Wildcats Take Down Blue Jays 34-13

11 Tyler Zablocki

2 Justin Neff

BLOOMSBURG — There were heroes aplenty in Central Mountain’s 34-13 win at Central Columbia Friday night, but no one did more than starting quarterback Justin Neff.

The Wildcat junior added to his stats as the team’s passing and rushing leader, ending the night with 47 yards on 5 carries and passing 14 times for 8 completions totaling 115 yards and two scoring strikes.

Winless Central Columbia (0-3), despite never leading, refused to roll over and closed to within 26-13 early in period three. But Neff then directed a 56-yard scoring drive which included a 27 yard pass to wide-out Tyler Zablocki, a Neff run of 19 yards to the Blue Jay 1-yardline and then, on a fourth and goal at the four yardline, Neff faked a handoff and rolled out, scoring an insurance touchdown and adding a 2-point rushing conversion, to set what proved to be the 34-13 final.

Central Mountain, coming of a scintillating 24-21 win over Shamokin a week ago, picked up where they left off on their first possession, going 56 yards, the score coming on a 53 yard run from junior Bryce Mansfield; the left side of the Wildcat line sealed off Blue Jay defenders, running back Hunter Weaver gave him a lead block and Zablocki delivered a crucial downfield block.

CM would stretch the lead to 14-0 in period two off a Neff to Zablocki 14 yard pass. Central Columbia would answer with a 62-yard drive to make it 14-6 but the Wildcats’ J.J. Harris took the ensuing kickoff up the middle for a 78-yard touchdown return to make the score 20-6.

Central Columbia came back with a late second period drive, moving to the Wildcat 4-yardline. But Zablocki made a touchdown-saving tackle on a Blue Jay receiver at the two as the half ended.

The Wildcats scored on their second possession of the second half, Neff setting up the t-d with a 25 yard run to Central Columbia’s 16. From there he found tight end Hunter Baker open over the middle, the 16-yard strike making the score 26-6. Baker had set up the touchdown drive with a fumble recovery a moment earlier.

CC would follow with its final score and CM answered on the Neff t-d and 2-point conversion to make it 34-13. After the Wildcats stopped Central Columbia with eight minutes to go and regained possession, coach Mike Nines was able to clear his bench, a sophomore backfield taking Central Mountain to the Blue Jay 19-yardline as time expired.

The win could prove costly as senior defensive end/extra point holder Bryce Bitner left the game in the first half with a shoulder injury. Tests were to be conducted to determine the severity of the injury.

Mansfield ended the night with three carries for 57 yards and Hunter Weaver 12 totes for 22 yards. Zablocki led the Wildcat receiving corps with five catches for 73 yards and a touchdown; Hunter finished with 2 for 32 yards and a score and Harris had one for 10 yards.

Next up for the Wildcats will be a home game next Friday with 1-2 Mount Carmel. The Red Tornadoes Friday night stunned Lewisburg by a 21-7 score.

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