Hornets victorious over Notre Dame.

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The Wellsboro Green Hornets continued their winning streak and did much to silence their skeptics with an exciting 20-13 victory over Notre Dame Saturday before a dry and elated Homecoming crowd.

The first half was entirely Wellsboro. The Hornet offense chewed up large pieces of turf almost at will in their first possession. The scoring drive was halted when the exchange from center was fumbled and lost.

On their second possession history repeated itself as the Hornets drove deep into Crusader territory only to have their advances again stopped because of a fumble.

The first score came early in the second quarter. The Hornets were deep into Notre Dame territory, but were forced to give up the ball on downs. The Wellsboro defense, which played well the first half, set up the first score when middle guard Terry Ingerick broke through to recover a fumble caused by Vince Driebelbies who shook the ball loose while sacking the Crusader quarterback.

With the ball resting on the Crusader 10-yard line the Hornet offense would not be denied.

Using the slashing running of Dave Gibson the Hornets pushed over from the two-yard line. The try for extra point was stopped and the Hornets led 6-0. Neither team was successful in moving the ball the remainder of the first half, and the Hornets went to the locker room leading 6-0.

The second half left Hornet fans breathless with anxiety as momentum shifted and the Crusaders began improving both offensively and defensively as the Hornets came out for the second half flat.

The Crusaders got their first break when the Hornets had problems handling a high snap on a punt, and gave Notre Dame the ball on the Hornet four-yard line. Three plays later Crusader quarterback Steve Remick pushed into the end zone. The extra point was good and Notre Dame led 7-6.

Still unable to get going the Hornetsdesperately fought off the Crusaders to remain just one point behind. After a pass fake from punt formation that failed Notre Dame took over on their own 45-yard line.

Using the running of quarterback Remich Notre Dame began moving for their insurance score. It looked as if the Hornet goal line defense again might hold, but on fourth and inches Remich sneaked in for the touchdown. The kick was wide and Notre Dame led 13-6.

Things continued to look bad for the Hornets. With time running out in the fourth quarter the Hornets could not move the ball and were forced to punt. The defense dug in but a roughing the punter call gave the Crusaders the needed first down to retain possession. Again the defense forced Notre Dame to punt.

With little more than two minutes left on the clock and deep in their own territory the stands began to empty in anticipation of a Crusader victory. The Hornets, led by quarter back Tim Cisco, began to capture momentum and move goalward.

Cisco fired strikes to Dave Gibson, Art Leisey and Kevin Davis. Then with less than :30 left a pass interference call gave the Hornets a first down on the Crusader 20-yard line.

Cisco again picked out Art Leisey breaking across the middle, headed into the end zone, and fired the strike as the receiver broke into the open. After a heart-stopping second of juggling Leisey gathered in the pigskin as he hit the ground in the end zone.

Trailing by just one point with 13 seconds on the clock, Dave Gibson, behind the blocking of Jerry Carson, John Henneman, John Driebelbies, and Steve Radocaj, darted into the end zone untouched to give the Hornets the lead 14-13.

Amid the wild jubilation and confusion that followed, Notre Dame had time to run one play. Knowing the Hornet defense would be playing very deep, the Crusaders attempted a screen pass. Safety Jerry Carson read the play perfectly, picked off his second interception of the night, and raced 30 yards to paydirt giving the Hornets a 20-13 win.

The win extended the Hornets' record to 5-2. Two of their wins were over two of the three top rated teams in the Sullivan Trail Conference, Corning East and Notre Dame.