2023 UNICO Game: Pioneers defeat Miners 20-7

Tagged under: All-Stars, District 2, Game Photos-Videos, Gameday Hub, News

Jared Samuel | June 5, 2023

The 2023 UNICO Game, the de-facto “Senior Bowl” for the Wyoming Valley Conference in District 2, is in the books and PAFootballNews.COM was there to cover all the action!  The Pioneers (players from Pittston Area, Holy Redeemer, Lake  Lehman, Tunkhannock, Wyoming Valley West, Wyoming Area and Wyoming Seminary) squared off against the Miners (players from Crestwood, Hazleton Area, Nanticoke, Wilkes-Barre Area, Dallas, Berwick and Hanover Area).

In the end, the Pioneers “Redeemer Connection” of QB Jacob Hunter to WR Zach Perta was too much for the Miners.  The Pioneers won 20-7 and rang the bell at Jack Sobeski Stadium in West Pittston.

After a challenging 1st Quarter that saw both teams struggle to find any momentum, the 2nd Quarter looked to go much the same until the Pioneers 2nd possession of the period started with a nice punt return by Wilkes-Barre Area’s Zach Perta to the Miner 28 yard line.  The drive was ultimately capped by a nice stretch play run from Pittston Area’s Harry Pugliese from 6 yards out to open the scoring for the game, and the Pioneers led 7-0 with 2:16 to go in the 1st half.  The Miners would make the most of the time remaining however, as the HB option pass from Crestwood’s Noah Schultz to Hanover Area’s Sean Dooner turned into a 41 yard score for the Miners with 1:14 to go in the half.  At halftime, the game was knotted at 7.

In the 3rd Quarter, tempers flared and subsequent penalties on the Miners put the Pioneers in good field position, which led to the initial “Redeemer Connection” from Hunter to Perta for a 28 yard touchdown.  The PAT was no good, and the Pioneers led 13-7 with 11:03 left in the 3rd Quarter.  On the ensuing possession, the Miners once again had a penalty filled drive which gave the Pioneers a short field again.  However, the drive stalled and a FG attempt was blocked.  At the end of the 3rd quarter, it was still 13-7 in favor of the Pioneers.

After several stalled drives by both teams, the Pioneers again hit it big with the 2nd “Redeemer Connection” of Hunter to Perta of the game which went for 86 yards and another touchdown.  With only 45 seconds left, this capped the scoring for the night and the Pioneers win it 20-7.  Holy Redeemer QB Jacob Hunter was the UNICO Game MVP, and said of his favorite target Zach Perta: “He always knows where to find the ball…..he has a Sixth sense and always finds a way to get open.”

Check out the PAFootballNews.com broadcast live-stream of this game below, Photos credit Jeannette Molinaro and Sherryl Samuel:

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