Punt return spoils Hornet homecoming.

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Two key mistakes may have cost the Wellsboro Hornets a shot at a the NTL crown Friday, October 10. Wellsboro hosted NTL powerhouse Towanda, the only undefeated team in the league, and kept pace until a fourth quarter punt return.

With 10 25 remaining in the fourth quarter the game was tied at 14. Wellsboro's offense was held and forced to punt.

Towanda's Bill Oliver made the catch, then raced 71 yards on the return to break the 14-all tie and give Towanda the 21-14 league win.

"Our special teams really let up and Towanda scored a touchdown," Wellsboro coach Chris Morral said of Oliver's big punt return. "It will be important for us to go back and check the personnel and evaluate."

According to Morral, on the preceding punt return Towanda had set up a strong wall of blockers, but the run was ended due to punter Pat Coolidge making the saving play.

"Our punter had to make a tackle. Those players in that position weren't getting the job done. Our special teams have hurt us," Morral said.

Despite the lack luster special teams performance, Morral was pleased with both the offensive and defensive efforts put forth by the Hornets.

"On offense and defense we played well enough to win the game. But when you have special teams play the way they did, you won't win games that are close," Morral said.

Despite Wellsboro's solid effort, Oliver led Towanda with 142 yards rushing on 30 carries.

"Oliver is a good running back. Coming in we knew in order to win we had to stop him," Morral said.

"During key times in the game the defense came up with stops," Morral said. "All in all, our field position throughout the game really hurt us whether punting or punt returning. From the start we never had control of the game due our field position."

Towanda scored their first touchdown with 4 54 remaining in the first quarter on a Scott Carter 34 yard run. Victor Snyder added the extra point to give Towanda a 7-0 lead.

Wellsboro struck back early in the second quarter on a Will Osgood 18 yard touchdown pass to Pat Coolidge. The extra point attempt failed and the Hornets entered halftime trailing, 7-6.

Towanda scored early in the second half on a Jake Papson eight yard touchdown run Snyder added the extra point for a 14-6 lead.

Midway through the third quarter Wellsboro's second mistake of the game resulted in a touchdown pass being called back due to an illegal formation call. Be that as it may, Wellsboro did regroup and get the ball into the end zone before the end of the frame. Osgood completed another touchdown pass. This time Jeremy Walrath pulled in the 22 yard toss to whittle Towanda's lead to 14-12.

Shawn Tom punched the ball in or the two-point conversion to knot the game with 2:48 remaining in the third quarter. Wellsboro held until Oliver's punt return. Wellsboro only amassed 98 yards rushing due to the strength of the Towanda defensive line.

"They were just stacking the box and I think they realize they had to stop our running game and force us to pass," Morral said. "Towanda put a lot of pressure on us. At those times we have to be able to throw the ball and execute offensively at key times of the games."

Will Osgood ended the night completing 10 of 26 passes for 88 yards.

"Many of the passes were good, they just went in and out of the hands of our receivers," Morral said.

Wellsboro returns to league action and hosts Athens Friday, October 17.