Lions nearly complete 2nd half comeback, but key defensive stops in 4th quarter allow Frewsburg to freeze Wellsville with 30-24 road win; Lions to visit A-L next Friday night

By John Anderson/Wellsville Sun

WELLSVILLE — The Wellsville Lions are 2-2 on the 2024 football campaign after a 30-24 loss to Frewsburg on Friday night.

As the Lions re-group and prepare for the next week, they can take solace in knowing as the team learned to turn the corner, their losses so far are to the defending 8-man State Champions in Pembroke, and now to Frewsburg — the defending Section VI Champions.

Frewsburg came into the game undefeated after dispatching Allegany-Limestone, 56-26. The Bears have the offense as well. Last season, the Bears won Sectionals in double-overtime when Blake Weaver ran from 9-yards out, then scored on the two-point conversion to give the Bears a 50-48 lead and the title.

Wellsville, coming off a 60-point performance last week, was in position to match that goal again. However, Frewsburg earned this one, stopping the Lions four times on short fourth downs and an outstanding goal-line stand in the last minutes to seal the victory.

Two touchdowns by Trent Lewis early gave Frewsburg a lead Wellsville would chase the rest of the game. And it was the little things that hurt. The Lions were unable to capitalize on penalties, and minor injuries during the game caused a few plays to end with great field position for Frewsburg. Lewis scored four touchdowns to lead the Bears.

Wellsville did have some exciting moments though.

The Lions went to the air as junior quarterback Brennen Geffers found Matt Ritter, Jayvontay "J.J." Howard and David Clark on consecutive passes before lofting a 29-yard touchdown pass to Trenton Green. Geffers went right back to Green for the 2-point conversion and an 8-6 Wellsville lead.

Gabe Black, Ritter and Tyler Rahr then made big stops on defense to give the Lions another shot to score. As good as Frewsburg was on goal-line defense, the Lions had a big one in the second quarter. On a third-down pass play, Howard made a tackle at the one, and the hit caused his helmet to come off. In high school football, you have to come off one play and be checked when the helmet comes off.

Jack Davis rushed into the game as a last-second replacement and before Lewis could walk in for another touchdown from the 1-yard line. Davis shot through the line and dropped the Bears QB for a loss and turnover on downs. From his end zone, Geffers threw a 35-yard pass to Howard to get the Lions out of trouble.

With 30 seconds left in the first half, Geffers hit Green on a screen and then a 58-yard touchdown pass to Green with eight seconds left before the half. Again, Geffers found Green for the conversion.

As exciting as the passing was, in the second half, Xander Outman pulled off a run worthy of the NFL Network's Angry Runs, as he broke seven tackles before the 8th and final player on the field collared him from behind to stop him at the three-yard-line. Outman showed no signs of being tired after the 53-yard run as he ran in a touchdown to cap off the drive. Geffers hit Howard for the conversion.

Frewsburg had a chance to seal the game, but Terrence Benz, who played strong on both sides of the ball, came up with four big tackles and Holden Dean stopped another drive with a tackle. The big defensive play of the second half was by Wellsville's Derek Coleman, who sacked the quarterback, forced a fumble and the ball was recovered by Black for the Lions.

Wellsville’s (2-2) next game is at Allegany-Limestone next Friday at 7 p.m. before returning home to play Holley on Oct. 18 for Homecoming.

Frewsburg 14 8 8 0 – 30

Wellsville 8 8 6 0 – 24

Scoring Summary

1st

FREW – Trent Lewis 1-yard run, 2-pts failed (6-0 FREW)

WLSV – Trent Green 29-yard pass from Brennen Geffers, 2-pts good (8-6 WLSV)

FREW – Trent Lewis 15-yard run, 2-pts failed (14-8 FREW)

2nd

FREW – Trent Lewis 1-yard run, 2-pts good (22-8 FREW)

WLSV – Trent Green 58-yard pass from Brennen Geffers, 2-pts good (22-16 FREW)

3rd

FREW – Trent Lewis 8-yard run, 2-pts good (30-16 FREW)

WLSV – Xander Outman 5-yard run, 2-pts good (30-24 FREW)

4th

None