NTL FOOTBALL: TOWANDA HEADED BACK TO THE VALLEY FOR A SATURDAY NIGHT TILT WITH SAYRE (2024-10-11)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It’s deja-vu for Towanda (5-2) football as they head back to the Valley for another Saturday night game, this time they’re taking on Sayre (1-6) for a 7 p.m. kick-off.

The Knights have out scored opponents 74-27 over their last two games, and seem to be picking up steam in the heart of their playoff push.

Sayre is 1-1 in their last two games but are coming off a 55-7 loss to South Williamsport last week.

“Sayre is a really resilient group who has improved quite ab bit throughout the season,” said coach Jamie Wecker. “Their QB is another good dual-threat kid who can hurt us if we don’t play fundamentally sound football. He has some targets that can make some noise as well.”

Sayre has been putting up points, hitting the 20-point plateau four weeks in a row before last week’s game against South.

“Defensively we need to control the line of scrimmage, be gap sound, take good angles to the ball,” Wecker said. “We have to make Sayre earn every yard they get.”

Towanda has two rivalry games after this week, with Tunkhannock on Week nine, and, of course, Wyalusing on Week 10, so looking ahead could be an issue.

“Our mantra is always the same,” Wecker said. “We need to take care of the business at hand before we can achieve the goals we have for us as a team. Our focus needs to be on Sayre; thinking ahead is just foolish.”

KEYS TO THE GAME

Towanda — Make Sayre’s other athletes beat you. Nick Pellicano is one of the best athletes in the NTL, and he is dangerous both on offense, and as a kick-returner. They’ll have to be cognizant of him at all times.

Sayre — Tackle well. Riley Vanderpool is one of the best escape artists in the league, and Towanda does a good job of blocking for him all the way down the field. When Sayre does get hands on him, they need to bring him down.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Rylee Sluyter, Towanda, WR — Towanda has done a good job in the throwing game this season, and Sluyter has done his job in helping them. He has 15 catches for 175 yards, good enough for second on the team.

Karter Green, Sayre, QB — The on responsible for getting the ball to Pellicano. Green is a good athlete in his own right, and leads the team in rushing.

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