Wildcats vs. Wildcats for Homecoming Friday Night
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP — If you’re looking for an even-up football matchup, make sure you’re at Malinak Stadium Friday night.
Not only is it Homecoming for Central Mountain High School and the induction for the newest slate to the Wildcat sports hall of fame, it brings together two teams very much alike through the first six games of the 2014 football season.
If this game isn’t close, football followers will be shocked. It’s the blue-and-white Central Mountain Wildcats hosting the blue-and-white Mifflinburg Wildcats.
The two teams come to town with the same 1-5 marks and with remarkably close point differentials: Central Mountain has scored 102 points and given up 234 while new foe Mifflinburg has scored 114 points and given up 205.
Mifflinburg has a four-game losing streak, winning game two over Danville, 32-7; CM has a five-game winless string following a season-opening 34-33 win at Williamsport.
So it’s been a rough midseason for both teams, although Central Mountain played some of its best football in the Wildcats’ 21-7 loss at Shikellamy last Friday.
The Wildcats took some steps forward, staying with the favored Braves (4-2) for much of the game but the visitors were ultimately done in by several big plays.
The ‘Cat defense particularly gave a good account of itself, holding Shik to 216 yards overall, including just 50 in the second half. Central Mountain had an overall statistical edge, 17-7 in first downs and 241 to 216 in total yardage, but a few mistakes proved the difference between victory and defeat.
The first occurred on Central Mountain’s second possession of the game, Braves defensive back Shawn Turber picking off a Bryce Bitner pass and taking it back 43 yards to the Wildcat two, Brett McCreary running in the score; with the extra point Shik led 7-0.
The second quarter saw the Braves’ Matt Splitt go 78 yards on a counter, putting the score at 13-0.
Central Mountain would respond with a 68-yard drive, culminated in Bitner’s 9-yard t-d pass to Tyler Zablocki, Clayton Butler’s extra point making it 13-7 at halftime.
Shik’s final score came midway through the third quarter after a high snap on a Wildcat punt attempt saw the home team gain possession on the Wildcats’ 10-yard line. Turber took the ball across the goal line on the next play and a 2-point conversion made it 21-7 for Shikellamy.
Justin Neff almost broke the ensuing kickoff, the Wildcat sophomore returning the kick to Shik’s 31 yard line but a fourth down pass at the 19 was no good and the scoring was over.
Hunter Weaver led CM in rushing with 75 yards on 25 carries while Bitner was 9-for-23 passing for 120 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Neff led the receivers with 62 yards on three catches.
It was improved play for the Wildcats, the defense producing season lows in points and yards given up.
Meanwhile the “other” Wildcats were run over by Selinsgrove by a 42-7 score. Mifflinburg quarterback Jordan Wagner (6-2, 205 pounds) likes to throw the ball, completing 62 of 132 for 926 yards (185 yards a game) with eight touchdowns and seven passes picked off.
Miff averages 121 yards per game on the ground, led by sophomore Brayden Pierce (6-1, 205) and his 229 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and senior Eric Stroup with 195 yards (5.1 yards per carry) on the season.
