SEASON SNAPSHOT

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By y C CHHRRIIS S M MAASSSSE E cmasse@sungazette.com

Hayes Campbell again stands alone. He does so for the final time after playing this role the previous three seasons.

Campbell is Wellsboro’s lone senior. He also was its lone freshman when his high school football began before becoming its lone sophomore and junior. It has not been a case of Wellsboro losing players in Campbell’s grades. It simply has been a unique scenario where the versatile threat has been the only Hornet in his classes eager to play football.

Whatever his grade, Campbell has made an impact. So, having Campbell provide a foundation to build upon certainly helps what may be the district's youngest team.

“We knew this year was coming. It’s just one of those things. We’re going to use him, that's for sure,” Wellsboro coach Matt Hildebrand said. “He will take on a little different role and he’s looking forward to it.”

That role goes beyond being the undisputed team leader. Campbell also

2023 Schedule

Aug. 25—vs. Montoursville

Sept. 1—at Muncy

Sept. 7—vs. Canton

Sept. 15—at Athens

Sept. 22—vs. Towanda

Sept. 29—at Troy

Oct. 6—at Wyalusing

Oct. 13—vs. South Williamsport

Oct. 20—vs. Cowanesque Valley

Oct. 27—at N.P.-Mansfield will move from the offensive line to playing various skill position roles. He will be utilized as a receiver as well. Basically, however Wellsboro can implement Campbell to help the team, it will use him in that area.

“We’re going to utilize him a lot more,” Hildebrand said. “His blocking ability and moving him around makes him more dangerous.”

As young as Wellsboro is, it could still become dangerous. Several of the large junior class started last season and there are several promising potential first-time starters and/or contributors mixed in among the 31 players who signed up. Obviously, Wellsboro has to grow up fast. It was kind of a similar story last season when Wellsboro welcomed in several new starters. That team went 1-9 but held leads in each of its first three games and lost four games by eight or fewer points.

Throughout that experience, Wellsboro learned a lot. And if there is a word to describe the big goal this season, learning could be it. That includes the coaches as much as the players.

“I learned a lot last year as a coach. It was the first time we were dealing with the numbers we did and I learned that we might have to take a different approach offensively and do a better job saving kids where we can a little bit and run somethings a little different,” Hildebrand said. “We were up in a lot of games and kind of puttered out in the second half.”

To combat that, Wellsboro is pushing its conditioning program hard. Wellsboro has done so in the past, but with the numbers where they are, and the youth being what it is, embracing that hard work is imperative. The Hornets want to be the team wearing down the opponent come late in the game this sea- sonandnottheotherway around.

Asmuchasanystrategyit canuse,Wellsborobeinginexcellentshapemayholdthe biggestkeytothedirectionthis seasongoes.

“Youcanrunthemasmuch asyouwant,butultimately,it’s onthemandthat’ssomething weharpon.Thiscomestoyou havingtofindthatdrivebecausetherearetimesingames whenyou’regoingtoneedit,” Hildebrandsaid.“Wetellthem you’regoingtobetired,sowe wanttomakeitharderinpracticesthanitisinthegame.It’s gettingthekidstorealizethat it’satoughsportandifyoucan beinbettershapethantheopponent,you'regoingtoput yourselfatabigadvantage.”

Wellsborohopesitcancreate anadvantagewithsomeofits returningplayersaswell. QuarterbackWilGastrock playedwellinhisfirststarts lastseasonandshouldbegood togofollowingawrestlinginjurysufferedlastwinter.SophomoreMarekMaschowasthe JVquarterbackandcouldtake somesnapsaswell,whilealso helpingatbothrunningback andwidereceiver.Hisyounger brother,Maxwell,alsoisinthe mix.

LeadingrusherRyder Bowenisbackafterenjoyinga breakthroughsophomorecampaign.SilasMickeymissedlast yearwithabrokenlegsuffered inthefirstpreseasonscrimmageandalsocouldmakeabig impact,asbothrunnersmixin

2022 RESULTS (1-9)

Wellsboro 14, Montourosville 21

Wellsboro 22, Muncy 30

Wellsboro 0, Canton 35

Wellsboro 13, Athens 23

Wellsboro 19, Towanda 41

Wellsboro 3, Troy 45

Wellsboro 41, Wyalusing 6

Wellsboro 0, South Williamsport 20

Wellsboro 7, Bald Eagle Area 35

Wellsboro 21, N.P.-Mansfield 24 withCampbellaswell.

JacobDeanisanexciting prospectatwidereceiverand canstretchadefense,while MarekMaschocouldalsobecomeareliabletargetifheis notplayingquarterback.

JonathanCarlandDylanCopp alsoareplayerstowatchinthe passinggame.

Wellsborohassomesizeup frontandalsosomeexperience withLeviStone,Hayden StevensandJacobThurstinall startedand/orplayedsignificantamountslastseason. Thurstinisa6-foot-4,300pounderandcouldbecomeespeciallydangerous.Lincoln DeCourseymissedlastseason withatornACLandisastrong playerwhocouldalsoplaya keyrole.

Manyofthoselinemenalso likelywillbecountedondefensively.Withthesmallnumbers, thatreallyisthecaseinall facets,soWellsborowilldoits besttorotateinsomeplayers atdifferentspotswhenthey can.Doingsoservestwopurposes,bothpotentiallykeeping theplayersfresher,whilealso lettingmoregainvaluableexperience.

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WillGastrock843654634 RUSHERATYDSTD

RyderBowen1204762

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2023 Football P Lay Ers To Watch

Ryder Bowen, RB/LB: Although he is a junior, Bowen still will be one of the more experienced players on this year's team and showed how valuable he is thorughout his sophomore campaign a year ago. Bowen led the team in both rushing and tackles and starting last year gives him a lot of upside entering 2024. Bowen ran for 476 yards and topped 100 yards twice. He gained a career-high 128 yards in a victory against Wyalusing and closed his season strong, rushing for 103 yards against North PennMansfield. Bowen brings a defensive mentality to running and that is a good thing since he shined as a first-time starting linebacker. Bowen made 100 tackles last season and averaged 10 per game. He also made a season-high 13 tackles against South Williamsport and had 12 more against Troy.

Hayes Campbell, RB/OL/DL/LB: That's a lot of position possibilities and that is exactly why Wellsboro is excited about the team's lone senior. Campbell has been a standout offensive lineman the last three years, but is an excellent athlete who has some speed and power. Because of that, Wellsboro likely will use Campbell in an HBack role, utlizing his strengths as a runner, blocker and receiver. He also provides defensive flexibility, able to play along the defensive line or at linebacker where he was last year. He is a four-year starter who is receiving college interest and who is one of the district's best long snappers. Campbell finished tied for the team lead in sacks, collecting three, while making 64 tackles. Campbell produced a season-high 13 tackles in a close loss against Athens. Campbell has five sacks over the past two seasons and also has an interception.

Will Gastrock, OL/LB: As a sophomore last season, Gastrock moved to starting quarterback late in the season and excelled in that role at times, throwing for 453 yards and four touchdowns. Gastrock was at his best in the Wyalusing win, torching the Rams and throwing for 182 yards with four touchdowns. Gastrock also was not intercepted in that game and should benefit from the experience he gained down the stretch. gained starting. Gastrock is a mobile threat who ran for 161 yards. He used his legs to hurt North Penn-Mansfield in the final game, gaining a career-high 94 yards and scoring three touchdowns. A quality defensive back as well, Gastrock finished third on the team with 69 tackles, averaging 6.9 per game.

Marek Mascho, WR/QB/DB: Wellsboro will be one of the district's youngest teams this season, and will need big contributions from players like Mascho. After putting up impressive numbers as a freshman on the baseball team last spring, Mascho has the potential to be a breakthrough football player this fall. He played well when given the opportunity last season, finishing ninth on the team in tackles with 38. Mascho made an impact when he it players as well, forcing two fumbles, and recovering another. Mascho made a strong contribution late in the season, producing 13 tackles in his last two games. He also caught a 19-yard touchdown against Athens and added two catches for 32 yards against Towanda. A versatile athlete, Mascho could play either quarterback or wide receiver and provide Wellsboro a boost.

B By y C CHHRRIIS S M MAASSSSE E

cmasse@sungazette.com

Jed Wright did not become North Penn-Mansfield’s coach until June. But he is familiar with his players, having been an assistant coach there from 2018-21 and being a teacher at Blossburg Elementary School.

It also helps that his seniors are becoming such strong leaders. In that sense, Wright has a group of players who are pseudo-coaches to help ease the transition. Last year’s coach Chris Olson is still there as the associate head coach, too, so Wright has a lot of help. And after a young team made big strides as last season continued, there are high hopes.

“The excitement is building. The nerves are building for me, but that comes with the excitement with getting ready for the season,” Wright, who quarterbacked Troy to a district championship in 2013, said. “We have been leaning on the leaders who have been here and are in their third and fourth years playing and they have been