
Chiefs Cruise Past Spartans 34-14
Tagged under: District 2, Gameday Hub, News
Matthew Anastasi | October 16, 2021
A roller coaster ride is the best way to describe Lakeland’s 34-14 victory over Mid Valley. The Chiefs capitalized on Mid Valleys’ mistakes and the defense played well, holding the state leading rusher Devin Ayala to under 100 yards rushing.
The game started off with a bang. The Chiefs returned the kickback to the 30, and on their first play of the game, Nico Spataro connected with Nick Mancuso on a 53-yard catch that set up the Chiefs first and goal. Two plays later Spataro would find Mancuso in the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown and with 10.15 left in the quarter, the Chiefs led 7-0. Both teams Defenses would shine for the rest quarter as Lakeland held the Spartans to negative yards on their first drive. The big play came when Kyle Marcinkevich intercepted a pass that would set up the Spartans at midfield. The Spartans would capitalize on that good field positioning as just 2 plays later, Cameron Riccardo would connect with Marcinkevich on a 53-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds left in the quarter that evened the score at 7 apiece as the quarter came to a close.
4 yard touchdown pass @Dominico0424 to @n_mancuso4 with 10.15 left in the first Lakeland leads 7-0 @PaFootballNews @LHSChiefs pic.twitter.com/Ejue1verwp
— district 2 football news (@district2footb1) October 15, 2021
@cameronriccardo 53 yard Touchdown pass to @KyleMarcinkevi2 extra point good with 22 seconds left in the quarter this game is tied @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/Qhfbuefr5I
— district 2 football news (@district2footb1) October 15, 2021
The second quarter would once again see the defenses shine for both teams. Both defenses forced fumbles in the quarter and forced multiple 3 and outs, and just as it looked like we were heading into halftime with the game tied. The Chiefs put together a tremendous drive that was capped off when Spataro ran 16 yards for the Chiefs’ score with only 1 second left. The extra point was good. And at half-time, the Chiefs were up 14-7.
@Dominico0424 16 Yard touchdown run with 1 second left in the half extra point good Lakeland now leads 14-7 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/PUkaS0TKKH
— district 2 football news (@district2footb1) October 16, 2021
The second half for the Spartans went as bad as you could imagine. The Spartans fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, and the Chiefs recovered it on the 1-yard line. The Chiefs went to work and the Spataro punched it in from 1 yard, making the score 21-7 with 10:45 left in the quarter. The struggles would continue for Mid Valley as they would fumble late in the third quarter and it was recovered by Jaron Bullick . The recovery would set up the Chiefs for another score. With just 38 seconds left in the quarter, Spataro would connect with Lacota Dippre for a 23-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was no good and the quarter came to a close with the Chiefs leading 27-7.
@Dominico0424 23 yard touchdown pass to @DippreLacota extra point no good with 38 seconds left in the quarter it’s Lakeland 27 Mid Valley 7 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/wlIWR7E8SG
— district 2 football news (@district2footb1) October 16, 2021
The fourth quarter would see 2 late scores from both sides. With 1:42 in the quarter, Sptaro would get his 3rd rushing touchdowns of the game when he ran in from 3 yards out, making the score 34-7 Chiefs. Mid Valley would get the passing attack going late in the quarter. Riccardo connected with Ayala on a 33-yard screen pass for a Spartan score. The game ended with the final score being Lakeland 34, Mid Valley 14. Here’s what Lakeland QB Nico Spataro had to say about the win.
@Dominico0424 2 yard touchdown run extra point good with 1.42 left in the game Lakeland now leads 33-7 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/7wr0RU6Z75
— district 2 football news (@district2footb1) October 16, 2021
Cameron Riccardo 33 yard touchdown pass to @devinayala03 with 48 seconds left the score is now Lakeland 34 Mid Valley 14 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/EBtUiKjZlG
— district 2 football news (@district2footb1) October 16, 2021
Post game interview with @LHSChiefs QB @Dominico0424 pic.twitter.com/oX3e1wgJD7
— district 2 football news (@district2footb1) October 16, 2021
Lakeland (7-1) will host Riverside (2-6) and Mid Valley (6-2) will host Lackawanna Trail (6-1)
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