Wildcats make big strides in home loss to Williamsport
By Bees O’Brien
MILL HALL- For 8 straight quarters to start the 2024 season, not team had scored on Williamsport’s defense. It didn’t take heavy underdogs Central Mountain long to do so.
Standout Millionaire kicker Parker Johnson’s 31-yard field goal would give Williamsport a quick 10-0 lead, but the Wildcats would strike back in a hurry. Mycah Carson’s 30-yard field goal in the first would shrink Williamsport’s lead to 10-3.
Williamsport’s defense had held a 56-0 advantage through their first two games against Wyoming Valley West and Hazleton.
Giovanni White and Kahyear Whaley proved to be too much on the ground for the Wildcats as they game would wore on. Both White and Whaley would rush for over 100 yards, with a pair of touchdowns from Whaley.
Add in three field goals from Johnson and that would be enough for Williamsport to pick up their PHAC Division I opener 36-17.
The Wildcats’ improvements on defense were especially noteworthy, especially when forcing the high-powered Williamsport offense to settle for three field goals.
CM quarterback Hunter Hoy once again would find Jase Seltzer on a 35-yard strike to narrow Williamsport’s lead to 33-10. Another Johnson field goal stretched the visitors’ lead to 36-10.
Hoy would give Central Mountain another score on a run of his own to set the final. The 17 points scored by the Wildcats were the most in a game this season.
Hoy would throw for 68 yards and run for 69 yards in the loss to lead the Central Mountain offense. Kole Corman would tally 57 yards on the ground and Bottorf would add 32 rushing yards.
Seltzer led the Wildcats in the receiving department with his 35-yard touchdown grab. Isaiah Maldonado finished with 2 catches for 9 yards and a fumble recovery.
Corman led Central Mountain defensively with 10 tackles and a pair of assists.
Now 0-3, Central Mountain will next be in action against 1-2 Selinsgrove on the road this coming Friday. The Seals were throttled by Jersey Shore this evening to fall below .500 on the season.
Williamsport improved to 3-0 on the season and will next host winless Shikellamy in Week 4.
Friday was also youth football and cheerleading appreciation night. The youth programs helped welcome the Wildcats to the field.
