Wildcats Seek Bounce Back versus Blue Jays
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP — Buoyed by a one point win over Williamsport in their opener, deflated by a 40-12 game two trouncing from Shamokin, the Central Mountain football team gets a chance to right itself when a winless Central Columbia squad comes to Malinak Stadium Friday night.
The rebuilding Wildcats took one on the chin at Shamokin last Friday but this Friday presents an another opportunity for coach Mike Nines’ program to progress.
The 0-2 Blue Jays have looked more than vulnerable defensively, torched for 99 points in their two losses, 43-6 in their opener by Selinsgrove (2-0), then 56-42 in an improbable game with Loyalsock (1-1).
Loyalsock particularly moved the ball at will, piling up 547 yards of offense and building on a 21-14 halftime lead to the win. Central Columbia meanwhile showed plenty of offense itself , 437 yards and six touchdowns in defeat.
Senior running back Danny Koch (6-0, 165) carried 23 times for 194 yards while veteran quarterback Steve Shannon (sr, 5-9, 150) was 10-for-28 for 140 yards and three touchdowns passing and carried 15 times for 77 yards and two touchdowns.
While Central Columbia lost a wild one, things were not going so well at Shamokin Area High School for Central Mountain, the result the 40-12 win for the home-standing Indians.
The Wildcats hung with Shamokin through much of the first half but the Indians finished off a 54-yard drive just as the first quarter ended for a 7-0 lead.
The second period proved disastrous for the Wildcats; four defensive starters, Hunter Weaver, Hunter Baker, Clayton Butler and Wyatt Sanders, missed much of the period with injuries.
While they were on the bench Shamokin put up three scores, opening a 27-0 halftime lead and coasting home.
Butler and Weaver returned in the second half and the Wildcats played better, but not well enough to get back in the game.
Shamokin would put up two scores to go ahead 40-0. Central Mountain was able to score twice in the final period, both from Weaver, from five yards and one yard out, both against Shamokin reserves.
The Wildcats could not get its offense untracked in the first half against a Shamokin team which had pitched a shutout in the Indians’ 7-0 opening game win over Line Mountain.
For the game Central Mountain finished with 225 yards, much of it coming from Weaver’s hard-earned 89 yards on 27 carries, followed by sophomore Justin Neff with 51 yards on 11 carries. Junior quarterback Bryce Bitner finished 3-of-12 passing for 46 yards, throwing one interception.
The Wildcat defense had no answer for the option work of Shamokin quarterback Tucker Yost. The 6-3 senior finished with 104 yards rushing, adding another 101 yards passing, completing 7-of-12 passes.
After Central Columbia at home this Friday the Wildcats will travel to Mount Carmel for a first-ever game with the Tornadoes, now 1-1 after a 61-6 loss to Selinsgrove last week.
