Sipley's 4 TDs Lead Athens Past Wellsboro, 35-22

By: Ed Weaver  /  September 27, 2025  /  Photo: Dr. Robert Bair

Karson Sipley scored four second-half touchdowns to help lead the Athens Wildcats to a 35-22 win over Wellsboro Friday, ending the Hornets' three-game win streak.

The Wildcats rebounded after an early turnover on their opening drive to put together a six-play, 72-yard drive culminating in a 13-yard touchdown run from Connor Davidson to take the early 7-0 lead with 4:36 left in the opening quarter.

Wellsboro got their offense rolling to start the second quarter as sophomore Griffin Morral connected with senior Marek Mascho on a 53-yard strike for six, however the extra point was blocked, giving the Wildcats a one-point lead, which they held for the rest of the half.

The Hornets held Athens to just six plays on their first drive of the second half, including a 4th down stop, to take over at their own 41. On the first play of the drive Morral hit Mascho on a 35-yard pass to the Athens 24. Two plays later Morral found junior Ethan Keane open in the Wildcats' secondary. Keane made a spectacular catch, juked out a defender, and hit pay dirt to give Wellsboro the lead. The Hornets opted to go for two, where Morral found senior Dylan Copp in the back corner of the end zone, making it a 14-7 game.

Athens tied the game up on a 15-yard run by Sipley with 1:45 left to play in the third, as they took advantage of a roughing the passer call on the Hornets that wiped out an interception. Athens went on a 21-0 run that spanned the end of the 3rd quarter to the middle of the 4th. After Davidson intercepted a Morral pass on Wellsboro's ensuing drive, the Wildcats' offense went back to work for an eight-play, 42-yard drive, with 1-run score from Sipley, putting the Wildcats up, 21-14.

The Wildcats forced a three-and-out on the Hornets' next drive before Sipley scored for the third time from 22 yards out, giving Athens a 28-14 lead with 5:54 left to play.

Wellsboro wouldn't go away, however, as they scored on their ensuing drive. Runs by Mascho and Morral moved the ball to the Athens' 49. Facing a 3rd-and-8 Wellsboro went to their bag of tricks, but the pass fell incomplete. Wellsboro went for it on 4th down, and again opted for a trick play. Morral took the snap, tossed it to Mascho, and the former QB turned RB waited until the last possible second before finding Copp open in the secondary. Copp tip-toed down the Wellsboro sideline for a 49-yard score. The Hornets again went for two, and converted as Morral and Copp connected for the second time on the evening, cutting the lead down to six, 28-22.

Wellsboro attempted an onside kick, but the ball didn't go the minimum 10 yards and rolled out of bounds, setting the Wildcats up at the Hornet 42-yard line. From there, the Wildcats put together a four-play drive, highlighted by a 19-yard run by Davidson, and capped by Sipley from 12 yards out.

"This loss was not due to a lack of effort," said head coach Matt Hildebrand. "The kids fought until the very end and I think it came down to us not executing on offense like we needed to. We missed a of opportunities and didn't take advantage of them, and when you're playing against a good football team that can't happen. We have to get better. We have a tough one next week. Its' a bitter loss but I thought we could've come out on the other end of this one with a few changes."

Athens accumulated 450 yards of offense, 318 of which came by Davidson. He finished 9-of-19 pass for 118 yards, but ran 30 times for 200 yards. Sipley finished with 122 yards on 18 carries, and Ryan Cook (53) and Gage Marmor (39) both hauled in 4 passes apiece.

Morral finished 12-of-27 for a career-high 236 yards and 2 TDs. He also rushed 16 times for 39 yards. Mascho finished with 4 catches, in addition to throwing a TD, for 140 yards. Defensively Jorden Hines led the way with 10 tackles while Mascho, Copp, and juniors Max Mascho and Izaya Campbell all made 7 tackles each.

Next week the Hornets (3-3, 3-2 NTL Large School Division) travel to Alparon Park to take on the Troy Trojans (5-1, 5-0 NTL Large School Division).