Wilkes-Barre at Pittston Area

Recap

PITTSTON AREA 31, WILKES-BARRE 24

Pittston Area stormed out to a commanding first-half lead, then weathered a furious Wilkes-Barre comeback to secure a thrilling 31–24 victory Friday night in Wyoming Valley Conference action.

The Patriots delivered a near-flawless opening half, blending opportunistic defense, efficient offense, and special teams execution to build a 24–3 advantage. Senior standout Brody Spindler ignited the home crowd early with a bold fake-punt run, breaking free for 45 yards to set up the first score. Minutes later, Lucas LoPresto made one of the night’s signature plays — scooping up a fumble and racing 44 yards for a defensive touchdown.

LoPresto wasn’t done. As the first half expired, he hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass in heavy traffic, extending the Patriots’ lead heading into halftime. Kicker Ethan Speece added a field goal and two extra points to round out the early surge.

Wilkes-Barre  regrouped after the break and mounted a determined rally. Quarterback Jake Howe led the charge, tossing a 17-yard touchdown to Kevon Creech and an 7-yard strike to Nick Saracino in the third quarter to narrow the gap to 24–17. Early in the fourth, Howe capped an 80-yard drive with a 12-yard keeper, trimming the deficit to 31–24.

But Pittston’s poise prevailed. Clinging to the seven-point lead, the Patriots leaned on their offensive line and the bruising running of Spindler to control the clock down the stretch. A key first-down scramble by LoPresto and a pair of punishing runs sealed the victory as Pittston ran out the final minutes.

Spindler finished with 155 rushing yards on 28 carries, while LoPresto added contributions in all three phases — a defensive score, a receiving touchdown, and several key plays on special teams. Howe paced Wilkes-Barre with two passing touchdowns and one rushing score in a valiant comeback effort.

The win lifted Pittston Area to 6–1 overall and 4–0 in league play, clinching at least a tie for the WVC Division 1 title. Wilkes-Barre dropped to 1–2, despite showing resilience in the second half.

Pittston’s fast start and composed finish underscored a veteran team’s balance — one capable of striking quickly, defending fiercely, and closing games with confidence.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER

WB — Jaedyn Sanchez 27-yd field goal – Wilkes-Barre 3-0

PA — Brody Spindler 44-yd run (Spindler run) – Pittston Area 8-3

2ND QUARTER

PA — Lucas Lo Presto 45-yd fumble return (Victor Narsavage run) – Pittston Area 16-3

PA — Lo Presto 21-yd pass from Paulie Ferentino (Narsavage run) – Pittston Area 24-3

3RD QUARTER

WB — Kevon Creech 17-yd pass from Jake Howe (Sanchez kick) – Pittston Area 24-10

WB — Nick Saracino 7-yd pass from Howe (Sanchez kick) – Pittston Area 24-17

4TH QUARTER

PA — Spindler 10-yd run (Cole Baldwin kick) – Pittston Area 31-17

WB — Howe 13-yd run (Sanchez kick) – Pittston Area 31-24