NTL FOOTBALL: ATHENS BLOWS GAME OPEN IN SECOND HALF; TOPS SAYRE, 51-6, IN 'RUSTY RAIL' ROUT (24 PHOTOS) (2024-10-25)
Valley Sports ReportATHENS — Athens scored four TDs in the fourth quarter to blow open a close game on its way to a 51-6 win over Sayre Friday night in the annual Rusty Rail rivalry game here at Alumni Stadium.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 20-3 in "Rusty Rail" games, which began in 2000. The Redskins still lead the long and storied rivalry 62-51-10.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 16-0 lead, but a TD pass late in the second quarter closed the gap to 16-6 at the half.
"Sayre was game, and played tough in the first half," said Athens coach Shawn Bradley. "We started fast, then we sputtered.
"Halftime wasn't fun, but the kids came out in the second half and played well," he noted.
"We had too many drops in the first half," added Bradley. "If you're going to throw the ball, you have to catch it, and we didn't."
Athens took the opening kickoff and put together a six-play scoring drive that featured a 29-yard pass from sophomore QB Connor Davidson to junior Karson Sipley, and was capped by an 11-yard TD run by Davidson. Sophomore Zach Fisher's PAT kick made it 7-0.
Moments later, Sipley picked off a Karter Green pass at the Athens 37.
The Wildcats put together another drive, which included a 24-yard pass from Davidson to senior Sean Peters, and was capped by a 2-yard TD run by junior Eli Chapman. Fisher's PAT kick made it 14-0.
Athens tacked two points on to its lead early in the second quarter when Sayre was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone to make it 16-0.
After an exchange of possessions, the Redskins got on the board late in the second quarter on a 25-yard pass from Green to sophomore Declan Barry to close the gap to 16-6.
In the opening minute of the second half, Davidson picked off a Green pass, and raced 43 yards for a score. Fisher's kick made it 23-6.
Moments later, sophomore Lucas Persun intercepted a Green pass to give the Wildcats the ball back on a short field.
"Our line did a good job of creating pressure on Karter (Green), and we were able to make some plays," said Bradley.
Davidson hooked up with Sipley on a 28-yard TD pass, and Fisher's kick made it 30-6 less than four minutes into the third quarter.
"Karson (Sipley) had a great game," said Bradley. "He had an interception, a fumble recovery, and a bunch of tackles, to go along with his TD catch."
The Wildcat defense forced a punt, and a turnover on downs on Sayre's next two possessions in the third quarter.
Athens scored on a 16-yard pass from Davidson to Peters to make it 37-6, and senior lineman Caleb Nason, shifted to the backfield late in the third quarter, scored on a 1-yard run to extend the lead to 44-6.
"We've been working on that for a few weeks," said Bradley in reference to Nason's running the ball. "If you put Caleb back there, and Brenden Comstock in front of him ... those are two really good athletes, they're big kids, and Caleb is hard to tackle.
"We did a good job of moving the football with those kids in there," added Bradley. "It was a good look, it was a fun drive."
The Wildcats tacked on a score late in the game on a 49-yard TD pass from senior Adam Kemp to senior Keegan Congdon. Fisher, who was 7-for-7 on PAT kicks, split the up rights to provide the final margin.
Davidson, who was victimized by drops, completed 10 of 25 passes for 194 yards, two TDs, and two interceptions. He also led Athens with 69 rushing yards and one TD on 10 carries.
Congdon led Athens with 101 receiving yards and one TD on three receptions, while Peters had 35 yards and one TD On three grabs, and Sipley added 57 yards and one TD on two catches.
Chapman added 45 rushing yards and one TD on 11 carries, and Nason chipped in with 39 yards and one TD on just four carries.
Green completed 7 of 19 passes for 60 yards, one TD, and two interceptions, and Jamier Kole was 2-for-5 for 29 yards, and one interception.
Sophomore Hudson Malanoski (33 receiving yards), senior Edwin Rivera (15 yards), and senior Nick Pellicano (12 yards) each had two receptions to lead Sayre.
Kole led Sayre with 61 yards on nine carries.
The Wildcats had 402 yards (243 passing, 159 rushing) in total offense, while the Redskins had 149 (60 rushing, 89 passing).
Sayre wraps up the season at 1-9, while Athens improves to 5-5, and will travel to face unbeaten Shamokin (10-0) in the semifinals of the District 4, Class 4A playoffs next week.
"I just hope the kid stand up and fight," said Bradley. "We did that in the second half tonight ... we're going to have to do that the entire game and then some against Shamokin.
"We're going to have play really, really well to stay in the game," added Bradley.
————————
IN PHOTO 1: Athens sophomore Connor Davidson. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens senior Keegan Congdon. ... PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON.
Print Friendly Version
