Canton Defense Stymies Wellsboro In Saturday Afternoon Showdown

By: Ed Weaver  /  September 20, 2026  /  Photo: Dr. Robert Bair

The Canton Warriors' defense held Wellsboro to under 100 yards of total offense Saturday afternoon en route to a 14-6 victory, dropping the Hornets to 1-3 on the season.

Wellsboro started out moving the ball well after receiving the opening kickoff, converting two fourth down attempts to eventually work there way down to the Canton 30. An injury on the drive forced sophomore Derrick Blasz into action, where he quickly connected with senior Max Mascho on a 26-yard touchdown pass, right through the middle of the Warrior defense. A bad snap on the extra point try prevented the Hornets from putting the full 7-points on the board, and they held a 6-0 lead with 4:13 remaining in the opening quarter.

From that point on however, the Warriors' defense kept the Hornets' offense in check, coming up with four sacks and two turnovers.

The Warriors put points on the board and took the lead to start the second quarter. After forcing a fumble and recovering on the Wellsboro 8, the Warriors only needed three plays to hit pay dirt, a one-yard run by Owen Moore. Aaden Dowling made the extra point, putting Canton in front, 7-6, with 10:48 remaining in the half.

Neither team could get anywhere for the rest of the half as the Warriors held on to their one-point lead, but they struck early in the 3rd quarter.

After receiving the second half kickoff Canton put together a four-play drive that culminated on a 44-yard pass from Moore to Bailey Gardner with 10:42 on the clock. Dowling made his second extra point of the afternoon, giving the Warriors a 14-6 lead.

Both defenses played extremely tough the rest of the second half. Wellsboro's defense had 7 sacks on the game and forced two turnovers of their own, a fumble recovery on a punt by sophomore Sawyer Mead, and an interception by sophomore Christian Main. Canton limited Wellsboro to just 21 plays in the second half where they had 4 sacks of their own.

Blasz finished 6-of-16 for 51 yards and a touchdown. Moore, his counterpart, went 12-of-18 through the air for 210 yards and a TD. Junior Reed Richardson had 12 yards on 8 carries. Junior Griffin Morral also rushed for 12 yards on 2 carries, about completed 3-of-5 passes for 22 yards on the game's opening drive before being forced out with an injury. Mascho was the Hornets' leading receiver with 3 catches for 31 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Richardson, senior Levi Champaign and junior Kody Enck all recorded 7 tackles with junior Lance Starkweather and senior Izaya Campbell making six stops. Champaign and Starkweather both had two sacks and Enck, senior Ethan Keane and sophomore Mason Abplanalp adding the rest.

Rylan Wesneski was Moore's favorite target on the afternoon, hauling in 7 passes for 121 yards. Gardner finished with 58 yards on two receptions and a score.

Wellsboro (1-3, 1-1 NTL Large School Division) hosts Troy next Friday.