Hornet football cruises past CV

By: Ed Weaver  /  September 14, 2013

For the first time since 2001, the Wellsboro Varsity football team started 3-0 with a 42-6 thrashing of Cowanesque Friday night.

Coming off a huge win against Troy the week prior, the Hornets' offense picked up where it left off and wasted little time putting the team on the scoreboard. After a quick three-and-out by the Indians, Junior Michael Pietropola hit Junior Kieron Smethers with a 45-yard strike, follwed by a 25 yard pass to Senior Dylan Prough. Junior Jack Chambers' extra point attempt was good, and with a minute and a half later, the Hornets were up 7-0.

"We came out ready to play from the start," head coach Matt Hildebrand said. "I was a little concerned that we'd have a let down coming off Troy last week but I was very pleased with the team's performance tonight.

"We were able to get a lot of the younger guys too, and now its just a matter of getting better every week and now we're looking forward to Canton."

Cowanesque moved the ball on their second drive, but were eventually forced to punt. The punt landed inside the 5-yard line and was downed inside the one. Following a 5 yard run by Senior Wyatt Covert, Pietropola scored for the second time on a 94 run down the Wellsboro sidelines to put the Hornets up 14-0 after Chambers' kick.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Hornets got the ball right back and went back to work. Pietropola connected with Prough for a 39 yard gain to put the Hornets at first-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Covert got in on the scoring with a short run to put the Hornets up 21-0.

The Hornets added another touchdown in the first quarter, this one coming on a 45 yard pitch and catch from Pietropola to Senior Brandon Owlett to put the Hornets up 28-0. The Hornets went on to add two more scores to close out the half. The first touchdown came on a 24 yard pass to Senior Jermain Brooks. The second and final score of the evening was 20 yard pass to Owlett for his second touchdown of the night.

Cowanesque would eventually score late in the fourth quarter to make the final score, 42-6.

Pietropola went 7-14 through the air for 209 yards, but also threw 2 interceptions. Brooks rushed for 105 yards on 16 carries to go along with Pietropola's game-high 126 yards on 5 carries. Owlett was the leading receiver with 76 yards on three catches.

Defensively, Covert led the team with 11 tackles and Junior Nick Marple had an interception for a one yard return.

"We executed very well as a team tonight," Brooks said. "We came out prepared for tonight. Last year we had a tough loss to these guys, and we just came out determined and motivated to win."

Next week, the Hornets travel to Canton for their first home night game in program history.

"We've played under the lights plenty of times so it won't be anything new for us," Hildebrand said on the game next week. "We'll prepare like we do every week and come out ready to play."

With the win, the Hornets improve to 3-0 (2-0 NTL Division 1).