Northwest Area was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their seventh straight defeat dating back to last season. They were beaten by the Athens Wildcats 49-20. The result was an unpleasant reminder to the Rangers of the 44-6 loss they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in August of 2024.
Despite the defeat, Northwest Area saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Shane Hempel rushed for 89 yards and two scores on only six carries. Noah Arnett made the highlight reel by snagging an interception and taking it all the way to the house.
Northwest Area didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Arnett and Mason Bilby. Arnett got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Northwest Area's loss dropped their record down to 0-2. As for Athens, they have started the season off flawlessly and has a 2-0 record to show for it.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Northwest Area will square off against Lake-Lehman at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. As for Athens, they will take on Canton at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The game will give the Wildcats their first taste of in-conference action this season.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
