Wildcats Junior High Gridders Open Historic First Season With Win Over Northern Cambria (Posted 09/17/20)
(All photos by Nate Girvan) Wildcats huddling up before the game
(Article by Coach Jess Quinn)
The Central Clarion Wildcats Jr. High Football team opened the regular season with a 50-12 win of the Northern Cambria Colts. Central Clarion looked to build off a strong performance in its scrimmage at Clearfield and did just that, scoring on every offensive possession, except the very last where they took a knee and ended the game.
On the first possession of the new season, Central used a combination of runners, Brady Quinn at tailback, Dauntea Girvan at fullback and Kohen Kemmer at the slot, to move the ball into the endzone. Quinn took the ball in for the score from just 12 yards out, following a nice run by Kemmer to take the ball down to the 12 yard line. The Wildcats failed two point conversion left the score at 6-0.
A strong defensive stand left the Colts with a fourth down, where they chose to fake a punt. Gabe Simko reacted immediately and thwarted the attempt, sacking the punter well behind the line of scrimmage! A few plays later, Simko was rewarded for his defense, by catching a nice ball from quarterback Ferguson and rumbled to the 3 yard line. From there Girvan plunged over the goal line for the second score in as many possessions. The two point conversion to Kemmer was good and the Wildcats led 14-0.
But the Colts came right back on offense with a nice scoring drive of their own! Their 2 point conversion failed and the score was now 14-6.
The third time Central had the ball, the Wildcats moved it up the field in a hurry with runs from Quinn, Ferguson, and a nice pass again to Simko, to take the ball to the 10 yard line before Quinn took the ball off tackle and through an enormous hole opened up by Coleman Slater, Drake Irwin, Holden Sparks, James Keenan and Colby Wright. After a failed two point conversion, the score was 20-6.
Again the Colts would not go quietly into the night! They moved the ball quickly down the field and punched it into the endzone for the 20-12 score. The two point conversion was not successful.
The next possession saw nice runs by Brayden Beckwith and Kemmer and two nice passes, one from Ferguson to Quinn took the ball inside the redzone. After a nice fake, quarterback Ferguson delivered a strike to Beckwith, then hit Quinn for the two point conversion, making the score 28-12.
Outstanding runs by Kemmer and a beautifully lofted pass to Kothin Smith pushed the ball right down the field and as a result, again by great blocking by the line, Quinn was able to punch it in for another Wildcat touchdown. leaving the halftime score to be 34-12, Central Clarion.
On the first offensive possession, Central wasted little time before getting into the endzone. A nice run by Kemmer set up the next play, where
Ferguson was able to get outside after Coleman Slater knocked down two Colt players, enabling Ferguson to deliver the ball to Simko, who rumbled into the enzone! The two point was good and the score was 42-12.
Ferguson rounded out the scoring with a beautiful run off tackle and with the two point conversion, the score was now 50-12.
The very last time Central Clarion had the football on offense, Sparks got his first official carry at tailback and made the most of the run. He scampered for 28 yards. Runs from Kemmer and Beckwith took the ball inside the 10 yard line, before the Wildcats took a knee to end the game.
It was a complete team effort in the victory over the Northern Cambria Colts. The offensive line worked tirelessly to open holes for the backs and gave Ferguson the time to find Kemmer, Simko, Beckwith and Smith down the field. The defense was outstanding all night! Great job by the players and Coach Ferguson and Cathcart!
Central Clarion will play Keystone next Thursday, September 24th at 6:30 pm. The game will be at Clarion-Limestone Stadium.
(Thanks to Coach Quinn for this article and to Nate Girvan for the photos. GREAT WORK, WILDCATS!!!!)