The Paden City Wildcats played host to the Fighting Irish of Bellaire St. John Central Friday at home, falling to the visitors 34-8.

St. John scored a touchdown in the first seven minutes of play to take the lead and hold the homestanding ‘Cats to zero points until the final quarter of play.

The visitors played their game on the ground, adding two TD’s in both the second and third periods to take the their second win of the season.

Paden City scored eight points with a few minutes to go in the game on a Brandon Cross seven-yard touchdown run. The goal was followed by a Cross pass to Kennedy Cain for two points.

The ‘Cats rushed for 146 yards on 39 carries and passed for 21 yards for a total of 167 offensive yards. The Irish had 265 yards on 37 rushes and passed for 14 yards for a total of 279 aerial yards.

St. John fumbled five times in the game, losing one, and were penalized 10 times for 95 yards. Paden City lost three of three fumbles and were penalized three times for 25 yards.

Offensively, Cross was the leading rusher for the home team, carrying the ball 27 times to collect 141 yards and one touchdown. Kane Pyles rushed five times for 10 yards.

In the receiving department, Cain caught one pass for 14 yards and hauled in an extra-point pass in the endzone. Drew Bidwell had two catches for nine yards.

In the quarterback position, Cross completed four of eight passes for 21 yards.

Defensively, Craig Allen led the ‘Cats with 12 tackles. Pyles was credited with 10 tackles, one for a loss, and one fumble cause; Cross, six tackles; Logan Carroll and Dakota Gatian each had five tackles; and Denton Thomas recovered one fumble.

The Wildcats will take on the Titans on Sept. 14 when they travel to Gilmer County.