Wildcats Fall In PIAA State Title Game That Will Be Remembered For A Long, Long Time

Photo courtesy of Cheryl Marshall – Wildcats with their trophy

The Central Clarion Wildcats fell in their Pennsylvania Scholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) State Class-AA Football Championship Game by just one point, 25-24 to the Troy Trojans, at a blustery Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, on Friday (December 6th) afternoon.

The wind gusts were figured to be 25-30 miles per hour. But that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the Wildcat or Trojan faithful, nor take away from a game that (and anyone who reads my columns much probably realizes, I am very conservative in using big superlatives), can surely be described as ONE FOR THE AGES!

I was fortunate enough to attend the semifinal with South Park on Friday (November 29th) at Farrell. And I felt that game was much more unbearable, with the temperature and wind. I think it prepared us for this one.

No matter if you were there in person, watched at home or watch parties, or streamed, if you were out of the state, you have to agree that this was an amazing game.

The tightness of the game and great play can be seen in the few possessions in the game, six for the Wildcats and five for the Trojans. Both teams had three possessions in the first half, with Central Clarion having only three in the second, with Troy having just two. A number of sustained drives, big plays and adjustments from both teams.

Troy received the opening kickoff, but Central Clarion’s Carter Hindman forced a fumble that the Wildcats recovered at the Troy twenty-yard line. Several plays later Thomas Uckert kicked a 36 yard field goal, giving Central Clarion a 3-0 lead at 9:46.

Troy answered on their possession with Brendan Gilliland taking the ball through the middle from four yards out, with 2:30 left in the quarter. The point after failed and Troy led 6-3.

The second quarter saw just one score by the Trojans as quarterback Evan Woodward hit Gilliland with a 20 yard pass over the middle at 10:20. The two-point conversion failed and Troy led 12-3. Again showing how evenly matched these two teams were, the nine-point lead was the largest of the game.

Central Clarion scored two third quarter touchdowns.

They received the kickoff and set up shop at their own thirty-eight at 11:54 and marched down the field on a drive that consumed a little under five minutes.

The Wildcat passing game was put on full display in the series. Key plays on the drive included:

With the Wildcats facing a fourth and short from their own 48, Ferguson hit Kohen Kemmer down the middle for a 1st and 10, at the Trojan forty-three.

Then there was a nine yard pass to Jesse Siwieki who came back for the ball along the right side line. Later another pass to Kemmer, along the right sideline, giving Central Clarion a 1st and 10 at the Trojan twenty.

The score came as Ferguson hit Rex on the left side, just beyond the line of scrimmage. Rex not being denied, broke two tackles and took it in for an eighteen yard touchdown. The point after failed, as it just caught the left upright and with 7:11 showing on the clock, the Troy led by just three, 12-9.

The Wildcats had a really big defensive stand on the Trojans next possession, holding them to a 3-and-out. After the punt rolled dead at the Wildcats 43, they took no time scoring.

The first play from scrimmage Ferguson hit Burford, who was crossing over the middle, right between two defenders at the Trojan forty-eight. The ball was perfectly placed and Burford did a great job securing it as he fell to the turf, at the Trojan forty-eight, setting up a 2nd and one.

On the very next play Ferguson hit Rex along the right sideline at the at the 40, who took the ball right between two defenders and down the sideline for the score, without being touched the whole way. With Uckert’s PAT, Central Clarion led 16-12 at 4:08.

Gilliand scored on a 28 yard run for the Trojans with 7:14 left in the game. The two-point conversion failed and Troy led 18-16.

Central Clarion’s next drive started at their own thirty-nine, with 8:39 on the clock.

A ways into the drive, Ferguson hit Burford over the middle to give the Wildcats a first and ten at around the Trojan nineteen. Burford secured the ball. But the defender was flagged for pass interference, which carried a half-the-distance to the goal line. Central Clarion accepted the penalty and instead of the catch, set up at the eleven.

Ferguson ran to the right and crossed the goal line inside the pylon and then connected with Kemmer who ran a crossing pattern in the middle front of the end zone, giving the Wildcats a 24-18 lead with 6:37 to go.

Mason Smith scored the game’s last touchdown on the left side, at 5:17 and with Gavin Lykon-Leffler’s PAT the score was Troy 25 – Central Clarion 24.

But the drama wasn’t over, as the Wildcats moved the ball down the field on their next possession and with time out with three seconds left on the clock and the ball at the Troy thirty-three, had a decision to make. Hail Mary or fifty yard field goal attempt from the left hash mark.

They settled for the latter, and Uckert just missed to the left. What more could you ask of this young man, back for his second game, who several weeks ago was in critical condition with a disorder in his lungs. And wind conditions probably made it hard to get a real read on the kick.

Some important Wildcat Stats:

Jase Ferguson completed 17 of 24 passes, for 189 yards and 2 touchdowns while running 13 times for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Ethan Rex caught 7 passes for 79 yards and two scores. Jesse Siwiecki had 3 receptions for forty-seven yards. Mason Burford had 42 yards on five receptions. Kohen Kemmer had two receptions for twenty-one yards.

For Troy:

Brendan Gilliand ran 25 times for 142 yards, Evan Woodward had 62 yards on 13 carries and Mason Smith carried 9 times for forty-four yards.

Although, I made it to the game. I need big help on notes. Chris Rossetti from YDL Sports was a big help with his stats etc.

Also, a few years ago, PCN gave me permission to use their broadcasts for notes.

I think the best way to end this article would be to just share Central Clarion head coach Davey Eggleton’s comments wholesale followed by back-and-forth dialogue that long time sports announcers Mike Zambelli and Jim Wills shared with each other and the audience after the game. It really shows what they think of the Wildcats (and Trojans), the game and everything around it.

When these two can talk in such glowing terms, it speaks volumes.

You will notice that coach Eggleton’s comments and those from PCN very much echo and compliment each other, and are proof that what we’ve all known locally is recognized throughout the Commonwealth.

Coach Eggleton’s comments

I first off want to say how proud I am of this group of young men. I told them after the game that the pain of this loss will eventually be replaced by the sense of accomplishment and pride in what we did this season.

This group of seniors will leave with three conference titles, three district titles, and a PIAA state runner-up. That is a special group. They have left a legacy of excellence that the underclassmen are now charged with maintaining.

It certainly will take an outstanding effort for these young men returning to continue what the seniors have started.

The love and support we felt from the whole community was tremendous. All three school districts came together as well as all of District 9 to cheer us along the way.

I can’t express enough gratitude to everyone. First, I want to commend Troy on a fantastic team. It was truly obvious that the two very best teams in 2A in the state were squaring off.

Our team showed true heart battling back from a deficit in the first half to take the lead in the second half. They never gave up. Unfortunately, we ran out of time.

This is a season that won’t soon be forgotten by anyone involved.

(Mike Zambelli and Jim Wills’ back-and-forth dialogue)

Well, this one will be talked about for a long, long time. The Trojan’s of Troy outlasting Central Clarion by just one point in a battle of undefeated football teams. Two terrific quarterbacks, two terrific running games; just an outstanding running game… Jim… I don’t … This team for Central Clarion, this stings for quite a long time.

But Man, Hold your heads up high. What a terrific show by all these student athletes on the field this afternoon. They gave you everything they had right down to the last field goal attempt. They gave you everything they had in the fourth quarter, all those lead changes.

It is exactly what it is, two small towns going at it, doing a great job, kids doing a great job, both quarterbacks doing a great, outstanding job.

(Jase shown on the screen hugging Coach Quinn) There’s one of them right there. He’s crying there. But when he looks back at his career. these kids will be happy at what they’ve accomplished as a team.

But you’re right. It’s awfully tough to be Central Clarion to take this loss.

(Congratulations to the Wildcats on a Great Season!!!! Thanks Brinley Kiskadden-BK Media and to Cheryl Marshall for their photos and to Chris Rossetti of YDL Network and PCN for access to their information!!)