TOWANDA - The Towanda Black Knights wrapped up their undefeated regular season and assured themselves of home field advantage throughout the District 4 playoffs by hammering the Wyalusing Rams 31-0 Friday night in the traditional Bronze Helmet game. Both Dakota Roof and Travis Chesla ran for over 100 yards and scored a rushing touchdown, while Roof also passed to Cody Miller for one score, kicked a field goal, and was flawless on four extra point kicks. Towanda's remaining touchdown came on a run by Kodi Thompson.

The Black Knights enter District 4 action at 10-0, while Wyalusing ends the regular season 6-4 with the possibility of an Eastern Conference post-season berth.

Coach Craig Dawsey was most impressed by the way his team focused on the rivalry game with the NTL Small School champions following last week's dramatic overtime victory against Loyalsock. "After a tough and emotional game like that, you naturally are concerned about a letdown, but our team came to play," he said, adding "Wyalusing came to play too." Reacting to Roof's performance, in which the quarterback produced points every way a player on offense can score except receiving, the coach noted "He's just an exceptional athlete. If he could find a way to throw the ball to himself, he'd do that too."

After stopping Wyalusing's four-minute opening drive Towanda started at its own 15-yard line. Chesla ripped off 21 yards, Kodi Thompson ran for 12, and after an incomplete pass, Roof called his own number from the shotgun and rambled 52 yards to the end zone. Roof's kick made it 7-0 with 6:57 left in the quarter.

The Black Knights stopped the Rams next possession by sacking Reggie Davis twice, receiving the punt just outside midfield. The ensuing five-play drive took just under two minutes, highlighted by Roof's 19-yard pass to Nate Bennett and the 24-yard strike to Cody Miller that produced the touchdown with 1:25 on the clock. Again the kick was good and Towanda enjoyed a 14-0 margin after one quarter.

Late in the second quarter Wyalusing put together a sustained drive starting at its own 17 yard line. The running of Caleb Sheldon and Frank Insinga netted four first downs and with a third down and short yardage at the Towanda 5, the Rams appeared ready to get back in the game. Insinga crashed the middle only to fumble at the goal line and Towanda recovered in the end zone, ending the threat.

The Black Knights removed any remaining suspense by marching 73 yards with the second half kickoff. Chesla contributed gains of 13, 12, and 15 yards and Roof added an 18-yard run off the option before Thompson finished the drive from six yards out. Roof's extra point clicked the scoreboard to 21-0 with 9:37 remaining in the third quarter.

A time-consuming drive in the fourth period saw Towanda seemingly stopped by a holding penalty, but a completion from Roof to Dean Frutchey put the ball on the Wyalusing 9 yard line for Roof's 25-yard field goal just inside the five-minute mark. A fumble by Wyalusing quarterback Davis was recovered by Towanda's Nate Beers at the Rams' 23, and after a Roof completion to Nate Thompson, Chesla scored his 16th rushing touchdown of the season from six yards out.

Roof's final numbers showed 18 carries for 138 yards, one touchdown, and one lost fumble, while through the air he completed five of nine passes for 94 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also punted twice for an average of 42 yards. Chesla gained 119 yards on 15 carries and was a rock on defense, ending his night's work by leveling Davis on Wyalusing's final passing attempt. He ended the season well over the 1,300 yard mark on the ground.

Wyalusing's offense was mainly limited to the inside/outside tandem of Insinga and Sheldon. Insinga carried 10 times for 76 yards and Sheldon logged 13 carries for 51 yards.

Towanda will open District 4 play next weekend on its home field at a time to be determined, with Troy the likely opponent.

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