NTL FOOTBALL: AFTER STRONG START INJURIES DERAIL WYALUSING'S 2024 SEASON (2024-11-10)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Wyalusing football started out the 2024 season with high spirits, coming off a bounce back campaign in 2023, and plenty of players returning.

Unfortunately for the Rams, after a hot start things cooled considerably as they struggled the second half of the season to a 4-6 final record.

“The season started out promisingly as we had a good group of core players returning from our successful 2023 campaign,” said Wyalusing coach Rich Rogers. “Early on the kids had a great experience in serving others as we spent the day doing flood clean up in the Westfield community before playing our week two game vs. Cowanesque. Soon after we experienced season ending injuries to no less than 4 starting players. The team seemed to self destruct as we committed multiple turnovers and numerous mental mistakes in losses to Montgomery, South Williamsport, and Athens.”

They opened the season with a 37-12 win over NP-Mansfield as part of a 3-0 start, also beating CV (37-0) and Wellsboro (13-0), out scoring their opponents 87-12.

However, things began to unravel with a 28-3 loss to Montgomery, then they couldn’t stop shooting themselves in the foot in their 21-19 loss to South Williamsport, the team that beat them out for the final spot in the playoffs.

They appeared to right the ship in their 41-6 loss to Troy, but were only down 14-6 at the half. They gave the Trojans their toughest league test of the season.

“Our highlight of the year came in the first 24 minutes versus Troy as we went toe to toe with with the #1 ranked AA team in the state,” Rogers said. 

A 54-28 win over an equally injury depleted Canton followed, but things turned south down the final stretch of the season with losses to Athens (29-13), Hughesville (24-7), and Towanda (55-0).

“After starting the season with 31 on the roster, we practiced our final two weeks with only 18 players in pads,” Rogers said. “A season that began 3-0 with goals of improving on last year and hosting a playoff game, finished 4-6.”

Ayden Hunsinger led the way on the ground with 1,344 yards and nine touchdowns on 251 carries, w while Dylan Johns rushed for 445 yards and five scores on 71 carries before his season ending injury.

Jonathan Earle was 9-for-39 for 63-yards and a touchdown with seven picks under center, though he did have three rushing touchdowns. Defensively, Earle led the team with three interceptions.

Ethan Vanderpool’s 52-yard touchdown catch against Canton led Wyalusing in receiving this season, while Reuben Kinney had three catches for 40-yards and a touchdown.

“I am proud of our seniors and wish them the absolute best as they move forward,” said Rogers. “It is my prayer that they take the life lessons they learned from being a part of this program and apply them in their adult lives. I am committed to working harder this off season, and look forward to working with our returning players next year.”

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