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Pioneers defeat the Miners in the 74th Annual UNICO Game

Tagged under: All-Stars, District 2, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| May 30, 2025

The Wyoming Valley Conference seniors got one more chance to put on a uniform, lace up the cleats and take to the turf in West Pittston as the 74th annual UNICO game was played on a soggy field at Wyoming Area’s Jake Sobeski Stadium.  Early in the game, there were some wet ball issues, a few slips and some drops that affected the players on both teams.

Everyone, that is, except for Wyoming Area Senior RB Lidge Kellum.

The East Stroudsburg commit was literally the “runaway” MVP, tallying 212 rushing yards and 2 rushing TD’s, as the Pioneers defeated the Miners 21-7.  It was a strong night for the Warriors overall on their home turf as WR Kevin Wiedl led all receivers with 3 catches for 57 yards.  The defense for the Pioneers also contributed heavily in keeping the Miners off of the scoreboard until the 2nd half.  The game also featured a blocked punt, 2 blocked FG attempts, 4 interceptions and 2 fumbles.

The Miners received the opening kickoff but were stymied by the Pioneer defense to force a punt.  On the punt attempt, Dallas Punter Rowan Laubach dropped the snap and then recovered and attempted to get the punt off but was blocked by the Pioneers who recovered the ball at the Miner 2-yard line.  On the next play Wyoming Area QB Anthony DeLucca scored on a 2-yard run to get things started.  The extra-point attempt was good and with 8:13 left in the 1st quarter, the Pioneers took a 7-0 lead.

The Miners were stopped again quickly on their next possession by the Pioneer defense and punted it away.  As the Pioneers took over at their own 48, Kellum hit right away on a big 34-yard run and 2 plays later he scored on a quick 15-yard run to make it 14-0 Pioneers with 4:47 left in the 1st quarter.

The Miners then had a nice drive going as the 1st quarter gave way to the 2nd quarter.  Unfortunately, the drive stalled at the Pioneer 31-yard line as a 4th down pass attempt fell incomplete.  On the very next play, Kellum broke free up the middle on a 69-yard scamper to paydirt that made it 21-0 Pioneers with 10:10 left in the first half.

After a 3-and-out by the Miners, the Pioneers had a nice drive going inside the Miner 30-yard line when Dallas DB Mike Lewis intercepted a pass and returned it 20 yards to the Miner 43-yard line.  The Miners then drove inside Pioneer territory but Wilkes-Barre Area LB Gabe Saracino intercepted a pass and the Pioneers took over at their own 20.  A 21-yard run by Kellum followed by a 29-yard reception by Kellum got the Pioneers deep into Miner territory as time was running down in the half.  Wyoming Seminary Kicker Giovanni Gallo then lined up for a 52-yard field goal attempt that was partially blocked and fell short as the half expired with the Pioneers up 21-0

The Pioneers received the 2nd half kickoff and were pinned inside their own 15-yard line to start.  On a 1st-and-10 from the 29, Wyoming Area RB Michael Crane fumbled and the ball was recovered by Dallas DB Nate Malarkey for the Miners at the 27.  Dallas QB Brady Zapoticky then hit Dallas RB Dylan Geskey for 15 yards out to the Pioneer 12, and on the very next play it was the “Dallas Philly Special” as Geskey took the snap and hit Zapoticky in the left corner of the end zone for the score.  With 8:56 to go in the 3rd quarter, the Miners were on the board but still trailed 21-7.

On the next possession, the Pioneers were inside the 20-yard line of the Miners but another costly fumble derailed the drive as Crestwood DL Kyle Draina came up with the loose ball.  On the next play however, Zapoticky was intercepted by Hazleton DB Carlos Gonzales for the Pioneers.  At the Miner 35, the Pioneers gained 6-yards in 3 plays but an incomplete pass on 4th down meant a turnover on downs.  The Miners took advantage, and had a nice drive going as the 3rd quarter gave way to the 4th.  On a 4th-and-1 at the Pioneer 32, Zapoticky ran it to the right but was tripped up and after the chains came out for a measurement the ball was spotted 1 foot short of the 1st down.  The Pioneers then had a nice drive going inside the Miner 30-yard line but the Miner defense stood tall.  Gallo came out for another field goal attempt, this time from 44 yards, but the kick was again partially blocked and fell short.

The Miners had time left to mount a rally, but on the next drive another try at the HB pass from Geskey was intercepted by Wyoming Area LB Brady Jones for the Pioneers, who then ran out the clock to seal the 21-7 win.

After the game I had the privilege of speaking with RB Lidge Kellum about what it was like to have such a terrific final high school performance on his home field:  “I was just thinking about it when we were in the huddle.  It feels great to end my last football game on this field with a win, especially with the guys I was playing with, it felt great to be a part of a team, to be a part of being a Warrior.”

Check out the photo gallery from the game, courtesy of Sherryl Samuel:  PHOTO GALLERY

 

 

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