Northern Tier Sports Report

Athens Canton NEB Sayre Towanda Troy Wyalusing Youth College Preview/Wrap-Up Opinion

NTL FOOTBALL: WYALUSING COMES UP JUST SHORT AGAINST HUGHESVILLE (2024-10-18)

Northern Tier Sports Report
WYALUSING — Wyalusing’s Ayden Hunsinger rushed for 159-yards but the Rams struggled to find the end zone as they fell to Hughesville, 24-7, during non-league football action Friday.

“I felt like the effort was there,” said Wyalusing coach Rich Rogers. “We talked about being more invested this week, they stepped up. I could see that they were upset, I just sensed they were more invested than they have been. The effort was there, obviously not the result we wanted, but the underclassmen stepped up. It was the seniors’ last night on this field.”

After falling down 10-0 Wyalusing cut it to 10-7 late in the second quarter. They took the opening kick-off in the third, and were marching down the field when they were stopped one yard shy on fourth down.

“We’re driving, we get one more yard on that and we keep making, and it’s a different story,” said Rogers. “You go up 14-10 it’s a different ball game, but it’s a game of inches.”

Hughesville made it a 2-score game late in the third quarter, then added a defensive touchdown in the fourth.

Hunsinger carried the ball 43 times to get those 159-yards while Ethan Vanderpool had seven carries for 21-yards.

Jonathan Earle had the rushing touchdown, and was 2-for-4 for 17 yards through the air. James Rogan had a catch for 10-yards, while Isaac Shaffer hauled in a 7-yard reception.

Hughesville was held to just 74-yards rushing on 23 carries but Blake Davis used the big play ball to propel them to the win.

The Spartan QB was 7-for-14 for 156-yards with two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Connor Andstadt had two catches for 91-yards while Conor Knight hauled in four catches for 60-yards - both scored a touchdown.

Earle and Andrew Taylor had interceptions for the Rams.

After a scoreless first quarter Hughesville got on the scoreboard with a Keegan Smith 42-yard field goal with 11:41 left in the half.

With 5:06 Davis hit Knight for a 30-yard scoring strike, as Smith’s kick made it 10-0.

Wyalusing snuck into the end zone just before the halftime horn with an Earle 2-yard run. Lucas Girven’s kick was good for the 10-7 score.

With 40 seconds left in the third Davis hit Anstadt for a 47-yard scoring strike, making it 17-7 with Smith’s kick.

The Spartans then iced the game as Haydn Maneval returned a 13-yard fumble to the end zone with 2:54 left. Smith’s PAT made it a 24-7 final.

Wyalusing (4-5) will likely need to beat Towanda in the Bronze Helmet next Friday to get into the district playoffs.

“It’s the bronze helmet, everybody will be ready for it,” Rogers said. “I really emphasize on my underclassmen for this game, you’ll understand when it’s your senior Bronze Helmet, but for right now, they need everything you got, and that’s what we’re going to ask for this week in practice and preparation.”

HUGHESVILLE 24, WYALUSING 7

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter

H: Keegan Smith 42-yard field goal, 11:41

H: Blake Davis 30-yard pass to Conor Knight (Smith kick), 5:06

W: Jonathan Earle 2-yard run (Lucas Girven kick), :00

Third Quarter

H: Blake Davis 47-yard pass to Connor Anstadt (Smith kick), :40

Fourth Quarter

H: Haydn Maneval 13-yard fumble return (Smith kick), 2:54

Individual stats

Hughesville