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By R.A. Monti

Published: Saturday, September 15, 2012, 12:06 a.m.
Updated: Sunday, September 16, 2012

The longest losing streak in WPIAL football history is finally over.

West Shamokin snapped its record 46-game skid with a 25-6 win over Riverview on Friday in an Eastern Conference game at Jack E. Boyer Field.

“I'm so happy I can't even cry,” said Gatorade-drenched West Shamokin coach Josh Gilliland, moments after addressing his team. “I thought I was going to bawl like a baby.”

Friday's win was Gilliland's first in four seasons at the school.

The Wolves last win was Sept. 21, 2007 — a 20-8 victory over Allegheny-Clarion Valley. They dropped from Class AA to A this season.

Senior offensive linemen Andrew Stover couldn't contain his excitement after his first high school victory.

“This is the happiest day of my life,” said Stover. “We've worked so hard for this since we were freshman.”

Sophomore quarterback Brady Cornman started the scoring for the Wolves (1-2, 1-2), sprinting for a 25-yard touchdown. Cornman rolled right and couldn't find anyone open, so he tucked the ball and was off to the races.

A play earlier, Cornman drew the Raiders offside on 4th-and-inches for a first down.

With his team leading, 6-0, Wolves tailback Matt Johns broke multiple tackles, scoring from 10 yards out with 8:19 left in the half to make score 12-0.

The Wolves' defense held Riverview (0-3, 0-3) to only 92 total yards in the first half.

The game's leading rusher, Andrew Wingard, opened the second half by taking a pitch 35 yards for a touchdown for a 19-0 lead.

Wingard, who only had 43 yards coming into the game, rushed for 120 yards on 11 carries.

Johns capped the scoring when he scored his second 10-yard rushing touchdown of the game. Johns bounced off a tackle and carried three defenders into the end zone, making the score 25-0.

Riverview scored late when backup quarterback Jason Anthony hit Tim Wagner for a 35-yard TD. Anthony replaced starter Tyler Nigro, who was injured late in the third quarter.

The Raiders took the loss hard, leaving the field almost immediately after shaking hands with West Shamokin.

“The community deserved this,” Gilliland said. “The kids deserved this. They never quit. They always believed.”

R.A. Monti is a freelance writer.

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