NTL FOOTBALL: ATHENS CAN'T OVERCOME BAD START IN 31-21 SEASON-OPENING LOSS AT HANOVER AREA (21 PHOTOS) (2019-08-23)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportHANOVER TOWNSHIP "” Athens nearly overcame an early 15-point deficit, but couldn't negotiate the slippery slope of a comeback in a 31-21 season-opening loss to Hanover Area here Friday night in non-league football action.
The Wildcats committed three turnovers in the first eight minutes of the game, and the Hawkeyes turned two of them into scores to take a 15-0 lead.
"Just a bad start ... our biggest fears were realized," said Athens coach Jack Young. "Turnovers will kill you, and we had three in the first quarter.
"In the second half, we made a lot of young football team mistakes," noted Young.
"It was the old adage, "˜what could have gone wrong tonight, did,'" he added. "We weren't ready to play to start this game, and that's mostly on me."
After Athens' opening drive resulted in a three-and-out punt, Hanover Area quickly moved deep into Wildcat territory, thanks to a 38-yard run by junior Joe Curcio. On first down at the Athens 17, however, junior Ian Wright pounced on a botched snap for the only Wildcat takeaway of the night.
Four plays later, Athens fumbled the ball back to the Hawkeyes, who quickly took advantage with a four-play, 37-yard drive culminating with a 29-yard TD run by Curcio with 6:15.
On the conversion, Hanover caught Athens off guard with the "swinging gate" play, putting their offensive line (except for the snapper) to the far left side of the field. Quarterback Matt Salwoski connected with Justin Sefanowicz behind the "gate" for the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.
On the first play from scrimmage after the ensuing kickoff, Sefanowicz, a 5-10, 215-pound linebacker intercepted freshman Mason Lister and returned it 27 yards to the Athens 15.
Two plays later, Connor Hummer made an off-balanced catch in the end zone for a 12-yard TD to give the Hawkeyes a 15-0 lead.
Athens also fumbled the ball away at midfield on its next possession, but the Wildcat defense forced a three-and-out.
After a punt into the end zone, Athens took over at its 20 and put together an 11-play scoring drive that took more than five minutes off the game clock.
Sophomore Shayne Reid had three carries for 25 yards in the possession, and senior Damian Hudson added a 15-year run, while Lister completed an 11-yard pass to sophomore J.J. Babcock. The drive culminated with Hudson going up in traffic and pulling down a 29-yard TD pass from Lister - the first of his career - with 8:43 remaining in the first half.
Senior Aaron Lane's PAT kick trimmed the deficit to 15-7.
Hanover moved the ball into Athens territory on its next possession, but a QB sack by junior defensive end Ben Pernaselli on second down slowed the drive, and sophomore Troy Pritchard's pressure of Salwoski on third down forced a punt.
Hanover, who won opening toss, but deferred, saw its initial possession of the second half end in three plays.
Hudson fielded the Hawkeye punt at the Athens 32 on the Wildcat sideline, reversed his field, and raced 68 yards down the Hanover sideline for a TD. Lane's PAT kick made it 15-14 with 9:40 remaining in the third quarter.
The Wildcat defense appeared poised to force a punt with Hanover facing a third-and-18 at its own 47, but a slick wide receiver screen from Salwoski to Bobby Sabecki for 48 yards set the Hawkeyes up with a first-and-goal at the Wildcat 5.
The Athens defense forced a fumble on fourth down at the 1, but disaster struck moments later.
With the Wildcats backed up at its own goal line, the Hanover defense crashed in on a pitch to take Reid down in the end zone for a safety to up its lead to 17-14 with 4:30 remaining in the third quarter.
After returning the free kick to the Athens 44, Hanover used a six-play scoring drive, culminating with an 8-yard TD run by Curcio to up its lead to 24-14 with 51 seconds left in the third quarter.
"The punt return ignited us," said Young. "We have to be able to be better with that momentum.
"The safety was a big play, a killer," noted Young. "It was the right call, we just didn't execute.
"At that point, it was still only a three-point game, we had a chance, but we gave up a score, and now it's tough because our guys are dead tired," added Young.
The Wildcats took the ensuing kickoff, and marched 66 yards on 13 plays to trim the deficit to 24-21 with 7:19 left in the game. Hudson had seven carries on the drive, including a 3-yard TD run.
Sabecki returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield, where Lane made a TD-saving tackle, but it only delayed the Hawkeyes game-clinching score. Seven plays later, Hunter Karpowich bulled in from 3 yards out for a score to give Hanover a 31-21 lead with 3:25 left in the game.
Athens turned the ball over on downs with 1:38 remaining to effectively end the game.
"Hats off to Hanover, they were well-prepared and played a good solid football game - and they didn't turn the ball over," said Young.
Hanover rushed the ball for 200 yards, led by Curcio, who had 130 yards and two TDs on 16 carries, and Karpowich, who had 61 yards and one TD on 11 carries.
Salwoski completed 7 of 12 passes for 93 yards and one TD, with Sabecki hauling in three receptions for 78 yards to lead the Hawkeye receivers.
Hanover had 306 yards in total offense, compared to Athens' 190.
Hudson led Athens with 78 yards and one TD on 19 carries, while Reid added 33 yards on seven carries, and Nichols chipped in with 12 yards on three carries.
Lister completed 5 of 10 passes for 68 yards, with one TD and one interception, while Babcock led the Wildcats with two receptions for 20 yards, Hudson had one catch for 29 yards and one TD, sophomore Troy Jennings had one grab for 11 yards, and junior Tanner Dildine had one catch for eight yards.
Athens returns to action Friday when it hosts North Penn-Mansfield, which lost its season-opener to Montoursville, 49-17.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Damian Hudson. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
