Golden Eagles nip Wildcats, 21-20 (Video Report)
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP—Playing their best football since back in mid-September, the Central Mountain Wildcats did everything but win the game in a 21-20 loss to heavily favored Tyrone Friday night.
Though the Wildcats trailed 14-2 at halftime, they came back and outplayed the 6-and-2 Golden Eagles in the second half and had a chance to take their only lead in the game’s final moments. Riding the arm and legs of quarterback Justin Neff to within 21-20 with 2:12 remaining, CM went for the lead with a 2-point conversion try, but a trick play was mishandled and Tyrone took over after the kickoff and ran out the clock to escape with the win.
Outgained by Tyrone by a 185 to 105 margin in the first half, Central Mountain took control of the line of scrimmage in the second 24 minutes, holding the visitors to 89 yards in the second half. The Golden Eagles’ only score came on Parker Mitchell’s 90-yard kickoff return.
Central Mountain meanwhile, held to only a safety in the first half, rode Neff in the second. He put up a 13 yard run for one score, passed to Tyler Zablocki for a 15 yard score then handed off to Hunter Weaver for a 12-yard touchdown run from Weaver, putting the score at 21-20 Tyrone. At that point the Wildcats elected to go for the win, only to fall a point short.
Neff finished with 133 yards on 26 carries while passing for 117 on a 10-for-25 night with one touchdown and one interception. Zablocki was the leading receiver, catching nine for 111 yards and one score. Weaver finished with 34 yards on 10 carries.
The Wildcats, while playing arguably their best all around game in a 2-and-6 season, were also unfortunate. Neff lost a prospective score on a fumble at the Tyrone 1-foot line; he also had a 65-yard punt return for a score called back on a holding penalty. And Tyrone benefitted from a Brandon Loose 39-yard fumble return for a touchdown when the Wildcats lost the ball as the first half came to an end.
The Wildcats complete their home season next Friday against undefeated Southern Columbia (8-0), then finish the season at 6-2 Jersey Shore Friday, Nov. 6. The Bulldogs were downed by undefeated Selinsgrove, losing 42-10. Southern Columbia stayed perfect with a49-24 win over Lewisburg. Another Friday score saw Shikellamy upset Loyalsock by a 16-14 score.
| Oct. 23, 2015 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | TOTAL |
| TYRONE | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| CENTRAL MOUNTAIN | 0 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 20 |
