Hornets win in close game with Coudersport.

The Wellsboro Hornets opened their 1963 football season by traveling to and being surprised by a tough Coudersport squad, as the Hornets eked out a 13-7 victory in the closing minutes of play.

The Coudersport Falcons scored midway in the first period and they took that lead into the final quarter. The Falcons seemed to be able to tie up the Hornets offense and had things going their way until the final three minutes on the clock.

But it was the Hornets defense that put on the show. The defense held the Falcons to only 49 yards on the ground in the last three quarters and the Coudersport crew couldn't score during that time. All the scoring came on the results of fumbles, the Hornets fumbled once and the Falcons recovered, but the Coudersport eleven fumbled four times and the Hornets fell on all four.

Coudersport scored in the first period when, after the Hornet line held the Falcons on the Hornet four-yard line, the Falcons recovered a Hornet fumble on the Hornet five-yard line. Ed Williams plunged over from the two-yard line and Ed also booted the extra point.

The Hornets scored in the second quarter when Frank Gerow recovered a Falcon fumble on the Coudersport 25-yard line. On four running plays, Bob Scranton scored from the six-yard line. The Hornets' extra point was blocked.

There was only three minutes left in the contest when the Hornets scored the winning touchdown. Frank Gerow again fell on a Falcon fumble this time on the Coudersport 46-yard line. On the first play, quarterback Dale Tombs threw a long aerial that hit tight end Mark Christman on the six-yard line and he ran the remaining distance to paydirt. The same combination hit for the extra point.

The Hornets completed four for 12 in the passing department for 57 yards and a touchdown, while Coudersport hit only one for eight, that being good for 13 yards.

The Hornets will travel to Renovo this Saturday for another encounter before opening their season at home the following Saturday.