A Scranton Shootout, Gaughan, Riverside avoid West Scranton upset 47-39
Tagged under: District 2, Gameday Hub, News
PFN Staff | August 26, 2023
One year ago Reese Gaughan left Veterans Memorial stadium with his head down. Tonight he left PennFed field with his head up, celebrating as he led Riverside to a 47-39 win over West Scranton.
The game started as well for the Vikings. On the second play of the Viking’s second drive, Reese Gaughan caught a screen, broke a tackle, and took it 74 yards to the house. This gave Riverside an early 7-0 lead with 6:04 left in the first quarter. Riverside carried that momentum over to the defense. Just a minute and seventeen seconds later, they would find the endzone again when Alex Pica intercepted a pass and took it 25 yards for a touchdown. That gave Riverside a 14-0 lead with 5:23 remaining in the first quarter. After forcing a punt on the Invader’s third drive, the Vikings would cough up the football in their own territory when Christan DeOlilveria knocked the ball loose off a Richie Kostoff reception. It was scooped up by Zaeyvion Miller who was knocked out of bounds at the 10-yard line. The Invaders wasted no time scoring off the turnover. QB Caiden Berardi took it in from 10 yards out and the Invaders were on the board. They now trailed 14-7 with 1.07 left in the first half.
The Vikings wasted no time getting going in the second quarter. They would score just 2 minutes in with a Reese Gaughan 20-yard reception that set up QB Chase Taddonio for a 2-yard touchdown run with 10:59 remaining in the quarter to give Riverside a 21-7 lead. The Invaders retaliated. Amir Robinson took the ensuing kickoff 93 yards to the end zone, but it was called back due to an inadvertent whistle. Guerrier did what every coach preaches: Keep a short memory. On the very next play, he would haul in a 65-yard touchdown pass from Dan van Dusky. This got the Invaders within a score and down only 21-13 with 10:35 left in the second quarter. The Vikings responded back with a long 6-minute, 11-play, 60-yard drive that was capped off when Reese Gaughan took a jet sweep and then threw it to Gerry Rose in the back of the endzone for a 9-yard touchdown pass. It was now Riverside a 27-13 with 4:21 left in the first half, after the missed extra point. The back-and-forth battle continued as the Invaders would strike right back. Dan Van Dusky would once again connect with Taron Knight Guerrier who made a juggling catch off a tip and took it 84 yards to the house. Ir was back to a one-score game. The Vikings still led 27-19 with 2:49 left in the half. The Vikings would close out the half strong. QB Chase Taddonio took it in from 3 yards out with 9 seconds left in the half to give Riverside a 34-19 lead heading into the locker room.
Taron Knight Guerrier career night would continue. He would take it 80 yards on the ensuing kickoff before being knocked out of bounds and setting up the Invaders for their next score. QB Caiden Berardi would take it in from a yard out, and rush for the ensuing 2-point conversion, cutting the lead down to one score. The Vikings led 34-27 with 10:57 left in the third quarter. After the score, the Invaders would force a Riverside punt, and on the first play of the drive, Dan Van Dusky would connect with Knight Guerrier for the third time from 71 yards out to cut the lead down to 1 after the failed 2-point attempt. The Vikings lead 34-33 with 9:04 left in the third. The Vikings 3rd quarter adversity continued. Chase Taddonio went down with a leg/ankle injury, knocking him out of the game. Reese Gaughan stepped in at QB for Taddonio and didn’t miss a beat. In just 3 plays later, he would take it in from 17 yards out giving the Vikings a 41-33 lead with 7:28 left in the quarter. The injuries started to pile up for the Vikings. Reese Gaughan went down with cramps later in the quarter. The Vikings started the final quarter up 41-33.
Disaster would strike for the Vikings in the fourth quarter. On 4th-27 from the Invader’s 20-yard line, a Vikings player would touch the ensuing punt that was recovered by the Invaders in Viking territory. That great field position would set up the Invader’s next score. Hunter Baumgardner would take it in from 25 yards out to cut the lead down to two when the Invaders just missed the 2-point conversion, keeping the Vikings in front 41-39. They say lighting doesn’t strike twice, but it almost as did as the ensuing kickoff Shamier Lyons recovered a fumble on the kickoff setting up the Invaders near midfield. The Viking’s defense came through and stopped the Invaders on fourth and one. and took over possession with 5:54 remaining in the game. The Vikings would chew up about 3 minutes of the clock before Reese Gaughan would spit out another TD from 7 yards out to give the Vikings a 47-39 lead with 2:34 left in the game. The Invaders with all three timeouts would march all the way down to the 22-yard line, but with 9 seconds left on fourth down Van Dusky’s pass was picked off over the middle by Gerry Rose, securing the victory for the Vikings.
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