The Funding Zone
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
 

Mifflinburg holds on for wild 35-28 win over Central Columbia

Tagged under: District 4, Gameday Hub, News

| September 2, 2023

Trailing 14-7 with 52 seconds left before halftime, Mifflinburg back up quarterback Chad Martin (in for injured Troy Dressler who played wide receiver) engineered a 64 yard touchdown drive, throwing for a perfect 6 of 6  to receivers Dressler, Kyler Troup and Sean Grodotske, finishing the drive with a 7 yard td pass to Dressler to send the game into halftime tied at 14. The rest of the game resembled a track meet with the Wildcats holding on for a 35-28 win. “Chad showed a lot of growth on that drive” said ‘Cats head coach Jason Dressler of his quarterback.

The game opened up rather well for Mifflinburg. They took the opening kickoff and marched 66 yards with a nice mix of runs and passes. Martin hit Jackson Griffith in the endzone for the first score of the game. Griffith went up and made a great catch for the td.


The action then slowed as both teams seemed to be feeling each other out. Then the Blue Jays got moving. Starting at their own 30, the Jays needed just 5 plays to tie the game at 7. Caius Morrow, who played a great game himself, hit Eli Book on a quick out. Book made one move then headed for the endzone racing 42 yards. The momentum swung back and forth. Then with just over 4 minutes left in the half Mifflinburg put together a nice, long 53 yard drive but the Wildcats couldn’t get across the goal line and a 27 yard field goal fell short by about 6 inches. That stop seemed to be the spark the Blue Jays needed. On the first play after the missed field goal, Morrow saw a wide open receiver who raced down the sideline for a 61 yard gain. Morrow found Jaxson Hoffman for the lead with 52 seconds left in the half.

Central opened the second half with a huge kick return by Book to the Mifflin 40. Several plays later they retook the lead with a 2 yard run from Baron Oyar. The Wildcats responded quickly and then pulled away. Martin hit Sean Grodotzke for a 38 yard td to tie the game at 21 with 7:54 remaining in the third. Right back came Central with another huge kick return, but the drive stalled and Mifflinburg seemed to be in control. Kyler Troup hauled in a 15 yard pass to make it 28-21 Cats, then it was another td pass to Griffith to give the Cats a 35-21 lead with 10:21 to play.

Troup TD Photo credit Joanne Troutman

Central made it a game again with 21 seconds to play on a one play drive. Morrow hit a wide open Grant Snavely for a 59 yard td, but the onside kick went out of bounds and the Wildcats took victory formation.

For the Cats, Martin was an amazing 27 of 32 for 381 yards and 5 tds. Dressler caught 5 of those for 63 yards. Griffith had 69 yards and 2 scores and Troup finished with 129 yards receiving and the td. For the Blue Jays, Morrow threw for 229 yards in a 8 of 16 effort with one interception.

What they said of the drive before halftime:

Martin: “The corners were sitting back and my receivers made the plays”.

Dressler: “We just tried to keep Martin calm”.

It doesn’t get easier for the Blue Jays next week as they play a rolling Danville. The Wildcats have Shamokin.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
QwikCut
 
GoRout
 
Rainbow Lettering
 
x