Hornets Get Off To A Fast Start, Hang On To Beat Towanda

By: Ed Weaver  /  October 9, 2026  /  Photo: Chris Manning

TOWANDA - Wellsboro erased a four-game losing streak, and shook off some offensive rust in the process, in a 16-7 win at Towanda on Thursday evening.

The Hornets produced just 25 points during the skid, while being held to under 200 yards of offense in three of those four games, but got off to a fast start against the Black Knights.

"I'm really proud of these guys, it's been a bumpy road to get to this point," head coach Matt Hildebrand said. "We really got on the guys this week at practice. We asked for more intensity on the sideline and I think they responded well coming out, putting up two scores. We left scores out there, we still have to clean things up, but super proud."

Wellsboro scored on their two opening possessions to start the game. On their first drive, they only needed 4 plays and one minute and 46 seconds. Highlighted by a 58-yard pass from junior Griffin Morral to senior Ethan Keane, the Hornets cashed in from 1st-and-goal from the two on a short jaunt by junior Reed Richardson for a 6-0 lead.

The Black Knights put together a good opening drive after the Wellsboro touchdown, getting inside the Hornet red zone, only to have a 35-yard field goal attempt blocked by the Hornets' defensive line. Wellsboro recovered the blocked kick at their own 46-yard line and went back to work. Runs by senior Max Mascho and Richardson moved Wellsboro to the Towanda 18, where Morral and Keane connected again, this time resulting in an 18-yard touchdown. Morral then connected with sophomore Christian Main on the two-point conversion, putting Wellsboro up 14-0 with 3:01 left in the opening quarter.

"I think a lot of people looked at our record coming in, and its very easy to overlook us, but it was very important that we got up early and the kids responded right away,"continued Hildebrand. "Griffin threw the ball well early on. We made some mistakes down the stretch but we were able to get it done."

Towanda put points on the scoreboard as the 2nd quarter started on a 3-yard run by Gage Evans to cut the lead down to 14-7, but from that point on, it was a defensive stalemate up until the final frame.

After their opening drive of the fourth quarter stalled, Wellsboro was forced to punt the ball back to the Black Knights, but came up with a turnover one play later. On their own 22-yard line, Towanda's Reese Sluyter's pass was intercepted by senior Asher Davenport and returned to the 30. Morral connected with Richardson on a 16-yard pass to the Towanda 14, only to have the drive end on an interception in the end zone. The Black Knights were then hit with the penalty bug. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty backed them up 10 yards to their 10, then a delay of game and two false starts moved the ball back to the 1. The Black Knights setup a screen pass on 3rd-and-long, but Richardson diagnosed the play quickly from his linebacker position and dropped Gage Evans in the end zone for a safety. The tackle for loss put Wellsboro up 16-7 with 6:31 left to play, and was the game's final score.

Towanda attempted an onsides kick after the safety, which Wellsboro recovered, but their drive ended in another turnover to give the Black Knights one last crack at a comeback. Sluyter connected on back-to-back pass plays to Curtis Maynard, gaining 35 yards, then called his own number on a 3-yard run to the Wellsboro 41. From there, the Hornet defense tightened and junior Kody Enck dropped Sluyter for a sack back at midfield to take back over.

With 1:53 remaining Wellsboro's offense needed to get a first down to secure the win as Towanda started using timeouts. Mascho made sure of that as he broke free around the Wellsboro sideline on a 14-yard gain on 3rd-and-11. The Hornets then took a knee on the following play from the victory formation.

"That's something we haven't been able to do, get yards when we've needed them the most. That was huge there and a total team effort," added Hildebrand.

Morral finished 7-of-16 through the air for 154 yards and a TD in his first action since the 19th over at Canton. Keane was on the receiving end of three Morral passes for 84 yards, Mascho caught two for 45, Richardson had one catch for 16 yards and Main hauled in a 9-nine pass. Mascho led Wellsboro's ground game, finishing with 87 yards on 19 carries. Richardson added 9 carries for 23 yards and a score, and made 13 tackles, including the safety, on defense. Enck added 9 tackles and a sack.

Sluyter completed 9 passes for 108 yards and Evans ran 11 times for 48 yards. Shane Maghamez was the Black Knights' leading receiver with three grabs for 62 yards.

Next up for the Hornets (2-5, 2-3 NTL Large School Division) is their Homecoming match up against Wyalusing, while the Black Knights (3-4, 3-4 NTL Large School Division) travel to Montgomery.

"It's not my favorite time of year, lots of distractions, but we're at home and we only have four of them this year, so the kids are excited and going into Homecoming off a win is great."