Northern Tier Sports Report

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NTL FOOTBALL: WYALUSING FALLS TO ATHENS, 29-13 (2024-10-12)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WYALUSING — Wyalusing couldn’t get out of their own way in their loss 29-13 loss to Athens during NTL football action Friday, and struggled to get in the way of Athens’ Connor Davidson.

The Rams had four turnovers, eight penalties which may have cost them up to 10 direct points, and, while they played well enough defensively most of the night, gave up too many big plays to Davidson, who wreaked havoc in the open field with three touchdown runs of 30-yards or more.

Wyalusing got deep into Athens territory on their first drive but a holding penalty set them back and they never recovered, and had false starts on an extra point and a punt that cost them.

“Credit to Athens, especially their QB, he’s a great athlete and only a sophomore,” said Wyalusing coach Rich Rogers. “We’ve got two more years to see that.”

It was homecoming week for the Rams which comes with the good and bad.

“I hate trying to get focus for this week,” Rogers saids. “I put that on myself, I have to figure out whatever it is to get these guys focused and ready to play football, because there isn’t a phase of the game that we didn’t make a mistake tonight. Not a single phase - punt, punt return, kick, kick return, offense, defense, so it’s up to me to get them focused and ready from now on, every homecoming week, as long as I’m here.”

They moved the ball well in their first two drives, getting a touchdown off one, but once Athens packed the box they had a harder team sustaining drives.

Ayden Hunsinger did yeoman’s work with 36 carries for 179-yards, while Ethan Vanderpool added five touches for 22-yards.

Through the air Johnny Earle was 3-for-6 for 35-yards with a touchdown and two picks. Reuben Kinney had both touchdowns, including a 31-yard scoring strike from Earle.

Davidson was just shy of 200 yards on the ground, running for 198 on 17 carries to go with those three scores. Through the air he was 4-for-11 for 73-yards with a touchdown and two picks.

Wyalusing did stop Davidson six times for no gain or negative yards, but have up 134 yards on his three scoring runs.

Adam Kemp had the touchdown catch, finishing the day with two receptions for 37-yards, while Connor Garrison had a big 25-yard reception.

Wyalusing took the opening kick-off and marched the down field to inside the Athens 30. However, a holding penalty backed them up and they never got back on schedule, with the drive ending on a Sean Peters interception on fourth-and-long.

The Wildcat drive went 3-and-out, giving the ball back to the Rams.

After a good punt return back to the Athens 40 Hunsinger started the drive off with a 12-yard run. Four plays later they converted on a 4th-and-short to keep things going, and eventually ended up first-and-goal at the six after Athens was called for a chop block.

Three plays later Kinney ran it in from 3-yards out on a jet sweep to put Wyalusing up. Lucas Girven added the point after to make it 7-0 with 11:55 left in the half.

Athens ensuing drive started off with a bang as Davidson hit Garrison for a 30-yard strike. Garrison hauled in the pass despite good defense on Rogan's part.

Wyalusing’s defense would hold them there, though, forcing a punt. However, the ball bounced off a Wyalusing blocker downfield and was recovered by Athens.

They needed just one play to score as Davidson rolled right and found Kemp in the back corner of the end zone for the 28-yard scoring strike.

Zach Fisher’s kick was good and the game was tied with 9:04 left in the half.

The Rams looked to get their ground game on the ensuing drive but back to back stops by Nason on third and fourth and short turned it over on downs.

Taking over at the 40 Athens went backwards to start the ensuing drive, but a Davidson to Brendan Cooke 11-yard hook-up made it third-and-1.

Wyalusing stopped them on the first run, but on fourth-and-short Davidson was able to evade the Ram rush. In the open field for the first time in the game he went right, then cut back left to pay dirt for the 31-yard run.

Fisher’s kick was no good but Athens led 13-7 with 5:06 left in the half.

Wyalusing’s ensuing drive ended on a turnover on downs. Taking over a midfield Davidson once again made things happen with his feet, once again getting in the open field and running for 53-yards to pay dirt. Fisher’s kick was good for the 20-7 lead with 2:20 left in the half.

The Rams would get their offense going on the next drive, this time through the air as Earle hit Rogan for an 11-yard gain off the bat.

Four straight runs got them to the Athens 31-yard line. With the Wildcats filling up the box the Rams went to the air, as Kinney popped out behind the Athens defense; Earle hit him in stride and he ran it in for a 31-yard scoring strike with 34 seconds on the clock.

A false start penalty moved the extra point back, and it was eventually no good, but the Rams cut it to 20-13 at the half.

Athens got the ball back to start the second half but went 3-and-out.

However, a big punt backed the Rams up at their own 3-yard line, giving the Wildcats the field position edge. It would be the defining feature of the second half.

Wyalusing picked up three first downs to get to the Athens 35, but Earle’s pass was deflected and ended up in the hands of Nason.

Athens took over at the Wyalusing 35, but after an initial 13-yard Davidson run, they turned it back over on downs.

Wyalusing, though, couldn’t get their run game going and were forced to punt. After a good attempt put Athens on the other side of the field Wyalusing was forced to do it again after a false start.

Punting from their own end zone the snap was low, forcing Girven to go to one knee to field it. He was called for a safety, making it 22-13 game with one quarter left.

Wyalusing tried and onside kick, but it was Nason, again, making the big play for Athens as he covered up the ball.

Four plays later, though, the Rams got the turnover they needed as Earle stepped in front of a jump ball for the interception.

A 40-yard run by Hunsinger followed to get them to mid-field. After a pair of Ethan Vanderpool runs Hunsinger took the ball into the pile, but it was Athens’ Cooke coming out with it.

Taking over at their own 35 the Wildcats got the 50 on a Davidson 9-yard pass to Kemp. Then Davidson did what he does best, escaping the collapsing pocket, and squeezed through enough of a wedge to get into the end zone.

Fisher added the point after for the 29-13 lead with 5:22 left in the game.

That effectively put the game out of reach for the Rams as the teams traded empty possessions the rest of the way.

The loss drops Wyalusing (4-4) to ninth in the District IV, Class AA standings with two tough ones left on the schedule.

They start with Hughesville (4-4) next week, who just knocked off second ranked Warrior Run, 32-29.

“It’s everywhere we made mistakes, we have to go out and correct them,” Rogers said about their preparation. “Go back to work and get ready for next week.”

ATHENS 29, WYALUSING 13

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter

W: Reuben Kinney 3-yard run (Lucas Girven kick), 11:55

A: Connor Davidson 31-yard pass play to Adam Kemp (Zach Fisher kick), 9:04

A: Connor Davidson 31-yard run (kick no good), 5:05

A: Connor Davidson 53-yard run (Fisher kick), 2:20

W: Johnny Earle 31-yard pass to Reuben Kinney (kick failed), :34

Third Quarter

A: Athens safety on punter kneel down in end zone, :00

Fourth Quarter

A: Connor Davidson 50-yard run (Fisher kick), 5:22