Green Hornets overcome Cowanesque Indians, 43-21.

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The Wellsboro Green Hornets extended their season record to 6-2 by defeating the Cowanesque Valley Indians 43-21 before a chilling but enthusiastic homecoming crowd.

The hometown faithful got a chance to see many of next year's players as the Hornets unloaded the bench, playing 89 different players which included all the sophomores and one freshman. A good example of the number of players used is that Wellsboro used 16 different ball carriers during the game.

The Hornets wasted no time getting their first score. After returning the opening kickoff to their own 38-yard line the Hornet offense went right to work and drove in for the score using 12 plays and 5:25 minutes.

The workhorse of the drive was senior split end Tim Smith who ran once for 13 yards and caught 3 passes of 10 yards, 14 yards and 10 yards. The last one being for the touchdown. Randy Gross kicked the conversion and Wellsboro led 7-0.

Not wishing to be out done the Green and White defense wasted no time in getting a score of their own. On Cowanesque's first play from scrimmage on their own eight-yard line, the Indians fumbled the ball and junior middle guard Terry Ingerick alertly scooped it up and fell into the end zone for Wellsboro's second touchdown. Terry, in doing so, became the ninth Hornet to score a touchdown this year. Again Randy Gross kicked the conversion and with 6:10 remaining in the first period Wellsboro led 14-0.

The remainder of the first quarter and beginning of the second quarter saw the Wellsboro defense completely shut off the Indian attack, and the Wellsboro offense continue to move the ball but failing to score because of fumbles. Wellsboro's third score came with 7:20 left in the second quarter when junior fullback Steve Radocaj powered off right tackle, broke two tackles downfield and sprinted into the end zone from 19 yards out. Again Gross's kick was perfect and the score went to 21-0, Wellsboro.

Late in the second quarter the Hornet defense forced the Indians to fumble and Mark Bell, a senior defensive back, recovered giving Wellsboro the ball on the Cowanesque 45-yard line. Reserve quarterback Tim Cisco wasted no time in getting the Hornets into the end zone.

Using only four plays, the final one being a 31 yard run by junior fullback Randy Gross on an option around left end. This time the Hornets faked the kick and quarterback Jeff Coolidge found Radocaj open in the end zone for the two-point conversion and Wellsboro took a 29-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Hornets picked up where they left off the second half. Following a good kickoff return the Indians looked like they might threaten but on the third play of the half junior linebacker Steve Radocaj picked off an Indian pass and returned it to the Hornet 34-yard line. It was the second interception of the evening for the Hornets. Jeff Coolidge had the first on the last play of the first half. This time the Hornets only needed three plays to march 66 yards to paydirt.

After testing the middle of the Indian line on the first play, Coolidge pitched out to senior tailback Jay Buker around left end for 26 yards.

On the next play Coolidge again found Tim Smith open, this time for 35 yards and the touchdown. Smith was aided on his run to paydirt by junior halfback Jerry Carson who threw a perfect block to spring Smith at the 10-yard line. Gross again was perfect with the kick and Wellsboro led 36-0 with only 2 minutes gone in the third period.

Wellsboro's final touchdown came on their next possession, with reserve quarterback Tim Cisco engineering the drive which covered 44 yards in 9 plays. The touchdown went to senior tailback Rhett Gorda, who started off left tackle, found daylight to the inside and bulled his way into the end zone from nine yards out. Gross again added the extra point and the Hornets led 43-0.

The remainder of the game saw Wellsboro continually substituting more and more players from their reserves. Although they did not score, the younger Hornets put on a good showing. The fireworks for the remainder of the game were provided by Cowanesque's Steve Tracey.

With six minutes left and the Hornet junior varsity in the game Tracey ran wild. His first touchdown came on a 65 yard screen pass. On the first play of their next possession Tracey raced 61 yards for the touchdown. On the first play of their next possession and with just 56 seconds left in the game Tracey again broke loose for 48 yards and his third touchdown, which brought the final score to Wellsboro, 43-21.