Millionaires edge Wildcats in OT, 21-14
WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The football rivalry between Williamsport High School and its upriver rival Central Mountain High School goes back more than a century, to the old Lock Haven High/Williamsport High contests.
The modern version of those programs staged a great renewal at STA Stadium Friday night, the host Millionaires coming away with a 21-14 overtime win. But Central Mountain had its chances, especially at the end of regulation.
The game was tied 14-14 in the fourth period when a Wildcat drive stalled and the ‘Cats were forced to punt. The ball was mishandled by a Williamsport player at the Millionaires’ 30-yardline and ‘Cat Zack Weaver recovered. Central Mountain used the clock and moved the ball to Williamsport’s 12-yardline and set up would have been a go-ahead field goal with 25 seconds to go. Field goal kicker Tyler Weaver, restricted to just kicking duties due to a shoulder injury, kicked what appeared to be a successful 30-yard field goal.
But a Millionaire jumped off side, a dead ball foul, so the play did not count. Instead the ball was moved to the 7-yardline for a 25-yard field goal try, but the snap was high and Weaver had to fall on the ball at the Williamsport 21. The Millionaires took a knee for the final seconds and the game went to overtime.
Williamsport, from the 10, scored on its second play, an 8-yard pass from Frankie Morrone to Keith Freeman; Connor Poole’s extra point made it 21-14 and Central Mountain had its chance from the 10-yardline. The Wildcats got a 5-yard run from Micah Walizer, but three pass attempts fell incomplete in heavy Millionaire traffic and Williamsport got the win.
Wildcat coach Shanon Manning acknowledged “it was a great football game….proud of the kids’ effort, but we’re not looking for moral victories.” He said there were lots of positives to take from the game and termed the Millionaires “a talented football team.”
Manning said the Wildcats made too many mistakes, the inability to kick the go-ahead field goal at the end of regulation and the inability to score from Williamsport’s one-yard-line after driving there following another Williamsport turnover, this in the second period.
Manning noted the Wildcats were shy two mainstays in Anton Stratts, out for the season with a knee injury, and Tyler Weaver, restricted from offensive and defensive duties because of his shoulder injury. He said the Wildcats will go to work next week to “right this ship” in preparation for a Heritage Homecoming Malinak Stadium clash next Friday against a Milton team that was 3-0 heading in to play on Friday.
The Wildcats featured a big play offense at times against the Millionaires, including a Brett Gerlach 33-yard touchdown for CM’s first score, this after completing a 35-yard pass to Tanner Williamson to set up the score. Their other touchdown came on a Gerlach to Ryan Pentz 45-yard touchdown pass. The defense surrendered two touchdowns in the first period to the Millionaires, but Williamsport would not score again until the game-winner in overtime.
Gerlach finished 10-for-18 passing for 173 yards and ran for another 72, but Williamsport did a good job in containing him for most of the second half. The Millionaires had a handful of players held out in the first half for reported disciplinary reasons. Pentz finished with 18 yards rushing on four carries. The Wildcats also had a spectacular 30-yard reception off a Gerlach pass deflected by a Williamsport defender to Connor Foltz.
In the end the Wildcats fell just short, falling to 3-1 on the season. Williamsport moved to 3-1 with the win.
W 14 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 7 = 21
CM 7 – 0 – 7 – 0 – 0 +14
