Wallenpaupack at North Pocono

Recap

NORTH POCONO 38, WALLENPAUPACK 13

In Moscow, the Trojans of North Pocono remained undefeated as they pulled away from a game Wallenpaupack team, 38-13. The Buckhorns fell to 2-2 on the season.

The first half featured outstanding defense by both programs as each offense was kept from making big plays either running or passing. It was finally the Trojans who were able to break through first as they drove 60 yards in 10 plays as the first quarter wound down. All-around standout Cole West took a wildcat snap and burst 3 yards into the end zone with just 51 ticks remaining in the opening quarter. Shane Youngblood added the extra point to give North Pocono a 7-0 lead.

The Buckhorns then launched their most successful march of the night, traversing 72 yards in 14 plays. Using their own version of the Wildcat, the Buckhorns freed Logan Caruso from 5 yards away to narrow the margin to 1, which is where it stayed when the Buckhorns were not able to convert the point after.

North Pocono then whittled away the rest of the second quarter clock, driving the ball to the Buckhorn 20-yard line where there drive stalled. As the first half expired, Youngblood hammered through a field goal from 37 yards out. The Trojans went to intermission clinging to a 10-6 lead.

The third quarter belonged to North Pocono. After the omnipresent West recovered a Buckhorn fumble, powerful running back Joe Briskie tallied from a yard out to extend the Trojan lead to 17-6.

It was West again on the defensive side of the football who returned the ball to the Trojan offense. His interception of a Jake Rafferty pass set up North Pocono at the Wallenpaupack 40-yard line. Seven plays later, Josiah Gray, one of a trio of impressive Trojan ball carriers, did the honors from 2 yards out. Youngblood once again converted the extra point, making it 24-6 Trojans after three quarters of play.

The next Wallenpaupack possession ended in disaster as the Trojans broke through and blocked a Buckhorn punt. Briskie sidestepped tacklers on his way to a 23-yard scamper to paydirt, pushing North Pocono’s advantage to 31-6 with 11:02 left to play in the ball game.

The Buckhorns were able to reach the end zone once more when Edward Kiesendahl gathered in a Rafferty screen pass and scored with 6:00 left to make the score 31-13. The third Trojan back, Jayden Taylor, finished any hope of a Buckhorn comeback when he bullied 8 yards for the score. Youngblood’s point after made it a 38-13 final.

The Trojans will look to go 5-0 on the campaign when they travel to the Pit next Saturday afternoon to face the unbeaten Abington Heights Comets in a game for first place in Division I of the Lackawanna Football Conference. Wallenpaupack will return home to host Delaware Valley in another Division I contest on Friday night.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER

NP – Cole West 3-yd run (Shane Youngblood kick) – North Pocono 7-0

2ND QUARTER

WAL – Logan Caruso 5-yd run (Kick failed) – North Pocono 7-6

NP – Youngblood 37-yd field goal – North Pocono 10-6

3RD QUARTER

NP – Joe Briskie 1-yd run (Youngblood kick) – North Pocono 17-6

NP – Josiah Gray 2-yd run (Youngblood kick) – North Pocono 24-6

4TH QUARTER

NP – Briskie 23-yd run (Youngblood kick) – North Pocono 31-6

WAL – Ed Kiesendahl 52-yd pass from Jake Rafferty (C.J. Doty kick) – North Pocono 31-13

NP – Jayden Taylor 8-yd run (Youngblood kick) – North Pocono 38-13