The first few drives weren’t anything to write home about. There were two turnovers off fumbles - one by each team - and there wasn’t a first down until under five minutes to play in the first quarter on Towanda’s third drive of the game.

That drive, though, proved fruitful, as the Knights went 67-yards on nine plays to hit pay dirt when Vanderpool find Reese Sluyter on a 15-yard pass play, with Sluyter sneaking into the corner of the end zone.

Two key players were completions of 12 and 11 yards by Vanderpool to keep the drive moving. Jack Wheaton hit the point after to make it 7-0 with 11:48 left in the first half.

“Once Vanderpool came back we knew Reese knew the offense,” Wecker said about his former quarterback turned receiver. “It’s a natural thing, and it just gives us another weapon, and he proved it tonight. The stage isn’t too big for him.”

Wellsboro’s ensuing drive ended in a punt with Towanda taking over at the Hornet 44-yard line. Vanderpool wasted no time, hitting Reese Sluyter for a 30-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. 

Two plays later Vanderpool found some room on the right side to run it in from 24-yards out to finish off the 56-yard, three play drive. Wheaton’s point after was good, and Towanda led 14-0 with 7:36 left in the half.

After the two teams traded punts Wellsboro got the ball back with 2:45 left to play in the half but at midfield. That’s when Morral hit Carl down the sideline for a 36-yard gain, with Carl having the catch of the night, going up over the defensive back.

Two plays later Morral found Marek Mascho for a 12-yard scoring strike. The snap on the extra point was botched, but Wellsboro made lemonade out of lemons, as Mascho found Bowen for the 2-point conversion to cut it to 14-8 at the half.

Towanda’s opening drive to start the third ended on a Wheaton 10-yard run off a fake punt the came up a foot short of the first down.

Taking over at their own 32-yard line Wellsboro needed just four plays to get into the end zone, with Morral hitting Carl in stride on a deep ball for a 22-yard scoring strike. 

Morral ran in the 2-point conversion and it was 16-14 Wellsboro with 5:19 left in the quarter.

Towanda responded on their ensuing drive as, on third-and-16 from their own 40 Vanderpool hit Evans. Evans made two tacklers miss and found the end zone for the 60-yard scoring strike, changing the momentum of the game.

Vanderpool would hit Rylee Sluyter for the 2-point conversion and Towanda retook the lead, 22-16, with 2:56 left in the third.

After stopping Wellsboro’s next drive Towanda took over at the Hornet 41-yard line. Two plays in Vanderpool hit Rylee Sluyter for a 22-yard gain, then two plays later ran up the middle for 16-yards to the Wellsboro 15.

Vanderpool found Reese Sluyter for a 12-yard pick-up on the next play, setting up Vanderpool’s 3-yard punch into the end zone to finish off the 6-play, 59-yard drive. 

Wheaton’s kick was good and Towanda led 29-16 with 9:52 left to play.

Towanda’s final touchdown came in the dying moments of the fourth quarter as they went on a 9-play, 75-yard drive that last five minutes, 24 seconds, and ended with Vanderpool hitting Rylee Sluyter for a 4-yard scoring strike.

Wheaton’s kick was good and that sealed the 36-16 win for the Knights.

Wellsboro falls to 0-4 on the season with the loss. They’ll host Cowanesque Valley next Friday for homecoming.

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TOWANDA 36, WELLSBORO 16

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter

T: Riley Vanderpool 15-yard pass to Reese Sluyter (Jack Wheaton kick), 11:48

T: Riley Vanderpool 24-yard run (Wheaton kick), 7:36

W: Griffin Moral 12-yard pass to Marek Mascho (Marek Mascho pass to Ryder Bowen), 1:54

Third Quarter

W: Griffin Moral 40-yard pass to Jonathan Carl (Griffin Moral run), 5:19

T: Riley Vanderpool 60-yard pass to Gage Evans (Riley Vanderpool pass to Rylee Sluyter), 2:56

Fourth Quarter

T: Riley Vanderpool 3-yard run (Jack Wheaton kick), 9:52

T: Riley Vanderpool 4-yard pass to Rylee Sluyter (Jack Wheaton kick), 1:19

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Wellsboro

Rushing

Ryder Bowen 14-26, Kody Enck 1-2, Team 1-(-1), Jonathan Carl 1-(-5), Marek Mascho 1-(-6), Griffin Moral 3-(-33)

Passing

Griffin Moral 10-19-156-2-0

Receiving

Jonathan Carl 2-76-1, Marek Mascho 4-45-1, Cole Knapp 3-24, Kody Enck 1-11

Towanda

Rushing

Riley Vanderpool 17-108-2, Jace Gunther 7-24, Tahshon Garner 2-13, Jack Wheaton 1-10, Gage Evans 4-5, Caden Delameter 2-4, Reese Sluyter 1-0, Rylee Sluyter 1-(-1), Team 1-(-18)

Passing

Riley Vanderpool 14-18-248-3-1

Receiving

Rylee Sluyter 4-69-1, Reese Sluyter 4-64-1, Gage Evans 1-60-1, Hayden Space 2-24, Will Shrawder 2-20, Tahshon Garner 1-11

Team Stats Wellsboro Towanda

Rushes/Yards 21/(-17) 36/145

Passing Yards 156 248

First Downs 7 15

Penalties/Yards 10/88 11/85

Fumbles/Lost 3/1 2/1

Interceptions: Wellsboro (Jonathan Carl)

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