Northern Tier Sports Report

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NTL FOOTBALL: WYALUSING COMES UP SHORT AGAINST NATIVITY (2023-08-27)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WYALUSING — After Wyalusing’s 28-14 loss to Nativity first year head coach Rich Rogers bemoaned the missed opportunities. Yet, one thing nobody could take away from the Rams was the fact that they played a full 48 minutes - from the opening kick-off to the final horn.

“Not being able to punch it in right at the end of the half, to be able to tie it up - that was huge,” Rogers said. “I take full responsibility for that. I told the guys it starts right here with missed opportunities.”

Still, despite being down three touchdowns late in the fourth Wyalusing scored to keep their slim hopes alive, and did it without their starting quarterback.

“The overall takeaway is the fact that they didn’t give up to the end,” Rogers said. “To lose your quarterback, your team leader, safety, and all that he means to this team, and to respond and go right down the field to score. To not put your tail between your legs and give up and to do that much at the end, I’m very proud of them for that.”

By most metrics the two teams were even. Wyalusing had more total yards with 256 to 212, more first downs 14-12, and less penalties, getting flagged four times for 32 yards while the Green Wave had 10 penalties for 69 yards.

Nativity, though, won the takeaway battle 3-2 and got two big plays from Noah Dolbin in the form of a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 40-yard interception return for a score, which proved to be the difference.

“We’ve got to work on contain, that’s a huge thing,” Rogers remarked. “We’ve been working on it, but we’ve got to focus even more on it - find the right people that can do that for us.”

Ayden Hunsinger led the Rams ground attack, pounding out 75 yards and two scores on 16 carries while Cade McMicken had nine carries for 26 yards. Dylan Johns finished with four touches for 20 yards, Isaac Shaffer had four carries for 15 yards, and Casey God notched five touches for 16 yards.

“I’m very happy with how we were able to move the ball on them,” Rogers said. “Bully ball, between the tackles type stuff, we were able to drive the field, but we’ve got to be able to finish.”

McMicken started under center, going 6-for-9 for 34 yards and a pick, while Parker Petlock finished the game, going 4-for-9 for 73 yards and an interception.

Joey Gonsauls hauled in two catches for 60 yards while Shaffer (three catches, 16 yards), Johns (three catches, 18 yards) and Petlock (two catches, 13 yards) were also part of the air attack.

Defensively McMicken and Johns had picks, while Hunsinger had three tackles for loss on the day.

“We’re still attacking, we’re still causing turnovers, we’re still doing the things that we’ve been really focusing on, but it’s like I said, we’ve got to find the people that can contain and stop the big play around the corner,” said Rogers.

John Borrell led Nativity with 81 yards on the ground, plus a score, on 11 touches, while Samuel Spolski had 10 carries for 50 yards and a score.

Ben Kreitzer was 3-for-10 for 52 yards and two picks through the air, with Dolbin hauling in two catches for 36 yards to lead them.

The Wyalusing defense came out strong, forcing a turnover on Nativity’s second play from scrimmage as McMicken stepped in front of a Kreitzer pass.

Taking over at the Green Wave 36-yard line the Rams went four plays to pay dirt, ending on a 26-yard Hunsinger scoring run. He started off right, turned back towards the middle and found a seam all the way to the end zone.

The 2-point conversion was stuffed but Wyalusing led 6-0 with 9:53 left in the quarter.

Nativity got their act together on their second drive, getting all the way down to the Wyalusing 24-yard line when Johns stepped in front of a slant route for his pick.

He returned it to the 41-yard line but the Rams would go 3-and-out from there. The teams would trade possession as Nativity began to win the battle of field position.

Their fourth drive started on the Wyalusing 39-yard line after the Rams failed to convert on fourth and short.

A 26-yard pass got them down inside the 15, but a penalty and a Hunsinger tackle behind the line of scrimmage backed them up. They would get positive yardage on the next two plays but another penalty gave them 4th-and-7 from the 10-yard line.

Instead of kicking they went for it but the Ram defense held, forcing a turnover on downs.

However, two plays into their ensuing drive they fumbled the ball away, with the Green Wave taking over on the Wyalusing 27-yard line. Back to back runs for 16 and 11 yards from Spolski got Nativity into the end zone.

Their 2-point attempt was picked off by God, keeping the score tied at 6-all with 8:41 left in the half.

Wyalusing’s next drive would fizzle out after another fumble, forcing them to punt. That’s when Dolbin fielded the kick and went down the left side of the field to pay dirt for the score. Borrell ran in the 2-point conversion to put Nativity up 14-6 with 5:35 left to play.

Taking over at their own 35-yard line the Rams went on a 15-play drive to get down to the Nativity 6-yard line. With first-and-goal they had enough time to get three shots at the end zone but the Green Wave dug in, forcing an incompletion, stringing out a McMicken keeper, and then keeping a passing play to one yard as the clock expired to hold their lead intact.

Wyalusing got the ball to start the second, and started with good field position at midfield. They would drive down to inside the Nativity 20-yard line, but an illegal motion call wiped out a first down run on 4th-and-2. On the ensuing 4th-and-7 McMicken was sacked as the Rams turned it over on downs.

The Rams forced a Nativity punt on their ensuing possession, but Wyalusing’s next turn with the ball was cut short when McMicken’s pass was tipped up and fell into the hands of Dolbin.

Taking over at the Rams’ 43-yard line Borrell had back to back runs of 26 and 23 yards to get inside the Wyalusing 5-yard line.

The Rams held for two plays but on 4th-and-1 Borrell punched it in. Nolan Ferhat added the point after and it was 21-6 with 18 seconds left in the third quarter.

Things went from bad to worse for Wyalusing on their next possession as a Petlock pass was picked off by Dolbin, and he went untouched 40-yards for the six points. Ferhat split the uprights on the point after and it was 28-6 with 11:38 left to play.

The Rams went 3-and-out once they got the ball back, with Nativity looking like they would get one more score.

However, Wyalusing stalled out their drive, with McMicken injuring himself breaking up a pass to the end zone.

Taking over downs at their own 23-yard line the Rams went to the air with Peltock. He hit Shaffer for an 8-yard gain, then found Gonsauls for a 53-yard down the left side of the field.

Taking over at the Nativity 16-yard line it was Hunsinger scoring, breaking tackles as he plowed into the end zone for his team’s final touchdown. He added the 2-point conversion for the 28-14 score with 4:33 left.

Wyalusing tried an onside kick but Nativity secured the possession, then ran out the clock.

It was a much better result than last year’s mercy rule loss to the Green Wave, but not what Wyalusing wanted.

Now they’ll hit the road for the first of three straight away games, beginning at Sayre next Friday with a 7 p.m. start time.

The Redskins are coming off a 42-0 loss to Canton in their first year back to playing varsity football since 2021.

They’re hoping to fix a few things, and get healed up this coming week.

“I want to see the film first but really just sharpen everything up,” Rogers said about their preparation. “I’m very pleased with how we were able to run the ball, so it’s going to be a focus on the things where we’re lacking on defense on the corners. But just go right back to work, that’s going to be the attitude as we stick together.”

NATIVITY 28, WYALUSING 14

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

W - Ayden Hunsinger 26-yard run (Kick no good), 9:53

Second Quarter

N - Samuel Spolski 11-yard run (Kick no good), 8:41

N - Noah Dolbin 65-yard punt return (John Borrell run), 5:35

Third Quarter

N - John Borrell 1-yard run (Nolan Ferhat kick), :18

Fourth Quarter

N - Noah Dolbin 40-yard interception return (Ferhat kick), 11:38

W - Ayden Hunsinger 16-yard run (Hunsinger run), 4:33