Southern Tier Sports ReportWAVERLY — The Horseheads football team was edged by Waverly 27-26 on Friday night as the Wolverines scored late and forced a turnover to help seal the win.
Waverly struck first in the game. After both teams had three-and-outs to start the game the Wolverines went four plays for 53 yards with Cooper Chyrstie scoring on a two-yard run to make it 7-0. The key play of the drive was Cooper Christie hitting Carter Chrystie on a swing pass for 36 yards.
Horseheads went three-and-out, but Waverly muffed the punt and Horseheads recovered at the Waverly 43. The Blue Raiders went on a seven-play drive, scoring on fourth and four to make it 7-7.
Waverly answered with a 12-play, 65-yard drive that started at first-and-20 after a holding call. Cooper Chrystie scored on a six-yard run to make it 14-7.
The Blue Raiders answered with a 10-play, 71-yard drive with Lyncoln Bennett going 6-for-6 on the drive, including passes of 21 and 18 yards to Jack Patchett, and then Bennett hit Aiden Culshaw on a one-yard touchdown to tie the game at 14.
The Wolverines drove from their own nine to the Horseheads 12, but Patchett picked off Cooper Chrystie in the end zone with 2:08 left in the half.
Horseheads went on an 18-play drive to end the half. Bennett completes five places on the drive, with two passes to Culshaw for 17 and 18 yards on consecutive plays. Culshaw also had a 10-yard run to the Waverly two on fourth-and-two. Four players later Horseheads scored on a one-yard touchdown pass by Bennett. A personal foul pushed back the extra point and it was batted down as Horseheads led 20-14 at the half.
After the Blue Raiders went three-and-out to start the second half, Waverly went on a 13-play, 72-yard drive with Cooper Chrystie converting a key fourth-down conversion and he scored from the one to put Waverly up 21-20.
After a three-and-out by Waverly the Blue Raiders took over at midfield and went on an 8-play, 50-yard drive. Bennett was 3-for-3 on the drive and had an 11-yard scramble. The two-point try failed and it was 26-21.
After a 10-play, 76-yard drive Cooper Chrystie had his fourth rushing touchdown. The two-point try failed and it was 27-26.
Bryce Thomas broke off a 24-yard run on the third play of the next Horseheads drive, but Waverly stripped the ball at the Wolverines 25. Waverly the picked up three first downs to run out the clock.
Bennett threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns for the Blue Raiders.
Paetchett had a career-game with 11 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown. Bradyn Hourihan had two catches for 10 yards, both of those catchers were touchdowns.
Culshaw had five catches for 51 yards and Jahviee Meisner had five catches for 47 yards.
Thomas had 45 yards on nine carries and Culshaw ran for 22 yards and a score on six carries, while Bennett ran for 22 yards on four carries.
Elijah Miller had 14 tackles for Horseheads and Thomas had seven tackles and two sacks in the game.
Cooper Chrystie was 12-for-19 for 167 yards and he had 19 carries for 158 yards and three scores in the game. Carter Chrystie had 10 catches for 118 yards and a score.
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PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
