Wilkes-Barre at Williamsport

Recap

WILLIAMSPORT 34, WILKES-BARRE 20

Williamsport used three late, fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally past visiting Wilkes-Barre Area, 34-20, Friday night in a non-league game between former Wyoming Valley Conference rivals and possible future District 2-4 Class 6A Subregional playoff opponents.

The Millionaires, who had started the season 4-0, broke a five-game losing streak.

As a result, all four teams in the District 2-4 Subregional field enter next week’s semifinals with 5-5 records. If top-seeded Wilkes-Barre Area can get past Scranton and second-seeded Williamsport can beat Hazleton Area, the Subregional championship game rematch would be held at Wilkes-Barre Area.

Williamsport left the WVC after last season, but still played four teams, going 3-1 against conference opponents. It opened the season with wins over Wyoming Valley West and Hazleton Area by a total of 56-6, but their second-half slide included an upset loss to Berwick.

Wilkes-Barre Area moved ahead late in the first half and remained in front until the game’s final four minutes.

Jamel Bailey ran 3 yards for the tying score and 6 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the final minute.

Zion Hughes then returned an interception 35 yards for the clinching score.

Parker Johnson gave Williamsport a 6-0 lead after one quarter by hitting 38- and 40-yard field goals.

Kahyear Whaley scored on a 3-yard run on the first play of the second quarter to increase the lead to 13-0.

The Wolfpack moved in front, 14-13, at halftime on two touchdown runs, a 6-yarder by Davon Underwood and a 14-yarder by Gene Ardo.

Jake Howe, who went 21-for-29 for 209 yards passing, threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Kieselovsky in the third quarter for a 20-13 lead.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Quarter

WIL – Parker Johnson 38-yd field goal – Williamsport 3-0

WIL – Johnson 40-yd field goal – Williamsport 6-0

2nd Quarter

WIL – Kahyear Whaley 3-yd run (Johnson kick) – Williamsport 13-0

WB – Davon Underwood 6-yd run (Jaedyn Sanchez kick) – Williamsport 13-7

WB – Gene Ardo 14-yd run (Sanchez kick) – Wilkes-Barre 14-13

3rd Quarter

WB – Jordan Kieselovsky 15-yd pass from Jake Howe (Kick failed) – Wilkes-Barre 20-13

4th Quarter

WIL – Jamel Bailey 4-yd run (Johnson kick) – Tied 20-20

WIL – Bailey 6-yd run (Johnson kick) – Williamsport 27-20

WIL – Zion Hughes 54-yd interception return (Johnson kick) – Williamsport 34-20