Wilkes Barre a Area survives early miscue and picks up initial win over Berwick

BERWICK-The game started inauspiciously for the Wilkes-Barre Area Wolfpack Friday night at historic Crispin Memorial Stadium in Berwick. As on their first play from scrimmage the ball was over the head of quarterback Declan Gregor and was eventually recovered by Gregor at his own four yard line, two incomplete passes later Wilkes-Barre was forced to punt. A shanked kick gave the Bulldogs the ball at the WBA 21 yard line.

After a couple of Berwick penalties pushed Berwick back to the 33 yard line and facing a third down and 22, quarterback Brady Cleaver weaved his way to the Wolfpack one yard line, where from their Cleaver would punch it in, but a bad snap on the point-after left the score at 6-0. Wilkes Barre Area would regroup and eventually comeback to earn it’s first win of the season 22-12 in a key Wyoming Valley Conference showdown Friday night.

Brady Cleaver 1yd touchdown run @Berwick_WETSU 8:50 left 1st quarter 6-0 over @WBAWolfpackAD 21yd drive @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/sqCBvgBqtx

— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) September 18, 2026

Wilkes-Barre then went on 16 play 80 yard drive of their own culminating in a Gregor one yard score, but the Wolfpack converting on the point-after making the score 7-6 with with 2:49 left in the opening quarter. Gregor had two key plays on the drive completing a third-and-eleven pass to Anthony Daniel. Facing 3rd-and-17 Gregor completed a pass to Wonder Woods which would pick up 13 yards but a late hit out-of-bounds gave WBA a first down.

1yd touchdown run Declan Gregor of @WBAWolfpackAD 2:49 left 1st quarter PAT good WBA 7 @Berwick_WETSU 6 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/xtoQztyGCy

— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) September 18, 2026

The Wolfpack took advantage of a Berwick fumble, facing a 4th-and-4 situation when running back Kymani Hubbard-Jones barely picked up a first down. WBA would score with 2:53 left in the first half when Noah Monsuer scored from four yards out. Gregor connected with Woods for the two-point conversion giving visitors a 15-6 lead at intermission.

“We couldn’t put it together tonight offensively. We had too many turnovers, we couldn’t stop the run, as Dan Hurley said :You better get us now cause we are coming”. Give Coach Cinti’s team they beat us.” a disappointed Berwick coach CJ Curry stated after the game.

The second half started on a positive note for the Dawgs after a illegal blocking call was called on the kickoff, setting Berwick up from inside the 15 yard lineJust a few plays later Cleaver went off the left side and sprinted down the sidelines for an 84 yard scoring run, cutting WBA lead to 15-12 as again the PAT was no good with 11:00 left in the third quarter

84yd touchdown run Brady Cleaver @Berwick_WETSU with 11:00 left 3rd quarter PAT no good @WBAWolfpackAD 15-12 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/5WqKVjKVBh

— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) September 19, 2026

There was a bit of controversy at the end of the half as Clever went to the ground at the Wolfpack 23 yard line, with the Berwick sidelines thought there was still time on the clock, but the Wilkes-Barre players started to head towards the lock locker room as the officials got together, called the WBA players back only to decide it was halftime.

Late in the third quarter Hubbard-Jones capped off a nine play drive with a 6 yard touchdown run with 2:51 left in the third quarter making it a 22-12 game. A key pass from Gregor to Nic Saracino that covered 18 yards.

6yd touchdown run Kymani Hubbard-Jones @WBAWolfpackAD 2 :51 left 3rd quarter WBA leads @Berwick_WETSU 22-12 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/LUazuDs4Ez

— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) September 19, 2026

Berwick, thought they caught a break in fourth quarter after a Cleaver threw an interception the red zone, on their first play from scrimmage Hubbard-Jones appeared to fumble ball and the Dawgs recovered but the officials ruled it was WBA ball.

Cleaver got injured late in the contest both and on Zapata and Shiloh Escobar came into to play quarterback but neither was effective as a fourth down pass with under minutes left in the contest fell harmlessly to the turf and Wilkes Barre picked up its first win on the season.

Berwick (2-2) will now be on the road to Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Pottsville to face the Crimson Tide next Friday night. Pottsville (1-3) lost to Blue Mountain Friday 44-14. Wilkes-Barre Area (1-3)will also be on the road to the Back Mountain of Luzerne County to face the unbeaten Dallas Mountaineers. Dallas (4-0) knocked off Pittston Area Friday 35-7

My post-game interview with HFC CJ Curry of @Berwick_WETSU after dropping a 22-12 decision to @WBAWolfpackAD @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/jHilCSSglC

— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) September 19, 2026