NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (D9Sports.com) Wyatt Hetrick scored three times, including two long first-quarter runs, and ran for 266 yards to help top-seeded Redbank Valley hold off an upset bid by eighth-seeded Coudersport, 24-16, Friday night in New Bethlehem.
All but 10 of the game’s points game in a wild first quarter than saw Coudersport take an early 8-0 lead on a 2-yard Aaron Wolfinger touchdown run that was set up when Anderson Nicka recovered Brock Barrett fumble at the Bulldog 45-yard line two plays into the game. It was a lengthy drive in terms of play, 12, before Coudersport found the end zone with the Falcons converting three third downs and a fourth down during it.
It didn’t take Redbank Valley very long to answer, as Hetrick went right up the gut for a 67-yard score two players after the Coudy score to get the Bulldogs within a point, 8-7, midway through the opening 12 minutes.
Hetrick then made it 14-8 Redbank when he went 77 yards on the first play following a Coudersport punt.
The Falcons answered right back 1:15 later when Darren Keglovits scored on a 1-yard plunge. His 36-yard pass to Navada Waterman helped set up the score.
The game remained 16-14 Coudy until Clint Thurston hit a 27-yard field goal with 23.6 seconds left in the half to give Redbank a 17-16 halftime lead. A Nick Shoemaker with interception at the Coudersport 43-yard line that he returned to the 26 set up the score. A fourth-and-4 5-yard run by Connor Shoemaker with 1:04 left in the half kept the drive alive and allowed Thurston to kick the field goal.
The Falcons had the ball inside the Redbank Valley 20-yard line twice at the start of the second half but turned the ball over on downs twice.
The first time was Coudersport’s opening drive of the half where the Falcons moved to the Redbank 14-yard line before Aaron Wolfinger was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-4.
But Keglovits got Coudy the ball right back when he picked off a Connor Shoemaker pass three players to give the Falcons a first-and-10 at the Redbank Valley 13.
The Bulldogs defense rose to the challenge allowing just three yards on four plays.
Hetrick then put Redbank up by eight with a 13-yard run with 2:16 left in the third quarter with the score coming one play after a fumble snapped by Keglovits went 21 yards behind the line of scrimmage before Patrick Crawford at the 13 for Redbank.
Coudersport was driving in the fourth quarter reaching the Redbank 31-yard line when Keglovits hit Wolfinger for 10-yard pass to the 21, but Wolfinger was hit by Aaron Wilson which caused the ball to come out and Crawford recovered the fumble for the Bulldogs. Two first downs later, and the game was over.
Redbank outgained Coudersport 330 yards to 122. Connor Shoemaker added 54 yards rushing and was 2 of 9 passing for five yards.
Keglovits was 11 of 25 passing for 114 yards and an interception and ran eight time for 8 yards. Waterman had two catches for 41 yards and Wolfinger three for 28. He also ran 13 times for 44 yards.
Redbank will take on Brockway in the semifinals next week at a site, time and date to be determined.
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