TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Central Mountain is back at home this week to face Shamokin.

Off the heels of four straight losses, the road certainly doesn’t get easier for Central Mountain football. In fact, this Friday may present its toughest test of 2025 when it’s all said and done, with the Wildcats set to take on undefeated Heartland-I foe Shamokin.

The Indians (4-0) are coming off their biggest win of the season, one which saw them rally back from a multi-score, halftime deficit and take down Jersey Shore in double-overtime. That win precedes another impressive one over Shikellamy (3-1), where they handed the Braves their only loss so far by a margin of 31 points.

According to PA Football News, the team currently ranks No. 3 in the state at the Class 4A level, outranking 2024 state finalist Lampeter-Strasburg, 2024 state semifinalist Thomas Jefferson and other storied programs such as Pope John Paul II and Wyomissing. It’s kept much of the talent that helped it earn its first District 4 title in 13 years last season, and that’s made evident by its early success.

Junior quarterback Logan Steele is garnered Division I notice, with him (19 rushes, 110 yards) and senior running back Zakem Clinton (15 rushes, 154 yards) each coming off games where they rushed for over 100 yards against a stout Jersey Shore front. They’re each on pace to near or surpass 1,000 rushing yards in 2025 and should be on the top of CM’s list of defensive priorities.

It’s the biggest underdog scenario Central Mountain (0-4) has faced so far. But the Wildcats head into the matchup with the same optimism they’ve maintained throughout a tough start, hoping to keep building on the flashes they’ve displayed in recent weeks.

Last Friday, the team hung with a tough, albeit gutted, Selinsgrove program that’s given it serious issues in recent years. Its previous two matchups in 2023 and 2024 featured losses of 49-14 and 41-13 respectively, but the Wildcats stayed within two scores until midway through the fourth.

“Selinsgrove’s a good team,” said Central Mountain head coach Travis Thompson following the 27-3 loss. “Even though they’re 0-3, they played two teams (Twin Valley and Jersey Shore) that are top ten in the state.”

“We made mistakes tonight, and we’ll keep growing,” he added.

A muffed punt, blocked field and last-minute pick six overshadowed what was the strongest performance for the team so far. The defense held the Seals to just 205 yards and a completion percentage of 36-percent, and the offense fell just six yards short of 200 yards on the ground alone, averaging almost five yards per carry.

Senior running back Dalton McDermott will likely remain Central Mountain’s offensive cornerstone, having run the ball 45 times in the last two games while averaging exactly four yards per carry. But don’t be surprised if you see more out of sophomore quarterback Kyle Everett, who’s completed over 61-percent of his passes in each of his last two outings and just posted his best performance on the ground.

“That was definitely part of the game plan. (Selinsgrove) did a good job putting pressure on him,” said Thompson on getting him more involved. “He’s prepared for it.”

On top of hoping to close out a 16-game losing streak, Central Mountain also faces the tough task of admonishing the disappointment that came in last year’s matchup, which saw the Wildcats fall by 11 touchdowns minus one point-after (76-0). While a win isn’t something most anticipate, Central Mountain has always aimed high under Thompson.

“If you look at all four of our games so far this season, we’ve shown that we can play with anybody,” said Thompson when asked about the team’s mindset heading into a tough slate. “We’ve shown that we’re right there; it’s just a few missteps that we have to correct.”

It will look to do the same on Friday, with the matchup set for 7 p.m. at Malinak Stadium.