Visiting Braves spoil Wildcats’ Heritage Homecoming game

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – It was a gorgeous night for a football game at Malinak Stadium Friday night. Pleasant temperatures, Military Appreciation Night, a Heritage Homecoming celebration, recognition for retired Lock Haven High School football coach Don Malinak, a nice crowd on hand. But the visiting Shikellamy Braves ruined the fun, pulling away for a 23-3 win.

The game was a matchup of two 0-2 teams, and it was the Braves who made the sufficient plays and took advantage of five Wildcat turnovers to go home a winner for the first time this season.

The game was close, the defenses dominated well into the second half. The only first half points came on Shik’s first possession, a 23-yard-field goal from Nick Koontz. Central Mountain had a couple first half scoring chances but could not convert. The best followed the Shik score as the Wildcats moved to the Braves’ 4-yard-line but could not convert a fourth and one.

Shikellamy stretched their lead to 9-0 midway through period three when freshman quarterback Brody Rebuck scored from three yards out, the extra point try no good. Central Mountain then recovered an onside kick attempt at their own 47 yard-line. A 35-yard Brady Myers to Rocco Serafini pass brought CM to the Brave 11 yard-line but the drive stalled and the Wildcats settled for Peyton Jones’ 26-yard-field goal, the score 9-3.

Shik punched across two final period scores to put the final at 23-3.

Central Mountain moved the ball on occasion and Serafini led Wildcat runners with 66 yards on 12 carries, Myers next with 34 yards on 11 rushes. Myers completed 9 of 20 passes for 112 yards, but the five turnovers, coupled with eight penalties for 61 yards, proved too much to overcome.

Prior to the game, former LHHS coach Malinak was recognized by players from his 1959 Bobcat team with a plaque to be permanently mounted at the stadium named in his honor.

Central Mountain, now 0-3, will try to bounce back next Friday night at Mifflinburg. It won’t be easy, the resurgent Mifflinburg team off to a 3-0 start after a 35-21 win over Shamokin on Friday.

S   3 0 6 14 = 23

CM 0 0 3 0 = 3