2024 PIAA Class 2A Title game preview: The Central Clarion Wildcats

Tagged under: District 9, News, Playoffs

Billy Splain | December 5, 2024

Central Clarion vs. Troy
2024 PIAA Class 2A title game
Friday, 1 pm

Central Clarion Wildcats
PIAA District 9 Class 2A
League: District 9 Region 1
Head Coach: Dave Eggleton

Overview: 

Central Clarion and Port Allegany will try to win District 9 their first and possibly second-ever state titles. The district historically has not been a state powerhouse by any stretch. In fact, far from it, when Redbank Valley advanced to the final in 2021, it broke a 29-year drought. Smethport, in 1992, was the last District 9 school in the final. Keystone was there in 1989. But the Panthers dropped a 57-18  contest to Dunmore, while the Hubbers were felled by Scotland School 24-7 and the Bulldogs by Bishop Guilfoyle 21-14. Ironically, District 9’s first chance for a state title will be Port Allegany when they play the Mauraders.

To say the Wildcats have been dominant this season would be an understatement. Central Clarion has invoked the mercy rule against 12 of their 13 opponents this season. Well, it would have been 14 as 0-10 Moniteau forfeited their contest. The Wildcats put up 70 against the Warriors in 2023. Offensively, Central Clarion is led by quarterback Jase Ferguson, who has passed for 3,293 yards and 49 touchdowns while rushing for a team-high 1,441 yards and 24 scores. Noah Harrison has chipped in with 534 yards and six touchdowns. Wide receiver Mason Burford has an even 1,000 receiving yards on 44 catches with 15 touchdowns. Ethan Rex has caught a team-high 76 balls for 914 yards and a team-high 16 touchdowns, and he also has 331 yards rushing and four scores. Also, at receiver, Jesse Siwiecki averages nearly 33 yards per reception with 18 catches for 588 yards and six touchdowns. Their offensive and defensive lines have dominated everyone they’ve lined up against, led by captains Jimmy Kerr and Hayden Hindman and two-way lineman Matt Alston, who is second on the team with 86 tackles. Charlie Hepfl leads the Wildcats in tackles with 136, Alston in sacks with 5.5, and Ferguson in interceptions with nine. Yep, that’s right; Ferguson has intercepted nine passes on defense and thrown only eight on 284 attempts. Not bad.

How they got to the Title Game:

Central Clarion began their road to Chapman Field by claiming their third consecutive District 9 title with a 37-20 victory over Karns City. The game was far from their regular season contest, where the Wildcats mauled the Gremlins 65-0. Karns City had actually taken a 7-0 lead late in the first half before the game was tied at intermission. Central Clarion then went on a 30-6 run over the next 15 minutes to put the game out of reach. In a bizarre twist, that game was the only game all season in which the Wildcats failed to invoke the mercy rule. Unless you count their forfeit win against Moniteau, which would be stupid, this means they’ve mercy-ruled every opponent on their schedule. Read the full game recap of the District 9 final here. Following a bye, they faced District 10 champion and perennial state power Farrell in their backyard. Where Central Clarion pulled away from the Steelers, outscoring them 27-0 in the second half en route to a 41-6 blowout. Check out the full box score here. Facing a 13-0 team in the state quarterfinals finals should provide a stern test. Instead, the Wildcats blew past Cambria Heights 49-6. Opening up a 35-6 halftime lead. Read the full game recap here. If an undefeated team in the quarterfinals couldn’t provide a challenge, certainly a 12-1 WPIAL champion could, right?

Well, not exactly. In what is believed to be the biggest win ever for a District 9 school against a WPIAL opponent in football, Central Clarion wasted South Park 55-0—holding the Eagles to only three first downs and 71 yards of offense in the game. Jase Ferguson rushed for seven touchdowns. Who would have guessed the biggest victory for a District 9 school against a WPIAL opponent would come in the state semifinals in a matchup of district champions? That was nearly overshadowed by Port Allegany, who also mercy-ruled WPIAL-champion Fort Cherry 46-8 on the same night. The Wildcats had already put in the mercy clock against WPIAL school this season when they cruised past 6A Butler 49-14 to close the regular season. Read more about that game here. So seriously, what are they putting in the water in District 9 this season? Conspiracy theories aside, can Port Allegany and Central Clarion make history again? Only time will tell. Oh yeah, check the entire South Park recap here if you haven’t already done so.

2024 Schedule:

Starting Lineup:

# Name Offense Defense Height: Weight: Grade
1 Ferguson, Jase Captain QB FS 6′ 0″ 200 12
2 Harrison, Noah FB LB/OLB 5′ 6″ 200 12
4 Siwiecki, Jesse WR CB/FS 6’ 0″ 155 12
7 Beggs, Brody SB/RB CB 5’ 9″ 155 9
8 Allison, Thalen WR FS 5’ 9″ 160 11
10 Uckert, Thomas K K 5′ 9″ 157 12
11 Guth, Brady WR CB/OLB 5′ 11″ 155 11
14 Beckwith, Briggs SB/RB OLB 5′ 10″ 155 11
17 Burford, Mason WR CB 6′ 2″ 175 11
20 Hepfl, Charlie FB/TE LB/OLB 6’ 0″ 178 11
22 Rex, Ethan SB/RB OLB 5’10″ 180 10
30 Beckwith, Braylon Captain SB/RB OLB 5′ 10″ 185 12
44 Parker, Brant C/T/TE DE 6′ 3″ 210 11
51 Duncan, Joshua C/T NT 6′ 0″ 315 12
53 Carrier, Bryden T DT/NT 6′ 0″ 250 11
54 Alston, Matt G DE 5′ 10″ 220 12
58 Hindman, Hayden Captain G DE/NT 6′ 2″ 275 11
62 Bracken, Brendan C/G DE 6′ 0″ 205 10
63 Kerr, Jimmy Captain T DT/NT 6′ 4″ 310 12
81 Kemmer, Kohen WR CB/FS 5’ 10″ 150 12

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