well.

The Beavers opened the scoring on their first possession, on a 68 yard scoring pass down the right sideline, from quarterback Trey Wingard to Nathan Kogher. Owen McCleary’s point after was good and the DuBois led 7-0 with 11:08 on the first quarter clock.

Central Clarion answered on their first possession, with quarterback Jase Ferguson taking the ball in from ten yards out on a keeper up the middle, at 7:01. Thomas Uckert connected on the PAT tying the score at 7-all.

DuBois regained the lead with 3:29 left in the quarter on a one yard keeper by Wingard. McCleary was successful again – 14-7, Beavers.

That would be the last scoring on the night for DuBois, as the Wildcats scored 59 unanswered points from there on out, including 31 in the second, 21 in the third and 7 in the fourth.

Mason Burford scored on a scored on a 5 yard pass from Ferguson, down the middle, just across the goal line over a DuBois defender at 11:36 of the second and with Uckert’s point after the score was tied at 14.

DuBois punted after their next drive stalled and Central started their drive at their own seventeen yard line with 10:25 left in the half, which culminated with a Noah Harrison run through the middle to paydirt, giving the Wildcats their first lead. Uckert, who was successful on all his attempts on the evening, split the uprights; 21-14 Central Clarion, at 8:13.

The Wildcats would score two more touchdowns before the half: a 30 yard touchdown from Ferguson to Burford, down the left sideline at 3:20 and a nice 20 yard run by Harrison, as he took the ball up the middle and cut to the left for the score. With just under a minute left, Central Clarion led 35-14.

Uckert tacked on a 40 yard field goal with one second left, that would have been good from quite a bit farther out.

The score at the half: Central Clarion 38 – DuBois 14.

The third quarter saw Central Clarion score three more touchdowns: a Ferguson 44 yard touchdown through the middle at 11:09, a 13 yard pass up from Ferguson to Braylon Beckwith in the middle of the endzone at 9:34 and a 10 yard run across the right side by Ethan Rex at 3:45. With the three touchdowns and points after, the Wildcats led 58-14 headed to the final stanza. The second drive of the third quarter was set up by a Jesse Siwiecki interception.

The final Wildcats’ touchdown came with under a minute left in the game, with Brady McKinley taking it in from 14 yards. Brendan Bettwy kicked the extra point setting the 65-14 final.

The Widcats gained 591 total yards (374 rushing, 198 passing). The Beavers had 272 total yards (32 rushing, 240 passing).

 Ferguson carried the ball thirteen times for 160 yards and completed 13-of-20 passes for 198 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. Harrison also went over the century mark in rushing, carrying 8 times for 113 yards. Rex had 44 yards on 6 totes and 4 catches for 48 yards.

Burford had 94 receiving yards on 5 catches. Charlie Hepfl had 10 yards on one carry and one catch for 15 yards. Briggs Beckwith had one reception for 19 yards. Braylon Beckwith gained 13 yards on one reception.

Alex Love carried the ball twice for 22 yards. Carter Hindman had 19 yards on 2 carries and completed a pass for 19 yards. McKinley had 3 totes for 14 yards. Siwiecki had one catch for 13 yards. Kohen Kemmer had 15 yards on 1 reception.

Wildcats head coach Dave Eggleton had this to say about his team’s effort, “We came out slow tonight, but settled in after the first quarter. I am happy how we responded to the early adversity. We really controlled the line of scrimmage in both sides of the ball and that was the big difference in the game.” 

“Jase did a great job of distributing the ball to our athletes. He made great decisions and ran the ball hard. 

“Defensively, we were able to find the best match ups as the game went on. After the adjustments were made, we settled in and played well.”

Key DuBois stats: Wingard completed 8-of-25 passes for 240 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Koughler had 1 reception for 78 yards. Isaiah Korney caught 4 passes for 80 yards and Danny Dixon hauled in 3 passes for 64 yards.

The Wildcats are scheduled to travel to St. Marys next Friday (August 30th). Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

(Great Start, Wildcats!!!! Special thanks to Brinley Kiskadden – BK Media [her first time photographing football] and Cheryl Marshall for their photos and to Steve Smail for his stats and EYT network for use of their broadcast for notes and Coach Eggleton for his quote!!)