Seals Edge Wildcats, 9-7

AdminOctober 16, 2020Last Updated: October 17, 2020

2 minutes read

SELINSGROVE – The Central Mountain and Selinsgrove football teams Friday night picked right up where they left off in their first meeting back in September. Their second of two games was almost a duplicate of the first, a defensive struggle not decided until late. But as opposed to the Wildcats’ 7-3 win in September, the Seals did just enough to come home the winner by a 9-7 score.

The Seals got a 22-yard field goal from Kyle Ruhl with 5:36 remaining to take a 9-7 lead. The Wildcats would get one final opportunity after Ronnie Petrichko covered the ensuing line-drive kick-off at Central Mountain’s 48-yard line. The Wildcats worked the ball into Seal territory, including a clutch, fourth down Brett Gerlach to Peyton Johnson 13-yard pass to set up a first and ten at the Seal 26. They would get as close as the Selinsgrove 17 yard line but the drive stalled and on fourth and one, a 34-yard field goal was attempted; it sailed just wide right and Selinsgrove took over with 47 seconds to go and used up the rest of the clock for the hard-earned win.

The Seals had pitched a shut-out in a win over Shikellamy last week and their defense was further augmented by the return of standout down lineman Nate Schon who came back after missing much of the season with a knee injury. Central Mountain found yards hard to come by, as did the Seals.

It was a night of missed opportunities for Central Mountain: a prospective long pass completion dropped at the Seal goal line in the first half, later a mishandled pitch and a couple ill-timed penalties on both sides of the ball.

Selinsgrove was held in check in the first half except for one play, a 67-yard touchdown run by quarterback Coy Bastion; the extra point no good, the halftime score, 6-0.

The Wildcats answered to start period three, marching 69 yards, the better than six minute drive culminating in a 1-yard score from Gerlach; Tyler Weaver booted the extra point and CM had the lead at 7-6. The touchdown was set up by a 25-yard pass from Gerlach to Johnson.

Selinsgrove then moved from its own 30 to the CM 26, but a Seal 42-yard field goal try was no good. Central Mountain, on its ensuing possession, could not move the ball and was forced to punt from its 19. The Seals then moved from midfield to the Wildcat 5-yard line; this time Ruhl did not miss the 22-yard field goal try and Selinsgrove was back on top, 9-7; Central Mountain tried to return the favor on its next and last possession, but fell just short.

Yards were hard to come by for the Wildcats. Ryan Pentz was held to 73 yards on 21 carries along with an 8 yard reception for 81 all purpose yards; fellow junior Micah Walizer to 38 yards on nine rushes. Gerlach finished 9-of-14 passing for 92 yards and was sacked three times. Johnson caught six passes for 59 yards and tossed for another 26 on a completion to Gerlach.

Friday was homecoming at Selinsgrove. Limited tickets were available for fans from both teams. The Wildcat cheerleaders and band were in attendance and the band received a warm response from the home side spectators for their halftime show.

With the loss, the Wildcats drop to 4-2 with Jersey Shore (5-0) coming to Malinak Stadium next Friday night. The Bulldogs downed Shikellamy, 16-0, on Friday. Selinsgrove is now 3-3 with the win.