Canton clips Wellsboro with last minute score.

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Sometimes the odds are just stacked so high against you that no matter what you do, you can't overcome them. That seemed to be the scenario for Wellsboro this past Saturday when they traveled to Canton. No matter what the Hornets did to rally from each setback, be it penalty, missed tackle or official call, nothing seemed to go their way.

The last instance of the game was the grand-dad-of-them-all and it cost the Hornets a 33-30 league loss to Canton.

Wellsboro had held a 30-27 lead over the Warriors since Derek Harsch scampered 39 yards, ending the run with a dive to stretch the ball into the end zone for the score with 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Canton later got the ball back with three minutes remaining in the game and pushed the ball down field 64 yards on the second play of the series.

A pass completion from Ryan Holmes to Brian Fitzwater gave Canton a first down at the Hornets 21-yard line. Holmes, a sophomore, made the most of his first varsity appearance by completion 9-of-16 for 166 and three touchdowns.

It took Canton six plays to complete the drive with a score, according to the officials. On fourth-and-goal from the eight yard line, Holmes fired a pass to Luke Gies who was hit by both ball and Wellsboro's Will Osgood at the same time. The ball hobbled and then hit the ground.

Initially the official standing in the back of the end zone made no indication but then threw up his hands to signal the winning score with 34 seconds remaining in the game.

Wellsboro coach Russ Manney was not pleased with the official call and it's not the first time he has witnessed questionable calls in his 30 year career. But a common factor between four calls that have been aimed at Wellsboro that eventually costs Wellsboro the game is too great for Manney to overlook.

"There was a combination of three things that cost us the game," Manney said. The third was very poor officiating. The kid never even had a hold of the ball. The ball came out and hit on the ground. In 30 years, four times bad calls lost the game and ironically two officials (that were at Saturday's game) were at the same games and that's not fair," Manney added.

But despite the fact that Canton was given the final score of the game, Manney said the Hornets should have won despite questionable calls. "We can't sit around and complain. We should have won hands down but we lost on defense. The defense has been taking some rests," Manney said.

The Canton celebration overshadowed an earlier more notable achievement. Harsch's 39 yard run in the third quarter was the exact ammount he needed to eclipse 1,000 yards, only four games into the 2001 season. His determination to score underlined Manney's statement that Harsch thinks more about the team concept than he does of his own goals.

"He's the ninth back in my coaching career to go over 1,000 yards and I'm excited. I've never had a back do it this early," Manney said. "But Derek would rather win the game than go over 1,000.

Harsch ended the game with 188 yards rushing, 1,021 on the season, and three touchdowns.

Wellboro threatened to widen that margin when Will Osgood, who gave Wellsboro the scoring opportunity with and interception from his safety position on defense, fired a 20 yard pass to a waiting Nate Compton. Compton pulled in the pass in the end zone six minutes into the fourth quarter but and illegal receiver down field call against the Hornets negated the score.

Canton held Wellsboro the following two plays and took over on downs at their own 15-yard line but were stopped by the Wellsboro defense again. Wellsboro held until Canton got their game winning break with 34 seconds remaining.

Wellsboro showed their resolve when they rallied back after Canton scored on their first possession of the game when Luke Gies took the handoff and slipped into the end zone from six yards out. The extra point failed and Canton led 6-0.

Wellsboro came back form the initial setback and an ensuing holding penalty when Will Osgood connected with Brad Smith on fourth-and-long. The Smith reception and scamper ended at Canton's five-yard line to set up the score. On first-and-goal from the five, Harsch took the handoff and dove into the end zone to tie the score. The extra point attempt failed.

Osgood completed five of his 13 pass attempts for 92 yards. Brad Smith, 45 yards on two completions, and Matt Priset, three completions for 47 yards, were the leading receivers on the day. Prrset and Smith added 45 and 38 yards rushing, respectively.

Over the following two series, the Hornet and Warrior defenses were each successful at halting a drive and forcing the punt. Canton had received their second punt and had good field position at the 43-yard line but a fumble, recovered by Wellsboro, turned the game momentum in their favor.

The Hornets meticulously drove their way down field and ate six minutes off the clock in the process. Harsch, Priset, and Smith shared the responsibility of pulling the Hornets down field. With eight minutes remaining in the first half Harsch did what he did best. He took the handoff and drove through a wall of Warriors and into the end zone from seven yards out. Harsh made it look even easier when he strolled into the end zone for two points on the follow-up conversion attempt to give the Hornets a 16-6 lead.

Canton, on their second play of the ensuing drive, broke a big pass play to push the team to Wellsboro's 27-yard line. An illegal block in the back took 22 yards off the play. But three plays later the Warriors scored when Luke Gies pulled in his first touchdown reception of the day. The extra point pulled the Warriors within three points of the Hornets.

Wellsboro answered back with another successful drive. Priset punched the ball in from two yards out with just under four minutes remaining in the half. The score garnered the Hornets a nine point lead, 22-13.

Proving the game would come down to who ever scored last wins the game, four touchdowns were scored in the last eight minutes of the first half. After Wellsboro took a more decisive lead, Canton retaliated with another passing strike to pull them within one point of the Hornets.

Holmes fired a 10 yard touchdown pass to Luke Gies. Holmes then squirted in on the keeper for the two-point conversion. The final Canton score of the half came when Wellsboro was trying to battle their way but from the Warrior's six-yard line.

Four plays into the drive, Greg Gies picked off a Osgood pass and scampered 43 yards for the score with seven seconds remaining in the half. The two-point conversion fell but Canton had the momentum of a 27-22 lead at halftime. The interception and score was more of a momentum builder for Canton than a setback for the Hornets. Manney stood by his decision to go for the long pass instead of punting.

"I felt that throwing the ball deep was as safe as a punt," Manney said. "We made some mistakes on open field tackling. That's something we didn't count on them running it back."

The Hornets will have to be able to adjust more on the field according to Manney to eventually get the team to become a more successful team. "Anybody can beat you if you're not ready to play," Manney said. "Each individual has to improve and that improves the team. We're not a good football team yet. We have what it takes and we want to win the rest of our games and get into the playoffs."

The next team on the Hornets face is Towanda this Friday night. The game will highlight the Wellsboro Homecoming activities and will be one in which the Wellsboro players will have to step up to battle a very versatile offense. "On offense we know they will be keying on Harsch but we have to keep moving the ball," Manney said. "They've scouted us and know our plays so we have to execute. The linemen have to go through with blocks. Our running backs have to stay on blocks."