Wildcat football hangs with Clearfield, but falls 21-6
HYDE, PA – The Central Mountain football team stayed with favored Clearfield well into the second half Friday night, before the homestanding Bison put up two scores to pull away for a 21-6 win. For the winless Wildcats it was the best all around performance in a rebuilding season, trailing by a 7-6 score late into the third period. But Clearfield, now 7-2, finally got its offense untracked to pull away for the win.
The Wildcats drove into Bison territory multiple times during the game, but other than a second period score, could not convert. The game was scoreless into the second period when Clearfield safety Will Domico took an interception 33 yards into the end zone for the touchdown.
Clearfield led 7-0 but the Wildcats answered back when Connor Foltz took a handoff from Rocco Serafini on the ensuing kickoff for 68 yards to the Bison 12-yardline. On the next play Serafini took a handoff, bounced off several would-be tacklers and skirted the left end for the 12-yard score. A high snap on the extra point try made it 7-6 in favor of the home team.
Central Mountain’s Isaiah Maldonado recovered a Wildcat onside kick to start the second half at the Cleafield 35, but CM could not take advantage. There were several punts to follow until Clearfield got the ball at its own 19-yardline and put up an 81-yard drive for its second score and the first earned by its offense. A big play came when the Bison faked a punt and picked up a first down in its own territory. It was during that drive that Wildcat defensive back/quarterback Brady Myers sustained an injury and was unable to return, a costly loss for Central Mountain.
That Clearfield touchdown came on a 26-yard run from sophomore standout Brady Collins; he would later add a 29-yard TD run in the fourth quarter as the score went to 21-6, which proved to be the final. Collins finished with 148 yards on 18 carries.
Myers topped the Central Mountain running game with 46 yards on 10 carries, Serafini with 42 yards on 11 carries. Myers completed 7 of 11 passes for 71 yards, including a 44-yard strike to Xavier Persun which set up an end of the first half field goal try which fell short.
The Wildcats have one game remaining on the schedule, at home next Friday with undefeated Jersey Shore. The Bulldogs on Friday remained undefeated with a 23-0 road win over previously undefeated Canton.
CM 0 6 0 0 = 6
C 0 7 7 7 = 21
