Wyoming Area scored just once more — on a 1-yard run by Rodney midway through the third quarter — but the way the defense was playing it was just added insurance.
D11 champion Tamaqua (12-3) came into the game with the school’s all-time leading rusher, passer and receiver. Running back Nate Boyle was unable to get the running attack going, so the Blue Raiders turned to quarterback Brayden Knoblauch.
Knoblauch was sacked just once but harassed and flushed from the pocket several times by defensive ends Derek Ambrosino and Caleb Graham. He often had to throw on the run or off balance, and the Wyoming Area secondary responded.
Defensive back Jake Williams recorded the first of his three interceptions with a minute left until halftime. His pick in the end zone stopped a Blue Raiders’ drive that moved to the Wyoming Area 12-yard line. Jake Williams grabbed his second interception on Tamaqua’s first possession of the second half after fellow defensive back Leo Haros slapped a pass away from a receiver.
“It helps a ton,” Jake Williams said of the pass rush. “For the quarterback to get forced into rushing a throw or forced into something, it’s great. It helps us down field to make plays. We wouldn’t be here without those guys up front.”
Knoblauch attempted 47 passes — the most he’s ever thrown in a game — but completed just 19 for 199 yards.
The final three Tamaqua drives ended in interceptions. Brian Williams, Jake’s older brother, nabbed Wyoming Area’s third pick of the game, again with pressure forcing a throw. DeLuca made it four interceptions just past the midway point of the fourth quarter.
Jake Williams then completed his interception hat trick as Knoblauch was chased from the pocket and floated a desperation pass to near the goal line.
Dallas also made the Class 4A championship game, marking the first time two Wyoming Valley Conference teams will play for state football titles in the same year. Berwick is 1997 was the last WVC team in a state championship.

PIAA CLASS 3A SEMIFINALS
Wyoming Area 21, Tamaqua
Tamaqua`0`0`0`0 — 0
Wyoming Area`7`7`7`0 — 21
First quarter
WA — Dominic DeLuca 5 run (Josh Cumbo kick), 4:54
Second quarter
WA — Brian Williams 27 pass from DeLuca (Stanley Moderski kick), 8:24
Third quarter
WA — Darren Rodney 1 run (Moderski kick), 6:18
Team statistics`TAM`WA
First downs`16`13
Rushes-yards`21-62`40-171
Passing yards`217`76
Total yards`279`247
Passing`20-48-5`3-6-0
Sacked-yards lost`1-9`1-9
Punts-avg.`1-35`4-28
Fumbles-lost`0-0`2-2
Penalties-yards`6-47`11-101
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Tamaqua, Nate Boyle 16-55, Matt Kistler 2-8, Brayden Knoblauch 3-(minus-1). Wyoming Area, Darren Rodney 23-133, DeLuca 14-44, Dillon Williams 2-8, team 3-(minus-6).
PASSING — Tamaqua, Knoblauch 19-47-5-199, Boyle 1-1-0-18. Wyoming Area, DeLuca 3-6-0-76.
RECEIVING — Tamaqua, Lucas Gregoire 3-51, Boyle 10-72, Kistler 6-76, Knoblauch 1-18. Wyoming Area, Leo Haros 1-8, B.Williams 2-68.
INTERCEPTIONS — Jake Williams 3-23, B.Williams 1-0, DeLuca 1-18.
MISSED FGs — none.

TIMES LEADER-BY JOHN ERZAR

WILLIAMSPORT — Wyoming Area’s offense spun off in a different direction for the first time in the postseason and so did the football program for the first time in school history.
Quarterback Dominic DeLuca threw for a season-high 310 yards and four touchdowns as Wyoming Area defeated Montoursville 43-27 Saturday afternoon in a PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal game at Williamsport High School.
Wyoming Area (12-1) won its first state playoff game against a non-District 2 team in four tries in its history (the D2-3A title game is considered a state first-round). The Warriors will play D11 champion Tamaqua (12-2) in the semifinals.
“We’ve been there three times prior and this is the first one,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said. “I know the district championships are considered a state game, but as far as a legit state game this is it. This is history for us today and the kids did a great job.”
Wyoming Area moved to a state semifinal game for the first time by throwing the ball, quite a change from its two D2-3A wins. In those two games, DeLuca attempted just 14 passes, completing five for 93 yards and a touchdown.
On Saturday, DeLuca obliterated those numbers with an 11 of 19 performance.
DeLuca thought his arm my be used more with running back Darren Rodney in street clothes due to an injury. Rodney was a game-day decision, and Spencer believes he will be back next weekend.
“I did expect it,” DeLuca said, “but I also expected to run the ball. The running game wasn’t hitting for us, so we had to go to the air.”
DeLuca went to his favorite target, receiver Brian Williams, five times for 191 yards that included a 29-yard TD pass with 5:09 to play to put Wyoming Area ahead 36-27.
“We came into the week and I was coming off an ankle injury and wasn’t sure if I was going to play or not,” Williams said. “Being a big factor for my team today means a lot to me. This is our first state playoff game win actually in the program’s history.
“It means a lot to us, especially our coach.”

Despite running back Leo Haros and Williams hauling in touchdown passes in the first half, Wyoming Area went into the locker room trailing 21-13. More was working for D4 champion Montoursville, which used the final 40 seconds of the second quarter to score a go-ahead touchdown.
Things changed dramatically early in the third quarter. Montoursville went three-and-out with the second-half kickoff and on Wyoming Area’s first play of the third quarter DeLuca hit Williams on a short out pattern. Williams turned upfield and raced 72 yards for a touchdown as Wyoming Area tied the score 21-21.
Wyoming Area then forced another punt and on its first play, DeLuca connected with wideout Riley Rusyn on a 41-yard fly pattern down the right sideline.
“I feel like they were more in the box and waiting for us to come downhill at them,” DeLuca said. “All that play action killed them.”
Haros scored from 5 yards out four plays later and Rusyn turned a botched extra-point snap into a two-point conversion run, giving Wyoming Area a 29-21 lead.
Montoursville answered with a 15-play scoring drive and running back Rocco Piluzzi’s 3-yard TD run cut the deficit to 29-27 with 10:46 left in the fourth quarter. A two-run point conversion run by Piluzzi ended up a yard short with Wyoming Area defensive tackle Nick Elko applying the final hit.
That was the last Montoursville’s offense made any noise as Wyoming Area’s defense took control.
Wyoming Area defensive end Derek Ambrosino blindsided quarterback Hunter Shearer on Montoursville’s next possession. Shearer coughed up the ball right to linebacker FJ Braccini. The turnover led to Wyoming Area’s final points on a 2-yard run by DeLuca with 2:11 remaining.
Wyoming Area ended up outscoring Montoursville 30-6 in the second half.
“Schematically, defensively we didn’t do much differently,” Spencer said. “I think our kids focused in. We got off to a good start and they came roaring back there. At halftime, I think it was one of those moments you have to take stock and I think our kids did that.”

CITIZENS VOICE - STEVE BENNETT

WILLIAMSPORT — All those hot summer afternoons Dom DeLuca and Brian Williams spent running pass routes together, trying to get that connection quarterbacks and wide receivers like to have, were going to pay off eventually.
That day arrived Saturday afternoon in the form of a 43-27 victory for the Wyoming Area Warriors over the Montoursville Warriors at Williamsport High School in the Class 3A state quarterfinals. It marked the first time in program history Wyoming Area won a state playoff game.
With the win, Wyoming Area improves to 12-1 and advances to play Tamaqua next week in the state semifinals. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Valley West.
DeLuca and Brian Williams connected on five passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns. None bigger than the 72-yard play that helped Wyoming Area tie the game at 21 early in the third quarter.
“I came into the week off an ankle injury and wasn’t sure I was going to be able to play,” Williams said. “Being a big factor means a lot to me.”
While Williams was able to take the field, Wyoming Area was without tailback Darren Rodney, who missed the game because of an injury. The decision for Rodney not to play came just before kickoff, but Wyoming Area still stuck to its script, with Leo Haros taking over in the backfield.
“It was just a matter of next man up,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said. “It is heartbreaking for the guy dealing with the injury, but you have to have that next guy ready to go. That is the reality of it.”
Haros made an immediate impact when he caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from DeLuca to get Wyoming Area on the board early. Montoursville scored on 3 of 4 possessions in the second quarter to take a 21-13 lead at the half.
The final Montoursville touchdown of the first half came with 3.2 seconds left after gaining possession on their own 40 following a Brian Williams touchdown catch that brought Wyoming Area within a point.
The Montoursville score before the half was helped along with a defensive pass interference and a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty that was tacked on at the end of the play.
Wyoming Area took the half to catch its break and refocus. Wyoming Area came out in the second half a completely different team. Flying to the ball and finishing tackles, Wyoming Area forced a punt on the first series of the third quarter.
“In the first half they smashed us in the mouth, they were huge up front,” DeLuca said. “They were coming down hill at us. In the second half we matched them.”

On Wyoming Area’s first offensive play of the second half, DeLuca hit Williams for a 72-yard touchdown. Wyoming Area converted the two-point conversion to tie the game at 21.
“Schematically, we didn’t do a lot different,” Spencer said. “The kids just focused in. We got off to a good start but they came roaring back. At halftime, it was one of those moments that you have to take stock. They just looked in the mirror and decided they weren’t done playing football.”
Following another Montoursville punt, Wyoming Area cashed in again when Haros scored from f5 yards out. Wyoming Area elected to kick the extra point, but when the placement went bad, Riley Rusyn picked up the ball and scooted around the right side for two points and a 29-21 lead.
But Montoursville wasn’t going to go away so easily. A 10-play, 70-yard drive was capped when Rocco Pulizzi scored from 3 yards out.
However, the DeLuca-to-Williams connection was not done yet.
The two combined on a 29-yard scoring play that essentially put the game out of reach with 5:09 to play in the game. During the drive, Wyoming Area faced a fourth-and-5 at the Montoursville 46. Wyoming Area lined up as if it was going to run a play, but using a shift where multiple players moved, Montoursville jumped offside to give Wyoming Area the first down, keeping the drive alive.
“Our running game wasn’t hitting so we went to the air,” DeLuca said. “They knew we were a run team and they put more guys in the box. I think the play-action hurt them. “
DeLuca capped the scoring with a 2-yard run late in the game after F.J. Braccini recovered a fumble and returned it 16 yards to the Montoursville 25.
“Our coaches pumped us up at the half,” Williams said. “We have been down in a couple of games before. We came out in the second half and were all over the place. I think we are a better second half team. The defense is stingy, I thought they played great.”

District 2 Class 3A Championship
Wyoming Area 27, Scranton Prep 0
Scranton Prep`0`0`0`0 — 0
Wyoming Area`0`14`7`6 — 27
First quarter
No scoring
Second quarter
WA — Dominic DeLuca 1 run (Josh Cumbo kick), 7:22
WA — DeLuca 50 run (Cumbo kick), 0:00.8
Third quarter
WA — Derek Ambrosino 28 pass from DeLuca (Cumbo kick), 8:06
Fourth quarter
WA — Leo Haros 1 run (Conversion pass int.)scoring play
Team statistics`SP`WA
First downs`10`14
Rushes-yards`19-112`39-210
Passing yards`99`74
Total yards`211`284
Passing`10-22-3`4-10-1
Sacked-yards lost`2-9`1-9
Punts-avg.`4-30.3`5-33
Fumbles-lost`2-0`1-0
Penalties-yards`6-46`12-103
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — PREP, Tucker Johnson 5-57, Ryan McAndrew 6-25, Carter Odell 1-16, Paddy Grady 5-13, London Montgomery 2-1. WA, Dominic DeLuca 21-162, Dillon Williams 9-38, Leo Haros 3-7, Darren Rodney 5-4, TEAM 1- (minus 1).
PASSING — PREP, Grady 10-22-3-99. WA, DeLuca 3-9-1-61, Jacob Williams 1-1-0-13.
RECEIVING — PREP, Robert Rossi 4-55, Breandan Colleran 3-31, McAndrew 2-16, Odell 1- (minus 3). WA, Derek Ambrosino 1-28, Haros 1-28, DeLuca 1-13, Riley Rusyn 1-5.
INTERCEPTIONS — WA, Jacob Williams 1-13, Brian Williams 1-5, Leo Harris 1-0.
MISSED FGs — None.

Times Leader - Tom Robinson WEST PITTSTON

WNEP VIDEO

CITIZENS VOICE - Scott Walsh, Staff Writer

DUNMORE — Dominic DeLuca doesn’t play regularly on special teams for Wyoming Area. Only in certain situations, when the game is tied and a big play is needed.
Early in the fourth quarter of a tie game with Dunmore on Friday night was one such situation.
And the senior delivered.
After the Bucks scored the tying touchdown, DeLuca returned the ensuing kickoff 79 yards for the go-ahead score. He then added another long touchdown run and had an interception to set up another score as part of a 21-point outburst that enabled the Warriors to pull away to 35-14 nonconference win at Dunmore Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Darren Rodney ran for 101 yards and three touchdowns for Wyoming Area (7-0 overall), ranked No. 4 in the state in Class 3A by pennlive.com.
But it was DeLuca’s effort over the final nine minutes that made the difference.
“Tonight was a night where we needed to take advantage of every opportunity and all of our resources,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said. “Dominic is an outstanding player, explosive as you saw. He puts us in a great position.”

Ranked No. 6 in the Times-Tribune Top 10 poll, Dunmore (4-3) put together a 10-play, 65-yard scoring drive that Cristian Buckley capped with a 9-yard touchdown run. Peyton Badyrka’s extra point tied the game at 14 with 9:14 left in the fourth.
“My wide receiver Charles Valvano had a really nice block on the outside,” Buckley said. “He kept the corner contained and I just followed the block in (to the end zone). The blocking on the O-line was amazing, too.

TIMES LEADER - TOM ROBINSON

DUNMORE – When Dominic DeLuca’s play at quarterback and safety is not enough to help separate Wyoming Area from an opponent, sometimes the Warriors need a little special extra from their senior leader.
Already having a big game as a punter, DeLuca took on additional special teams duties in the return game with Wyoming Area’s second straight unbeaten regular season in jeopardy Friday night.
The move paid off in DeLuca’s 79-yard kickoff return for the game-winning touchdown, sparking a 21-point burst over the final nine minutes to pull away from host Dunmore 35-14 in a non-league game between two of District 2’s top small school teams.
State-ranked Wyoming Area (7-0) currently leads the race for the district’s top seed in Class 3A. Defending champion Dunmore (4-3) led the Class 2A race going into the night.
The Bucks controlled the game’s first 20 minutes, scored first and came back to force a fourth-quarter tie.
On a night when Dunmore had more first downs, more yards and more time of possession, Wyoming Area needed to find another way to win the game.
DeLuca’s kickoff return put the Warriors ahead to stay. He fielded a ball on the right side, made it across the field to stick to the “return left” that was called.
“We didn’t have much momentum in the beginning of the second half,” DeLuca said. “I feel like that kick return changed the whole game.”
After getting to the sideline by working around a block by Jayden Rusyn, DeLuca cut back inside almost to the hashmarks, worked back to the sideline, then won a footrace to the end zone.
“I’m usually the emergency guy when we need a big return or a big play, or when we have injuries,” DeLuca said of his part-time role as a kick returner. “I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do sometimes.”
There was still more to be done.
DeLuca’s 46-yard run up the middle with 5:36 left provided an insurance touchdown. His interception and 48-yard return a little more than a minute later essentially finished off the Bucks.
“Our coaching staff is constantly evaluating situations,” Wyoming Area head coach Randy Spencer said. “In big games and situations, we have to use all of our resources.

Wyoming Area 35, Dunmore 14
Wyoming Area`0`7`7`21`—`35
Dunmore`7`0`0`7`—`14
First quarter
DUN – Steve Borgia 35 run (Peyton Badyrka kick), 0:08
Second quarter
WA – Darren Rodney 2 run (Stanley Moderski kick), 0:46
Third quarter
WA – Rodney 1 run (Josh Cumbo kick), 2:57
Fourth quarter
DUN – Cristian Buckley 9 run (Badyrka kick), 9:14
WA – Dominic DeLuca 79 kickoff return (Moderski kick), 8:54
WA – DeLuca 46 run (Cumbo kick), 5:36
WA – Rodney 23 run (Moderski kick), 2:23
Team statistics`WA`DUN
First downs`12`16
Rushes-yards`29-198`44-185
Passing yards`41`77
Total yards`239`262
Passing`4-8-0`7-15-1
Sacked-yards lost`0-0`2-34
Punts-avg.`4-47.3`2-29.5
Fumbles-lost`1-0`2-1
Penalties-yards`8-73`3-33
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — WA, DeLuca 11-94, Rodney 16-93, F.J. Braccini 1-6, Dillon Williams 1-5. DUN, Buckley 15-65, Rayshaun Dawkins 11-49, Borgia 9-32, Nick Stanco 2-22, Kameryn Reyes 4-16, Karl Kincel 1-3, Team 2-minus 2.
PASSING — WA, DeLuca 3-7-0-32; Leonardo Haros 1-1-0-9. DUN, Borgia 7-15-1-77.
RECEIVING — WA, Brian Williams 3-32, DeLuca 1-9. DUN, Buckley 2-3, Tommy Lewis 1-41, Dawkins 1-12, Stanco 1-8, Dom Temperino 1-7, Charles Valvano 1-6.
INTERCEPTIONS — WA, DeLuca 1-48. DUN, None.
MISSED FIELD GOALS – WA, None. DUN, Badyrka 28 (short).

CITIZENS VOICE - STEVE BENNETT

LEHMAN TWP. — Three fumbles lost. A few big plays allowed by the secondary as well as some untimley penalties. But more importantly Wyoming Area faced its first true taste of adversity on the field.
All that, and the Warriors were fortunate to only be trailing by 10 points to Lake-Lehman on Friday night. But the second half was a different story and a different Wyoming Area team.
The Warriors ran the ball with authority, the secondary played a lot better and the Warriors remained unbeaten with a 35-30 victory over Lake-Lehman to move to 6-0 on the year.
“We started off slow, but we picked it up at halftime and got the win,” said Wyoming Area running back Darren Rodney who rushed for three touchdowns in the second half. “It was just one play at a time.”
That was the approach the Warriors needed to take, because with the way the Lake-Lehman offense was having its way in the first half, the Warriors were desperate to find a way to slow the Black Knights down.
Lake-Lehman’s three first half touchdowns came on a 35-yard run by Casey Kaminski, a 52-yard pass to Kaminski from Ethan Adams, and a 66-yard pass from Adams to Luke Spencer.
“Turnovers, penalties and we had some guys nicked up,” said Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer. “That is the way it is when the momentum is flowing the other way. We did a great job coming out in the second half and finding that physicality and minimizing those big plays.”
Actually the shift in momentum began for the Warriors just before the first half ended.
After Adams broke off a 36-yard run to get the ball down to the Wyoming Area 5-yard line, the Warriors, trailing 21-14 at the time, saw its defense rise to the occasion. After stuffing Adams on a third down run, the Black Knights needed to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Spencer to make it 24-14.
“Any stop is big,” Spencer said. “Going in, that was the difference in making it a 10-point deficit or two touchdowns. That was the way to get it going to the other way. They answered the bell in the second half. Guys stepped up that didn’t have the best first half.”
While quarterback Dom DeLuca kept the Warriors close in the first half, Rodney took over in the second half. As he sees his role expand with Corey Mruk out for the season, Rodney rushed for 120 of his 153 yards in the second half. His 8-yard touchdown run with 20 seconds left in the third quarter put the Warriors up 28-24, and gave his team its first lead of the night.

TImes Leader By John Erzar - jerzar@timesleader.com

LEHMAN TWP. — Wyoming Area’s first-team defense hadn’t allowed a point all season. By halftime Friday night, the unit had surrendered 24.
But the defense made a play in the third quarter that flipped the momentum as the Warriors rallied to defeat Lake-Lehman 35-30 in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3A-A game.
Wyoming Area improved to 6-0. Lehman fell to 4-2.
Wyoming Area cut the deficit to 24-21 on a 1-yard TD run by Darren Rodney with 5:13 left in the third quarter. Lehman, though, drove to the Warriors 20-yard line on its ensuing possession with a 41-yard run by quarterback Ethan Adams the big play of the drive.
From there, misfortune struck for the Black Knights. They fumbled in the backfield and as a few Warriors tried to pick up the loose ball it kept rolling and rolling. Linebacker FJ Braccini finally flopped on the ball at midfield, giving Wyoming Area excellent field position.
Rodney ran for an 8-yard score four plays later, putting Wyoming Area up for good 28-24 with 20 seconds left in the third quarter.
Wyoming Area’s defense also came up big late in the second quarter, holding Lehman to a field goal after the Black Knights had a first-and-goal from the Warriors 5-yard line.
“Any stop is a big stop,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said. “But making there going into the half, making it a 10-point deficit instead of a two-touchdown lead. That hopefully starts you going the other way, but you still have to answer the bell in the second half.”
Rodney certainly did. He ran eight times for 28 yards in the first half, but finished with 21 carries for 145 yards. Rodney, who is replacing injured starter Corey Mruk, added his third TD of the game with 2:16 left in the fourth quarter to bump the lead to 35-24. He and quarterback Dominic DeLuca, who finished with 167 yards on 14 rushes, carried the ball on all but one play in the second half. The Warriors threw just one pass after halftime.
“Just went that way,” Rodney said. “One play at a time. Stepping up. Next man up and keep it going.”
Lehman couldn’t keep its offensive output going in the second half.
Adams torched the Wyoming Area secondary twice in the first half, hitting on TD passes of 52 yards to Casey Kaminski and 66 yards to Luke Spencer. Both came on fly patterns where the Lehman receivers just ran past their defenders.
But after gaining 259 yards in the first half, the Black Knights had 86 more in the final two quarters. Many came on a scoring drive with Kaminski catching his second touchdown pass of the game with 24 seconds remain.
DeLuca then fielded an onside kick attempt to seal the win.
“Our kids fought to the end,” Lehman coach Jerry Gilsky said. “We played a state-ranked team and of all the teams they’ve played we’re the ones who gave them a show.”

Wyoming Area 35, Lake-Lehman 30
Wyoming Area`0`14`14`7 — 35
Lake-Lehman`7`17`0`6 — 30
First quarter
LL — Casey Kaminski 35 run (Luke Spencer kick), 6:28 
Second quarter
WA — Brian Williams 38 pass from Dominic DeLuca (Josh Cumbo kick), 11:54 
LL — Kaminski 52 pass from Ethan Adams (Spencer kick), 9:56 
WA — DeLuca 42 run (Stanley Moderski kick), 8:29 
LL — Spencer 66 pass from Adams (Spencer kick), 7:18 
LL — Spencer 24 FG, 1:49 
Third quarter
WA — Darren Rodney 1 run (Cumbo kick), 5:13 
WA — Rodney 8 run (Moderski kick), 0:20 
Fourth quarter
WA — Rodney 2 run (Cumbo kick), 2:16 
LL — Kaminski 4 pass from Adams (pass failed), 0:24 
Team statistics`WA`LL
First downs`16`17 
Rushes-yards`40-320`37-104 
Passing yards`55`241 
Total yards`375`345 
Passing`2-8-0`16-23-0 
Sacked-yards lost`0-0`1-6 
Punts-avg.`3-37`4-42.3 
Fumbles-lost`3-3`6-3 
Penalties-yards`10-70`3-17 
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Wyoming Area, Rodney 21-145, DeLuca 14-167, Zajquay Williamson 1-(minus-3), Leo Haros 2-6, FJ Braccini 1-6, team 1-(minus-1). Lehman, Zack Kojadinovich 13-28, Adams 18-33, Kaminski 1-35, Ryan Eiden 3-8. 
PASSING — Wyoming Area, DeLuca 2-8-0-55. Lehman, Adams 16-23-0-241. 
RECEIVING — Wyoming Area, Haros 1-17, B.Williams 1-38. Lehman, Eiden 7-69, Kaminski 4-75, Spencer 3-73, Kojadinovich 2-24. 
INTERCEPTIONS — none. 
MISSED FGs — none.

Times Leader - By John Erzar - jerzar@timesleader.com

WEST PITTSTON — Just in case they forgot, the Wyoming Area Warriors were reminded on several occasions this week by their coaches.
Two weeks in a row, Tunkhannock was down big and rallied for wins.
“They were nonstop talking about it every day,” Wyoming Area receiver Brian Williams said.
Some deficits, though, are just too much to overcome, and Wyoming Area made sure there would be no second-half Tunkhannock heroics on Friday night.
The Warriors scored on all six of their first-half possessions, shut down Tunkhannock’s offense completely and rolled to a 49-10 victory in a Wyoming Valley Conference interdivisional game.
Running back Darren Rodney, starting in place of injured Corey Mruk, ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. All came in the first half. Between Rodney’s TD runs, quarterback Dominic DeLuca threw TD passes of 19 and 47 yards to Williams and 37 yards to tight end Caleb Graham.
The TD passes to Williams marked the fifth time DeLuca has connected for scores this season with his senior classmate.
“I kind of give him that look that I’m going up and I’m going to get it for you and we’re going to get this touchdown,” Williams said.
DeLuca’s other touchdown pass hit Graham in stride running down the left hashmarks.
Wyoming Area (5-0) put the final touches on the 42-0 halftime lead by driving 97 yards for its sixth touchdown. Zajquay Williamson ran in from 12 yards out with 2:35 in the second quarter, giving the Warriors 358 yards through the first half.

Wyoming Area 49, Tunkhannock 10
Tunkhannock`0`0`3`7 — 10
Wyoming Area`28`14`0`7 — 49
First quarter
WA — Darren Rodney 6 run (Stanley Moderski kick), 7:53
WA — Brian Williams 19 pass from Dominic DeLuca (Josh Cumbo kick), 6:26
WA — Caleb Graham 37 pass from DeLuca (Moderski kick), 3:46
WA — B.Williams 47 pass from DeLuca (Cumbo kick), 0:30
Second quarter
WA — Rodney 5 run (Moderski kick), 8:27
WA — Zajquay Williamson 12 run (Syndey Kruszka kick), 2:35
Third quarter
TUNK — Jaxson Montross 32 FG, 4:40
Fourth quarter
TUNK — Nathan Lord 6 pass from Ben Chilson (Montross kick), 8:33
WA — Vincenzo Nova 1 pass from Blaise Sokach-Minnick (Kruszka kick), 1 :35
Team statistics`TUN`WA
First downs`5`22
Rushes-yards`19-49`40-269
Passing yards`65`185
Total yards`114`454
Passing`6-19-1`6-14-0
Sacked-yards lost`2-17`0-0
Punts-avg.`6-40`2-32
Fumbles-lost`1-1`1-0
Penalties-yards`3-39`7-37

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Tunkhannock, Gavin D’Amato 5-11, Jack Chilson 4-1, Ty Konen 9-18, Jake Frisco 1-3, Matt Prebola 1-7, B.Chilson 1-0, Connor Elgin 2-9. Wyoming Area, Rodney 14-118, DeLuca 3-56, Leo Haros 2-24, Dillion Williams 1-0, FJ Braccini 1-10, Zajquay Williamson 2-11, Enzo Scotto-Diluzo 1-0, Drew Mruk 6-32, Richie Hyzinski 6-30, Daniel Angus 2-7, Colby Gashi 1-12, team 1-(minus-26).
PASSING — Tunkhannock, J.Chilson 4-11-0-17, B.Chilson 2-8-1-48. Wyoming Area, DeLuca 4-8-0-144, Sokach-Minnick 2-6-0-41.
RECEIVING — Tunkhannock, Prebola 2-9, D’Amato 1-(minus-4), Jhamal Zacharias 1 -12, Evan Sackmann 1-42, Nathan Lord 1-6. Wyoming Area, B.Williams 2-66, Graham 1-37, Riley Rusyn 1 -41, Usamah Alansari 1-40, Nova 1-1.
INTERCEPTIONS — Wyoming Area, Nick Ross 1-0.

CITIZENS VOICE - TOM FOX

NANTICOKE — The look on Dominic DeLuca’s face told the story. It was a bittersweet moment for the Wyoming Area senior quarterback.
The Warriors were dominating in every phase of the game Friday night, jumping out to an early lead and coasting to a 48-7 victory over Nanticoke Area in Week 4 of the high school football season.
Yet, one glance toward the sideline showed the emotion as running back Corey Mruk, with his No. 23 game jersey on, stood on crutches with another season-ending injury. It was a similar fate he sustained last season, hurt in the Warriors’ first playoff game.
Mruk, who rushed for multiple scores in last week’s win over Northwest, was hurt on one of the scoring dashes.
“Without Corey, it’s a big loss both offensively and defensively,” DeLuca said. “But it’s next man up. That’s kind of what we talked about all year. It’s a huge loss without him, but we are still going to run the ball. We won’t have that downhill runner like Corey was, but we are confident in all of the other backs. We know they can get the job done.”
And it was that next-man-up mentality for the Warriors, who used a plethora of tailbacks and fullbacks running behind that big, bruising offensive line.

TIMES LEADER - Dave Rosengrant

NANTICOKE — When Corey Mruk left last week’s Wyoming Area win with an injury, the severity wasn’t known.
Soon after, it was learned that the running back suffered a devastating knee injury and his season ended early for the second straight year.
Luckily for the Warriors, they have plenty of depth at the position. The depth showed on Friday night against Nanticoke Area as 12 different players carried the ball, four different backs scored rushing touchdowns and the team combined to run for 220 yards as the Warriors defeated the Trojans 48-7.
“Without Mruk, it’s a huge loss, offensively and defensively, but it’s next man up,” Warriors quarterback Dominic DeLuca said. “That’s what we’ve been saying all year the last two seasons. … I have a lot of confidence in (the other backs). I trust them with the ball, and I think they’ll get the job done just as well.”
Mruk, who led the team in rushing last season with more than 1,000 and was well on his way to reaching the milestone this season, was on crutches on the sideline and was in good spirits cheering on his team.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Warriors coach Randy Spencer said. “Corey’s been playing for us since a freshman. He was looking very strong this year. It’s a heartbreak whenever anybody suffers an injury like that. One of our senior leaders, an outstanding leader. My heart breaks for him. But he’s handling it as good as anybody.”
Without the standout runner, the Warriors turned to a plethora of backs on Friday night. After DeLuca got the scoring started with a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter to Brian Williams and Caleb Graham for a quick 14-0 lead, the running game took over.
Darren Rodney (11 yards), Leo Haros (6 yards), Vincenzo Giambra (1 yard) and Drew Mruk (20 yards) all had first-half scores as Wyoming Area (4-0) led 42-0 at halftime. Drew Mruk added a 10-yard TD scamper in the third quarter. The younger Mruk, a freshman, went for a game-high 52 yards on just three carries.
“Unfortunately, we’re familiar with losing key guys, so guys who have been a part of the team the last several years have been aware of injuries like that,” Spencer said. “And in past years, they’ve done a great job stepping up.
“I think again tonight Charlie Banashefski stepped up defensively. And offensively, we’ve got a lot of guys who can run the ball, are very talented backs and stepped up for Corey and certainly carried his workload for him tonight.”
The Warriors defense also dominated on the evening, holding the Trojans to 127 total yards and just 24 total yards in the first half with the first team in the game.
The Trojans (0-4) struggled mightily offensively, fumbling five times, losing one, and didn’t get much offense going until the second half. That’s when Pierson Park picked up a 6-yard TD run in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. The team also put together a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter when the Warriors drove to the 3, but the Nanticoke Area defense forced a turnover on downs.
“We played hard. But that’s why they’re one of the top-ranked teams in the state,” Trojans coach Ron Bruza said. “We just gotta start punching the ball in the end zone and taking care of our own. We can’t make mistakes against a team like that.
“Going forward, we got a bunch of seniors that can play football. We got our homecoming game coming up next week with Holy Redeemer. We got a few games coming up that we can at least be positive and actually be productive in. So we just keep plugging away.”

Wyoming Area 48, Nanticoke Area 7
Wyoming Area`28`14`6`0 — 48
Nanticoke Area`0`0`0`7 — 7
First Quarter
WA – B. Williams 4 pass from DeLuca (Moderski kick) 10:47
WA – Graham 21 pass from DeLuca (Moderski kick) 4:04
WA – Rodney 11 run (Moderski kick) 3:09
WA – Haros 6 run (Moderski kick) :12
Second Quarter
WA – Giambra 15 run (Moderski kick) 10:04
WA – D. Mruk 20 run (Moderski kick) 2:19
Third Quarter
WA – D. Mruk 10 run (kick failed) 3:34
Fourth Quarter
NAN – Park 6 run (Klepadlo kick) 10:19
Team statistics`WA`NA
First downs`14`9
Rushes-yards`27-220`42-119
Passing yards`81`7
Total yards`301`126
Passing`3-5-0`2-5-0
Sacks by-yards lost`0-0`0-0
Punts-avg.`0-0.0`4-24.8
Fumbles-lost`0-0`5-1
Penalties-yards`3-35`4-45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
PASSING — WA, DeLuca 3-4-0-81, Sokach-Minnick 0-1-0-0. NA, Marcella 2-5-0-7.
RUSHING — WA, Rodney 7-44, DeLuca 2-31, D. Williams 1-3, Z. Williams 1-9, Haros 1-6, Giambra 2-22, Scotto-Diluzio 1-13, D. Mruk 3-52, Rusyn 1-5, Sciandra 5-8, Hyzinski 1-25, Gashi 1-3, TEAM 1-(minus-1). NA, Park 6-32, Lohman 18-52, Kudrako-Kashatus 7-29, Ammons 4-16, Marcella 4-(minus-1), TEAM 3-(minus-9).
RECEIVING — WA, B. Williams 2-60, Graham 1-21. NA, Ammons 1-7.
INTERCEPTIONS — none
MISSED FGS — none

CITIZENS VOICE BY MATT BUFANO

SHICKSHINNY — Northwest burned 13 minutes and 34 seconds before scoring three points.
Wyoming Area needed just 57 seconds to score six points.
That’s how Friday night began at Lewis and Miller Stadium, a fitting start to a game where Northwest owned time of possession but struggled to outdo the Warriors in any other area.
Wyoming Area played as fast as its scoring pace, which started with a pair of 16-yard Corey Mruk touchdown runs in the first half and continued into the second half in a 34-3 Warriors win.
Wyoming Area (3-0), the sixth-ranked Class 3A team in the state, kicked off to start the game and watched as Northwest’s offense chewed away at the clock for the entire first quarter.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen one that took the entire quarter, plus some of the next,” said 12th-year Wyoming Area head coach Randy Spencer. “The defense held up and did a nice job. Unfortunately, penalties — certainly have to concentrate on that and do what we can do to minimize those penalties.”
Wyoming Area jumped offsides five times on the first drive. Northwest did just enough to capitalize on those mistakes, mainly using short runs up the middle.
It appeared Northwest’s offense would finally stall when defensive lineman Sammy Solomon and middle linebacker F.J. Braccini recorded back-to-back sacks that knocked Northwest from the WA 21 to the WA 35.
But Wyoming Area was flagged once again, this time a roughing-the-passer penalty that extended Northwest’s marathon drive.
“It’s tough coming off a big win,” said Braccini, a senior and third-year starter at inside linebacker with Mruk, referencing last week’s 34-0 pummeling of Scranton Prep. “So we had a lot of confidence coming into the game and I think that’s what killed us in the beginning a little bit. Then, we realized that we really gotta play our game because every team is out to get us. We’re the winning team, so every team is out to get us. We have to play to the best of our ability.”
That’s exactly what the Warriors did after Northwest’s 13-plus-minute drive ended with a 39-yard Jack Wessler field goal, putting Northwest (2-1) ahead, 3-0.
Less than a minute after Wessler’s kick, Mruk was in the end zone to give Wyoming Area a 6-3 lead.
After Northwest went three-and-out on its next possession, Wyoming Area charged 84 yards on five plays, including Mruk’s second touchdown. “Hard-nosed, downhill runner who sees the field well; and up-front, I think, he picked up nice blocking on some of those plays,” Spencer said of Mruk, touting Friday’s game as Mruk’s best performance of the season.
Boasting a 12-3 halftime lead, Wyoming Area added eight points when it started the second half with another Mruk touchdown followed by Leo Haros’ 2-point run.
Mruk had only six carries, but recorded 104 yards and three touchdowns.

Times Leader

By John Erzar - jerzar@timesleader.com

SCRANTON — There was no showdown Saturday afternoon. Just sheer domination.
And Wyoming Area supplied it.
The Warriors used a vicious defense that created five turnovers and shut down Scranton Prep’s running game to dismantle the four-time District 2 Class 3A champion 34-0 in a non-conference game at Scranton Memorial Stadium.
Defensive back Dominic DeLuca and linebacker FJ Braccini had interceptions, with DeLuca returning his pick 28 yards for a touchdown. DeLuca also forced and recovered a fumble, one of three by Prep. Braccini also had a forced fumble.
Defensive lineman Sam Solomon had all three sacks and when Prep quarterback Paddy Grady did get off a pass, he or his receiver was often greeted with a violent hit.
“We saw on film that they were able to break tackles,” DeLuca said. “We needed to come down hill, hit them hard and not let go. Make sure we got them to the ground.”
It added up to Prep (1-1) being shut out in the regular season for the first time since Scranton defeated the Cavaliers 29-0 in Week 5 of the 2011 season. The shutout was only the third suffered by Prep in its last 99 games, with the other a 35-0 loss to Middletown in the 2017 PIAA Class 3A state quarterfinals.
“We’re just in that situation where we have those type of kids,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said. “Five four-year starters, we got talented guys who’ve gotten to that point they have that confidence on the field.
“Now it’s a matter of can they come together, can they bring everyone together and form that type of team that can go on that great run. Today was the kind of game where you find answers to those questions.”
The answers came quickly.
Braccini forced a fumble on Prep’s second play from scrimmage and seven plays later running back Leonardo Haros scored from three yards out. The Cavaliers went three-and-out on their next possession and Wyoming Area (2-0) went on another seven-play scoring drive.
DeLuca banged off a few defenders on a 17-yard run to put the ball at the Prep 7-yard line and scored on another run on the next play. DeLuca was back in the end zone four plays later with a 28-yard interception return to boost the lead to 20-0 at halftime.
With the running game completely obliterated in the first half, Prep turned to a short passing game in the third quarter in an effort to rally. The Cavaliers had middling success in the change of strategy, but also had their share of troubles.
Braccini received a bonus on Prep’s 10th play of the third quarter. He came up for a big hit on a receiver, but instead had the ball roll off the Prep player and into his arms. After a couple of runs by running back Corey Mruk, DeLuca dropped a pass over a defender and into the hands of receiver Brian Williams for a 44-yard touchdown.
Prep’s next possession also ended in a turnover as DeLuca stripped the ball and recovered it. Mruk capped the scoring a short time later with a 1-yard run.
The Cavaliers’ deepest journey inside Wyoming Area territory came early in the fourth quarter. They drove to the Warriors 10-yard line, but Solomon flattened Grady for a sack on third down, ending the threat.

CITIZENS VOICE

BY JOBY FAWCETT, STAFF WRITER / PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 1, 2019

SCRANTON — Dominic DeLuca had a slight grin of satisfaction on his face when asked the importance of Wyoming Area’s convincing win over Scranton Prep.
He earned it.
And it looked like one he couldn’t wait to show off.
A year after falling short of an anticipated showdown with the Cavaliers during last season’s District 2 Class 3A playoffs when the Warriors fizzled out with a loss in the semifinals to Lakeland, DeLuca and his teammates turned in an inspired effort Saturday at Scranton Memorial Stadium.
Wyoming Area earned a 34-0 win over Scranton Prep, which entered the contest as the No. 5 team in Class 3A according to Pennlive.com.
“It’s a great feeling,” said DeLuca, who finished with 58 yards rushing, 134 yards passing and contributed on three scores. “Just like the coaches said to us in the locker room, this is the game that can put us on the map if we win.
“I think it will.”
Just how significant a win was this for Wyoming Area?
It is the first time a District 2 Class 3A team has beaten the four-time defending champion Cavaliers since Berwick did it in the 2014 playoff semifinals.
It is the first time Scranton Prep lost by shutout since Oct. 27, 2012 when Delaware Valley posted a 41-0 victory.
And Wyoming Area (2-0) ended a six-game losing streak to the Cavaliers, while winning its 12th straight regular-season game.
Wyoming Area’s last victory over Scranton Prep happened in the 1998 District 2 Class 2A playoffs.
“We hadn’t beaten them in a very long time,” DeLuca said. “We wanted to come back this year and show them how we could play.
“We didn’t get to play them last year, but I am glad this year we got to play them.”
FJ Braccini, a hard-hitting linebacker, provided a vicious collision in the first quarter that jarred the ball free from Scranton Prep quarterback Paddy Grady and set the tone for the remainder of the game.
Enzo Scotto-Diluzio recovered the loose ball as part of an outstanding effort by the Wyoming Area defense that created five turnovers.
The first one led to a 3-yard scoring run by Leonardo Haros that gave the Warriors a 6-0 lead at 2:57 of the first quarter. One that Scranton Prep never threatened.
“Can’t turn the ball over,” Scranton Prep coach Terry Gallagher said. “We knew going into the game, the more physical team was going to win. That’s the story no matter what, and they were. They were more physical than us.”
Scranton Prep never established a running game, either. In the first half, the Cavaliers had minus-7 yards on nine carries. Overall, they had only 19 total yards on 18 plays with two first downs while falling behind 20-0 in the opening 24 minutes.
DeLuca scored on a 7-yard run and returned an interception for a score in the second quarter for Wyoming Area.
“The formation they came out with was doubles. When they motioned across it was something we haven’t seen before where they stack the receivers. So, I just told my outside linebacker to press him,” DeLuca said about the interception. “As he pressed him, that messed everything up and I guess the quarterback got confused and threw it right to me.”
Scranton Prep (1-1) abandoned the running game and used short hitch patters and screens to start advancing the ball in the third quarter.
Grady threw for 126 yards in the second half for the Cavaliers. He connected with Carter Odell five times for 69 yards in the third and fourth quarters.
However, Wyoming Area kept the Cavaliers out of the end zone as Sammy Soloman proved too strong and quick, pressuring the quarterback and dominating up front while also providing a pair of sacks.
DeLuca showed off his arm in the third quarter. He hit Brian Williams for a 49-yard touchdown and Jacob Williams for 37 yards to set up a 1-yard score by Corey Mruk to push the final margin to 34-0.
“I am just so proud of my kids,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said. “It was an opportunity to play this type of game against the four-time 3A district champion and the kind of roll they have been on.
“We are just in a situation that we have those type of kids, five four-year starters. We have talented guys who have gotten to that point where they have that confidence on the field.”
Contact the writer: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9125: @sportsTT on Twitter

WEST PITTSTON — Wyoming Area head coach Randy Spencer couldn’t have asked for a better start to the high school football season.
Before the sun even set on Jake Sobeski Stadium on Friday night, Spencer’s Warriors were well on their way to a 56-13 victory over Mid Valley with what was a nearly perfect first quarter of football.
“We came out and I thought we did exceptionally well on both sides of the ball,” Spencer said. “Special teams executed at a high level. And I’m very happy with our young – in terms of experience – offensive line came together and played.
The Warriors (1-0) were in control from the start.
After recovering Mid Valley’s opening kickoff at their own 47 yard line, Wyoming Area marched 53 yards in seven plays for the opening score and a 7-0 lead.
Quarterback Dominic DeLuca did much of the work with his feet. On the second play of the drive, DeLuca rushed around the left side of the Warriors’ offensive line for 22 yards for a first and 10 at the Mid Valley 27. Three plays later he went around the left side again, running through two defenders at the goal line to score from 14 yards out.
Mid Valley went three and out on its first possession of the game and gave the Warriors the ball back at Spartans’ 45 after a punt.
This time, it took just six plays for Wyoming Area to find the end zone. Corey Mruk had runs of 13 and 9 yards to move the Warriors inside the Spartans 20 yard line. DeLuca then found Brian Williams in the back corner of the endzone from 19 yards out to put Wyoming Area up 14-0.
After another three and out by Wyoming Area, Williams gave Wyoming Area a three-score lead with a zig-zagging 59-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead.
“I was supposed to take it left,” Williams said of the score. “I saw no room there, so I took it up the middle, busted out right and then just out ran everybody.”
DeLuca would add another rushing touchdown before the first quarter was over, scoring from 22 yards out, and the Warriors led 28-0 with 40 seconds still left in the first quarter.
The Warrior defense got in on the scoring in the second quarter.
After Mruk made it 35-0 with a 16-yard touchdown run with 8:10 left in the half, Jacob Williams picked off at Patrick Ferke pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown and a 42-0 lead with 7:02 left in the half.
Brian Williams added another touchdown on a 1-yard end around with just 1:13 left in the half as the Warrior defense continued to baffle the Spartans.
Mid Valley didn’t get its first first down of the game until there was just 20 seconds left in the first half.
Richie Hyzinski scored the Warriors’ final touchdown to make it 56-o with 4:38 left in the third quarter before Mid Valley added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

BY TOM FOX / PUBLISHED: AUGUST 24, 2019
WEST PITTSTON — The punt return was designed for the left side. Brian Williams kind of did some improv on the fly.
Fifty-nine yards later, Williams crossed the goal line, and Wyoming Area was off and running in a season filled with high expectations and lofty goals.
The Warriors scored in all three facets of the game in the first half, building a big lead before cruising to a 56-13 victory over Mid Valley on the opening night of the high school football season.
The victory vaults Wyoming Area into a big Week 2 showdown against Scranton Prep.
“Our motto this season is ‘One more,’ and we had several situations last year where we had to focus on that next game,” Wyoming Area head coach Randy Spencer said. “We got to that district semifinal, and we did some things that we hadn’t done when we played at a very high level. That helped us to concentrate in that it’s really one game and one week at a time. We have a veteran group that needed to take care of that, and now, our focus is on a very good game next week.”
Williams’ punt return was a microcosm of the night. Wyoming Area couldn’t do much wrong.
The senior scooped up the ball while drifting back to the 41-yard line. He juked two defenders to the right side, made a slashing cut past a third Spartan and it was off to the races for the 59-yard return.
“It was supposed to go left, but I caught it off the bounce and saw a lot of people there,” Williams said. “I cut it back to the middle and saw a lot of room to the right. I put a few moves on some kids and saw some open space to take it to the house. It was a great way to start my season.”

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