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Central Clarion Makes It Look Easy in Winning Back-to-Back D-9 AA Crowns

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

| November 11, 2023

Central Clarion was never threatened as they defeated Brookville to win their second consecutive District Nine AA title by the score of 63-18 last night at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium before a large crowd.  Coming into the game, the Wildcats had one of the top scoring teams in Pennsylvania.  They did not disappoint by rolling up 63 points.  The Central Clarion defense played a whale of a game too, limiting the Blue Raider offense, which is no slouch, to a measly 42 total yards in the first half and 173 for the game while forcing five turnovers.

Quarterback Jase Ferguson led the way as he usually does on offense for the Wildcats.  He tossed five touchdown passes and threw for 230 yards.  The supporting cast changes from week to week because of their depth in the skill positions.  Ferguson completed passes to seven different receivers.  Brady Quinn had a nice night as he was the only Wildcat who scored two TDs and he returned a kickoff 84 yards to set up his own 3-yard run in the third quarter.

Central Clarion lineman Coleman Slater #52 and Brady Quinn #28.

Quinn also intercepted two passes on defense and Ferguson had a third pick.  “Our secondary has been playing lights out the last two games (against Redbank Valley and Brookville).  We really challenged them,” stated Dave Eggleton, Central Clarion’s head coach.

Clarion jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the opening period of play thanks to a 12-yard Ferguson to Tommy Smith TD toss and Jesse Siwiecki’s end zone recovery of a fumbled punt snap.  The lead by halftime grew to 35-6, with Brookville’s only touchdown coming on a beautiful 94-yard kickoff return by Hayden Freeman.

That was the only offense the Blue Raiders could muster in the first half against that stout Wildcat front who threw in a bit of a new wrinkle against Redbank Valley and used it more this game.  The standing rush where the defensive front does not get down into the traditional 3-point or 4-point stance seemed to work well against Brookville.  “We felt like we could get into our rushing lanes better against a team that is not really a down hill team.  We felt we could win that one-on-one battle on the pass rush,” said Eggleton.

The onslaught continued in the second half as Central Clarion scored another 28 points.  The Wildcats never punted in the contest and the only drive that didn’t enter Brookville territory was when Ferguson threw an interception with the ball at the Central Clarion 48.  They had a drive stall at the Raider five-yard line and Thomas Ukert missed a 37-yard field goal attempt on another occasion.

Central Clarion outgained Brookville 479 yards to 173 and had a balanced attack rushing the ball for 249 yards and passing for the other 230.  Eggleton talked about the dedication the kids have put in, “This is where we worked to be all off season, to get back into the state playoffs and get another shot.  These guys worked hard in the off season.”

Central Clarion (in blue) with ball.

Although Clarion shut down Brookville’s offense for the most part, Charlie Krug passed for 142 yards and threw 2 touchdown passes in the third quarter, both to Jack Pete.  The running game was not much of a factor as the Blue Raiders only had a net of 31 yards on the ground on 23 carries.

Brookville finishes the 2023 campaign with a 9-3 record and two of those three losses came to Central Clarion.  The Wildcats, now 11-0, move on to face Westinghouse next week on Friday or Saturday at a site to be determined.  Westinghouse knocked off the Wildcats last year 44-8 and made it to the finals being beaten by Southern Columbia.  “We’ll have to be balanced to beat a team like Westinghouse.  Everything will have to be on point,” Said Eggleton.

Score by Quarters:

Brookville – 0 6 12 0 – 18

C. Clarion – 14 21 14 14 – 63

Scoring Summary:

First Quarter:

CC – Tommy Smith 12-yard pass from Jase Ferguson, (Thomas Ukert PAT), 7:59

CC – Jesse Siwiecki recovery of fumble in end zone, (Ukert PAT), 1:51

Second Quarter:

CC – Hayden Hindman 23-yard pass from Ferguson, (Thomas Ukert PAT), 7:17

B – Hayden Freeman 94-yard kickoff return, (PAT no good), 7:01

CC – Noah Harrison 10-yard run, (Ukert PAT), 5:50

CC – Mason Burford 2-yard pass from Ferguson, (Ukert PAT), 0:36

Third Quarter:

B – Jack Pete 5-yard pass from Charlie Krug, (2-pt. conversion failed), 6:51

CC – Brady Quinn 3-yard run, (Ukert PAT), 6:17

CC – Dawson Smail 6-yard pass from Ferguson, (Ukert PAT), 4:16

B – Pete 14-yard pass from Krug, (2-pt. conversion failed), 1:05

Fourth Quarter:

CC – Quinn 7-yard pass from Ferguson, (Ukert PAT), 8:05

CC – Brendon Wright 11-yard run, (Ukert PAT), 3:46

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