Rams Grind Out 21-6 Homecoming Win Over Wellsboro
By: Ed Weaver / October 7, 2023 / Photo: Lance Larcom/ntwsportsreport.com
Wyalusing's Dylan Johns scored a pair of second quarter touchdowns to lead the Rams to a 21-6 Homecoming win over visiting Wellsboro on Friday, October 6.
Johns found the end zone for the first time of the evening with 6:26 remaining in the second quarter as he got behind the Wellsboro secondary for a 27-yard catch from Jonathan Earle. Johns added his second score of the game just over three minutes later, with 3:23 left in the opening half, on a 10-yard run. The Rams' Casey God ran in the two-point conversion on Johns' first score, but failed on the second attempt, giving the Rams a 14-0 lead over the Hornets at the half.
Things looked promising early on for Wellsboro as they recovered a fumble on the 5th play of the game and moved the ball down to the Wyalsuing 12, due to a 21-yard pass from sophomore Marek Mascho to junior Jacob Dean, however the Ram defense intercepted Mascho three plays later. Johns' second touchdown was also setup by another interception of Mascho.
After a scoreless third quarter the Rams struck again to start the fourth after forcing yet another Wellsboro interception. Starting at the Hornet 18, it took the Ram offense just four plays to hit pay dirt as Ayden Hunsinger plowed his way in from 2 yards out to put the Rams in front 21-0 following Olivia Haley's extra point.
Wellsboro avoided being shut out with a score late in the fourth quarter. Following Wylusing's only punt of the game, a 12-yard return by freshman Max Mascho gave the Hornets excellent starting field postion at their 43. Wellsboro went to the air right away as junior QB Will Gastrock found Mascho for a 12-yard gain. A holding penalty and back-to-back incompletions had Wellsboro facing 4th-and-17 from their own 48, but again Gastrock connected with Mascho, this time for 20 yards, to keep the drive alive and give them a first down at the Wyalusing 32. Gastrock found sophomore Jonathan Carl the next play for a 31-yard gain down to the one, where Gastrock capped the drive a play later for Wellsboro's only points of the game. Carl's extra point attempt was no good.
Earle attempted only 5 passes on the evening, completing three of them, for 71 yards. The majority of the Rams' offensive yardage came from their running back by committee approach. Johns led the way with 72 yards on 13 carries while God rushed 12 times for 44 yards and Hunsinger carried the ball 11 times for 41 yards. Johns hauled in two passes for 60 total yards and Cade McMicken caught Earle's other pass for 11 yards.
Gastrock led Wellsboro through the air, completing 5-of-11 passes for 77 yards while Marek Mascho finished 3-for-11 for 41 yards. Senior Hayes Campbell led Wellsboro's receiving corps with 4 catches for 34 yards. Max Mascho caught two passes for 32 yards, and Carl (32) and Dean (21) both caught individual passes. The Hornets' ground game produced 35 yards on the night, their longest run coming by Dean (36 yards) on the game's final play.
Wyalusing improves to 4-3 overall (4-2 NTL Large School Division) while the Hornets fall to 2-5 (2-4 NTL Large School Division. The Hornets host South Williamsport for Homecoming next Friday night while the Rams host Loyalsock.
