NTL FOOTBALL: ATHENS BATTLES BACK IN 35-22 WIN OVER WELLSBORO (24 PHOTOS) (2025-09-26)

Valley Sports Report
WELLSBORO — Athens had its back against the wall midway through the third quarter, but behind a dominating offensive line, senior Karson Sipley rushed for four TDs in the final 15 minutes of the game to lift Athens to a 35-22 win over Wellsboro here Friday night in NTL Large School Division football action.

"The wheels fell off in the first half," said Athens coach Shawn Bradley. "Credit to Wellsboro because they came out of the locker room ready to play again in the second half ... we turned the ball over, and they drove down and scored.

"That put us in a position where we had to score, we had to play football," noted Bradley. "We scored 28 points in the last quarter-and-a-half ... our kids fought back, and we were much more efficient offensively.

"Karson (Sipley) and Connor (Davidson) ran the ball well, but our offensive line took over in the trenches, they really did," he said. "We were able to hit some quick passes, and the kids did really well with that.

"We could have quit and rolled over right there," added Bradley. "Probably for just the second or third time in the last 2 1/2 years, our kids fought. We had to fight back in those last two quarters, and they finally did."

Bradley reiterated the importance of his offensive line's performance.

"(Wellsboro) beat up on us all summer in 7-on-7," he said. "They were 4-0 against us, and whipped our butt. 

"We knew they have good athletes, but we thought we were better in the trenches," he noted. "And, our offensive line really stepped up.

"Brenden Comstock and Chase Wren were beasts, they allowed us to pound the football, and they were stalwarts on the defensive line," added Bradley.

Freshman Shea Davidson stepped in to start at QB (or QB 1/2 as Bradley dubbed him), with his older brother, junior Connor Davidson, shifting to tailback, and Bradley was pleased with his performance. Connor Davidson, however, finished the game at QB.

"Connor (Davidson) got dinged up last week and was having some trouble throwing the ball," said Bradley. "Shea (Davidson), a freshman who weighs 135 pounds, stepped up and played really well in his first varsity start.

"We just got to a point where we needed to run the ball more from the QB spot, so we had to make a move there," noted Bradley.

"When Connor graduates, we're going to be just fine at quarterback with Shea, he's a hammer," added Bradley.

Connor Davidson rushed for 180 yards and one TD on 30 carries, and also completed 8 of 19 passes for 97 yards and one interception.

"(Connor Davidson) showed a lot of guys today, and a lot of leadership," said Bradley. "I'm proud of him."

Connor Davidson started the scoring with a 13-yard TD run in the first quarter, and junior Zach Fisher's PAT kick made it 7-0.

The Hornets answered in the second quarter when Marek Mascho hauled in a 53-yard TD pass from Griffin Morral to close the gap to 7-6.

The Wildcats fumbled on their opening possession of the second half, and Wellsboro made them pay with a scoring drive, capped by a 24-yard pass from Morral to Ethan Keene. Morral's pass to Dylan Capp for the conversion gave Wellsboro a 14-7 lead midway through the third quarter.

Athens answered with a scoring drive, capped by Sipley's 15-yard TD run in the final minute of the third quarter. Fisher's PAT kick tied the game at 14-14.

Sipley scored on runs of 1 and 23 yards in the fourth quarter to put the Wildcats ahead 28-14, but a 53-yard halfback pass from Mascho to Copp closed the gap. Morral's pass to Copp for conversion trimmed the deficit to 28-22.

Athens sealed the victory with a short scoring drive, capped by Sipley's 12-yard TD run. Fisher's PAT kick provided the final margin.

Sipley added 113 yards and four TDs on 18 carries to the Wildcat rushing attack, which piled up 291 yards.

Shea Davidson completed 5 of 8 passes for 30 yards, with Ryan Cook (four catches for 53 yards), Gage Marmor (four catches for 35 yards) and James Friend (two catches for 32 yards) leading the Athens receivers.

Athens amassed 418 yards in total offense, while Wellsboro had 347 yards (56 rushing and 291 passing).

Both teams were penalized nine times in the game, Wellsboro for 124 yards, and Athens for 108 yards. And, both teams committed three turnovers in the contest.

Athens, now 5-1, returns to action Friday at Towanda.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens junior Connor Davidson. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens senior Karson Sipley. ... PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON. 



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