Wildcats Pull Away for 41-27 Win at Shamokin

COAL TOWNSHIP – You knew when the visiting Central Mountain fans started doing the wave late in the fourth quarter that the Wildcats were on the verge of a huge road win. Down 12-7 at the half, Central Mountain scored on its first four possessions in the second half on the way to a 41-27 win over Shamokin.

The victory pushed the Wildcats to 4-1 on the year and ended a three-game winning streak for the Indians, now 3-2. The triumph also guaranteed second place for Central Mountain in Division I of the Heartland Conference.

The second half was an outstanding one for the Wildcat offense. CM was kept in check for much of the first half (after Peyton Johnson had provided an early 7-0 lead on a quarterback keeper with a 59 yard run several minutes into period one). Unable to run the ball with much success the rest of the first half, adjustments were made at halftime and a veteran line opened things up for the running backs.

Ryan Pentz, kept in check in the first two quarters, kick-started the offense in the third period. With strong line blocking, he put the Wildcats back on top with a 62-yard sprint to the end-zone; the extra point was no good (the first and only miss by Tyler Weaver in the last two games) and the score was 13-12 Central Mountain.

Shamokin answered with a score for a 20-13 lead but CM responded on a 22-yard TD burst from Micah Walizer; Weaver’s conversion tying the game at 20-20.

After forcing a Shamokin punt, left guard Jake Welch sprung Pentz for a 68-yard touchdown run, Weaver’s extra point putting the Wildcats up for good at 27-20 as the third period ended. Period four saw Central Mountain extend its lead to 34-20 as Pentz broke one for 68 yards. And after Peyton Johnson picked off a Brett Nye pass and took it in from 35 yards out, Central Mountain went up 41-20. Shamokin would get a final touchdown with just under four minutes remaining, the score 41-27. An Indian try at an onside kick did not work and later Kaden Falls picked off another Nye pass and the Wildcat fans, after watching the team go 1-9 the previous two seasons, went to the wave and a cowbell for the remainder of the game.

Once again, there were plenty of accolades to pass around after the contest. Pentz finished with 258 yards on 15 carries, scoring three touchdowns. In the team’s first four games, Pentz had rushed for 318 yards and four touchdowns.

Johnson finished with 59 yards rushing and three receptions for 11 yards; he took several snaps at quarterback to start the game. Walizer finished with 39 hard yards on 12 carries. Brett Gerlach finished with five completions in 13 attempts for 35 yards; he also picked up two key first downs rushing. Weaver had another strong game punting and kicking off. And a veteran Wildcat line took control in the second half.

The Wildcats are scheduled for a road date with Selinsgrove next Friday, Oct. 16. Central Mountain already owns a 7-3 home win over the Seals in September. Selinsgrove shut out Shikellamy by a 28-0 score on Friday.