Stroudsburg at Wilkes-Barre

Recap

WILKES-BARRE 48, STROUDSBURG 42 (OT)

Wilkes-Barre leaned on its defense in overtime and the relentless playmaking of senior standout Davon Underwood to edge Stroudsburg, 48–42, in a Friday night classic at Wolfpack Stadium.

After the Wolfpack stuffed the Mountaineers on their opening possession of overtime, Underwood sealed the victory with a bruising 6-yard touchdown run up the middle, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Quarterback Jake Howe got Wilkes-Barre on the board early, breaking free on a 27-yard keeper to make it 7–0. Howe, already the school’s all-time passing leader, added to his legacy by surpassing 5,000 career passing yards on a 44-yard strike to Kevon Creech in the second quarter.

Underwood showcased his versatility throughout the first half, hauling in a 19-yard fade for a touchdown and later plunging in from the 1-yard line to give the Wolfpack a slim halftime edge.

Stroudsburg roared back behind the punishing ground attack of Keyen Johnson, who bulldozed his way for 180 second-half rushing yards. His physical running helped the Mountaineers answer nearly every Wolfpack score, eventually forcing overtime.

A critical moment came midway through the fourth when Johnson barreled in from 12 yards out, tying the game at 42 and silencing the home stands.

But Wilkes-Barre’s Underwood wasn’t done. He gave the Wolfpack three second-half touchdowns—a 22-yard dash after a muffed kickoff, an 18-yard catch-and-run off a broken play, and finally the game-winner in overtime.

In total, Underwood accounted for four touchdowns, balancing his production between rushing and receiving.

The Wolfpack defense delivered its most important stand of the season in overtime. After stopping Johnson on back-to-back carries and capitalizing on a Mountaineer false start, they swarmed Stroudsburg’s quarterback short of the sticks on fourth down. That stop gave the offense all the momentum it needed for the decisive drive.

Wilkes-Barre will travel to Valley View next Friday night in a non-conference game.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER

WB – Jake Howe 27-yd run (Jaedyn Sanchez kick) – Wilkes-Barre 7-0

2ND QUARTER

STR – Essam Alrefai  76-yd pass from Jackon Mitchell (Hunter Fuller kick) – Tied 7-7

WB – Davon Underwood 19-yd pass from Howe (Kick failed) – Wilkes-Barre 13-7

STR – Alrefai  7-yd pass from Mitchell (Fuller kick) – Stroudsburg 14-13

3RD QUARTER

WB – Gino Dalessandro 1-yd run (Gembitski pass from Howe) – Wilkes-Barre 21-14

STR – Keyes Johnson 23-yd run (Fuller kick) – Tied 21-21

STR – Mitchell 5-yd run (Fuller kick) – Stroudsburg 28-21

WB – Underwood 8-yd run (Sanchez kick) – Tied 28-28

WB – Creech 23-yd run (Sanchez kick) – Wilkes-Barre 35-28

4TH QUARTER

STR – Keegan Munch 9-yd pass from Mitchell (Fuller kick) – Tied 35-35

WB – Underwood 18-yd pass from Howe (Sanchez kick) – Wilkes-Barre 42-35

STR – Jaylin Riera 1-yd run (Fuller kick) – Tied 42-42

OVERTIME

WB – Underwood 6-yd run  – Wilkes-Barre 48-42