CLARION – It was a heartbreaker!

West Middlesex’s “Hail Mary” pass into the end zone on the
game’s last play ended unbeaten Coudersport’s season 12-8 Friday
night in the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class A football playoffs at
Clarion University’s Memorial Field.

The contest was a defensive struggle from the start as the 5th
ranked Big Reds managed only nine first downs and punted six times,
while the 7th ranked Falcons recorded eight first downs and punted
eight times.

There was no scoring in the first half, but in the third period
West Middlesex got on the board with a 21-yard touchdown pass from
Kolten Hoffman to Steve Andrusky. The PAT was no good, but the Big
Reds were on the board with a 6-0 lead.

The Falcons’ offense, meanwhile, was unable to get on track
until the final two minutes of the game when quarterback Boomer
Wetzel found Brett Whitman open for an eight-yard scoring strike.
Wetzel then went to John Hau for the two-point conversion and an
8-6 lead.

Coudersport’s defense was called on to hold the lead and had the
Big Reds bottled up until Hoffman unleashed his desperation 34-yard
pass into the end zone with time running out and Tyler Barris
pulled it in for the game-winning score.

The Falcons finish the season at 13-1, while West Middlesex, now
14-0, advances to the semifinals next week.