Wellsboro scores 36-14 win over Sayre, looks toward rivalry game.

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The Wellsboro Hornets ripped off 22 fourth quarter points to defeat the Sayre football team 36-14 on Friday, October 29.

The Redskins (3-6, 2-4 in the NTL) took an early 7-6 lead in the second quarter on a 69 yard fumble return by Justin Donovan, but the Hornets (3-6, 3-3 NTL) responded.

"I expected the game to break open," said Wellsboro coach Chris Morral. "All we needed was some big plays and we got them."

Three different Hornets scored touchdowns in the final frame to make the difference in the game. Wellsboro recorded 414 yards of total offense and the defense held Sayre to 175 yards.

"It was a great overall team effort," Morral said, adding that a lot of players contributed.

"Our offensive line stepped up and got the job done," Morral said. Wellsboro found success with a few offensive adjustments. Sophomore Tim Shaw started at quarterback and ended the game with six completions on 20 attempts for 143 yards. He also had a touchdown pass and was intercepted once.

Senior Pat Coolidge, who had been the quarterback, moved over to split end. Jeremy Walrath moved back to tight end where he started the season and did a good job receiving and blocking, Morral said. Walrath caught three passes for a total of 64 yards.

Morral explained that Shaw is the likely future quarterback and has worked hard in practice. The coach was also impressed with Coolidge's abilities at split end. The goal, Morral said, was to find the best combination and put those players on the field.

On the defensive side, Coolidge and Shaw both picked off Duane Stuppler passes. The defense recorded a total of eight sacks. Walrath recorded four of them. Willie Blackwell had two sacks and Kyle Borden and Dontae Williams had one each.

Another underclassman, sophomore Jesse Tom, was the workhorse in the Hornet running game as he rushed 21 times for 170 yards.

Tom scored the first points of the game on a 41 yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion failed and Wellsboro led 6-0 after the first quarter.

Sayre struck next with 10:33 left in the second quarter on a 69 yard fumble return by Justin Donovan. The extra point was good and the Redskins took the 7-6 lead.

The Hornets came back with 30 seconds left in the half. The Hornets tried a pass to the end zone on fourth down. A pass interference call gave them the ball and a first down and goal.

On the very next play, Shaw connected on a 15 yard touchdown pass to Eric Miller and Shawn Tom ran in for the two-point conversion. It was Miller's only reception of the game, but it allowed Wellsboro to take the 14-7 lead into the locker room.

Walrath intercepted a pass and returned it to the Sayre 30 as time expired in the half.

Both teams were held scoreless in the third quarter. The Redskins tied the game early in the fourth on a one yard run by Stuppler.

Wellsboro then responded with touchdown runs of one yard by Dustin Harsch, eight yards by Jesse Tom, and 42 yards by Colie Stone, The Harsch run was set up by a 50 yard pass, which put the Hornets in the red zone.

The Tom run was set up after Wellsboro recovered a fumble deep in Sayre territory. He scored on the following play.

Wellsboro now looks toward their season finale as they take on North Penn for the Morton Jones Trophy. Even though neither team is in line for the playoffs, Morral said he is looking forward to playing a good team.

"It's a rivalry week and I hope our school can respond and our community can respond," Morral said.

The Panthers have won the annual grudge match two years in a row and the Hornets are looking to take the trophy back. "I want to bring that fire back to the community," Morral said.

The game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. Friday at Wellsboro.