Hornets overcome Canton in thrilling victory.

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Playing before a large Parents Night crowd the Green Hornets thrilled the hometown faithful by coming from behind to edge a very tough Canton Warrior team.

Wellsboro could not get their offense on track until the final three and a half minutes of play as Canton, who came into the game unbeaten, controlled the ball.

Wellsboro received the opening kickoff and after failing to move the ball, was forced to punt. The defense dug in and forced Canton to punt.

On the second play of their second possession, the Hornets hit paydirt. With a second down and six yard situation on their own 39-yard line, Jeff Coolidge handed to Jay Buker off left tackle. Buker found daylight outside, sprinted to the sideline, and raced untouched for 61 yards and the touchdown. Randy Gross added the extra point and the Hornets led 7-0.

The remainder of the first half saw Canton continually drive deep into Hornet territory but an aroused defense thwarted every attempt to score. The Hornet offense sputtered and was unable to record a first down the entire first half. A big factor that helped keep the Warriors from scoring was the punting of Jeff Coolidge.

The third quarter unfolded much as the first two. Wellsboro was unable to move the ball and Canton continued to pound away with their powerful ground attack. The only difference in the third quarter was that Canton was able to score.

Canton workhorse Tom Sechrist capped the first Warrior scoring drive sweeping right end for six yards and the touchdown. A major factor in determining the outcome of the game occurred when the Canton conversion attempt was wide and Wellsboro still led, 7-6.

The end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth continued as before, Wellsboro unable to move the ball and Canton driving.

Canton figuring the time was running short for another long drive on the ground went to the shotgun formation and completed two passes that put them at the Wellsboro 11-yard line with a 1st-and-10. The Wellsboro defense dug in but could not stop the Warriors who scored on the fifth play for a one yard touchdown. The point was good and Canton led 13-7.

Things looked bad for the Hornets with only 3:32 left in the game Then on the ensuing kickoff, which saw the Hornets penalized, Wellsboro had the ball on their own 11-yard line.

Up until this point in the game Wellsboro had not recorded a first down nor completed a pass and they needed to move 89 yards. At this point the Hornet blockers got serious, dug in and gave quarterback Jeff Coolidge the time he needed to complete his passes.

The receivers worked to get open and things began to click for the Hornets. On the first play Coolidge hit halfback Jerry Carson for 14 yards and the first down. Then utilizing the same play to the left side the Hornets gained seven more. After an incomplete pass a running play and a penalty the Hornets were faced with a fourth and seven situation. Coolidge went to his favorite receiver Senior split end Tim Smith for a key first down.

On the next play Coolidge again hit Smith, who made a sensational catch among three Canton defenders to move the Hornets into Warrior territory. On the next play Coolidge flipped to Buker for 8 yards down to the Canton 20-yard line. After an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-2, Coolidge found Jerry Carson wide open in the end zone to tie the score at 13-13.

As calmly as if in practice, Randy Gross split the uprights to put Wellsboro ahead 14-13 with just over one minute left in the game.

The Canton attempt to regain the lead was thwarted when satety Coolidge intercepted a Warrior pass and the Wellsboro offense ran two plays to run out the clock and the Hornets left the field with a slim but thrilling victory over the Canton Warriors 14-13.