Green Hornets clip Canton

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Since Wellsboro's loss to Canton last year following a controversial touchdown call late in the game to lift the Warriors to the win, Wellsboro has been waiting for a chance to retaliate. They earned it Friday night, September 27.

The Hornets' enthusiasm was not dampened by the torrential rains that pounded the hardbaked field. And it didn't have anyadverse affect on the Hornets game plan. In fact, the weather complemented it.

Behind the dogged determination of the Wellsboro running game, 302 yards on 39 carries, the Hornets ended their losing streak by defeating NTL rival Canton, 35-7.

"We were thinking, the week before, of taking the ball right to Canton," Wellsboro coach Russ Manney said. "The rain made us do exactly what we had to do."

Wellsboro got on the board in the early minutes of the second quarter to take a 7-0 lead when Matt Priset, 168 yards on 16 carries, capped the Hornets' scoring drive with a seven yard jaunt into the end zone with 7:22 remaining.

Pat Coolidge followed with his first of five extra points for the night.

Canton came back two minutes later to score their only touchdown.

Luke Geise capped Canton's drive with a nine yard touchdown scamper. Following Ryan Myers' extra point kick, Canton had knotted the score with 5:05 remaining in the first half.

After building their only successful drive of the game, Canton was held to only 155 yards on 35 carries. Wellsboro also recovered three of Canton's seven fumbles.

"With the offense we run, I think we came out with a decent game plan, picked up the defense in the second and third series and realized we could stop them," Manney said.

The big play to turn the game was made by Todd Beard who pulled in a Will Osgood pass on third-and-eight.

"It was a slant pass and Todd jumped up and pulled it in for a first down," said Manney.

Nate Compton followed by pulling in a pass, running over three Canton defenders while en route to a 67 yard touchdown with 2:58 remaining in the second quarter, and increasing Wellsboro's lead to 14-7. It was a lead they would never relinquish.

"That goes to show you the potential he (Compton) has. That was the turning point in the game," Manney said.

Osgood ended the night completing 4-of-10 passes for 111 yards and one interception.

Wellsboro then came back on defense and recovered a Canton fumble and drove for their third consecutive touchdown, giving them a 21-7 lead with less than a minute left in the second half.

"Going into the second half we had the momentum and stuck with our game plan and just came out and scored," Manney said.

Wellsboro opened the second half with an Osgood interception by Canton's Carlos Bolorin, but the Hornets were undaunted by the setback.

The Wellsboro defense stepped up and shut down the Warrior offense and forced a fourth-and-14 punting situation. The snap to Canton punter Brandon Fitzwater was high and went sailing into the end zone.

Quick thinking on the part of Fitzwater helped him chase down the ball in the end zone and fire off a desperation pass that fell incomplete.

Wellsboro took over possession at the Canton 19-yard line. Jeremy Walrath capped the drive by bulling his way into the end zone from five yards out to give Wellsboro a 28-7 lead with five minutes remaining in the game.

Priset capped the night for the Hornets with a 62 yard touchdown scamper with 6:28 remaining in the game.

Next on the agenda for Wellsboro will be Homecoming this Friday, October 4, when they face non-league foe Montgomery (4-1).

"Although its not a league game, it will still go toward districts," Manney said. "We're still trying to go one game at a time."

When the Green Hornets face off against Montgomery, not only will they be relying on their offense to power them to another win, they will be depending on special teams to squelch Montgomery's main threats.

"Montgomery has a good running back who is also outstanding kickoff and punt return if Manney said of Montgomery's Eric Segraves. The team is based around him. Our challenge is to stop a good back. We will be trying to do what we have to on our side of the ball and keep them from giving up the big play. He's their show."

The Wellsboro offense will be looking to Matt Priset to lead the rushing charge. Although this marks the first time Manney has led the Green Hornets into a contest against Montgomery, he said the biggest obstacle to overcome will be the Montgomery linebackers.

"Priset is on a good track to go over 1,000 yards this season and we will also be depending on our fullback Brandon Keck. We’ll be getting him in the mix more," Manney said.

"When we can do that it will open up the passing. We will be mixing it up on offense. Will Osgood is doing an average job," Manney said. "He has the ability, but needs the confidence."

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. The presentation of the Homecoming court and the crowing of the queen will take place at halftime.