WELLSBORO — Conner Adams caught two TD passes and ran for two more
scores in the first half as Wellsboro raced out to a 42-7 halftime lead
en route to a 49-13 win over Athens here Friday night in NTL Large
School football action.
Adams, who added a TD in the third
quarter, rushed for 137 yards and three TDs on just nine carries, and
caught three passes for 77 yards, and two TDs.
Wellsboro QB Isaac Keane completed 8 of 11 passes in the game for 235 yards and three TDs.
“We
showed what we can do when it’s clicking,” Wellsboro coach Matt
Hildebrand said. “We’re getting guys back and we’re getting healthy.”
Wellsboro
needed just four plays to get on the scoreboard. On the second play of
the game, Keane connected with Jack Poirier on a 54-yard completion to
the Athens 15. Two plays later, Darryn Callahan scored on a 7-yard TD
run. Poirier’s PAT kick made it 7-0 with 10:02 remaining in the first
quarter.
After forcing a three-and-out, Wellsboro put together
another quick scoring drive, with Keane connecting with Adams on a
28-yard scoring strike to make it 14-0 with 7:16 left in the first
quarter.
After another Athens three-and-out, Wellsboro found
paydirt again. On fourth-and-6, Keane hooked up with Adams on a 33-yard
TD pass to make it 21-0 with 3:06 left in the first quarter.
The
Wildcats picked up their initial first down of the game on their next
possession, but a deflected pass on third down resulted in a Keane
interception and 19-yard return to the Athens 24.
On the final play of the first quarter, Keane found Spencer Wetzel open for a 25-yard TD to make it 28-0.
The scoring pace slowed, until a 7-yard TD run by Adams with 1:56 remaining in the first half extended the lead to 35-0.
The
Wildcats offense clicked to life following the ensuing kick-off. Junior
QB Mason Lister connected with senior tailback Shayne Reid for a
40-yard completion to the Wellsboro 25, then found senior Karter Rude
for an 18-yard completion.
On the next play, Reid made a diving
catch in the end zone to put the Wildcats on the board. Reid’s PAT kick
trimmed the deficit to 35-7 with 59 seconds remaining in the first half.
However, the first-half scoring was not finished.
Despite
being backed up to their own 15 by a penalty on the ensuing kickoff,
the Green Hornets quick drove down field, powered by a 24-yard scramble
Keane, who then found Dylan Abernathy open for a 46-yard completion to
the Athens 15.
The next play appeared to be a tailback-option
pass, but Adams, who took a pitch from Keane, pulled the ball down and
scampered 15 yards to paydirt with 12 seconds remaining in the half.
Poirier’s seventh PAT kick of the half made it 42-7.
Senior J.J.
Babcock hauled in a 27-yard TD pass from Lister with 3:04 remaining in
the third quarter, but just 60 seconds later, Adams busted loose on a
74-yard TD run to provide the final margin.
Lister completed 15
of 25 passes for 180 yards, two TDs, and one interception. Rude led
Athens’ receivers with five catches for 85 yards, while Reid had four
receptions for 40 yards, and one TD, and Babcock added three grabs for
53 yards and one TD.
Athens managed just 3 rushing yards on 25
carries, thanks in part minus-27 yards from Lister, who was sacked four
times. Reid led the ‘Cats with 29 yards on 15 carries.
Wellsboro amassed 520 yards in total offense, including 285 rushing yards.
Athens, now 5-4, wraps up the regular season Friday night at Sayre in the annual “Rusty Rail Game.”
EAST TROY — Athens scored two quick goals, and cruised to an 8-0 win
over Troy here Thursday afternoon to clinch the NTL boys soccer title.
For
the Wildcats, who posted a 9-1 mark in league play, it is their seventh
league title in eight years, after being displaced from the top spot by
Wellsboro last year.
“It feels good to be back on top,” said
Athens coach Jake Lezak. “We gained a lot of perspective after last
year. I think it leveled the players to know they had to fight for it,
and work for it.
“It means a lot to these guys,” noted Lezak. “To
lose at home (to Wellsboro), then to have to beat Wellsboro there, and
win out the remainder of the season … the guys talked about having to
win out, and getting one step closer with each win.
TOWANDA — Athens started strong and cruised to a sweep of Towanda here
Wednesday night in NTL Large School volleyball action, clinching a
postseason berth in the process.
With the win, Athens improves to
6-6 and qualifies for postseason play. Because there are just two Class
AAA teams in District 4, the Lady Wildcats will attempt to play its way
into the state tournament through District 2. They open play Saturday
at top-seeded Berwick (12-1) at noon in the opening round of the
District 2-4, Class AAA Sub-Regionals.
“I am really proud of this
team for putting it together,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “We
talked a lot about finding a way or making one.
“They have come
together as a team and that's the biggest thing,” added Hanson.
“Learning that together everyone achieves more is the most important
life lesson.”
The Lady Wildcats topped the Lady Black Knights Wednesday by scores of 25-10, 25-16, and 25-17.
“I am very proud of the girls, and how they played tonight,” said Hanson. “The girls played incredible.
“We
were missing Taylor Walker, who is one of our loud girls, (but) Ally
Martin really stepped up and was loud and had massive kills tonight,”
Hanson added.
WAVERLY — Athens freshman Sara Bronson ran away from the field,
finishing 42 seconds ahead of runner-up, Waverly freshman Harper
Minaker, here Tuesday afternoon in the varsity girls portion of the
annual Tom Koons Valley Cross Country Invitational.
The Lady Wildcats won the team title by virtue of having the only complete team.
Bronson
clocked in at 20:23, and Minaker finished in 21:05, while Waverly
sophomore Elizabeth Vaughn was third in 22:40, Waverly senior Olivia
Nittinger was fourth in 23:17, and Athens sophomore Thea Bentley
finished fifth in 24:09.
Sayre junior Corey Ault was sixth in
26:50, edging out Athens sophomore Emily Henderson was seventh in 26:52,
Athens sophomore Cailyn Conklin was eighth in 27:23, Sayre’s Rose
Shikanga was ninth in 27:27, and Waverly sophomore Ally Barrett was 10th
in 27:28.
Athens senior Ruby Kinsman finished 11th in 30:48, and Sayre Deborah Shikanga was 12th in 31:23.
WAVERLY — Athens, led by senior Matt Gorsline and junior Ethan
Denlinger, had five of the top six runners to cross the finish line here
Monday afternoon in the varsity boys race at the annual Tom Koons
Valley Cross Country Invitational at the Waverly Glen.
The Wildcats won the team title, and were the only complete team in the field.
Gorsline
clocked in at 17:39.0, and Denlinger was second in a wild finish with
the next two runners just 0.56 behind.. Denlinger finished in 17:45.57,
while Waverly senior Nate Ackley was third in 17:45.88, and Athens
senior Kyle Anthony was fourth in 17:46.13,
Athens freshman Carter Lewis was fifth in 18:52, and Athens sophomore Nate Prickitt was sixth in 19:47.
Waverly
seniors Sam VanDyke (19:50) and Gavin Schilmoeller (20:11) finished
seventh and eighth, respectively, while Athens seniors Izaak Hobday
(20:20), and Sander Bertsch (21:45) were ninth and 10th.
Sayre’s
Braylon Dekay was 11th in 22:18, while Waverly sophomore Brayden Hurd
was 12th in 22:32, and Athens senior Brendan Jones (23:31) was 13th, and
Athens freshmen Pierce Oldroyd (24:29), Ryan Gorman (27:11) and Lohith
Kinthala (29:06) were 14th through 16th.
Sayre’s Andrew Panek was 17th in 31:44.
ATHENS — Junior Jenny Ryan had a triple-double to lead Athens to a sweep
of Troy here Monday night in NTL Large School volleyball action.
The Lady Wildcats, now 5-6, won by scores of 25-17, 25-15, and 26-24.
“The ladies played well tonight,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “They worked great as a team tonight again.”
Ryan
recorded 18 digs, 11 kills, and 13 setter assists to go along with five
service points to lead the Lady Wildcats, while senior Taylor Walker
had 12 points, 13 digs, five kills, and three assists, and senior Ally
Martin had 10 points (two aces), 16 digs, seven kills, and one block.
Freshman
libero Ella Coyle had eight points, and 22 digs in the win, and junior
Cassy Friend registered five blocks and two kills.
“Ella Coyle with 22 digs and 17 serve receptions; she showed why she is wearing that purple jersey,”
said Hanson. Casey Friend was a wall tonight, with f solo blocks — that has got to be a record at Athens.”
Junior
Braelynn Wood added seven points, four digs, and two kills for the Lady
Wildcats, while freshman Kassie Babcock had three points, and two
kills, and junior Audrey Clare chipped in with four assists.
Athens returns to action Thursday at Towanda.
HUGHESVILLE — Hughesville scored early in the second half on an Athens
miscue to take a 2-0 lead on its way to a 3-1 win over Athens here
Monday night in non-league girls soccer action.
“We played really
well overall against a very good team,” said Athens coach Rich Pitts.
“Our defense played really well all night
“I’m also happy with
how we are getting forward and getting looks,” added Pitts. (But) we
need to keep working on the finishing part.”
Kayleigh Rocker, off a feed from Haley Sherwood, gave the Lady Spartans a 1-0 lead midway through the first half.
The Lady Wildcats fell behind 2-0 about five minutes after the intermission on an own goal that was credited to Kate Forten.
Senior
Hannah Walker put the Lady Wildcats on the board about 2 1/2 minutes
later with a free kick from 20 yards out to trim the deficit to 2-1.
“It was a perfect strike into the upper-90,” said Pitts.
However,
sophomore Sophia Clark found the net from 25 yards out on a free kick
with 19 1/2 minutes remaining to put Hughesville up 3-1.
Hughesville had an 8-4 edge in shots-on-goal, and a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Karlee Bartlow recorded seven saves in net for the Lady Wildcats.
Athens, now 9-8, returns to action Thursday when it travels to Northeast Bradford.
ATHENS — Bloomsburg scored in the 11th minute of the game, and then
tacked on an insurance goal late in a 2-0 non-league win over Athens
here on a rainy Saturday morning.
“We played really great soccer
in tough conditions,” said Athens coach Rich Pitts. “I challenged the
girls pre game to put a total 80 minutes together, and we had only two
moments that cost us goals.
“They did what I asked game-plan
wise, other than finishing a few balls,” he noted. “We were way better
going forward and attacking.
“On to Monday for another tough,
non-conference match-up that I think we we ready for,” added Pitts, in
reference to the Lady Wildcats’ trip to Hughesville.
Elaina Flick
put Bloomsburg on the board about 10 1/2 minutes in the game on a shot
that slipped through the hands of the Athens keeper.
With 5:44 remaining in the contest, freshman Teagan Serrano scored on a direct kick to provide the final margin.
Athens had a 4-3 advantage in shots-on-goal, and a 1-0 edge in corner kicks.
Athens falls to 9-7 on the season.
ROME — It couldn’t have been a better day for Athens runners at the NTL
Coaches’ Invitational. The boys won the team title, avenging their dual
meet loss to CV earlier this week, while the Bronson sisters took first
and third in the girls’ race.
The Wildcat boys had four in the
top 12, and five in the top 20. They finished with 49 points, outpacing
second-place Wyalusing (63) by 14 places. The Rams edged CV (63) for
second place via tie-breaker.
On Tuesday, CV was able to go 1-2-3
on Athens, but on Saturday, the Wildcats’ Matt Gorsline (18:01.8) and
Kyle Anthony (18:08.60) broke up that pack, getting ahead of CV’s third
runner, Nathaniel Welch (18:13.6), to take sixth and seventh overall.
“I
knew I had to get that number three Cow Val kid,” said Gorsline.
“Kyle’s been struggling with an injury, and, he’s been struggling to get
back to where he was, and today he executed really well, so I’m hoping
he’s starting to feel better going into districts.”
Ethan
Denlinger (18:24.6) finished in the top 10 at ninth, while Carter Lewis
(18:39.2) was 11th, and Isaac Hobday (19:43) took 20th.
Nate Prickitt (19:58.2) finished 24th, and Sander Bertsch (21:07.3) was 38th to round out their top seven.
They had the tightest split of any team at the meet, just 1:41 between 1-through-5, and 40 seconds between 1-through-4.
While
it was more than enough to claim the Invitational title, they’ll need
to keep working if they want to do well at districts. The defending
state champions for Class AA, Lewisburg, are in District IV, while
Danville will also be a formidable opponent.
“We’re going to be
hitting some tough workouts,” said Gorsline. “Really just prepping for
it. We know where in the pack we need to be. Hopefully, three of us will
work together - Ethan, Kyle, and I.”
In the girls’ race, freshman
Wildcat Sara Bronson (21:01.3) cruised to the win, besting runner-up
Alyssa Parks of Troy (21:40.3) by nearly 40 seconds.
“It was a
pretty competitive race, which is good,” said Sara. “I’m pretty happy
with how I ran. It’s nice being able to train with great teammates who
help, and great coaches really help too.”
Her sister, Emma Bronson (21:57.6), took third overall coming off an injury. She missed Tuesday’s dual meet race at NEB.
“I felt pretty good,” said Emma. “It felt good to run again.”
This is the first time the two have been teammates, and they’re enjoying the extra time they’re spending together.
“It’s awesome being able to run with her,” Emma remarked.
Emma won the NTL Invitational last year, while Sara took second in the junior high race a year ago.
“It’s really nice being able to train together, and push each other, because we run so well,” said Sara.
Fellow
Wildcat Thea Bentley (24:29.7) finished 20th as Athens was third as a
team with 102 points. Troy (57) and Wyalusing (62) took first and
second, while the Wildcats edged NEB (112).
Emily Henderson (26:40.5) finished 36th, and Caitlyn Conklin (27:53.7) took 48th to round out their top five.
For
Sayre, Corey Ault (26:55.5) took 39th in the girls’ race, while in the
boys’ race Braylon DeKay (23:31.9) finished 59th, and Andrew Panek
(31:02.9) was 79th.
In the junior high boys race, Athens (38) was
edged out by Troy (35) for the team title. Graham Wanck (10:29.7) and
Eli Hicks (10:45.5) took second and fourth, respectively, for the
Wildcats.
On the girls’ side Addison Bruns (12:26.40) came in
fifth for the Wildcats, who were third overall with 70 points. Sayre’s
Mackenzie Chamberlain (12:42) finished seventh overall.
ATHENS — The good and the bad was on display for Athens in its 34-10
loss to unbeaten Canton in NTL football action here Friday at Alumni
Stadium.
LIBERTY — North Penn-Liberty remained unbeaten in league play with a
sweep of Athens, which was playing in its third road match in four
nights, here Thursday evening in NTL volleyball action.
The Lady Mountaineers won by scores of 25-6, 25-20, and 25-14.
“We
played like a team and played like we were winning,” said Athens coach
Heather Hanson. “The attitudes were awesome and play was hard. As a
coach, that’s what you want to see.
“NPL is a great team,: she noted. “We definitely had to earn our points.
“Interestingly,
we missed six serves tonight and we missed 6 serves last night,” added
Hanson. “When you win 6 missed serves isn't a lot. When you lose 6
missed serves is a lot.
Jenny Ryan had 21 digs, three kills, and
two points (two aces), while Ella Coyle had 17 digs, Ally Margin had 13
digs, and five kills, and Taylor Walker registered seven kills and five
digs.
Braelynn Wood had four kills and four digs for the Lady
Wildcats, while Kassie Babcock chipped in with seven digs, Audrey Clare
added six digs, and Cassy Friend chipped in with two kills and two
digs.
Aubry Pequingot led NP-L with 22 assists, 13 digs, and
three aces, while Darby Stetter had 15 kills and 20 digs, Megan Spohn
added 10 assists, and three aces, and Payton Chapel and Emerald Walker
had kills and one block apiece.
Athens, now 4-6, hosts Troy Monday night.
TOWANDA — Senior Hannah Walker scored midway through the first half to
lift Athens to a 1-9 win over Towanda here Thursday night in NTL girls
soccer action.
“Defensively, we did a really ice job,” said
Athens coach Rich Pitts. “Towanda played really hard tonight and battled
for 80 minutes.
“I thought we played OK in moments, but we need
to be a whole lot better offensively,” added Pitts. “So, the next two
weeks we need to work in the offensive end more. “
Athens outshot Towanda, 10-2, and had a 7-0 edge in corner kicks.
Athens, now 9-6, hosts Bloomsburg Saturday at 11 a.m.
ATHENS — Athen scored three goals in less than 10 minutes early in the
first half in a 6-0 win over Galeton here Thursday afternoon in NTL boys
soccer action.
The Wildcats dominated play, outshooting Galeton, 20-1. They also had a 9-0 edge in corner kicks.
Junior
Levent VanHolden scored about four minutes into the game to give Athens
a 1-0 lead, and senior Nate Quinn, off a feed from senior Mason Hughey,
scored 3 1/2 minutes later to make it 2-0.
With 26:34 remaining in the first half, Hughey scored an unassisted goal to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
Senior Daniel Horton capped the first-half scoring with 12:30 left int he first half to make it 4-0.
Quinn scored 2 minutes into the second half to extend the lead to 5-0.
Sophomore Korey Miller finished off the scoring with 8:30 remaining in the game, off an assist from senior Jason Gao.
Athens, now 10-6, improves to 8-1 in league play, and can clinch the NTL title Thursday with a win at Troy.
TOWANDA — Back at full strength, Athens put together one of its best
performances of the season in a sweep of Towanda here Wednesday night in
NTL volleyball action.
The Lady Wildcats, who were without two starters Tuesday in a loss to Wellsboro, won by scores of 25-15, 25-16, and 25-20.
“It
was a great ‘team’ effort,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “No ‘one’
individual outperformed the other. They all did it together.”
The Wildcats were nearly perfect at the service line, putting 64 of 70 serves (91 percent) in play.
Jenny
Ryan led Athens with five service points, four kills, one block and
four digs, while Audrey Clare had three service aces, eight kills, and
seven digs, and Kassie Babcock had two aces, eighth kills and three
digs.
Ella Coyle recorded 18 digs for the Lady Wildcats, while
Ally Martin had two aces, four kills, and six digs, Braelynn Wood had
two aces, three kills, and four digs, Taylor Walker had five kills and
six digs, Cailin McDaniel added four digs, and Cassy Friend chipped in
with one block.
Paige Manchester had 21 kills, two blocks, two points, and 10 digs for Towanda, as Addy Maynard had eight points, and nine digs.
Maddy Maynard finished with six points, and 11 digs, as Aliyah Nimmo had a point, with six digs.
Athens, now 4-5, returns to action Thursday night at North Penn-Liberty in its third road match in as many nights.
WELLSBORO — Short-handed Athens, playing without two starters, dropped a
3-0 decision here Tuesday night in NTL Large School volleyball action.
The Lady Green Hornets won by scores of 25-9, 25-17, and 25-13.
Taylor
Walker led Athens with 13 setter assists, two kills, and one block,
while Cassy Friend had 13 digs, two kills, and one block, and Braelynn
Wood added seven kills, one block, and three digs.
Ally Martin
had six digs and two kills for the Lady Wildcats, while Ella Coyle
registered five digs and two kills, and Kassie Babcock chipped in with
three kills and three digs.
Athens, now 3-5, returns to action Thursday at Large School-leading North Penn-Liberty.