By: Ed Weaver / October 12, 2024 / Photo: Lance Larcom/ntwsportsreport.com
Freshman Griffin Morral scored 5 touchdowns in a 46-34 slug fest won by Canton on Friday, October 11.
Morral threw for 4 scores, tying him for third all-time in team history, and rushed for another.
Canton took the lead with 4:06 remaining in the first quarter on a 3-yard pass from Ben Fitch to Holden Ward before the Hornets’ offense kicked into gear. After the Warriors’ opening touchdown Wellsboro started off their ensuing drive at their own 40 and slowly moved the ball down into Canton territory. Morral eventually connected on a 20-yard pass to freshman Kody Enck down to the Canton 18. Two plays later, Morral found junior Marek Mascho from 15 yards out to tie the game just six seconds into the second quarter.
Both Canton and Wellsboro matched each other score-for-score in the 2nd quarter. Two minutes after Wellsboro tied the game Aydin Holcomb was on the receiving end of Fitch’s second passing touchdown on the night, leaping into the end zone to go up 14-7. Canton added another score on a 42-yard Ward run with 8:18 remaining to push the lead to 14. The Hornets then answered back with 7:23 left as Morral and Mascho connected for the second time on a 56-yarder, pulling Wellsboro back within a score.
Canton scored once more in the quarter, this time on the defensive side of the ball. Fitch stepped in front of a Morral pass and took it 26 yards the other way for the score with 5:05 left in the half. Wellsboro also added one more score before the half, as Morral found a seam in the Warrior defense and scored from 58 yards out. Wellsboro’s extra point, and Canton’s on their previous score, were no good, leaving it at a 7-point, 27-20 game in favor of Canton at the half.
Canton distanced themselves from Wellsboro in the second half, outscoring the Hornets 19-14. Canton got the ball to start the second half, scoring on just six plays, capped off on a 16-yard run by Ward with 9:20 on the clock. Wellsboro went 3-and-out on their following drive and were forced to punt back to Canton. Fitch tossed his third touchdown of the game on 3rd down, hitting Aydin Holcomb in the flat with Holcomb taking it 84 yards for the score.
Wellsboro put together a drive that ended in a score to end the quarter with Morral and Enck connecting on a 35-yard pass.
Canton started the fourth quarter off with their final score on the night as Ward found Fitch, from the tight end position, for a 71-yard score.
Wellsboro’s final score came with under a minute remaining as Enck caught his second pass, an 11-yarder from Morral.
Morral finished with 261 yards in the air, completing 17-of-25 passes. He also led the Hornets’ ground game with 85 yards on 12 carries. Senior Ryder Bowen added 49 yards on 17 attempts and caught 5 passes for 39 yards. Mascho finished with 99 yards on 5 receptions and Enck caught 4 balls for 98 yards.
Defensively, Bowen and sophomore Levi Champaign recorded 7 tackles each, Enck finished with 6 stops and senior Lincoln DeCoursey and junior Hayden Stevens also had 5 tackles apiece. Junior Jonathan Carl also added an interception.
Fitch completed 6-of-9 passes for 163 yards and 3 scores. Bailey Gardner rushed 13 times for 88 yards and Ward added 78 yards on 9 carries. Holcomb led the receiving corps with 141 yards on 3 catches.
Wellsboro falls to 1-7 overall (1-6 NTL Large School Division), their third straight loss since defeating Cowanesque Valley on Homecoming.
Canton ends a three-game losing streak to even up their record at 4-4 (4-4 NTL Large School Division).
Wellsboro travels to Shickshinny next Friday to face Northwest Area while Canton hosts Sayre.
