PIAA Class 2A Preview: Central Clarion vs. Westinghouse
Tagged under: District 8, District 9, News, Playoffs
Phil Myers | November 16, 2023
Westinghouse took care of business last year on their way to the state championship game by beating Central Clarion 44-8 in a lop-sided contest. This year the rematch has the smell of something a little different.
Central Clarion (11-0) – The Wildcats are representing District Nine. They beat Brookville last Friday 63-18 to win the district AA title two years in a row. Central Clarion is ranked 3rd in the state in Class 2A per PFN. They average 59 points a game which is tops in the state in any class, scoring 652 points. They also have an outstanding defense which has only yielded 99 points all year. The Wildcats are coached by Dave Eggleton.
Offensively, the Wildcats are a scoring machine. Jase Ferguson is the main cog among many others. The junior quarterback has flung the football for 2,455 yards and 43 touchdowns. Ferguson can run too and he’d just as soon run you over than run around you. He has accumulated 774 yards and scored 9 TDs running. He has some talented receivers to throw to in Dawson Smail, Mason Burford, Tommy Smith, and Brady Quinn. Smail has 38 catches for 768 yards and 14 touchdowns. Burford has hauled in 32 passes for 641 yards and 14 scores. Noah Harrison and Noah Naser share the backfield duties and have together gained 837 yards and scored 15 TDs. Place kicker Thomas Ukert has made 83 of his 86 PATs.
On defense, the Wildcats have an astonishing 105 tackles for loss including 19 sacks. Ferguson and Quinn each have 5 INTs and the team has 16. Braylon Beckwith has 120 tackles to lead the team and Charlie Hepfl has 98.
Westinghouse (10-0) – The Bulldogs are representing the Pittsburgh City League out of District Eight. Last week Westinghouse handled a good Berlin team 37-20. The ‘Dogs are the #2 team in the state in Class 2A according to PFN. They played a tough non-league schedule that included 6A Butler, Clairton, and Hollidaysburg. They’ve scored 373 points in ten games. Their defense is formidable. The Westinghouse ‘D’ has allowed but 121 points. Head coach Donte Green was named 2A coach of the year for 2022.
At press time, no one could find stats foe Westinghouse but they have some weapons for sure. Khalil Green is a very dangerous dual-threat quarterback. Ty Abram and Kyshawn Robinson share the running back duties. Lloyd Penn and Taymir O’Neal are more than capable wide outs. ON top of that they have two linemen who’ve started all four years in Michael Harvey and Raymon Poindexter.
For Central Clarion to beat Westinghouse they must not be intimidated and in awe like they were last year. They also have to minimize turnovers and move the ball on offense consistently. If they can gain the advantage at the line of scrimmage that will be to their benefit. Defensively, the Wildcats cannot allow the big play and they must find a way to control Westinghouse’s perceived speed.
The Bulldogs’ road to victory is to also minimize turnovers, control the line play, and then break long gainers if they can find a weakness. The Bulldog defense has to spy or confine Ferguson in some manner and stop the Clarion running game which sets up the passing part.
Both teams are physical and it may come down to who wants it more.
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