SAFR Football Helmet Covers: Safer Through Science
 
PA Football News Scoreboard powered by Circle W Sports
 
Leading Edge Fundraising
 
2026 PIAA District and State Playoff Brackets
2026 PIAA District and State Playoff Brackets
 
 
 

Dallas defense secures victory over Wallenpaupack

 
Tagged under: District 2, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 13, 2026

The Wyoming Valley Conference teams have always played second fiddle to the Lackawanna Conference teams when it comes to district playoffs.  Some WVC teams, however, have used this as bulletin board material.

The Dallas Mountaineers are one of those teams.

Facing a tough Wallenpaupack squad with a terrific RB in Ed Kiesendahl, the Mountaineer defense made big plays all night and their offense did just enough in a tough 14-6 Dallas win at Mountaineer Stadium.  Dallas RB Mark Saracinaj had a rushing TD and a receiving TD in the victory.

The first quarter was a very tight line-of-scrimmage battle in which each team mustered only a single first down in the quarter.  Dallas took to using the hurry-up offense in order to shake things up a bit as the second quarter began.  The Mounts drove inside the Wallenpaupack 10-yard line and finally hit paydirt when RB Mark Saracinaj scored on a 1-yard run and Dallas had a 7-0 lead with 8:28 left in the half.

With the Dallas defense selling out to stop the run, Wallenpaupack used their short passing game to spread the defense a bit and began to move the ball.  With only 42 seconds left in the half, the Buckhorns Jake Rafferty scored on a 1-yard run but the point-after was blocked by Dallas’ Tyce Mason, so Dallas held a 7-6 lead as the game went to halftime.

Dallas successfully executed an onside kick to start the 2nd half, but the Mounts were unable to capitalize as the Buckhorn defense rose up.  The Dallas defense also played stout to start the 2nd half and the teams traded possessions in a scoreless 3rd quarter.  Early in the 4th quarter, Dallas had regained possession deep in their own territory when QB Talan Geskey dropped back and threw it into the deep middle where Saracinaj hauled it in and raced to the end zone for a 66-yard score.  Dallas took a 14-6 lead with 6:01 left in the game.

Wallenpaupack then drove into Dallas territory but the clock became the enemy.  The Dallas defense stiffened and made several consecutive stops.  On 4th-and-5 from the Dallas 21 with 1:49 remaining, the Dallas defense collapsed the pocket and sacked QB Sam Kiesendahl for a loss and the Dallas offense ran out the clock to seal the 14-6 win.  The Mountaineers improved to 12-0 and will face North Pocono at Mountaineer Stadium next Friday night for the District 2 Class 4A championship.

After the game, I spoke with Dallas RB Mark Saracinaj:

I also had the opportunity to speak with Dallas Head Coach Rich Mannello:

2026 PIAA District and State Playoff Brackets
 
 
 
CWTAP TV
 
Showcase by Circle W Sports
 
CoachComm Cobalt Plus All-In-One
 
LSV Sports - Covering high school sports in the Lehigh and Susquehanna Valleys
 
 
 
x