Wellsboro Hornets buzz Trojans 40-14 in season opener.

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The Wellsboro Hornets won their season opening football game with a 40-14 win over the Trojans of Troy.

Led by experienced seniors, the Hornets' defense put almost constant pressure on the Trojan's quarterbacks. The Trojan quarterbacks were 5 for 12 in the passing department for a total of 16 yards, were intercepted twice and amassed a total of 210 yards both passing and running.

Pat Coolidge, the Hornets' starter playing his first game, showed poise underpressure according to Coach Morral. Coolidge passed to four different receivers for a total of 77 yards while being intercepted only once. Coolidge also intercepted a Trojans' pass.

The Hornets had 17 first downs to the Trojans' seven and scored in every quarter. They led 20-0 at the half They allowed only eight points in the third quarter and six in the final quarter. They scored 20 in the second half as the game was never in doubt.

The Hornets' ground game amassed 245 yards and averaged 5.4 yards per rush. Coolidge led all rushers in averaging seven yards a carry. Dontae Williams averaged 5.9 yards per carry and was the workhorse with 15 carries and 89 yards in addition to crushing blocks for the other runners.

Colie Stone ran in from 11 yards out with 4:09 gone in the first quarter for the first score of the game. The two-point conversion run by Tim Shaw was stopped short. Dontae Williams then blasted one yard for the Hornets' second score after 11:50 had gone by in the quarter. Shawn Tom ran in for the two-point conversion.

Ed Baxter then ran 54 yards with the ball to score the third touchdown for the Hornets with 3:21 gone in the second quarter to cap the first half scoring.

The Trojans opened the third quarter by scoring on a 77 yard run by Matt May. The two-point conversion pass was completed by junior quarterback Ryan Ammerman to junior receiver Jordan Borek.

With 2:44 gone the Hornets responded with Williams running the ball in from the one-yard line. Tim Shaw was stopped short on the two-point conversion attempt. The Trojans then scored with 5:37 gone in the fourth quarter with a 82 yard run by May to make the score 26-14 in favor of the Hornets. The Hornets answered the challenge with two touchdown drives to close the scoring.

The first touchdown drive culminated in a 10 yard run by Shawn Tom and the two-point pass failed. The second touchdown was scored with 1:35 remaining as Tim Shaw ran the ball in from the three-yard line, Jesse Tom then ran in the two-point conversion.

Jeremy Walrath had two receptions for 22 total yards. Eric Miller had two receptions for 29 yards, Ed Baxter returned two punts for a total of 58 yards.

 

Coach Morral praised the efforts of the defense and offense and said that for a first game the players did well but needed to improve.