Green Hornets' big man makes huge play in win.

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CANTON - As shifty Canton running back Tyrell Wheeler weaved through a broken field and toward the end zone, Wellsboro's district playoff hopes started fading.

Wellsboro had dominated much of the first three quarters at Canton, but had just a six-point lead to show for it. Now that lead and possibly its season was evaporating as Wheeler, who already had scored on a 70 yard reception, raced inside the five-yard line.

But an unlikely hero emerged from behind as 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive lineman Zack Luczak sprinted in and stripped the ball at the one-yard line. Matt Weaver recovered in the end zone and Wellsboro later clinched the game on a Pat Dreibelbies 11 yard run as they defeated Canton, 18-6.

Luczak's hustle play might be the biggest of the season for Wellsboro (5-3) as the Hornets snapped a two-game losing streak, handed Canton its first loss and now control their own District 4 Class AA playoff destiny. The senior two-way starter showed that no matter how bad things might have gone the last two weeks when an injury-riddled team playing without four starters lost consecutive blowouts, this experienced group was not about to surrender its postseason aspirations.

"Zack Luczak making that play on the goal line and not giving up...those are the plays that make a team," Wellsboro coach Chris Morral said. "We went into the week saying we have a three-game season left and today was the first step and I can't give enough credit to these kids."

Luczak's play was one of many great ones that Wellsboro's defense made as the Green Hornets forced six turnovers and held a prolific offense to just 212 yards, including five on its first five possessions. Canton (7-1) trailed 12-6 at halftime and moved into Wellsboro territory on its first four second-half possessions, but Wellsboro never let it score as it continuously made big plays at key times.

It was fitting then that a defensive play pointed the way to victory. Cameron Jones jumped a route, intercepted Reese Holmes and returned his second pick 33 yards to the 11-yard line with 4:58 remaining. Dreibelbies (26 carries, 100 yards) barreled over several defenders on the next play, scoring the game-clinching touchdown.

"It's been a rough last two games we lost, but it was their homecoming and we had to show up and play hard and that's what we did," said Jake Coolidge, who ran for 115 yards, intercepted a pass, and scored on a 45 yard second quarter touchdown that put Wellsboro up 12-0. "We had a couple injuries and we got them all back and that really boosted our morale."

One of those returning players was Nate Luczak, a 6-4, 330-pound two-way starter and his impact was immediate as he helped stuff the run and applied consistent pressure to Holmes. The result was that, except for that 70 yard pass play to Wheeler, an explosive offense was stifled.

Holmes had thrown for 1,419 yards and 19 touchdowns in his first seven games. Against Canton, all he saw was a swarm of white as he was pressured nearly every time he dropped back or rolled out. The few times Holmes wasn't rushed he still had trouble finding receivers as Wellsboro's linebackers and defensive backs blanketed Canton receivers.

"It was a game where I felt like our guys had a little coming out and they played well," Morral said. "They fought through and they executed. That was the bottom line. It came down to execution defensively."

Canton kept hopes for an undefeated season alive by consistently stopping Wellsboro drives. The Warriors forced four turnovers and three times stopped Wellsboro from inside the 30-yard line. Justin Brown and Bill Sourbeer combined for 25 tackles and Wheeler intercepted two passes.

That opportunistic defense kept Canton in the game despite Wellsboro outgaining it 161-3 at one point in the first half.

"At halftime we told the kids 'you don't know how lucky you are to only be down 12-6," Canton coach Miller H. Moyer said. "We just weren't very consistent offensively. There's two games to go and we told the kids there are a lot of teams in Pennsylvania that would love the opportunity to finish the regular season 9-1. We can't dwell on this because we have two big games coming up."

Considering it would have dropped out of the top eight in the Class AA field, Wellsboro knew its biggest game to date was Saturday. The Hornets showed early that they would do everything possible to win. Steve Mengee, who also had an interception, caught a 65 yard pass but was stripped at the 10-yard line. Garrett Stager hustled into the end zone and recovered the ball, giving Wellsboro a 6-0 lead.

"Every team has mistakes," said Mengee, a solid linebacker who recovered a fumble and made seven tackles. "You can't put your head down. You just have to keep up and keep pushing."

Jones completed two long passes early and topped 1,000 passing yards for a second straight year while Coolidge and Dreibelbies both topped 100 yards on the ground.

Wellsboro now is 7th in the district standings and ends its season with games against East Juniata and North Penn. Wins in those games would put Wellsboro in districts for the first time this decade.