Pittston Area at Dallas

Recap

PITTSTON AREA 36, DALLAS 35

By Tom Robinson

DALLAS TWP. – Brody Spindler sent the game into overtime, then won it there.

Spindler’s fourth-down touchdown run and ensuing, two-point conversion in overtime lifted Pittston Area to a 36-35 overtime victory at Dallas and into first place in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1.

The Mountaineers had ruled Division 1 the past two seasons and carried a 12-game divisional winning streak into the game.

Pittston Area needed to rally from eight points down in the last five minutes of regulation and then had to respond to Dallas getting the ball first in the 10-Yard Line Tiebreaker Procedure and scoring seven points.

Before Spindler produced his second touchdown of the night, first-year Patriots coach Paul Russick had already decided his team would go for the winning two-point conversion rather than try to kick for a tie and a second overtime.

“There was never a doubt from the minute we got to overtime,” Russick said.

Spindler met resistance in the middle of the line on both the overtime touchdown and winning, two-point conversion, but the Mountaineers never got him to the ground on either play.

“I got stopped at about the 1, but I just kept driving my feet,” Spindler said.

That was the case throughout the night as Dallas often needed multiple tacklers to get Spindler down and many times that was not until he had moved the pile forward.

Usually a fullback, Spindler spent much of the night at tailback and carried 33 times for 196 yards. He also made seven tackles and assisted on six others from his linebacker position.

Lucas LoPresto also made big contributions to the victory that improved Pittston Area to 2-0 in the division and 4-1 overall.

Led by the play of Logan Geskey, the Dallas secondary contained LoPresto, the receiver.

Instead, LoPresto the runner, defensive back and passer found ways to produce scores.

LoPresto carried five times for 56 yards, including the 20-yard reverse that erased a 14-7 halftime deficit. He followed that up in the third quarter with the play of the night, escaping trouble along the sideline repeatedly on his way to a 57-yard interception return for the lead.

Then, with the Patriots trailing by eight, LoPresto took a lateral and threw down field to a wide-open Billy Dessoye for a 35-yard touchdown, setting the stage for Spindler’s overtime-forcing, two-point conversion.

Spindler also had scored on a 19-yard run on fourth-and-two in the second quarter, running straight over a Dallas defensive back on his way to the end zone.

The Geskey brothers led the way for Dallas, which took its halftime lead on a 71-yard punt return by Sam Kelley.

Talan Geskey found Tyce Mason with three touchdown passes and carried 27 times for 149 yards. He ran for the Dallas overtime touchdown that combined with Brandon Miller’s fifth straight successful extra point attempt to give the Mountaineers a 35-28 lead.

Logan Geskey intercepted two passes, including one at the 13 with 44 seconds left to prevent Pittston Area from winning the game in regulation. He also recovered a fumble, made four tackles and assisted on another.

Pittston Area faces another key WVC Division 1 game Friday when it travels to Crestwood. The Comets (3-2 overall) have not played any Division 1 games yet, making them the only other team without a loss inside the division.

Dallas (1-1 in the division and 1-4 overall) will play a possible District 2 Class 4A playoff preview when it goes to North Pocono, which takes a 4-0 record into Saturday afternoon’s game at Abington Heights.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER

None

2ND QUARTER

DAL – Tyce Mason 34-yd pass from Talan Geskey (Brandon Miller kick)- Dallas 7-0

PA – Brody Spindler 19-yd run (Cole Baldwin kick) – Tied 7-7

DAL – Sam Kelley 63-yd punt return (Miller kick) – Dallas 14-7

3RD QUARTER

PA – Lucas LoPresto 20-yd run (Baldwin kick) – Tied 14-14

PA – LoPresto 48-yd interception return (kick failed) – Pittston Area 20-14

4TH QUARTER

DAL – Mason 4-yd pass from T. Geskey (Miller kick) – Dallas 21-20

DAL – Mason 13-yd pass from T. Geskey (Miller kick) – Dallas 28-20

PA – Billy Dessoye 35-yd pass from LoPresto (Spindler run) – Tied 28-28

OVERTIME

DAL – T. Geskey 2-yd run (Miller kick)- Dallas 35-28

PA – Spindler 1-yd run (Spindler run) – Pittston Area 36-35