Spartans Outpace Wildcats, 31-13

Samantha Lofton, Central Mountain High School class of 2010, is the newest inductee int the CM Sports Hall of Fame. Lofton was a two-time all-state selection as a member of the Lady Wildcat soccer program scoring 61 goals in her four years as a starter for Central Mountain. Just one of several records Lofton set in her high school career. Lofton continued her career at James Madison University where she was also a four starter. Lofton is current playing profession soccer in Iceland and was unable to attend tonight’s induction. Accepting on her behalf were her sister, Jennifer Lofron, left, and brother, Tony Lofton at right. CMHS principal, Steve Turchetta, center, made the presentation.

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP — Try as they might, Central Mountain’s second attempt to win a football game this season turned out to be similar to the first. The Wildcats stayed with visiting Hughesville Friday night, the Spartans up 7-6 at halftime.

But Hughesville opened up its offense in the second half, scoring on four of five possessions and left Malinak Stadium with a 31-13 win and a 1-1 mark. Central Mountain, dusted by Williamsport 34-7 the previous Friday, fell to 0-2 with a trip to Shikellamy next Friday. The Braves are 1-1 after a 31-14 loss to Mount Carmel.

The Wildcats put up much better offensive numbers, 304 yards in all; virtually all of it came from senior quarterback Austyn Carson. He ran for 103 yards and passed for another 180 but it was not enough as Hughesville was able to convert most all of its opportunities.

The Spartans’ junior tailback Jase Wright, held to 21 yards a week ago, was a workhouse against the Wildcats, carrying 36 times for 157 yards and a touchdown. He was backed by senior quarterback Ori Shaner who passed for 106 yards and rushed for two 1-yard touchdown runs.

Meanwhile Carson was effective for Central Mountain, passing 26 times, completing 17 for his 180 yards through the air. Teammate Asher Corl caught nine for 77 yards, Zach Eck 3 for 55, Rocco Stark 2 for 20 and Trevor Hanna 3 for 38, including a 21-yard touchdown strike late in the first half which brought CM within a point at 7-6.

Hughesville, however, took the second half kickoff and got a 36-yard field goal from Brady Heller to make it 10-6 the Spartans. It was a 73-yard drive on their next possession, capped off by a 20-yard scoring run from Gavin Steele and, later, the first of two Shaner scores. Central Mountain would get seven back with a 70-yard drive in the final quarter, Carson scoring from 13 yards out, his extra point making the score 24-13. The Wildcats attempted an onside kick but Hughesville maintained possession and put the game away with a 49-yard drive, Shaner scoring again from a yard out.

Other Friday night scores included Towanda 47, Bucktail 20; and Jersey Shore 24, Mifflinburg, 0.

September 1, 2017 1 2 3 4 TOTAL
HUGHESVILLE 0 7 10 14 31
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN 0 6 0 7 13
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