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Central Clarion Stays Unbeaten With Win Over Redbank Valley

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

| October 28, 2023

On a warm late October evening, before one of the largest crowds in years to watch a football game in New Bethlehem, the visiting Central Clarion Wildcats defeated the Redbank Valley Bulldogs 35-14 to finish the year undefeated at 10-0.  The win by Central Clarion avenged their only regular season loss they had last year when Redbank came from behind to beat them.  Redbank finishes their regular season with a 9-1 record.

Jase Ferguson #1 with the ball and looking for some running room. Photo by Phil Myers Jr.

Quarterback Jase Ferguson showed the way offensively for the Wildcats by running for a pair of scores and throwing for another.  “He’s a complete football player and I think tonight he showed why he’s probably the best football player in District Nine.  He’s a phenomenal football player,” stated a jubilant Wildcat head coach, Dave Eggleton.

All in all, it was a team win as the Wildcat line did a great job of controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.  “I couldn’t be prouder of the whole team and the way they showed up tonight.  We felt like we really wore them down in the second and fourth quarters,” said Eggleton.

Coming into the game the two teams were #1 and #3 in scoring offense with Central Clarion averaging 62 points a game and Redbank 54.  But after the first quarter, surprisingly, there was no score.  On their second possession, the Wildcats embarked on a 99-yard, 20-play, 9 minute and 28 second drive that culminated in a score as a result of Ferguson’s seven-yard run.

A little over three minutes later, the Bulldogs tied the game when QB Braylon Wagner rolled to his right and pitched the ball back to Drew Byers who went in for the five-yard touchdown.  That capped off a 73-yard, 8-play drive for Redbank.

Clarion retook the lead 14-7 when they scored with only 20 seconds left in the half.  Beginning their drive with over six minutes to go, the Wildcats drove steadily using up precious time.  After Ferguson ran eleven yards to the three, Braylon Beckwith scored two plays later to finish off a 79-yard, 11-play drive.

On the Bulldogs’ first possession of the second half, a blown coverage allowed Wagner to find a wide-open Ashton Kahle on a short sideline pass and Kahle did the rest outracing a lonely defender to complete a 67-yard touchdown.  That tied the game at 14, but it would be all down-hill from there for Redbank Valley.

Ferguson scored on a two-yard run with just under two minutes left in the third to put Central Clarion up for good at 21-14.  That drive took another six minutes off the clock and it took eleven plays.  “We knew it would be a tough game.  We didn’t panic when they tied the game.  We just continued to do what we do and we were fine,” said Ferguson.

Jase Ferguson.

Central Clarion converted two Redbank turnovers into scores in the fourth quarter.  In successive drives, the Wildcats drove 29 and 47 yards to put the game out of reach.  Mason Burford caught a Ferguson 16-yard pass for the first score in the last stanza, and then Noah Harrison powered in from two yards out to cap the game’s scoring.

Central Clarion’s defense did an excellent job of controlling the line, limiting Redbank Valley’s running game, and covering some very good Bulldog wide receivers.  In fact, the Wildcat ‘D’ held Redbank to 171 total yards of offense.  “Our defense really stepped up tonight and played four full quarters of football,” declared Eggleton.  Wagner was able to pass for 164 yards by going 13 for 21 with an interception, only his third of the year.

For Central Clarion, Ferguson went 14 for 20 and had 219 yards passing.  He also threw his third pick of the year as Mason Clouse had the interception for Redbank.  Burford caught 5 passes for 84 yards and the touchdown to lead the Wildcat receivers.  Ferguson was also the leading rusher of the night by carrying the ball 29 times for 142 yards.  The Wildcats chalked up 436 yards of offense for the evening and had the ball for over 35 minutes.  Burford had the interception for C.C. and Matt Alston recovered the fumble.

Wagner did not play the last two Bulldog possessions and was seen on the sideline with an ice pack on his shoulder.  Everyone is hoping it was nothing serious and just a precaution.  Both bands put on nice shows and played admirably at halftime.

Score by Quarters:

Central Clarion – 0 14 7 14 – 35

Redbank Valley – 0 7 7 0 – 14

Scoring Summary:

First Quarter:

No Scoring

Second Quarter:

CC – Jase Ferguson 7-yard run, (Thomas Ukert PAT), 9:29

RV – Drew Byers 5-yard run, (Owen Clouse PAT), 6:19

CC – Braylon Beckwith 2-yard run, (Ukert PAT), 0:20

Third Quarter:

RV – Ashton Kahle 67-yard pass from Braylon Wagner, (O. Clouse PAT), 7:57

CC – Ferguson 2-yard run, (Ukert PAT), 1:49

Fourth Quarter:

CC – Mason Burford 16-yard pass from Ferguson, (Ukert PAT), 10:32

CC – Noah Harrison 4-yard run, (Ukert PAT), 7:38

Follow Phil Myers on Twitter: @Protime_PFN

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