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Wellsboro Hornets vs. Wyalusing Rams

Wellsboro Hornets
  1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT F
WHS 0 0 0 0 0 19
WVHS 0 0 0 0 0 20
Wyalusing Rams

19

September 9, 1977 - Wellsboro Area High School

20

Hornets lose first home football game by 1 point.

By: Wellsboro Gazette | September 14, 1977
Highlights presented by: Advertise on WellsboroFootball.com

The Wellsboro Hornets opened their home football season with the same results as their road opener, losing by a single point with the game being decided in the final minute of play.

The Hornets just missed their extra point attempt and had to settle for the short end of a 20-19 score.

The game for the Hornets was like night and day. The first half saw them commit costly turnovers and struggle through a frustrating and lackluster two periods. The second half the Hornets played true to potential, scoring three touchdowns while completely closing down the Wyalusing offense.

The first half was entirely Wyalusing as they capitalized on Wellsboro turnovers and a long punt return.

On their second possession the Hornets fumbled on their own 35-yard line. After a completed pass the Rams on first-and-goal from the one plunged in for the score and with the extra point wide led 6-0.

The Ram's second touchdown came on a 15-yard burst over right guard. This score was set up by a long punt return from the Ram 10-yard line back to the Hornet 30-yard line.

The Rams rounded out their scoring toward the end of the first half. After an interception gave Wyalusing good field position, they drove goalward. On third and long a desperation pass deflected off the hands of a Hornet defender into the arms of a waiting Ram receiver who fell into the end zone for six. The pass for two was good and the Rams took a 20-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The second half was all Wellsboro.

Midway through the third period the Hornet offense got into high gear and closed in on paydirt. Dave Gibson capped the scoring drive by slicing in from the three. Ty Antoine added the conversion and Wellsboro trailed 20-7.

The Hornets again moved goalward in the fourth period only to be stopped a number of times. With 5 minutes left in the game, reserve quarterback Mike Nagy stepped into the game and on his first play fired a perfect strike to split end Jerry Carson for 21 yards and the touchdown. The extra was short and the Hornets trailed 20-13.

With time running out and the Hornets closing in on the end zone, Nagy again entered the game. After missing on a third-and-10 pass, Nagy then connected with Kevin Davis, who made a sensational catch, wrestling the ball from the defender as they both hit the ground in the end zone. With 40 seconds left to play the Hornets needed the two-point conversion to tie. The conversion attempt was just short, and the Hornets trailed 20-19.

After the onsides kick failed, Wyalusing was able to run out the clock and hang on to win.

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