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Scranton downs Wallenpaupack, wins big on Senior Night

Tagged under: District 2, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| October 28, 2023

The Wallenpaupack Buckhorns came into the game with a 2-7 record, but had made some key upsets early in the season and were looking to get back to their early season success. The Scranton Knights were looking for some playoff momentum, and with a 4-5 record they were also looking to avoid a losing season. It was also Senior night for Scranton, and you know that sometimes it’s a senior player who makes a big impact in the game.

That player, most definitely, was Scranton Knights Senior QB/FS Billy Maloney. Maloney accounted for 4 TD’s, including a ridiculous 65-yard interception return through heavy traffic, and paved the way for a big Scranton 35-14 win over Wallenpaupack at Pen Fed Field in Scranton.

Scranton started their opening drive at their own 20. QB Billy Maloney got to work immediately with an 11-yard strike to WR Oliver Almonte. After a Maloney hard-count drew the Buckhorns offsides and RB Memphis Shotto ran it for 4 yards, Maloney was sacked for a loss of 5 yards. On a 3rd and 11 from their own 45, Maloney had to scramble and threw the ball up for grabs and it was intercepted in Buckhorn territory. Unfortunately for Wallenpaupack, a roughing the passer penalty on the play gave the ball right back to Scranton but the Knights could not get past midfield and punted it away.

On Wallenpaupack’s first drive, RB Dylan Podrazl got the early work and gained 5 yards on the first 2 plays. That was all the Buckhorn offense could muster however, and they punted it right back to Scranton. As the Knights took over at their own 32, Maloney hit it big on a nice 37-yard sweep into Wallenpaupack territory. 2 plays later, Maloney hit WR Elijah Ortiz right in stride for a beautiful 33-yard TD catch that made it 7-0 Scranton with 4:37 left in the 1st quarter.

Wallenpaupack started their 2nd drive at their own 20. After 3 plays that included a fumbled snap, the Buckhorns gained only 4 yards and got into punt formation. The punt was fielded by the Knights but a fumble on the return gave the ball right to Wallenpaupack. Podrazl then got back to work on the ground and gained 12 yards on the first 2 plays. On a 3rd and 8 from the Scranton 33, QB Aydin Greene hit WR Jake Holbert for a nice 26-yard gain down to the Knight 7. With under 10 seconds to go in the quarter, Podrazl took the ball and as the Knight defense met him the Buckhorn offensive line showed up also and pushed the pile and Podrazl down to the 1-yard line as the quarter ended. Starting the 2nd quarter, the Knight defense was determined to make a stand and stuffed Podrazl for no gain twice in a row. On 4th down, Podrazl finally hit paydirt with a 1-yard dive for the score to tie the game at 7 with 11:03 to go in the half.

Scranton could not get anything going on their next drive with 2 plays for negative yardage and an incomplete pass, and punted it away. The Buckhorns faced a 3rd and 9 from their own 46, and as Greene scrambled he was hit and fumbled the ball which was recovered by LB Conor Dempsey of the Knights at the Wallenpaupack 41 yard line. The Knights got it down to the 16 yard line, and then Maloney called his own number and scrambled around the right side of the line and scampered in for the score. Scranton took a 14-7 lead with 7:16 left in the half.

As the Buckhorns started their next drive, Podrazl was stopped for no gain at the Buckhorn 36 yard line. On the next play Greene’s pass was read perfectly and intercepted by Maloney, who broke several tackles and reversed field to the left as he ran it back 65 yards for the score. With 6:05 to go in the half, Scranton increased their lead to 21-7.

Wallenpaupack gained some momentum on their next drive. Starting at their own 45, Podrazl ran it 3 straight times for 9 yards total. On 4th and 1 from the Knight 46, Greene used the QB sneak to gain 2 yards and the 1st down. The drive continued, but on a 2nd and 10 from the 30 it was Podrazl who coughed up the ball and Scranton took over at their own 25. On the very next play, Maloney gave it right back as his pass was intercepted by Buckhorn DB Mark Nilsen. A holding penalty moved Wallenpaupack back to the Knight 40. The Buckhorns gained only to the 35 and as the clock was running down they lined up for a 52-yard field goal attempt that was well short. Scranton took over on downs and kneeled it out to end the 1st half leading 21-7.

Wallenpaupack received the 2nd half kick and advanced it to their own 30. A mix of runs by Podrazl and Greene drove the Buckhorns down to the Scranton 40. On 4th and 6 from the 40, Greene’s pass was intercepted by Ortiz for the Knights. Scranton then took to the air, as Maloney hit WR Oliver Almonte for a spectacular 41 yard gain. After a 12-yard run by Ortiz got the Knights down to the Buckhorn 20, Maloney hit Almonte again for a 20-yard TD reception. Scranton increased their lead to 28-7 with 1:56 to go in the 3rd quarter.

With time starting to run short, the Buckhorns took over at their own 47. Greene was stopped for no gain on 1st down and on 2nd down he threw it up and Scranton DB Memphis Shotto picked it off and returned it 56 yards for a score. Scranton had scored twice in under a minute, and with 57 seconds to go it was the Knights with a 35-7 lead.

Wallenpaupack took possession at their own 35 and ended the 3rd quarter gaining 13 yards on 2 runs by Podrazl. Starting the 4th quarter, 2 runs by Podrazl gained only 5 yards. An incomplete pass on 3rd down meant a 4th and 5 from the Scranton 47, and the Knights stopped Podrazl after only a 2-yard gain to take over on downs.

As Scranton began their next drive, tempers flared on both sides on a 3rd and 14 from the 41 and multiple flags were thrown. After a long delay to sort out the penalties, it was ruled 4th and 14 for Scranton at their 41. In punt formation to kick it away, the snap went over the head of the punter, who recovered the ball but was tackled immediately at the Scranton 32. Wallenpaupack then got 2 yards from Greene on the keeper, and then it was Podrazl who hit for 13 yards and then 14 yards to make it 1st and goal from the 5. On 3rd and goal from the 2, Podrazl capped the drive as he found the end zone and made it 35-14 with 5:22 to go in the game.

Using mostly backups, Scranton then took the ball at their own 20 and used some short runs to gain a 1st down out to the 31. On a 2nd and 2 from the 39, it was RB Kamani Sterling who sealed the win with a big 42-yard run down to the Buckhorn 19. The Knights then kneeled it out for the 35-14 win.

Scranton finishes the regular season even at 5-5, while Wallenpaupack finished at 2-8. Playoff matchups are pending the results of other games, so be sure to check out PAFOOTBALLNEWS.COM for all of your playoff matchups.
Also, check out the photo gallery from tonight’s game courtesy of Sherryl Samuel:  https://pafootballnews.com/pfn/wallenpaupack-at-scranton-photo-gallery/

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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