Wellsboro, trailing 17-14, concluded a 10-play drive that took them to the Black Knights’ one-yard line with Carls’ field goal and entered overtime with the ball. Towanda forced a Hornet field goal attempt from 29 yards out after an errant snap backed the Hornets up 16 yards on 2nd-and-6. Carl's kick was just wide of the goal posts, giving the Black Knights an opportunity for the win. 

Back-to-back runs by Riley Vanderpool, who accounted for 305 yards of Towanda's 378 yards of total offense, moved the ball down to the one, but the Black Knights were hit with a procedure penalty, moving the ball back to the six-yard line. After Vanderpool picked up a yard on third down, Wheaton came on to kick the game-winning field goal.

Ryder Bowen led the Hornets with 22 carries for 118 yards on the ground. The junior also made 21 tackles, came up with a 22-yard interception return and scored the game's first points on a 9-yard jaunt into the end zone with 5:53 remaining in the opening quarter. Carl’s extra point gave the Hornets a 7-0 lead.

Vanderpool scored on a 65-yard run for Towanda to start the 2nd quarter, but the Knights’ extra point attempt was no good. Wellsboro held the 7-6 lead the rest of the first half and up until the 7:44 mark in the third quarter when Wheaton connected on a 25-yard attempt and a 9-7 Black Knight lead.

With 3:26 remaining in the third quarter Wellsboro retook the lead on a 4-yard run by Bowen and stayed up 14-9 until a Towanda TD and good two-point conversion attempt with just 65 seconds left in regulation gave the Knights a 17-14 lead .. setting up the Carl’s game-extending kick.

Riley Vanderpool led Towanda with 215 rushing yards on 33 carries and went 5-9 for 90 yards through the air. 

Will Gastrock threw for 129 yards for Wellsboro, going 6-12, and Marek Mascho threw for 78 yards, going 4-9 in relief of Gastrock.

Hayes Campbell caught five passes for 105 yards while Max Mascho added 31 yards receiving on two receptions and Jacob Dean, Bowen and Marek Mascho all caught one pass each. 

Bowen's 21 tackles led the Hornets defensively, while Campbell added 13 stops, Dylan Copp had eight tackles, Hayden Stevens made five tackles and Lincoln DeCoursey had four tackles. Gastrock also forced a fumble that freshman Ethan Keane recovered.

Wellsboro (2-3, 2-2 NTL Large School Division) will be on the road the next two weeks, starting next Friday when they visit Troy. 

_____