Dunmore at Mid Valley

Recap

DUNMORE 21, MID VALLEY 20

At Mid Valley, Dunmore built an early lead and then withstood a furious Spartan fourth quarter rally to win 21-20. The Bucks won their third consecutive game after four losses to begin the season.

The Bucks scored on their first two possessions of the ball game, both touchdowns coming from senior Gabe Franek. The Bucks concluded the first quarter with a surprising 14-0 lead. Mid Valley was able to get on the scoreboard when Mason Vinansky scampered 33 yards with just 2:48 remaining in the half. Vinansky was once again replacing Mid Valley’s bellwether back, Jakob Lesher. The Bucks led 14-7 at halftime.

After forcing Mid Valley to punt at the outset of the third quarter, sophomore Josh Dudick raced 90 yards in front of a stunned Spartan crowd to extend the Bucks’ lead back to two scores at 21-7 with 8:30 left in the stanza.

The Spartans reached the red zone early in the fourth quarter but the Bucks recovered a fumble, taking over at their own 18-yard line with just 8:21 left in the football game. The Spartans then forced a Dunmore punt and scored when quarterback Brett Yanoski found Connor Hughes from 4-yards away. With 1:40 left in the ballgame, Dunmore still led 21-14.

After a successful onside kick attempt, the Spartans drove to the Dunmore 14-yard line where Yanoski struck again, this time connecting with junior Nick Pinto from 13 yards away. The Spartans lined up for the extra point with just 14 seconds left. Xavier Burke burst through the center of the Spartan line to block the kick to leave Dunmore clinging to a 21-20 lead.

Mid Valley attempted another onside kick, but their recovery was negated when officials ruled that the ball did not travel the requisite 10 yards, allowing Dunmore to run out the clock.

Dunmore (3-4 overall, 2-0) will look to extend their winning streak to four games on Friday when they travel to Scranton Memorial Stadium to face traditional rival West Scranton. Mid Valley (5-2, 2-1) will visit fellow Class 3A contender Scranton Prep.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Quarter

DUN – Gabe Franek 2-yd run (Eric Reesey kick) – Dunmore 7-0

DUN – Franek 2-yd run (Reesey kick) – Dunmore 14-0

2nd Quarter

MV – Mason Vinansky 33-yd run (Dylan Henderson kick) -Dunmore 14-7

3rd Quarter

DUN – Josh Dudick 90-yd punt return (Reesey kick) – Dunmore 21-7

4th Quarter

MV – Connor Hughes 4-yd pass from Brett Yanoski (Henderson kick) – Dunmore 21-14

MV – Nick Pinto 13-yd pass from Yanoski (Kick failed) – Dunmore 21-20