Things couldn’t have started better for the Wilkes-Barre Area Wolfpack last Friday night. Their first two possessions ended with touchdown passes by Jake Howe.
Then the oddities began, and now the Wolfpack (1-1) will try to bounce back at 7 p.m. Friday night as they host Valley View (1-1) in a non-conference game.
WBA led Stroudsburg 13-7 after one quarter and then the following occurred.
• A sack on the second play of the second quarter resulted in a fumble and a 70-yard return for a touchdown by Stroudsburg.
• The final play of the second quarter also resulted in a Stroudsburg touchdown on a 31-yard Hail Mary heave caught in the back of the end zone despite solid coverage.
• Howe was sacked again early in the third quarter and was injured. He didn’t return to the game. WBA was at the Stroudsburg 19-yard line at the time and failed to score.
• The Wolfpack, then under the direction of sophomore backup quarterback Declan Gregor, cut the deficit to 28-20 with 41 seconds left in the third quarter. The offense ran just six more plays the rest of the game.
“Defensively, we didn’t do a good job. We didn’t tackle,” WBA coach Ciro Cinti said. “And when Declan Gregor came in, we actually scored. We just ran the ball a little more and that was the nice thing about it. And he did lead us to a touchdown.
“Obviously, because Declan didn’t have a lot of snaps, it cuts down your playbook a little more. But still, when you don’t stop them and give up touchdowns on Hail Marys you have to play better defense.”
Stroudsburg iced the game with a six-minute drive that covered 63 yards. It was nothing fancy as running back Jaylin Rieara carried the ball on all 10 plays. Only once was he stopped for negative yards.
“The defense, I was really disappointed in how some people played,” Cinti said. “Overall, we were disappointed because of how well we played the week before. But it’s high school football, and you’ve got to get better. Bottom line.”
Howe has been practicing this week and barring any setback will play. He leads the Wyoming Valley Conference with a 69.8 completion percentage and is second in passing yards (478) and touchdown passes (4). He has some speedy receivers available in Treyvon Gembitski and Rajon Watson plus 6-foot-2 Jordan Kieselowsky. Running back Devon Underwood is also a capable receiver out of the backfield.
Valley View recovered from a 33-0 loss to state-ranked Scranton Prep in its opener to defeat Crestwood 28-13.
“It goes to show you what can happen week to week,” Cinti said. “Prep is a different animal. They are a very good team. Up front, they did a nice job. I was a little surprised, but again it’s the first game and you don’t know what to expect because there were probably a lot of kids who didn’t play varsity getting their first shot.”
Quarterback Casey Malsberger, playing in place of injured starter Zach Cwalinski, ran for two TDs and passed for another as the Cougars built a 28-0 lead against Crestwood, which was without starting quarterback Jaden Shedlock.
Valley View has thrown the ball just 21 times through two games. By contrast, Howe threw 22 times against Stroudsburg before leaving with his injury.
The Cougars have a very strong running back tandem in Nick Kucharski and Preston Reed.
WEEK 3 AT A GLANCE
Abington Heights (1-1) at Dallas (0-2)
7 p.m. Friday
The Coaches: Abington Heights Joe Repshis (118-90), 19th year; Dallas’ Rich Mannello (77-34), 10th year
Last Meeting: Dallas 31-28 in 2023
First Meeting: Abington Heights 35-6 in 2009
All-Time Series: Tied 3-3
Scouting Abington Heights: QB Nick Bradley, one of the best in the LFC, threw two TD passes as the Comets routed West Scranton 42-0. RB Dominic Vergnetti added a pair of touchdown runs as gives his team an edge over Dallas in the running department at this point. The Comets have lost the last three meetings.
Scouting Dallas: QB Brady Zapoticky threw for 396 yards in a 49-41 loss to Wyoming Area, but once again the running game produced little. The offensive line is a work in progress, so some growing pains were expected. The Mountaineers haven’t lost three games in a row in a season since 2015.
Bottom Line: Can’t envision Dallas losing three in a row.
Berwick (0-2) at Lackawanna Trail (1-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The Coaches: Berwick’s CJ Curry (0-2), 1st year; Trail’s Steve Jervis (137-100), 16th year at Trail, 21st overall
Last Meeting: never played
First Meeting: never played
All-Time Series: never played
Scouting Berwick: The Dawgs have struggled mightily putting points on the board. They have one offensive TD and the other score came on defense. Once again, Berwick scored the game’s first touchdown, but lost 28-7 to Mid Valley in Week 2. The run defense was very leaky.
Scouting Trail: A couple fourth-quarter touchdowns doomed Trail in a 28-7 loss to Western Wayne. The Lions’ usually potent running game didn’t fare well and the offense isn’t geared to come back from two scores down late in a game. RB Demitrius Douglas is the main threat.
Bottom Line: Berwick needs to get its offense going.
Crestwood (0-2) at Tunkhannock (1-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The Coaches: Crestwood’s Ryan Arcangeli (36-24), 6th year; Tunkhannock’s Pat Keating (86-42), 2nd year at Tunkhannock
Last Meeting: Tunkhannock 29-21 in 2021
First Meeting: Tunkhannock 20-6 in 1983
All-Time Series: Crestwood 12-10
Scouting Crestwood: The Comets didn’t score until late in the third quarter in a 28-13 loss to Valley View. They trailed 28-0 at that point. QB Jaden Shedlock, one of the WVC’s top running threats, didn’t play due to an injury yet remains the second-leading rusher in the conference.
Scouting Tunkhannock: The Tigers broke into the win column with a 42-0 victory over Holy redeemer. RB Karver Lewis ran for two touchdowns to give him three on the season. New starting QB Zach Latwinski threw and ran for two scores. The first of three consecutive home games.
Bottom Line: Even if Shedlock doesn’t play, the Comets should have enough to prevail.
Hazleton Area (0-2) at West Scranton (0-2)
4 p.m. Friday
The Coaches: Hazleton Area’s Dennis Buchman (22-20), 5th year; West Scranton’s Jake Manetti (4-18), 3rd year
Last Meeting: West Scranton 41-34 in 2023
First Meeting: Hazleton Area 10-7 in 1992
All-Time Series: Tied 2-2
Scouting Hazleton Area: The Cougars haven’t been able to find their footing on offense, producing just one TD this season. The other score came via kickoff return. RB Hunter Johnson had 70 rushing yards last Friday in a 23-6 loss to Williamsport, so perhaps things are picking up.
Scouting West Scranton: The Invaders had no answers in a 42-0 loss to Abington Heights. RB Dayron Groves had a big game in the opener, but found no running room vs. the Comets. If West Scranton can’t pick up a win here, it might need to wait to October to get one.
Bottom Line: Note the new day and odd starting time for the game due to weather concerns on Saturday.
Holy Cross (1-1) vs. Hanover Area (0-2)
7 p.m. Friday
at Nanticoke Area H.S.
The Coaches: Holy Cross’ Joe Giglio (8-25), 4th year; Hanover Area’s Jason Majiros (4-19), 3rd year
Last Meeting: Hanover Area 55-20 in 2023
First Meeting: Holy Cross 22-14 in 2021
All-Time Series: Hanover Area 2-1
Scouting Holy Cross: The Crusaders lost 21-3 to Lakeland, not bad when considering this would be a mercy-rule loss in the past. RBs Leland and Aidan Wudarski have put up some decent numbers thus far. Holy Cross, though, doesn’t poise much of a threat through the air.
Scouting Hanover Area: The young Hawkeyes were overwhelmed by Riverside 62-13. A positive was freshman QB Logan Richardson connecting on long TD passes to sophomore WR Jonathan Otway-Kellom. The lead paint issue remains at their stadium, so the game has been shifted to neighboring Nanticoke Area.
Bottom Line: Really a hard matchup to figure out.
Holy Redeemer (0-2) at Carbondale Area (1-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The Coaches: Redeemer’s Tyson Kelley (7-40), 6th year; Carbondale Area’s Jeff Arthur (11-23), 4th year
Last Meeting: never played
First Meeting: never played
All-Time Series: never played
Scouting Redeemer: The Royals were shut out for a fifth consecutive time in a 42-0 loss to Tunkhannock. The running game, albeit via the legs of QB Thomas Dugan, had its best game since 2020. But the offense totalled just 130 yards and turnovers were a problem.
Scouting Carbondale Area: The Chargers posted their first shutout in 16 games with a 26-0 win over Nanticoke Area. The 26 points were also the most they scored since that 35-0 shutout of Holy Cross in 2022. Freshman QB Cole Becchetti and sophomore RB Caedon Voglino combined for a solid rushing attack vs. Nanticoke Area.
Bottom Line: Redeemer will get on the board, but not nearly enough.
Nanticoke Area (0-2) at Pittston Area (1-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The Coaches: Nanticoke Area coaching staff; Pittston Area’s Joe DeLucca (0-2), 1st year
Last Meeting: Nanticoke Area 35-28 in 2023
First Meeting: Pittston Area 26-0 in 1967
All-Time Series: Pittston Area 18-11
Scouting Nanticoke Area: The Trojans were shut out for the first time in 30 games in a 26-0 loss to Carbondale Area. The offense, which was hit hard by graduation, hasn’t been able to run or pass the ball with any consistency. The only points so far came on a kick return in the season opener.
Scouting Pittston Area: The Patriots made it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter only to fall to North Pocono 23-13. RB CJ Pietrzak had a career-high 109 rushing yards. He had Pittston Area’s only 100-yard game last year. The passing game showed improvement from the opener.
Bottom Line: Pittston Area’s offense is ahead of Nanticoke Area’s at this point.
Northwest (0-2) at Lake-Lehman (1-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The Coaches: Northwest’s Steve Nestorick (0-2), 1st year; Lake-Lehman’s Jerry Gilsky (88-69) 15th year
Last Meeting: Lehman 37-13 in 2019
First Meeting: Lehman 33-13 in 1959
All-Time Series: Lehman 27-6-1
Scouting Northwest: Former WVC member Northwest lost 49-6 to Athens. The Rangers have scored eight or fewer points in their last 10 games. Senior QB Jace McCoy has thrown the ball 56 times with decent results. He is also the team’s leading rusher.
Scouting Lehman: After a big win at Berwick’s historic Crispin Field, the Black Knights went flat in a 49-0 loss to Shamokin where they surrendered 421 yards on defense. A couple turnovers, including a pick-6, didn’t help matters. However, this game presents a good opportunity to bounce back.
Bottom Line: Expect Lehman’s defense to play much better than last Friday.
North Pocono (2-0) at Wyoming Valley West (0-2)
7 p.m. Friday
The Coaches: North Pocono’s Greg Dolhon (61-68), 13th year; Valley West’s Bob Stelma (1-11) 2nd year
Last Meeting: Valley West 21-13 in 2023
First Meeting: North Pocono 20-13 in 2022
All-Time Series: Tied 1-1
Scouting North Pocono: A couple late third-quarter touchdowns allowed North Pocono to get some breathing room in a 23-13 win over Pittston Area. RB Joe Briskie had a big day, rushing for 167 yards and a TD. The Trojans need to pick up wins now because the second half of the schedule is brutal.
Scouting Valley West: The Spartans lost their 11th in a row as Scranton put up 36 first-half points in a 36-13 loss. Freshman QB Damien Eastman, though, threw the first two TD passes of his career. Both were to Tyler Mattis. A better running game could help out things.
Bottom Line: Despite the records, this game could be a close one.
Valley View (1-1) at Wilkes-Barre Area (1-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The Coaches: Valley View’s Scott Wasilchak (11-4), 2nd year; WBA’s Ciro Cinti (98-99) 6th year at WBA, 19th overall
Last Meeting: never played
First Meeting: never played
All-Time Series: never played
Scouting Valley View: Valley View had a nice bounce-back win in defeating Crestwood 28-13. Backup QB Casey Malsberger threw one TD and ran for another as the Cougars built a 28-0 advantage. RB Nick Kucharski has done a nice job running the ball thus far.
Scouting WBA: The Wolfpack scored on their first two possession in a 35-20 loss to East Stroudsburg, but a series of issues turned the tables. The biggest was QB Jake Howe leaving the game with an injury early in the third quarter. That took away a big element of a balanced attack.
Bottom Line: A game that can go either way.
Wyoming Area (2-0) at Western Wayne (2-0)
7 p.m. Friday
The Coaches: Wyoming Area’s Randy Spencer (106-63) 16th year; Western Wayne’s Shane Grodack (10-4), 2nd year
Last Meeting: Western Wayne 40-34 in 2011
First Meeting: Wyoming Area 9-3 in 2010
All-Time Series: Tied 1-1
Scouting Wyoming Area: The Warriors defeated Dallas 49-41 as RB Lidge Kellum rushed for a career-high 337 yards on 39 carries. While the defense shut down Dallas’ running game, it surrendered 396 yards through the air. Western Wayne, though, rarely throws the ball.
Scouting Western Wayne: The Wildcats love to run the ball and RB Josh Vinton had a huge game in a 28-7 victory over Lackawanna Trail. QB John Pyatt didn’t throw much, but was effective when he did so Wyoming Area can’t sell out completely against the run.
Bottom Line: Two teams who can meet again in the District 2 Class 3A playoffs.
The post H.S FOOTBALL WEEK 3 PREVIEW: Wolfpack hungry to bounce back against Valley View appeared first on Times Leader.