North Pocono at Dallas

Recap

DALLAS 45, NORTH POCONO 28

In a wild and high-scoring affair in Dallas, the Mountaineers notched their third straight win by sending the visiting North Pocono Trojans to their third straight loss by the score of 43-28 in an inter-league matchup. Dallas was able to score touchdowns with their defense and special teams, in addition to putting their high-powered offense on display.

Dallas took the opening kickoff and marched into North Pocono territory. When the drive stalled, the Mountaineers used a 41-yard field goal by Rowan Laubach to get on the board and take a 3-0 lead with 8:36 left in the opening quarter.

Later in the quarter, the Dallas defense was able to put points on the board when Gavin Lewis stepped in front of a Chase Zimmerman pass and raced 29 yards for the score, putting the Mountaineers up 10-0.

In a roller-coaster second quarter that featured four touchdowns, the Trojans tallied first when senior tailback Brady Lavery carried 10 yards for the first North Pocono score of the evening. The extra point made it 10-7 with 11:18 left before halftime.

Dallas quickly answered when senior quarterback Brady Zapoticky found the end zone on a 10-yard scamper to restore the lead to 10 points at 17-7. Not to be denied, North Pocono marched the length of the field where Zimmerman avenged the earlier pick-six, finding Nico DeSantis for a 5-yard touchdown toss. That cut the advantage back to 3 at 17-14.

Dallas managed to score once more before halftime when Zapoticky launched a 64-yard strike to Nate Malarkey, the first of Malarkey’s two touchdowns of the evening. That made the score 24-14 in favor of the home team as the teams headed to the locker room.

North Pocono showed great balance on offense all evening long, particularly utilizing the arm and feet of sophomore quarterback, Chase Zimmerman. Zimmerman scooted into the end zone from 9 yards away to once again narrow the lead to 3 at 24-21.

Disaster struck the Trojans on special teams when a Sam Magnotta punt was blocked and carried 3 yards into the end zone by Sam Kelly, making the score 31-21 at the conclusion of the third stanza.

With 9:26 left in the ball game, Malarkey struck again, this time burrowing in from 2 yards away, giving Dallas their largest lead of the game at 38-21.

The Trojans refused to quit and, once again, Zimmerman made a play to keep them in the game. This time he connected with junior tight end, Evan Wolff, on an electrifying 63-yard pass and run to close the gap to 38-28 with 8:07 remaining. Dallas scored a late touchdown to make the final score 45-28.

Dallas (3-3) will look to extend their winning streak to four games next weekend when they visit Wyoming Valley West. North Pocono (3-3) will face divisional rival Valley View back home in Moscow.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Quarter

DAL — Rowan Laubach 41-yd field goal – Dallas 3-0

DAL — Gavin Lewis 23-yd interception return (Laubach kick)- Dallas 10-0

2nd Quarter

NP — Brady Lavery 10-yd run (Sam Magnotta kick)- Dallas 10-7

DAL — Brady Zapoticky 6-yd run (Laubach kick)- Dallas 17-7

NP — Nico DeSantis 5-yd pass from Chase Zimmerman (Magnotta kick)- Dallas 17-14

DAL — Nate Malarkey 62-yd pass from Zapoticky (Laubach kick)- Dallas 24-14

3rd Quarter

NP — Zimmerman 10-yd run (Magnotta kick) – Dallas 24-21

DAL — Sam Kelley 3-yd punt block return (Laubach kick)- Dallas 31-21

4th Quarter

DAL — Malarkey 1-yd run (Laubach kick)- Dallas 38-21

NP — Evan Wolff 63-yd pass from Zimmerman (Magnotta kick)- Dallas 38-28

DAL — Lewis 25-yd pass from Zapoticky (Laubach kick) – Dallas 45-28