Wildcats Down Steelers In PIAA State Class 2-A Football Opening Round; Will Face Cambria Heights In Quarterfinals On Saturday; Scoring Summary And Player Stats Included In Article

on 18 November, 2024 at 12:49

Feature photo courtesy of Cheryl Marshall – Wildcat O-Line

The District Nine champion Central Clarion Wildcats defeated the homestanding District 10 champion Farrell Steelers 41-6, at Lou Falconi Field at Anthony J. Pauleakis Stadium, in their Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) State Class-2A matchup on Friday, November 15th.

The Wildcats will now face the District 6 champion Cambria Heights Highlanders in the quarterfinals at 1:00 p.m. at Armstrong’s David “Red” Ullum Field, in Kittanning on Saturday, November 23rd.

Neither the Wildcats nor Steelers scored in the first quarter, on Friday.

The scoring began on a one yard touchdown run, by Central Clarion quarterback Jase Ferguson, at the 10:03 mark, capping a 63 yard drive. The two-point conversion failed and the Wildcats led 6-0.

Farrell answered at 7:15, as Juelz Johnson ran the ball in from 38 yards out. The extra point failed and the score was knotted at 6-all.

Ferguson scored on another run at 3:02, this time from 3 yards out. He then hit Kohen Kemmer with a pass for the two-point conversion, giving the Wildcats a 14-6 lead, which they took in to halftime. The drive covered 56 yards in nine plays.

**Photo courtesy of Brynlee Kiskadden-BK Media – Wildcat Cheerleaders exhorting the fans**

Central Clarion would score twenty-one points in the third quarter.

The first score would come with Ferguson hitting Jesse Siwiecki on a pass play that covered 66 yards and with Brendan Bettwy’s point after, the Wildcats led 21-6, fifty-one seconds into the second half.

The next scoring drive covered 35 yards in four plays. Ethan Rex hauled in a pass from Ferguson, for the score at 9:41. Bettwy put the ball through the uprights and Central led 28-6.

Central Clarion’s next score concluded a three play, 46 yard drive as Rex ran the ball in from the twenty-five and with the point after the score was Central Clarion 46 – Farrell 6, at 7:13.

The Wildcats set the final, one minute into the fourth quarter, with Rex scoring his third straight touchdown on a run from 8 yards out, capping a seven play, 30 yard drive.

**Photo courtesy of** **Cheryl Marshall – Brawn meeting** **Brawn as Jimmy Kerr and Farrell player lock horns**

Central Clarion had 390 total yards (244 rushing and 146 passing).

Ferguson had 23 carries for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns and completed 9 of 14 passes for 146 yards, with two touchdowns. Rex carried the ball 7 times for 42 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for sixteen yards. Noah Harrison had 12 totes for sixty yards.

**Photo courtesy of Brynlee** **Kiskadden – BK Media 1 – Noah** **Harrison had a big night carrying the ball.**

Siwiecki caught 2 passes for 83 yards and one score. Mason Burford had 2 receptions for twenty-one yards. Kemmer had 16 yards receiving and Charlie Hepful had a catch covering ten yards.

Central Clarion coach Davey Eggleton was really pleased. “I am really proud of the work these young men have put in all offseason and through out the season to put out team in this position.

“Our O-line was outstanding and controlled the game. Jase, Ethan, and Noah all ran hard for us. Our defense did a great job limiting them to 6 points.

I can’t say enough about the work these players and my coaching staff have put in to have this success.”

(Way to go, Wildcats!!!! Thanks to Brynlee Kiskadden-BK Media and Cheryl Marshall for their photos!!!!)

(Special thanks to “Professor” Ryan Briggs and NWPASports.com for his highlights and stats for the game. Check his bio on the website – he’s been doing great things for Mercer County Sports for years!!)

https://www.professorbriggs.com/