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Scranton Lions 90th Annual Dream goes to the County squad, 35-28

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

| July 19, 2024

Last year’s Dream Game was an overtime thriller with the County getting the field goal in OT to win 23-20.  With this year’s contest, both teams were stacked with standouts from all of the Lackawanna Conference teams.  The City squad looked like they had the offensive firepower to finally turn the tables on the County team.

Different year, same result.

Mid Valley’s Jordan Chmielewski, who missed the latter portion of his senior season due to a broken wrist, returned with a vengeance and accounted for 3 of the 5 County TD’s and sealed the win with a huge defensive play late in the 4th quarter.  Delaware Valley WR Jayden Ramirez also accounted for 3 TD’s for the County team and Honesdale’s Cameron Hedgelon had 2 big interceptions for County.

The City team had the ball first, and it was Lackawanna Trail RB Lukas Gumble with 4 tough runs on the drive including a 7-yard scoring rumble that gave City the lead 7-0 with 7:15 to go in the 1st quarter.  County took the ball and after several mis-timed incomplete passes, it was Chmielewski under pressure scrambling and breaking away for a 55-yard scoring run.  The 2-point conversion was no good, and City held a 7-6 lead with 6:00 still to go in the 1st quarter.

As City took over, the first play from scrimmage was a pass from Lackawanna Trail QB Steven Jervis that was intercepted on a great effort by Honesdale DB Cameron Hedgelon for the County.  Unfortunately, as County drove to the City 3-yard line the drive stalled and City took over from there.  As the 1st quarter gave way to the 2nd quarter, the City squad also stalled and had to punt it away.  The County team took advantage of a pass interference penalty against the City to get inside the City 40-yard line.  Western Wayne QB Frankie Leyshon then connected with Delaware Valley WR Jayden Ramirez for a beautiful 38-yard catch and run for the score that made it  14-7 for the County with 9:07 to go in the half.

The City went right back to what had given them success early, and that was the ground game.  Gumble had a big 33-yard run followed by a 19-yard scamper from Dunmore’s Danny Pigga that gained yardage down to the  County 6-yard line, and Pigga then struck for the 6-yard scoring run that tied the game at 14 with 5:03 left in the half.

The County squad then gained the momentum for the rest of the half.  On the ensuing drive, Riverside’s Reese Gaughan had a nice gain that was also aided by a City defensive penalty to put the ball at the City 32 yard line.  Chmielewski capped the drive with an 8-yard keeper for the TD that gave County a 21-14 lead with 2:18 left in the half.  On the next City drive, Hedgelon again had a critical interception to get the ball back for County.  With less than 10 seconds on the clock, Chmielewski hit Ramirez for another score from 48 yards out and at the half it was County on top 28-14.

City started the 2nd half strongly on the legs and arm of Scranton QB Billy Maloney, who drove his team down to the 26 yard line of County.  Maloney then threw a perfectly placed pass to the left front corner of the end zone where Scranton Prep’s Liam Barrett made the highlight play of the game — a one-handed grab for the TD.  Just like that, City drew back within a touchdown at 28-21 with 7:30 to go in the 3rd quarter.

County took over and had a lengthy drive that drained the rest of the 3rd quarter clock.  As the final quarter began, it was Gaughan powering into the end zone from a yard out to extend the County lead 35-21 with 11:56 left in the game.

Not to be outdone, the City team responded.  Gumble had 2 short runs early, then it was Maloney hitting his Scranton teammate Elijah Ortiz for a huge 50-yard strike down to the County 9 yard line.  After a delay of game penalty, Maloney scrambled on the keeper and scored from 14 yards out to again draw City within a touchdown.  It was 35-28 for the County with 9:48 to go, and tensions were high.

City needed a stop on the next drive, and they got it.  County had favorable field position to start at their own 45, but a huge 3rd down sack by Scranton Prep’s Cameron Palermo ignited the City crowd and sideline.  The County punted it away and City took over at their own 18.

City used fresh player substitutions to keep County off balance, with 3 different QB’s in on the drive.  Jervis had 2 short runs, along with runs from Pigga and Gumble to get out to their own 48.  Barrett gained 6 on an end around run, and then it was Maloney hitting a big stretch play keeper for 16 yards down to the County 30.  Dunmore QB Thomas Bowen then came in, and on his 2nd pass a terrific read by County’s Chmielewski turned into a huge interception that sealed it for the County team.  The final was County 35, City 28.

After the game, I spoke with Chmielewski about the game-clinching interception:  “Oh, I saw my man and knew what I had to do to stay on him….it was man coverage so I had to stay on him for the whole play and saw when he threw and I just moved in front of him and made the play.”

I also spoke with Maloney about how the City team prepared for the game:  “It was a brotherhood, we were really close with each other and had a lot of chemistry…after evert practice we went and got Rita’s and just bonded together.”

Be sure to check out the phot gallery from the game, courtesy of PFN’s Sherryl Samuel:  https://pafootballnews.com/pfn/90th-annual-scranton-lions-dream-game-photo-gallery/

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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