Spears, Diaz, Blessings Help Power Mount Carmel past Dunmore 34-7
Tagged under: District 2, District 4, Gameday Hub, News
PFN Staff | September 2, 2023
Mount Carmel had opportunities to pull away from North Schuykill last week but didn’t, This week when the opportunity arose Cole Spears answered the call. The senior QB threw 263 yards and 4 touchdowns en route to a 34-7 victory over Dunmore.
After a scoreless first quarter, Mount Carmel struck on the first play of the second quarter when Cole Spears connected with Chase Balichik from 25 yards out capping off a 9-play, 60-yard drive giving the Red Tornados a 7-0 lead with 11:43 left in the first half. On the Buck’s ensuing drive the Red Tornado’s defense would step up stopping Dunmore on fourth and 1 from their own 20-yard line. 6 plays later the Red Tornados would find the endzone once again when Cole Spears connected with Xavier Diaz from 55 yards out giving Mount Carmel a 13-0 lead with 3:18 left in the first half after the blocked PAT. The Bucks would respond right back just 14 seconds later when Danny Pigga returned the ensuing kickoff 79 yards to the house cutting the lead in half as the Red Tornados now led 13-7 with 3:04 remaining in the first half. The Red Tornados would march all the way down to the 5-yard line, but couldn’t capitalize on a late score as on fourth down Domenic Desando batted down Cole Spears’s pass intended for Xavier Diaz sending us into the half with the scoreboard reading Mount Carmel 13, Dunmore 7.
The Red Tornados would use that momentum they went into halftime with on their first drive of the second half, as they went 6 plays 76 yards before the drive was capped off when Cole Spears connected with Xavier Diaz on a screen pass that he took 37 yards to the crib, furthering the Red Tornados lead as they led 21-7 with 10:03 left in the third quarter. The Mount Carmel defense would once again get another crucial stop on 3rd and 3 when they forced a fumble on the 37-yard line that was recovered by Chase Balichik. Just 2 minutes and 20 seconds later the Red Tornados would find the endzone when Cole Spears connected with Jacob Shultz on a screen pass that he took 53 yards to the house giving the Red Tornados a 28-7 lead with 3:11 left in the third quarter.
Luke Blessings who ran for 151 yards on the night finally got his touchdown late in the fourth quarter with 2:59 left when he broke a couple of tackles and darted 55 yards for the score, capping off a terrific performance by the Red Tornados.
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