PREVIEW: Taste of State Playoffs Has Deep and Talented Central Clarion Striving for More

CLARION, Pa. (EYT/D9) — On a frigid late November night on the frozen turf of Cupples Stadium in the South Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh, the Central Clarion football team got a taste of high-level, playoff football.

The District 9 Class 2A champion Wildcats were somewhat humbled by Westinghouse in a 44-8 loss in the first round of the PIAA playoffs.

But it was an invaluable experience.

And not only does Central Clarion want to return, the Wildcats want to go farther.

(Central Clarion’s Jase Ferguson makes a leaping interception against Brookville last season/photo by Molly Zimmerman)

“It was a huge motivator, just seeing that atmosphere and that level of competition and knowing what it takes to get there,” said Central Clarion coach Dave Eggleton. “I truly left that field — and I’ve watched the film multiple times since, too — thinking we weren’t that far off. Like any football game, it was just a handful of plays that could have gone either way. It was shock of the environment and the speed that we’re not used to seeing. It was that coupled together. We were just kind of shellshocked at the start of the game.”

That won’t happen again, Eggleton said, should Central Clarion return.

And the Wildcats certainly have the horses to do so.

Central Clarion football coverage on Explore and D9Sports.com is brought to you by Redbank Chevrolet and DuBrook.

Jase Ferguson is back for this third season as the starting quarterback.

The junior has developed into a dangerous passer, throwing for 2,727 yards and 33 touchdowns last season, and has added a running threat to his game.

He’s also a ballhawk on defense at safety.

Ferguson lost one of the most electrifying receivers in District 9 last season in Ashton Rex to graduation, and it will be difficult to replace his production of 63 receptions for 1,556 yards and 13 touchdowns.

But Central Clarion, which runs a spread attack, still has a ton of talent at receiver in seniors Dawson Smail, fresh off a baseball state championship at Clarion, and Tommy Smith; and sophomore Mason Burford.

Burford has had an eye-opening offseason and camp.

“It’s a great, great group of guys,” Smail said. “The team has so much talent and confidence and we all really mesh well together. It should be fun.”

Senior Brady Quinn will also see his role on offense expanded at running back, where in limited action he rushed for 183 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 7.3 yards per carry.

“This offseason has been one of our best, I think, we’ve ever had with a group of guys,” Quinn said. “Everyone was in the weight room all winter and all spring. It’s exciting to see what these guys can do this year. We have depth and experience, and when you have both of those together, it’s scary. I’m excited to see what we can do.”

For Eggleton, it’s an embarrassment of riches.

(Central Clarion players, front left, Brady Quinn, Hayden Hindman, Tommy Smith and Dawson Smail)

“Dawson Smail and Tommy Smith, both guys had great years last year and were obviously overshadowed by what Ashton did, but on their own, they had phenomenal years,” Eggleton said. “And then you add Mason Burford, who’s had a great summer. Mason has the ability to be the best receiver in the league and one of the best in the state. He has great size at 6-3 and is an elite sprinter. His growth this year as sophomore could really propel us.

“With Jase’s ability to spread the ball around and find the open guy, it’s gonna be tough for teams to cover all those guys,” Eggleton added. “It’s exciting.”

Even more exciting for Eggleton is having all five starters back on the offensive line, as well as tight end Hayden Hindman, who is also a standout blocker.

Center Jake Smith, guards Coleman Slater and Matt Alston and tackles Colby Wright and Jimmy Kerr should protect Ferguson in the passing game and open up holes for the running game.

“With all those guys back, we’re so far ahead right now,” Eggleton said. “The first day of camp I could call a play and they know who they’re blocking and they talk it out and communicate. Even if we throw a funny front up there, different from what they’re used to seeing, they work and talk it out. That’s something we stress to them.”

Lost in how dominant the Central Clarion offense was last season was how good the defense performed.

The Wildcats forced 41 turnovers (22 interceptions and 19 fumble recoveries).

Ferguson had six interceptions. Tommy Smith and Brady Quinn each added four more. They all return to a ballhawking secondary.

If that defense can even come close to producing that many takeaways again, it could be a very special season for Central Clarion.

“We really purposefully set out to seek out competition this year,” Eggleton said. “In the summer for our 7-on-7s we went out to Penn State and we had a phenomenal showing competing against much bigger schools and a lot of very athletic teams, similar types of teams you’re gonna see in the state playoffs. They want to get better in every aspect of the game.”

Central Clarion football coverage on Explore and D9Sports.com is brought to you by Redbank Chevrolet and DuBrook.