NTL FOOTBALL: ATHENS CRUISES PAST NORTHWEST AREA, 49-20 (24 PHOTOS) (2025-08-29)

Valley Sports Report
SHICKSHINNY, Pa. — Athens rolled up 475 yards in total offense, and forced five turnovers on defense in racing out to a 49-6 lead on its way to a 49-20 win over Northwest Area here Friday night in NTL football action.

"I think we started well, we played well in the first quarter," said Athens coach Shawn Bradley. "Connor (Davidson) completed a bunch of passes, and we were able to run the ball.

"We got behind the sticks on some penalties in the second quarter, and they kept building. We kept fighting, and made some changes.

"Overall, I think our line played well, and the kids played very well on defense," added Bradley. "It was a decent night, but we have to get better."

The Wildcats took a quick 8-0 lead on a 9-yard TD run by senior Sean Peters, and a run for conversion by junior Brendan Cooke.

Athens extended its lead to 15-0 midway through the opening stanza on a 14-yard TD run by senior Eli Chapman, and a PAT kick by junior Zach Fisher.

Chapman scored again on a 1-yard TD run late in the first quarter, and Fisher tacked on the PAT to make it 22-0. Chapman finished the game with 15 yards and two TDs on two carries.

The Wildcat offense continued to click in the offense, but the penalties started to pile up, at one point nullifying TDs on three consecutive plays.

"In the second quarter, we got behind the chains," said Bradley. "We scored three touchdowns in a row, and all three got called back. I don't know that I've ever seen that, then we were third-and-42.

"The guys re-grouped, though," he noted. "We just tried to pound it into their head, 'you have to stay calm keep playing football ... don't let that stuff get in your head.'

"In the past, that kind of stuff has snowballed on us in the wrong direction," he added.

Athens was flagged 16 times for 209 yards in the contest.

Noah Arnett put Northwest on the board early in the second quarter with a 20-yard pick-6 to close the gap to 22-6.

The Wildcats scored a pair of TDs late in the second quarter — the first on a 38-yard pass from Connor Davidson to senior James Friend, and the second a 46-yard strike from Connor Davidson to Peters. Fisher split the uprights on both extra-point attempts to up the lead to 36-6 at the half.

A 50-yard TD run by Cooke was the only TD of the third quarter, and Fisher's kick made it 43-6 heading into the fourth quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, freshman Shea Davidson connected with sophomore Kade Rowe on a 47-yard TD for the Wildcats' final score of the contest to make it 49-6.

Northwest's Shane Hempel scored on a 34-yard TD run, and connected with Arnett on a 50-yard TD pass in the game's final minutes to provide the final margin.

The Wildcats threw the ball for 353 yards, and rushed for 122 more in the win, while Northwest was limited to 118 total yards (84 coming on the two scoring plays late in the game), including 13 rushing yards on 17 carries.

Connor Davidson completed 13 of 20 passes for 227 yards and two TDs, but was intercepted twice.

Shea Davidson, who played the majority of the second half, completed 10 of 19 passes for 126 yards and one TD.

"We were able to get our younger kids in the game against this week, and that's fantastic," noted Bradley.

Senior Ryan Cook led Athens with five receptions for 41 yards, while Rowe had four catches for 75 yards and one TD, Friend had three grabs for 70 yards and one TD, and Peters had two catches for 57 yards and one TD.

Junior Gage Marmor added two receptions for 55 yards, while sophomore Nolan Raupers had two catches for 29 yards, and junior Abram Steinfelt had two catches for 20 yards.

"Our receivers work hard," said Bradley. "We have three or four kids who don't play defense, and just concentrate on being a receiver, and it's paying off. They are playing very well."

Cooke led the Wildcats with 55 yards and one TD on four carries, and Connor Davidson had 40 yards on six carries.



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