Mid Valley at Western Wayne

Recap

MID-VALLEY 22 WESTERN WAYNE 10

At Varden, the Mid-Valley Spartans knocked Western Wayne from the ranks of the unbeaten and threw the Lackawanna Football Conference Division 2 title race into a state of turmoil with a convincing 22-10 victory over the Wildcats. Mid-Valley moves to 6-3 on the season, but more importantly the Spartans’ victory, combined with Dunmore’s loss to Honesdale, creates a three-way tie atop the division.

The game began inauspiciously for the Spartans. Western Wayne scored on its very first offensive play as quarterback John Pyatt hit electric receiver Sean Owens with a 55-yard scoring pass before the fans were even warm in their seats. Less than 30 seconds into the contest, the Wildcats had a 7-0 lead.

From that point forward, the Mid-Valley defense was the story of the night, bottling up heralded Western Wayne back Josh Vinton and keeping him from ever reaching the end zone. The Wildcats did have one more scoring drive, albeit one that ended in a field goal late in the first quarter. Jacob Wells converted 34 yards out, giving Western Wayne a 10-0 lead. Little did the Wildcat partisans know that those would be their last points of the evening.

After neither team was able to find paydirt in the second quarter, Mid-Valley was able to score on their opening possession of the second half. Star tailback Jakob Lesher tallied from 13 yards out to get the Spartans on the board. The extra point was blocked, preserving a 10-6 lead for Western Wayne with 9:55 remaining in the 3^rd quarter.

After Lesher intercepted a John Pyatt pass, the Spartans were able to take the lead for the first time as the end of the third quarter approached. Spartan quarterback Brett Yanoski, who was uncannily accurate all night long, uncorked his biggest toss of the night, hitting diminutive junior wideout Nick Pinto in stride down the right sideline over the outstretched arms of a Wildcat defender. Yanoski then spotted Lesher open for the 2-point conversion, giving the Spartans a 14-10 lead after three.

Midway through the final period, the Spartans drove into the Western Wayne red zone and threatened to put the game out of reach. The Wildcats, however, stopped Mid-Valley on a 4^th and 1 at the 11-yard line, keeping their hopes alive.

After a Western Wayne turnover on their next possession, Mid-Valley sealed the fate of the Wildcats when Lesher broke through from 3 yards out. Yanoski then hit Rhys Williams for the two-point conversion, ending the Wildcats’ dream of an unbeaten regular season with a 22-10 victory.

The division will be decided next week when Mid-Valley (6-3 overall, 3-1)  hosts Lakeland and Western Wayne (8-1, 3-1) travels to Dunmore on Thursday. With a victory, Mid-Valley will earn a co-championship to be shared with the winner of the game between the Wildcats and the Bucks.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Quarter

WW – Sean Owens 55-yd pass from John Pyatt (Jacob Wells kick) – Western Wayne 7-0

WW – Wells 34-yd field goal – Western Wayne 10-0

2nd Quarter

None

3rd Quarter

MV – Jakob Lesher 13-yd run (Kick failed)  – Western Wayne 10-6

MV – Nick Pinto 27-yd pass from Brett Yanoski  (Lesher pass from Yanoski) – Mid Valley 14-10

4th Quarter

MV – Lesher 3-yd run (Rhys Williams from Yanoski) – Mid Valley 22-10