By: Ed Weaver / September 21, 2024 / Photo: Dr. Robert Bair
Senior Ryder Bowen rushed for a career-high 301 yards and 4 touchdowns to help Wellsboro earn a 40-8 win against Cowanesque Valley on Friday, September 20 during their annual Homecoming game.
The win erases a 10-game skid dating back a full calendar year to September 22, 2023 when Towanda edged the Hornets 20-17 in overtime.
“It’s a big win,” head coach Matt Hildebrand said.”It’s big for the kids and it’s big for the community. There’s a lot going on outside of football in the school right now, and for the kids to come out and play together. They played as a team, they played as a group, and they really stuck together. I’ve had other teams that have been in this situation and they’ve fallen apart. These guys have stayed the course and it’s big for us moving forward into the second part of the year.”
Three plays into the game Wellsboro’s defense forced a turnover, and found the end zone at the same time. On 2nd-and-8 from the 40, junior Cole Knapp picked off Graham Hess and took it to the house just 50 seconds into the contest, giving Wellsboro an early 7-0 following junior Jonathan Carl’s extra point. Later in the quarter Bowen punched his way into the end zone from four yards out to make it 14-0.
Cowanesque Valley answered back, and cut Wellsboro’s lead down to just six points, as Hess scored from 3 yards out after connecting with Levi Stahli on back-to-back passes. Hess ran in the two-point conversion, cutting the lead down to 14-8 to start the 2nd quarter.
From that point on Wellsboro went on a 26-0 scoring run.
Bowen found the end zone for the second time on the evening just under the mid-way point of the 2nd quarter, scoring from a yard out to put Wellsboro up, 20-8. Wellsboro’s defense forced another CV turnover after the score, as Carl picked off Hess, which led to a 37-yard touchdown pass from freshman Griffin Morral to freshman Kody Enck. The score put Wellsboro up 27-8 with 4:40 left to play in the half, which Wellsboro would carry into halftime.
Both teams possessed the ball twice once the second half began before Wellsboro put a short drive together. Following a 13-yard CV punt, Wellsboro took over at the Indians’ 40. Bowen took the hand off and scampered for 24 yards before being brought down on the play, but scored on the very next play on a 16-yard run with 5:28 remaining in the 3rd quarter, pushing the lead to 34-8.
Bowen scored for the final time as he broke free down the Indians’ sideline on an 84-yard run with 9:30 left.
“The young guys have gotten better every week and we’re continuing to get better as a team every week,” continued Hildebrand. “We took care of the little things tonight. We didn’t turn the ball over, we created turnovers. The guys up front blocked great all night. Ryder had a huge night. We know he’s a great player and he showed it tonight. It was a really good team win I think all-around. I’m really proud of the kids because it’s easy to stop buying in when you come off of four losses to start the year. It’s a great win and the kids really needed it.”
Bowen’s 301 yards on 33 carries are good enough for 3rd all-time in Wellsboro Football history for both categories. Morral finished 3-for-6 with 65 yards and a touchdown and also rushed 6 times for 11 yards. Junior Marek Mascho rushed 2 times for 10 yards and caught two passes for 28 yards.
“We’re halfway through the season now and we’re just getting started,” added Bowen. “It felt really good coming out on Homecoming. We balled out, the right side of the line did some work. I think we ran about 70% of our plays to that side. I think everything came together really well tonight.”
Bowen and Knapp both made 5 tackles on the night while Enck, sophomore Levi Champaign, Carl, and seniors Lincoln DeCoursey and Evan Ingerick all made 4 tackles. DeCoursey also had a sack, and senior Jacob Dean also had 3 tackles and 3 sacks in his first game action of the season.
Mascho also had an interception.
Wellsboro improves to 1-4 (1-3 NTL Large School Division) before hitting the road to take on Athens next Friday night.
