For the first time in 30 years, Williamsport began a football season not as a member of the Wyoming Valley Conference. But there was still a familiar opponent waiting for the Millionaires in their home opener as Wyoming Valley West made the trip.
Now part of the Heartland Conference, the Millionaires came away with a 33-0 victory over the Spartans on Friday night as quarterback Elijah Way tossed four touchdowns.
Way connected on a pair of deep shots for a 14-0 halftime lead and never trailed from there.
He hit Trey Damschroder for a 58-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the first quarter and found Kyreek Bradshaw on a 38-yard strike in the second.
After the break, it was a Way touchdown pass to Kahyear Whaley that made it 20-0. Way and Bradshaw combined on their second score to push the lead to 26-0 at the end of three.
Whaley closed things out with a 49-yard touchdown run.
The Spartans’ skid extended to 10 losses after winning last season’s opener and dropping the next nine games. They will get their next shot next Friday at Scranton.
Though they have switched leagues, the Millionaires will still play four of their 10 regular season games against WVC squads. They are set to travel to Hazleton Area next Friday and will host Berwick and Wilkes-Barre Area in October.
NAZARETH 42, HAZLETON AREA 7
The Cougars didn’t get an easy draw for their season-opener, facing the Blue Eagles and a quarterback who is headed to the ACC.
Virginia Tech recruit Peyton Falzone figured in on four total touchdowns — passing for two and running for two more — to lift Nazareth to the road win at Harman-Geist Stadium.
Caleb Newsome caught a 20-yard pass to open the scoring while Tanner Zelachowski hauled in a 4-yard touchdown to make it 14-0. Falzone found the end zone himself on a 9-yard run.
Down 21-0 in the second quarter, Austin Wilson found the end zone for Hazleton Area, scoring on a 6-yard run in the first half.
But Nazareth delivered a dagger in the third quarter as Newsome scored for the second time, taking a punt 30 yards to the house for a 28-7 lead. Marquez Wimberly tacked on a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
Falzone put the exclamation point on the victory when he got loose for a 52-yard run to paydirt.
MARIAN CATHOLIC 35, HANOVER AREA 0
After opening with a win to start last season, the Hawkeyes couldn’t repeat the feat in 2024, coming away with a loss in Tamaqua.
Hanover Area will play LFC opponent Riverside next week, with the game being played at Wilkes-Barre Area.
NATIVITY BVM 52, HOLY REDEEMER 0
Nativity bulldozed its way to a 52-0 lead at halftime and coasted to the victory from there.
Friday marked the Royals’ first game playing as an independent as they look to build up their program.
Redeemer has two games scheduled with WVC foes, facing Tunkhannock next week and Lake-Lehman in September.
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