Wildcat Gridders Down Panthers For First Win Of 2025 Season
Photos courtesy of Cheryl Marshall – Above Ethan Rex had a great night running the ball
The Central Clarion Wildcats downed the homestanding Keystone Panthers 30-12 on Friday (August 29th), to notch their first win of the 2025 football season.
Keystone scored first as quarterback Dom Corcetti ran through the middle from one yard out at 9:50 of the first quarter. The two-point conversion failed and Keystone led 6-0. The touchdown was set up a play earlier as Corcetti ran a fake punt for 74 yards.
The Wildcats took the a 7-6 lead at 8:37 of the second with Ethan Rex taking it in from two yards out, the first of his three rushing touchdowns on the night, and Logan Bish connected on the PAT. Rex had a number of nice runs on the drive.
Alex Love scored the Central Clarion’s next touchdown on a five yard run through the middle at 6:24 of the second. The Wildcats set up for the extra point, but holder Briggs Beckwith took the ball in for two points and their lead was now 15-6.
Corcetti scored Keystone’s final points on a two-yard run along the right sideline, with 5:16 left in the half.
The Wildcats put up fifteen points in the final stanza, with Rex and Love carrying the ball with great success.
The first score came with Rex taking the ball around right end and cutting to the middle and going for the touchdown. Bish was good on the point after and with 7:48 left, the Wildcats led 22-12.
Rex scored Central Clarion’s final touchdown, following some nice blocking and taking it in through the middle from three yards out. Love ran the ball through the middle for the two-point conversion that set the final.
Wildcats head coach Dave Eggleton had this to say about the team’s performance: “I am proud of how our team has handled adversity early on this season. We faced a lot of adversity tonight. Some of it was out of our control such as injuries through the week and some of it was our own doing with the turnovers.
“I really thought we won the battle up front on both sides of the ball. Give Keystone a lot of credit. They were well prepared and played hard the entire game.
“Ethan Rex and Alex Love really ran hard and our Offensive line wore them down as the game went. Jackson Mravintz had a huge game on defense and special teams with the 2 interceptions and kick recovery.
“This is a win we needed to build our confidence going forward.”
Some Wildcat Offensive Stats:
Ethan Rex – 163 yards on 24 carries, 2 catches for 20 yards; Alex Love – 10 carries for 68 yards; Carter Hindman – 4 of 9 passing for 74 yards; Mason Burford 5 receptions for 54 yards.
The Wildcats are scheduled to host the Port Allegany Gators at 7:00 p.m. on Friday at Wiser Field.
(Nice game, Wildcats!!!! Thanks to Cheryl Marshall for her photographs and thanks to Explore Clarion and D9 and 10 Sports for use of their broadcasts etc. for information for this article!!)