Wildcats lose shootout to Mifflinburg, 43-33
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – It was all offense when Central Mountain hosted Mifflinburg Friday night and while the home team used a big play offense to take an early lead, the visiting Wildcats finished with 22 unanswered points to pull out a 43-33 win.
Central Mountain had multiple big yardage strikes to take a 20-14 halftime lead, then a 33-21 lead early in the third period, but could not score on their final four possessions. Meanwhile Mifflinburg saw its backup quarterback, sophomore Cole Reibsome pick apart the CM defense. Reibsome, replacing starter Chad Martin who was injured last week, passed for an incredible 415 yards on 20 completions on 32 attempts, throwing three touchdowns.
The loss negated another strong rushing night for Wildcat Rocco Serafini who carried 27 times for 202 yards and two touchdowns. Senior teammate Connor Foltz had a spectacular night; it included a 91-yard touchdown run on a counter play, an 80-yard interception return for a score and taking the second half kick-off for 80 yards and a score. Foltz finished with two carries for 69 yards and caught four Thomas Sprague passes for 26 yards. Sprague finished 5-for-13 for 27 yards. But it all went for naught as the CM defense could not cope with Reibsome’s passing.
Freshman Kai Fravel led the Wildcat defense with nine tackles; Foltz and Kevin Grenninger had eight each. Serafini also picked up a sack.
Wildcat coach Travis Thompson said he knew Mifflinburg would be throwing the ball a lot. He said they capitalized on big plays, noting his team had the occasional blown coverage or missed tackle. Thompson said, “It’s never fun to lose, a learning experience. We need to play four quarters.”
The coach said, “It’s back to the drawing board; it’s not over for us, a little bump in the road.”
The Wildcats return home next Friday to host Shamokin. The Indians fell to Selinsgrove, 42-7. Shamokin already owns a 48-28 over Mifflinburg in week #3.
M 0 14 20 9 = 43
CM 7 13 13 0 = 33
