Hornets fall at Athens.

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The Athens Bulldogs got 149 rushing yards and two touchdowns from running back Stan Morley to defeat Wellsboro 17-13 in a Northern Tier league football game at Athens Saturday.

The loss drops Wellsboro to 1-4 on the season, 0-3 in the NTL. Athens is also 1-4 overall.

Travis Soprano booted a 36 yard field goal in the opening stanza to give Athens an early 3-0 lead. Morley's first touchdown carry, a one yarder, and Soprano's point after boot put the Bulldogs on top 10-0 in the second quarter.

In the third period, the Hornets rallied to cut the gap to three, 10-7. Quarterback Jon Cox found Bryan Signor with a four yard touchdown pass and Wellsboro kicker Ché Regina added the extra point.

Morley's two yard run in the fourth quarter with about six minutes left and Soprano's kick restored the Bulldogs 10 point lead at 17-7.

Wellsboro came right back and scored their own touchdown a minute and a half later when Cox hit Chris Morral on a six yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion attempt failed and the scoring ended with the Hornets coming up four points short.

Morley accounted for most of his team's rushing offense, carrying the ball 31 times for 149 of the Bulldogs' 201 rushing yards.

Morral was Wellsboro's top ground gainer, churning out 72 yards on 14 totes. Quarterback Cox hit on six-of-15 passes for 51 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Erick Crawford added an interception for the Hornet defense, Athens' only turnover.

Wellsboro travels to Towanda for a 7:30 p.m. game versus the Black Knights on Friday, October 9.