NTL FOOTBALL: DAVIDSON, DEFENSE CARRIES ATHENS TO 41-14 WIN OVER MUNCY (24 PHOTOS) (2025-10-17)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Junior Connor Davidson ran for three TDs, and the Athens defense accounted for two TDs as the Wildcats raced out to a 34-0 lead on its way to a 41-14 "Senior Night" win here Friday night in NTL football action at Alumni Stadium.

"Tonight was Senior Night, and one of the keys for us tonight was senior leadership," said Athens coach Shawn Bradley.

"We had a lot of seniors step up tonight and play some good football, and step up in clutch moments," he noted. "We made a few mistakes, and then you saw those guys step up and make a play.

"James (Friend) missed a call early in the game, and got really upset, then he started making phenomenal catches down the line. That's the stuff I've been talking about, we've grown in the last couple years, we're fighting back, instead of giving in.

"I'm proud of those guys for that," added Bradley.

The Wildcats amassed 424 yards in total offense, and allowed just 148 yards.

"Coach Satterly had a great defensive plan, and coach Raupers ran a great scout team all week, and it paid off," said Bradley. "That's the best we've played defense all year against a good team."

Muncy opened the game with the ball, but the Athens defense forced a quick punt, and the Wildcats took over at the Indian 41.

Davidson busted off a 29-yard run to the Muncy 12 on the first play, but a penalty brought the ball back to the 27.

Eight plays later, Davidson scored on a 3-yard run, thanks to a big block from senior James Friend on on the edge, to put Athens on the board with 7:24 remaining in the first quarter. Junior Zach Fisher's PAT kick made it 7-0.

After another three-and-out by Muncy, the Wildcats took over at the Indian 42.

Davidson completed four passes on the 10-play drive, including a 13-yard strike to Friend, and capped the drive with a 3-yard run with 1:52 left in the opening stanza. Fisher's kick made it 14-0.

Muncy picked up its initial first down on the penultimate play of the first quarter, and moved into Athens territory, but senior Connor Garrison put an end to the threat with an interception and a 69-yard return to paydirt to make it 20-0 on the second play of the second quarter.

"We harped on our guys all week about putting pressure on their quarterback because he's good," said Bradley. "Karson (Sipley) was all over the quarterback when he threw it, and Connor (Garrison) made a good play.

"We have guys doing their job and good things happen," added Bradley.

The Athens offense sputtered for the remainder of the second quarter, but the Wildcat defense stopped Muncy on downs in the red zone, and also stopped them on two other possession that began in Athens territory.

"The first couple of drives we ran the ball well," said Bradley. "I'll eat that one, when it slowed down, we went to a different personnel group and things got stale.

"In the second half, we made some adjustments," added Bradley. "We started pounding the ball a little more, the line took over, and Brendan (Cooke) and Karson (Sipley) ran hard."

Davidson returned the second-half kick 55 yards to the Muncy 43, and six plays later scampered in from 15 yards out to give the Wildcats a 27-0 lead less than two minutes after the intermission.

After an exchange of possessions, Muncy took over at the Athens 37.

Moments later, Davidson sacked the QB and knocked the ball loose, allowing senior defensive lineman Brenden Comstock to scoop it up and rumble 31 yards for a TD. Fisher's kick made it 34-0 midway through the third quarter.

Muncy got on the board early in the fourth quarter with a pick-6 to close the gap to 34-7.

Sipley accounted for Athens' final tally with a 15-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter, and Muncy's Jaxson Thomas scored on a 46-yard run with 4 1/2 minutes left to provide the final margin.

Connor Davidson completed 11 of 19 passes for 124 yards, and ran the ball 16 times for 73 yards and three TDs.

After his brother's ejection late in the third quarter, Shea Davidson completed 11 of 16 passes for 146 yards and one interception.

"His bother is a stud, we know that, but Shea is extremely coachable," said Bradley. "If you tell him the ball has to be out quick, it's going to be out quick, and he's accurate; and that's very important in football.

"He might not be the biggest guys, or the fastest guy, but he throws an accurate football and puts our guys in a position to be successful," added Bradley. "Not everybody can be Josh Allen, but I'll take Drew Brees any day."

Sipley rushed for 44 yards and one TD, and Cooke added 37 yards on nine carries.

Friend had six catches for 107 yards, and junior Gage Marmor had eight grabs for 68 yards to lead the Wildcat receiving corps, while senior Ryan Cook had three receptions for 63 yards, senior Sean Peters had two catches for 14 yards, and Sipley added two grabs for 13 yards.

Athens, now 8-1, returns to action Friday at Sayre in the annual "Rusty Rail" rivalry game.

"It's a big game against a crosstown rival," said Bradley. "We need to play hard."

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