CM football suffers shutout loss at Selinsgrove, as penalties hold it back
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SELINSGROVE - While Central Mountain football showed progress through the first three weeks of the season, that progress was intertwined with flashes of the previous years' shortcomings. This is still a young team, with just ten seniors on its roster. And youth of that nature often comes with a mix of promise, mistakes and lessons learned.
The dial on those flashes was turned up to 11 in Week 4. In racking up a boat load of penalties and failing to get into any kind of offensive flow, the Wildcats did their best impression of their 2025 rendition, putting together a disastrous performance that left Central Mountain fans scratching their heads as they exited the stadium.
On the night, the Wildcats (0-4) finished with just 59 yards of offense and five first downs, numbers which they tripled in penalty yards (152) and penalties (15). All the while, Selinsgrove (2-2) found success after success coming off a rough loss at Jersey Shore, as it defeated the Wildcats, 44-0, to hand them their 26th straight loss.
102 of those penalty yards came in the first half, with each penalty elevating the team's frustration and diminishing their momentum. Multiple holding calls erased strong Central Mountain runs, and it was never able to pick its momentum back up after a brutal first half.
"I've never had a first half like that, where we just couldn't get out of our own way. Any momentum that started to get came right back," said Central Mountain football head coach Travis Thompson.
"It was tough one to stomach for sure. Anything we positively had just got taken right away. It was impossible to gain any momentum, and they were able to gain that momentum and roll with it."
That trend had its tone set in the very first drive, as a holding call erased a long run from quarterback Kyle Everett that would've converted a third down and got the Wildcats past midfield. Though they got bailed out by a Selinsgrove penalty on the next play, a second holding call would follow, putting them in a hole they couldn't escape.
After that drive, Central Mountain only managed one more first down in the first half while the Seals created immediate offensive success. Its opponent scored on three of their four first-half drives, as new starting running back Isaac Thomas torched the Wildcats for 85 yards and two touchdowns through their first three drives.
With a 15-0 lead late in the half, Selinsgrove would then be gift-wrapped a touchdown just before time expired. A personal foul and pass interference call set it up past midfield. Then, Rocco Amato found Nash Fordyce wide open down the right sideline for a 44-yard score, giving the Seals a three-score lead with 12 seconds to go in the half.
An offsides call would then set Selinsgrove up for an easy two-point conversion on the ensuing PAT, an occurrence that took place on two point-afters in a row. With that call, Central Mountain finished the first half with ten penalties, including four of the 15-yard variety.
"I don't know how to fix that," said Thompson. "We've been disciplined in our practices, been doing a really good job taking away false starts, any stupid penalties. But some of the ones downfield that you're getting in live games are tough to replicate, and it's all kind of judgment calls."
"Unless we have a referee come to practice and tell us they're going to call that there, it's impossible to know until we get here," he continued.
By the time play resumed, Central Mountain (0-4) seemed completely drained of energy.
Though it forced a turnover on downs to keep the deficit at 23 temporarily, Selinsgrove's pressure on the ensuing drive created its next opportunity. It would pick up one sack to push the Wildcats back. Then, the next forced a fumble, one which the Seals recovered inside the CM ten-yard line.
Amato would respond by punching it in on a quarterback keeper from three yards out three plays later before adding two long passing touchdowns to his one from the first. Ultimately, the Seals finished with 343 offensive yards scored on all but three drives, with standouts such as Amato, Thomas and receiver Jonathan Neidig (3-86, 2 TDs) leading the way.
While the loss certainly stings and sets the Wildcats back in terms of momentum, Thompson remains optimistic as the team prepares for its upcoming battles. There's still over half the season to go, and he feels the team can find chances to bounce back in the coming weeks.
"I'm always proud of the kids. They put in the work every week and come back on Monday ready to rock'n'roll," said Thompson. "It's a tough one; it's tough to see. We want the best for our guys, and they deserve it, and we just keep getting more and more setbacks."
"We have winnable games the second half of the season. We really do. But if we keep playing like tonight and getting penalties like tonight, you're not going to win games," he added.
Those chances begin with their toughest test yet, as they return home to host an undefeated Shamokin team fresh off a demanding win over Jersey Shore. That game at Malinak Stadium is set for 7 p.m. next Friday.
Selinsgrove 44, Central Mountain 0
Central Mountain 0 0 0 0
Selinsgrove 7 16 14 7
1st Quarter
S – Isaac Thomas 15 run (Emma Moyer kick), 1:30.
2nd Quarter
S – Thomas 3 run (Rocco Amato run), 1:20.
S – Amato to Nash Fordyce 44 pass (Colton Fegley run), :20.
3rd Quarter
S – Amato 2 run (Moyer kick), 7:19.
S – Amato to Jonathan Neidig 39 pass (Moyer kick), 3:00.
4th Quarter
S – Amato to Neidig 40 pass (Moyer kick), 11:35.
TEAM STATISTICS CM S
First Downs 6 13
Rushes-yards 28-46 33-208
Passing yards 13 137
Comp-Att-Int 3-12-0 5-14-1
Total yards 59 343
Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-0
Penalties-yards 15-152 3-30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Central Mountain, Gavin Heverly 2-26; Royce King 2-21; Alex Johnson 6-16; Kole Corman 3-13; Seth Miller 1-3; Cahle Fredericks 2-(-3); Kyle Everett 12-(-20). Selinsgrove, Isaac Thomas 14-88, 2 TDs; Cael Badman 7-45; Gabe Paradis 2-35; Colton Fegley 3-14; Rocco Amato 4-12, TD; Jameer Brown 2-4; Kam Torres 1-0.
PASSING: Central Mountain, Kyle Everett. Selinsgrove, Rocco Amato
RECEIVING: Central Mountain, Gavin Heverly 2-17; Mason Masorti 1-(-4). Selinsgrove, Jonathan Neidig 3-86, 2 TDs; Nash Fordyce 1-44; Colton Fegley 1-7;
INTERCEPTIONS: Central Mountain, Alex Johnson 1.
RECORDS: Central Mountain 0-4, 0-2 Heartland-I. Selinsgrove 2-2, 1-1 Heartland-I.