NTL FOOTBALL: HORNETS KEEP M.F. JONES TROPHY WITH MERCY RULE WIN OVER NORTH PENN-MANSFIELD (October 30, 2026)

Northern Tier West Sports Report
WELLSBORO — The host Hornets rolled to a 41-0 win over North Penn-Mansfield here Friday night to retain the Morton F. Jones Trophy for the second straight year.

Wellsboro gained 290 yards of offense in the win and held the Panthers to 11 yards rushing and less than 100 yards total.

"Our guys came out and played Wellsboro football," head coach Matt Hildebrand said. "They were fired up from the start and it's a great way to have our seniors go out. The trophy means a lot to not only our kids here but guys that have played in the past and the community. I'm proud of the guys and how they played tonight."

Wellsboro struck quickly, needing just three plays to find the end zone. On the second play from scrimmage senior Max Mascho hauled in a 25-yard pass from junior Griffin Morral and on the next play, Morral called his own number and raced 45 yards to the Panthers' end zone. Maddon Mascho hit the extra point kick and the Hornets led 7-0 two and a half minutes into the game.

The Hornets started the 2nd quarter by forcing North Penn-Mansfield to punt from their own 3-yard line. Junior Reed Richardson scored one play later on a 27-yard run to make it 14-0. Wellsboro added another score after holding the Panthers to a 3-and-out. This time, junior Kody Enck was on the receiving end of a 15-yard Morral pass to make it 20-0. 

Wellsboro added three more scores before the half: one on a 74-yard punt return by sophomore Christian Main, a 9-yard run by Mascho, and a 41-yard pass from Morral to senior Gideon Lawton.

Wellsboro held North Penn-Mansfield to 79 yards of total offense and registered eight sacks on the evening .. two each by senior Levi Champaign and juniors Jorden Hines and Gavin Carson .. and one each by Richardson and sophomore Eli Nowak. Enck finished with six tackles and Richardson added five tackles while senior Wyatt Davenport added an interception.

Morral completed 6-of-8 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball four times for 58 yards and a score, Mascho rushed six times for 74 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 39 yards and Richardson had three carries for 29 yards and a score. Lawton led the receiving corps with three catches for 51 yards and a score.

Peyton Greene was 9-of-24 through the air for 68 yards for North Penn-Mansfield and rushed 14 times for two yards. Bridger Lehman rushed one time for nine yards and Logan Bitner caught three passes for 26 yards.

"This was really a team win," Hildebrand added. "We had a lot of guys get in there and contribute. It was a good night all around."

Next up for Wellsboro (4-6, 4-4 NTL Large School Division) is a date next Friday night at the Silver Bowl against top-seeded Mount Carmel in the first round of the District IV Class 3A playoffs. 

North Penn-Mansfield ends their 2026 season with a 0-10 record. 

PHOTOS: Lance Larcom



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