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Central Clarion Dominates Cambria Heights 49-6

Tagged under: District 6, District 9, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 24, 2024

Kittanning – Central Clarion scored 35 first-half points and rolled past unbeaten District 6 champion Cambria Heights 49-6 Saturday night at Armstrong High School.

Typically, the games get more difficult when you’re in a state quarterfinal playoff match. Not so far for the Central Clarion Wildcats.

Next week’s showdown with 12-1 WPIAL champion South Park will prove their biggest test in 2024. The previously undefeated Highlanders proved to be nothing more than a minor speedbump for another onslaught of Wildcat excellence.

Once again, Central Clarion was led by standout quarterback Jace Ferguson, who had himself a game on both sides of the football.

The senior signal caller accounted for all seven touchdowns as he passed for three and rushed four more. Ferguson also grabbed two first-half interceptions on defense, two of three interceptions thrown by Highlanders quarterback Isaac Weiland.

“This is amazing, and an amazing atmosphere,” Ferguson said. “Our crowd showed up tonight. Our offensive and defensive lines did an amazing job. We had guys stepping in and stepping up; overall, it was a great win. At the beginning of the season in January, when we started lifting, we knew the goal was a state championship. We’re not going to quit until we get that. Getting knocked out by Westinghouse the last two years was a bummer, but it’s great to be here now and winning games.”

Ferguson, who completed 16 of 20 passes, threw for 229 yards, and his three touchdowns now give him 49 on the season, which is a new career high.

He is now in a 4-way tie for 10th in single-season touchdown passes with a pair of District 9 quarterbacks, Chad Kroell of Clearfield and Matt Bodamer of Port Allegany, the current head coach at Kane. Madden Patrick of Danville also threw 49 in 2023.

As a senior, Bodamer threw 52 touchdown passes in 2012, the District 9 record. The state record is held by Jeff Hoenstine of Central High School, who tossed 57 in 2021.

Anyway, Central Clarion took the opening kickoff and got things rolling immediately. Just 59 seconds into the contest, Ferguson connected with Kohen Kemmer for a 39-yard touchdown pass.

“We wanted to come out and get started early,” said Central Clarion head coach Dave Eggleton. “There haven’t been many games where we’ve started with the ball. Either we win the toss and differ, or they win the toss and take the ball. It was a nice change to have the ball to start. We got it rolling from the beginning and never stopped. Our lines took over the game on offense and defense.”

The Wildcats scored on their first five possessions and took a 21-0 lead after a quarter. Ferguson capped a 7-play 85-yard drive with 12-yard touchdown passes to Ethan Rex and a 19-yard run.

“We knew their lines were going to be good and that we had to match up against them,” Ferguson said. “Those guys did an amazing job. They were handling the line all night long. That was key. Then, with our skilled guys outside, they couldn’t match up with us. It was huge to get up early and keep the pedal to the floor.”

Ferguson rushed for a game-high 141 yards. He has rushed for over 1,200 yards on the season and 17 touchdowns.

Cambria Heights scored their lone touchdown on the initial snap of the second quarter when Weiland threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Trey Trybus. Trybus led the Highlanders with 47 yards rushing and caught a team-high four passes for 70 yards.

The Wildcats quickly answered back when Ferguson scored on a 1-yard run just over a minute later. His 9-yard run with 3:09 to play in the half capped a 67-yard drive and left Central Clarion one touchdown shy of the mercy rule at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Wildcats invoked the PIAA’s mercy clock for the 11th time in 12 games when Rex caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Ferguson with 6:52 remaining in the third.

Ethan Rex caught a team-high eight passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns while adding 57 yards rushing.

“We had it on our minds since the beginning of the year that we’d come out and dominate every single week,” Rex said. “That’s what we’ve done so far. Our line is a standout, better than anybody. Our line creates the biggest holes for us to run, and Jase is just a great quarterback. He can put the ball anywhere he needs to.”

For the cherry on top, Ferguson added a 38-yard touchdown run in the latter stages of the third stanza.

Central Clarion is two wins away from potential history, as no District 9 school has ever won a PIAA football state championship.

The district has three runner-up trophies. Keystone lost to Dunmore 57-18 in 1989, Smethport dropped a 24-7 contest to Scotland School in 1992, and Redbank Valley lost 21-14 to Bishop Guilfoyle in 2021.

“This is a special group of guys,” Eggleton said. “We talked about it in team camp in July, and our mantra has been all in for a state title all year. We break every practice with all in. The focus and long-term goal is making it to the state title. Now we have two games to go. If we win one more game, we have a shot at it.”

The Wildcats will play South Park High School next weekend in the state semifinals at a time and site to be determined. The Eagles knocked off unbeaten Seton-LaSalle, 21-14, in the WPIAL AA final.

“We’re excited for the opportunity,” concluded Eggleton. “We know about the type of football they down there. It’s an outstanding brand of football in the WPIAL. I don’t know much about South Park, but Seton-LaSalle was highly-touted down there along with Ellwood City, and they took them both out. I’m expecting an excellent football team.”

Game Highlights

Central Clarion 49 Cambria Heights 6

Score by Quarters

Central Clarion – 21 14 14 0 – 49

Cambria Heights – 0 6 0 0 – 6

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

CC – Kohen Kemmer 39 yd pass from Jase Ferguson, (kick failed), 11:01 – 3-60

CC – Ethan Rex 12 yd pass from Ferguson, (Ferguson rush), 6:02 – 7-85

CC – Ferguson 19 yd run, (kick good), 1:19 – 3-35

Second Quarter

CH – Trey Trybus 49 yd pass from Isaac Weiland, (kick blocked), 11:52 – 3-52

CC – Ferguson 1 yd run, (kick good), 10:03 – 4-52

CC – Ferguson 9 yd run, (kick good), 3:09 – 11-67

Third Quarter

CC – Rex 16 yd pass from Ferguson, (kick good), 6:52 – 7-54

CC – Ferguson 38 yd run, (kick good), 1:41 – 5-57

Individual Stats

Rushing: CC – Ferguson 17-141, Noah Harrison 9-64, Rex 8-57, Team 3-0. Totals: 37-262. CH – Trybus 13-47, Stephen Nelen 7-14, Luke Mulraney 4-20, Marshall Eckenrode 3-4, Weiland 1-(-10), Team 1-(-1). Totals: 28-74.

Receiving: CC – Kemmer 4-65, Rex 8-121, Mason Burford 4-43. CH – Eckenrode 1-17, Trybus 4-70, Garrett Jasper 1-2.

Passing: Ferguson 16-for-20, 229 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. CH – Weiland 6-for-11, 89 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT.

Interceptions: CC – Ferguson (2), Jesse Siwiecki. CH – Nelen.

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