Northern Tier Sports ReportATHENS — For a half Wyalusing played with 1-loss Athens, but the Wildcats pulled away in the third quarter for a 56-21 win during NTL football action Saturday.
“We were able to move the ball, able to push them around, able to run the football but disappointed with the number of mistakes,” said Wyalusing coach Rich Rogers. “The first quarter alone we had two fumbled snaps, three dropped passes, and two penalties, and still were able to go in at halftime only down two scores with a late score there. I’m as confused as anybody about the effort and why we can’t come out, get an onside kick, be excited to do something, and do absolutely nothing in the second half, so very disappointed with that.”
Jonathan Earle had a pair of touchdowns for the Rams - one rushing, one receiving - as he had 92-yards on the ground on 29 carries, while hauling in two passes for 28-yards.
Ethan Vanderpool had six carries for 46-yards with a score to go with four catches for 53-yards. Reuben Kinney was 6-for-15 for 81-yards with a touchdown and two picks, while also running the ball for 14-yards on eight carries.
The Rams had more first downs than Athens (17-15) but were out gained (409-233).
Connor Davidson was 8-for-13 for 184-yards an two scores while running the ball 10 times for 71-yards and two touchdowns.
James Friend had four catches for 57-yards and two touchdowns as Gage Marmor hauled in two catches for 63-yards.
“We know we’re out manned with their receivers, with their quarterback,” Rogers said. “We know we’re out manned, we’re OK with that. Our gameplay was we should be able to out physical them, we should be able to run the football. We should be able to push and put drives together, and keep their offense off the field. That was our game plan, and we didn’t execute it.”
On the ground Karson Sipley ran the ball nine times for 66-yards with a score, as Brendan Cooke had three carries for 54-yards and a touchdown.
The Wildcats took a 6-0 lead with 4:55 left in the opening quarter on a Brenden Comstock 1-yard plunge.
Wyalusing took the lead early in the second on an Earle 1-yard scoring run as Addisyn Bly made it 7-6 with the kick.
Just over a minute later Davidson scampered 16-yards to the end zone with Zach Fisher’s kick making it 13-7 with 9:17 left in the second quarter.
A Brendan Cooke 12-yard run, followed by him punching in the 2-point conversion, put Athens up 21-7 with 5:52 left in the half.
Wyalusing struck back with a 26-yard scoring hook-up from Kinney to Earle, cutting it to 21-13 with 1:16 on the clock.
Athens responded, scoring with six seconds left as Davidson hit Friend for a 9-yard strike as Fisher’s kick made it 28-13 at the break.
The third quarter was all Wildcats as Sipley had a 3-yard touchdown run open the frame. Davidson then hit Friend for a 23-yard scoring strike, while Connor Garrison had a pick-six of 47-yards with 1:47 left in the third.
Fisher was 3-for-3 on all the kicks to make it a 49-13 contest.
The final Athens touchdown came as Davidson ran it in from 5-yards out with Fisher’s kick making it 56-13.
Vanderpool ripped off a 26-yard touchdown run late in the game, with Earle’s 2-point conversion run making it a 56-21 final.
Wyalusing will look to bounce back as they head to Hughesville next Friday.
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ATHENS 56, WYALUSING 21
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
A: Brenden Comstock 1-yard run (kick failed), 4:55
Second Quarter
W: Jonathan Earle 1-yard run (Addisyn Bly kick), 10:36
A: Connor Davidson 16-yard run (Zach Fisher kick), 9:17
A: Brendan Cooke 12-yard run (Cooke run), 5:52
W: Reuben Kinney 26-yard pass to Jonathan Earle (kick failed), 1:16
A: Connor Davidson 9-yard pass to James Friend (Fisher kick), :06
Third Quarter
A: Karson Sipley 3-yard run (Fisher kick), 8:02
A: Connor Davidson 23-yard pass to James Friend (Fisher kick), 3:07
A: Connor Garrison 47-yard interception return (Fisher kick), 1:47
Fourth Quarter
A: Connor Davidson 5-yard run (Fisher kick), 5:25
W: Ethan Vanderpool 26-yard run (Earle run), 2:53
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Wyalusing
Rushing
Jon Earle 29-92-1, Ethan Vanderpool 6-46-1, Reuben Kinney 8-14
Passing
Reuben Kinney 6-15-81-1-2
Receiving
Ethan Vanderpool 4-53, Jonathan Earle 2-28-1
Athens
Rushing
Karson Sipley 9-66-1, Connor Davidson 10-71-2, Brenden Comstock 1-1-1, Brendan Cooke 3-54-1, Chase Wron 1-(-2), Graham Steinfield 1-(-5)
Passing
Connor Davidson 8-13-184-2-0, Shea Davidson 3-4-46-0-0
Receiving
Kade Rowe 2-47, Gage Marmor 2-63, James Friend 4-57-2, Brendan Cooke 1-20, Cy Yeager 1-(-2), Eli Wayman 1-42
TEAM STATS Wyalusing Athens
First Downs 17 15
Rushes/Yards 43/152 25/189
Passing Yards 81 230
Fumbles/Lost 5/1 2/1
Penalties/Yards 6/45 7/80
Interceptions: Athens - Connor Garrison, Nolan Raupers
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PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON
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