NTL FOOTBALL: DAVIDSON ACCOUNTS FOR FIVE TDs; ATHENS BLANKS WYALUSING, 44-0, IN SEASON-OPENER (18 PHOTOS) (August 29, 2026)

By CHRIS MANNING
Valley Sports Report
WYALUSING — Athens couldn't have asked for a better start to the season than its 44-0 win over Wyalusing during NTL football action Friday.

Senior Connor Davidson completed his first nine passes en route to a 9-for-10 performance for 97 yards and four touchdowns - all in the first half. He also ran for 98 yards on five carries, while senior Brendan Cooke pounded out 91 yards and a score on eight carries.

Senior Gage Marmor hauled in five catches for 62 yards and two touchdowns with junior Kade Rowe, and senior Dominic Robbins also nabbing touchdown passes.

Defensively, the Wildcats held the Rams to minus-4 total yards for the game, with Wyalusing running the ball 27 times for minus-7 yards.

"It was a good job today," Athens coach Shawn Bradley said. "We wished we would have finished a little better with the younger kids, but overall a good first game."

Bradley liked that Davidson was in mid-season form with his arm and his legs, as he even returned a punt for a touchdown as Athens' final score of the night.

"We have really good receivers, and Conner's very accurate," Bradley remarked. "He said his arm felt good before the game, and it was good. He was picking the right receivers, getting the ball to the kids, and they did the business."

The Wildcats held Wyalusing to just one first down in the first half, that coming on a penalty on the final play before the half.

The Rams had minus-26 yards on 13 attempts in the first half as the Wildcats were finding success shooting the gaps.

"Those kids played really well," Bradley said. "Coach Satterly did a nice job with the kids. They were coming up, hitting, filling where they needed to, playing good pass defense - it was a good effort team-wise there."

Wyalusing opened the game going 3-and-out with the Wildcats taking over at the their own 35-yard line after the punt.

A block-in-the-back call sent them back to the 48, but from there, they went four plays to pay dirt, capped off with a 18-yard Davidson touchdown pass to Marmor. Senior Zach Fisher's kick was good, and it was 7-0 with 7:12 left in the opening quarter.

After another Ram 3-and-out, Wyalusing was able to switch field position, pinning Athens back in its own end for the ensuing drive.

It didn't matter as the Wildcats would score in eight plays as Davidson found Rowe for an 8-yard touchdown strike. The key play was a 10-yard pass play on third-and-five with Davidson finding Marmor to keep the drive going.

A bad snap allowed Wyalusing to stop the extra point, making 13-0 with 50 seconds left in the first quart.er

Another Ram 3-and-out saw Athens take over at the Wyalusing 36-yard line. Two plays later, Davidson found Robbins for the 12-yard scoring strike.

Fisher's kick was good and it was 20-0 with 10:09 left in the half.

On the Wildcats' fourth possession of the game, they needed just two plays to go 32 yards ending with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Davidson to Marmor that saw Marmor use a second and third effort to spin into the end zone.

Fisher's kick split the uprights for a 27-0 lead with 6:28 left.

On the final Wildcat drive of the half, they started at their 45-yard line and made it down to the Wyalusing nine.

The Ram defense stiffened, though, and forced an Athens field goal. Fisher easily had enough distance for the 31-yard kick for the 30-0 lead at the break.

Athens' scored in 25 seconds to start the second half, going 60 yards on three plays as Cooke punched one in from 6 yards out. Fisher's kick was good and it was 37-0 with 11:30 on the clock.

The final Wildcat touchdown was Davidson's 51-yard punt return. He beat several Ram defenders going right, then when he got to the sideline, he cut back left, found a seam, and was gone with 8:12 left in the third.

Fisher's kick was good to make it 44-0.

From there the two teams traded empty possessions until the final horn.

It was a good start for Athens, but they know things will be different as they travel to Alparon Park next week to take on the 3-time defending league champions, Troy.

The Trojans are coming off a 26-19 loss to Montoursville in their season opener.

"Hopefully we come out ready to play, play hard, and give it to them," Bradley said.

—————————

IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Connor Davidson. IN TOP PHOTO: Athens senior Brendan Cooke. ... PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.

——————————

ATHENS 44, WYALUSING 0
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
A - Connor Davidson 18-yard pass to Gage Marmor (Zach Fisher kick), 7:12
A - Davidson 8-yard pass to Kade Rowe (kick failed), :50
Second Quarter
A - Davidson 12-yard pass to Dominic Robbins (Fisher kick), 10:09
A - Davidson 21-yard pass to Marmor (Fisher kick), 6:28
A - Fisher 31-yard field goal
Third Quarter
A - Brendan Cooke 6-yard run (Fisher kick), 11:30
A - Davidson 51-yard punt return (Fisher kick), 8:12

Individual Stats
WYALUSING
Passing
Wiley Trobaugh 1-4-3-0-0
Rushing
Wiley Trobaugh 5-(-18), Patrick O'Connor 8-(-2),Edward Anderson 4-0, Jacob Gromley 10-13
Receiving
Landry Tinna 2-3

ATHENS
Passing
Connor Davidson 9-10-97-4-0, Shea Davidson 2-9-23-0-0
Rushing
Connor Davidson 5-98, Brendan Cooke 8-91-1, Devin Maxfield 6-26, Shea Davidson 1-4
Receiving
Gage Marmor 5-62-2, Kade Rowe 2-10-1, Nolan Raupers 1-10, Eli Wayman 1-8, Devin Maxfield 1-15, Dominic Robbins 1-12-1

Team Stats
Athens —— Wyalusing
Rushes/Yards 20/219 —— 27/(-7)
Passing Yards 106 —— 3
First Downs 12 ——  4
Penalties/Yards 9/80 —— 4/35
Fumbles/Lost 1/0 —— 1/0



Print Friendly Version