Wyoming Area Second Half Heroics lift them over Dunmore 35-14 @WaScoreboard @DHS_live_Bucks

Tagged under: District 2, Gameday Hub, News

Frank Deangelo | October 5, 2019

For the second consecutive week; on the road against an improving team, it looked like it might be a Bad Moon Rising for the Wyoming Area Warriors. The Bucks came out strong in the first half and established momentum when SR Steve Borgia sprinted 35 yards to paydirt on a QB keeper on a 4th and 5 with 108 left in Q1. The Dunmore defense was also dialing up a spirited effort with some hard hitting and great sideline to sideline pursuit. With Dunmore on the move late in the second half; the Bucks were deep in opposing territory and looking to go up two scores on the Warriors. That drive stalled at the ten; and a 27 YD FG attempt was low and left. The Warriors then rebuckled the chinstraps and went on a long 86 yard drive; culminating with a 1 YD TD run by SR Darren Rodney with 0:46 left in the half and the half ended level at 7.

In the third quarter; a refocused Warrior defense starting limiting the Dunmore offense a bit; and the Warriors offensive line started to get more of a push; which allowed the Warriors to take the lead on a mostly run based drive. Darren Rodney had the bulk of the carries on that drive; scoring on another 1 YD Run with 2:57 left to play in Q3. Third Quarter ended at WA 14 Dunmore 7.

Dom Deluca file photo https://keystonefootballrecruits.com/user/dominicdeluca9/

The fiesty Bucks answered that score with a pretty 9 yd TD run by JR Cristian Buckley; a Jet Sweep around right end; sealed off by SR end Charles Valvano to tie it up 14-14 with 9:14 left in Regulation. As the Warriors lined up to receive the kickoff; SR CPT Dominic DeLuca looked at the Bad Moon Rising and decided it was time for the Stars to come out. DeLuca took the kickoff at the 21 yard line on the opposing sideline; started cross field; made a strong cut towards midfield and found his way to the home side line for the last 50 yards for a thrilling go ahead KO return for TD; 79 yards weaving in and out of traffic; and the Warriors regained the lead 21-14 with 854 left in the contest.

The Warrior defense stepped up on the next drive; forcing Dunmore into a third and long from their own 40 after two short runs. On third down; SR Derek Ambrosino and SR Caleb Graham flushed Borgia out of the pocket from their DE spots and the talented Sr QB was forced to throw it away with intentional grounding being the call. That 20 yard loss proved critical as it allowed the Warriors to start their next drive at the Dunmore 49. From that point, SR DeLuca summoned up another Big Time Play; this time a QB keeper over JR G Nasir Condry and JR C Bryce Hinkle. After picking up the first TD five yards from scrimmage; DeLuca powered his way through the secondary and again revisited that home sideline; outrunning four Buck defenders for his second TD of the 4Q and the Warriors lead 28-14 with 5:36 left in the contest. Down two scores, Dunmore was forced to go to the air more regularly; and another third and long play in their own end of the field on the next drive; Borgia was forced to heave a long pass downfield intended for Buckley. DeLuca would instead pluck this from the sky; erasing the hopes of the Dunmore faithful. The Warriors then followed with a 23 YD TD run by Darren Rodney with 2:23 left to put the Warriors up 35-14 and that’s how the night ended.

It was a thoroughly entertaining contest between two storied Northeast programs and spotlighted some talented skill players on both teams. On this first October Friday; however, it was the Warrior Cpt Dominic DeLuca who literally took matters into his own hands; and those hands, and legs, and heart, delivered two huge scores and an interception in the second half that the allowed the Warriors to take control of the contest. The Warriors are now 7-0 and wait final determination of their opponent for Week 8. That’s for the grown ups to decide; the kids. as always, just want to play FOOTBALL.

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