GAME SUMMARY: No, it wasn’t going to happen this time.   In two of the last three meetings between Lake Lehman and Wyoming Area, the Black Knights rallied from seemingly insurmountable deficits to stun the Warriors with two losses.    As one of the broadcast chat listeners (obviously a Lehman fan) said when the score was tied 7-7…”Wyoming Area will choke.”    To that I say, "Not so fast my friend…"

In an offensive barrage that left everyone dazed, the Warriors raced out to a 28-7 lead by the end of the first quarter.  It must have reminded Coach Rich Musinski of his Arena Football days.  Nick O’Brien started off the fireworks on the first play from scrimmage.    O’Brien took the snap from the shotgun, made a cut inside off his right tackle, and then raced to the sideline.   No one was going to catch him as he went 52 yards for the score.   Lehman then bounced back on their first possession behind a 45 yard run by Brady Butler.  Lehman powered the ball in for a touchdown behind a 3 yard run by Dustin Jones.    With the score tied 7-7 after five minutes of play, this proved to be the last semblance of a competitive game.

On the ensuing kickoff, Lehman angled the ball toward Zak LaNunziata, avoiding a runback by O’Brien or Cody Schmitz.  LaNunziata made a couple nice moves and was off to the races, taking the ball down to the Black Knights 22.  After one rushing play, O’Brien dropped back, and laid out a beautiful pass to Cody Schmitz in the end zone for 24 yard touchdown.   Three plays, two touchdowns.    It’s hard to be more efficient.

On Lake Lehman’s second series, the Warrior defense stiffened up.  For the remainder of the night, there was not much running room for Dustin Jones or the other Lake Lehman backs.  Quarterback Bill Hillman, not known as a running quarterback, rushed for some yardage, but the Black Knights inability to pass made their offense one dimensional.  Lake Lehman finished the game with only 16 yards passing.   Overall, Lake Lehman was held to 199 yards in total offense—well below their season average. 

It was “Show Time” for the Warrior offense.   With 3:36 remaining in the 1st quarter, O’Brien scored again on a 39 yard run—six plays, three TDs for the Warriors.       Later in the quarter, O’Brien hit Jordan Zezza with a 45 yard pass, setting up a Cody Schmitz 12 yard TD run, making the score 28-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Lehman showed some life in the second quarter, driving the ball nicely, but fell short by inches on a fourth down play at the Warriors 10.    The Warriors then drove 90 yards, in the process converting a second and 30 situation.  O’Brien waltzed in from one yard with 1:03 remaining in the first half to give the Warriors a 35-7 lead.  A four yard run by Jeff Skursky in the second half and a fourth quarter TD by O’Brien sealed the deal.   

Kudos go out to the Warrior offensive and defensive lines.  They are not the guys who get the headlines, but they have been doing the job.    The blocking that allowed O’Brien to get outside time after time was outstanding.  The Warriors defense was again stout, as Lehman’s lack of passing threat allowed them to focus on stopping the run.    Give the coaches some love on the play calling--when things go bad, we all complain about the play-calling. For the last 8 weeks, this team has looked like the Oregon Ducks on offense...

Cody Schmitz, again was a force on offense.  He had 36 yards rushing on five carries and added 67 yards on 3 receptions.   He rushed for one TD and caught another.  Jordan Zezza’s yards per reception average didn’t suffer with 2 catches for 92 yards.

Twenty years from now, if someone wanted to watch one game that displayed virtually all Nick O’Brien’s talents, I would reach for the video of this game.    He had 15 carries for 187 yards, was 6 for 9 in passing for 178 yards and had 4 TDs.     On at least two occasions, O’Brien scrambled away from sure sacks, then threw passes on the run across his body for completions.  The pass that he threw on the dead run to his left for a 17 yard completion to Trent Grove was…impossible.    On defense, O’Brien made at least three tackles where he literally stopped runners in their tracks—it looked like they ran into a brick wall.    And if all that is not enough, O’Brien kicked the ball off for the first time in his career.  Kicking “old school” straight on, O’Brien kicked the ball in the air to the 3 yard line.    Warrior fans haven’t seen a ball kicked that far on a kickoff in the last five years—maybe longer.     In the category of "toughness", O'Brien took a hard shot from a frustrated Lehman defender when he was clearly several yards out of bounds and not protecting himself. Like he has done so many times after so many hard hits--he bounced up immediately as if it were a routine tackle. This kind of toughness not only inpires his own team (and fans), but also demoralizes the opposition.  Next week will be O’Brien’s Warrior finale at “The Jake”.  As my broadcasting partner Sean Carroll would say, “Cancel your eyebrow waxing appointment and make sure you show up.”

It must be said that, just as the Warriors were dinged up during Week 3 in their first encounter with Lake Lehman, the Black Knights on this night were not at full strength.  Every time the Warriors tried to run straight ahead up the middle, it was like running into a brick wall. The Black Knights sorely missed sophomore running back John Van Scoy who hurt the Warriors in the first game.  In addition, they were missing their starting center.  Most of the Lake Lehman starters are underclassmen, so they will be a formidable team next year.  They are a tough football team.

But in 2012, it’s all about the Warriors.   They find themselves for a second straight year in the District 2 AA Championship game.     They came up short last year, but now it’s time for “Full Throttle.”   Nick Perugini -- nperugini@aol.com

Wyoming Area avenges earlier loss to Lake-Lehman

O’Brien leads Warriors to district title game

PREVIEW: If you are one of those people who believe in the importance of “intangibles” in sports—then you have to be thinking that Wyoming Area has found its mojo heading into their District 2 AA Playoff game with Lake Lehman.  The Warriors come off a rousing 27-20 victory over rival Pittston Area, and are riding a seven game winning streak.    The Black Knights, on the other hand, were embarrassed by Dallas, 51-6, in their rivalry game last week.  In that loss, Lake Lehman managed only 109 yards of passing and had negative rushing yardage.  In addition, since defeating the Warriors in Week 3, the Black Knights also have lost to GAR and Northwest.   You can add to the equation that the Warriors are motivated by a desire to avenge that Week 3 loss.   As Warrior fans recall, Wyoming Area allowed a 14-0 fourth quarter lead to melt away and lost 15-14 on a 2-point conversion with seconds remaining in the game.

But intangibles alone seldom win football games.  More often than not, blocking, tackling, running, and winning the turnover battle, tend to be the deciding factors.   So the Warriors need be physically and mentally prepared for Friday night’s meeting at “The Jake”.   It’s common knowledge that the Warriors limped into the Week 3 game against Lake Lehman with several key injuries following their hard fought victory over Mid Valley in Week 2.    That being said, Lake Lehman marched up and down the field behind bruising running back, Dustin Jones, for most of the night.  The Black Knights outrushed the Warriors 231 yds to 131 yds, and in total, held the Warriors to their second lowest offensive output of the season.    Many Warrior fans blame the Week 3 loss on play calling during the closing minutes of the game.   I thought that Lake Lehman outplayed the Warriors for most of the game—something that should concern Warrior fans more than game tactics.

It’s quite simple--as the Lehman running game goes, so go the Black Knights.    In addition to 240 lb, 1000+ yard running back Dustin Jones, shifty halfback John Van Scoy can also tote the rock.     In losses to Dallas, Northwest, and GAR, the Black Knights were held to under 122 yards rushing in each of those games.  In five of their six victories, they rushed for over 300 yards.    This time around, the Warriors are hopeful that a healthy defensive unit will stymie the Knight’s rushing game.

QB Bill Hillman, not a great threat to run,  has the ability to be an effective passer as he showed in the waning minutes of the first game against the Warriors.    Lehman likes to roll out, and throw short passes to the sidelines.  They also will try a variety of screen passes.    They do not have a receiver who has over 9 receptions for the year, nor do they have a receiver who has garnered over 200 yards receiving.     They do not have a consistent deep threat.   One of Lehman’s favorite passing plays is to roll the QB to one side, and then throw back across the field with a screen pass, or sometimes a longer pass to a back slipping out of the backfield.    Warrior defensive ends will need to contain the rollout in passing situations.   Defensive backs and linebackers will also need to watch for that throwback play—especially in long yardage situations. 

The Warrior offense is vastly improved over Week 3.   LaNunziata, Schmitz, Zezza, Grove, and Skursky have all emerged as formidable weapons to compliment Nick O’Brien.   But it will be the offensive line where it will all start and end.  Matt Dimick, Joe Erzar, Carl Zielinski, Tyler Resciniti, and Joe Taylor will have their hands full with a physical Lehman defensive line.    We’ll see if they are up to the challenge.

Finally, after two stunning comeback victories over the Warriors in the last three years, the Black Knights are banking on the belief that the Warriors have a tendency to roll over in the second half.   (They might not word it so generously.)      I think the Warriors want to demonstrate that things will be very different this time.   I guess that’s one of those intangible things…  See you on Friday night.  Nick Perugini  nperugini@aol.com