WILSON – A late 31-yard field goal off the foot of Robert Switek provided the winning points as Wilson pulled off a stunning come-from-behind 28-27 Colonial League victory over Palmerton.

The Saturday afternoon win at picturesque Smith Field Stadium was the first win of the season for the Warriors (1-7). The Blue Bombers dropped to 2-6.

The Bombers had the catbird seat right from the start, but seemed to rest on the early success in the eyes of coach Chris Walkowiak.

“During the pregame we seemed a little aloof. Then we came out and scored,” Walkowiak said.

But Walkowiak said his team never built on that early momentum.

“We just didn’t regain our focus (to) put them away,” he explained.

That quick touchdown seemed far too easy as Palmerton all-everything junior Jordan Nelson nearly broke it to the house, returning it from his 17 to the Wilson 20. Four plays after that return, Nelson bulled his way to paydirt and kicked the point after for a quick 7-0 lead.

But the Warriors answered right back, marching 64 yards in eight plays riding the footwork of junior tailback Alec Snyder (22-115), who plunged the final four yards for a touchdown. Switek’s PAT tied it, 7-7.

“They were scrappy, we didn’t execute very well, but they made plays when they had to and earned the win,” said Walkowiak. “They scored on that opening drive and that put them back in the game. We didn’t respond well defensively. They just ran through our tackles.”

A fumble afforded the Warriors a short field to cash in for the go ahead score. Taking over at the Palmerton 11, Snyder rumbled to the end zone on the first offensive play following the takeaway for a 13-7 lead.

Palmerton answered with a 7-play, 66-yard drive, which featured a pair of nifty runs from Nelson of 26 and 29 yards to the three. Tanner Burnett polished off the drive for a 13-13 tie.

The home club right before the close of the first half. Three pass completions by quarterback Ben Hindmarch highlighted the series. A 36-yard strike to Damon Simpson produced the TD and a 19-13 halftime lead.

“I thought our execution was just great in that series,” said Wilson coach Chris Labatch. “We have a ton of respect for that team. They have a lot of good players, but we came out determined to play our best game of the season.”

The Bombers took a 20-19 lead early in the second half when Aaron Stasko returned a punt to the Wilson 17, and Nelson eventually scored from five yards out.

The Bombers made it 27-19 with 1:44 to go in the third quarter on a 23-yard Nelson-to-Stasko TD pass. Cody Waterhouse’s second pick of the game set up the score.

With its back to the wall, Wilson regrouped.

The winners used a well-executed 12-play drive to creep to within two points (27-25) with Hindmarch covering the final five on a run. A wide open Snyder dropped what would have been the tying two-point conversion pass, however.

But Snyder quickly atoned for the drop with an interception on a first down pass attempt by Palmerton with 4:17 to play. The Warriors managed to get the ball to the 14, and on fourth down, got the game-winning field goal of 31 yards from Switek.

WHOA NELLIE … Palmerton quarterback Nelson doesn’t look like he is going to blow by defenders because he has a deceiving gait that makes it seem like he’s not going fast — but try and catch him. Nelson was the game’s leading rusher with 132 yards on 17 attempts.

PASSING FANCY … Wilson’s 6-3 senior quarterback Hindmarch made some spot throws, including a great touch on the 36-yard TD completion to Simpson.