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Valley View drops Crestwood in District 2 Class 4A Action

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

| August 30, 2024


Early in a season, the goal of most teams is to avoid injury and get consistency on both sides of the ball. After 0-1 starts, both Crestwood and Valley View were beset by injuries. The Cougars were coming off of a lopsided 33-0 loss at Scranton Prep that saw the loss of QB Zach Cwalinski to injury, while the Comets lost a close game 28-21 to Wyoming Area and late this week QB Jaden Shedlock was injured. Adjustments would be needed to game plans in order to come out on top this week.

The Comets struggled, but the Cougars adjusted just fine.

Valley View QB Casey Malsberger threw for a TD and ran for 2 TD’s as the Cougars performed well on both sides of the ball to defeat Crestwood 28-13 at John Henzes Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Crestwood won the toss and chose to receive, but it was a disastrous beginning for the Comets. On a 3rd and 12 from their own 29, QB Jack Rodgers threw a pass that was picked off by Cougar LB Tyler Scoblick at the Crestwood 35. A big 29-yard run by RB Nick Kucharski drove the Cougars to the Crestwood 6 and then FB Preston Reed ran right through the Comet defense for a TD. With 9:40 still to go in the 1st quarter, Valley View had a 7-0 lead.

Crestwood started their 2nd possession on their own 18. Several hard runs by RB Nate Walsh drove the Comets out to the 40, but the drive stalled at the 48 and Crestwood punted it away. Valley View, pinned back at their own 6, started out with 2 runs from Kucharski for 24 yards. Reed struck for 6 yards and then Kucharski had a huge 40-yard run down to the Comet 30 yard line. As the 1st quarter gave way to the 2nd quarter, Reed had 2 runs for 21 total yards down to the 9 yard line. Malsberger capped the drive when he hit WR Beyon McLean for a 6 yard score that made it 14-0 Cougars with 10:24 left in the half.

Crestwood had an inspired next drive, led by runs from RB Jacob Jeckel. The sophomore grinded out 26 yards on 3 runs, and RB Matthew Bealla and WR Giovanni Barna also had nice runs on the drive. The momentum was stopped however, as a Rodgers pass was intercepted by Kucharski for the Cougars at their own 1. Valley View gained only 1 yard before having to punt it away, and Crestwood took over at the Cougar 42. A number of hard runs by Barna, plus 2 substantial runs by Jeckel and WR Colin Lazo gained yardage down to the 2. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Jeckel was stuffed at the line for no gain by a pack of Cougars to end the half.

Valley View took the 2nd half kickoff and started their next drive at their own 20. On a 2nd and 7 from the 23, Malsberger hit TE Gianni Marino for a big 42 yard catch-and-run down to the Crestwood 35. After short funs by Reed and Kucharski, Malsberger called his own number and broke a long 27-yard keeper for the score and it was 21-0 Valley View with 9:28 left in the 3rd quarter.

The Cougar defense was ready for the next Crestwood drive and put big pressure on Jeckel and Rodgers to force a 3-and-out and took over possession with great field position at the Crestwood 33. Malsberger hit McLean for 16 yards, then Kucharski ran it for 15 yards down to the 1. Malsberger then called his own number again and dove for the 1-yard score to make it 28-0 Cougars with 5:44 left in the 3rd quarter.

Crestwood finally got some momentum on their next drive. Starting at their own 32, several runs by Jeckel and a bad personal foul penalty by the Cougars allowed Crestwood to gain yardage down to the Valley View 42. It was then Barna on the option who threw it downfield to a streaking Rodgers for 26 yards to the Cougar 16. Barna then had a nice 10-yard run and Lazo hit paydirt on a 6-yard scamper for the score. The PAT missed but Crestwood was finally on the board, down 28-6 with 1:42 left in the 3rd quarter.

As the 3rd quarter gave way to the 4th, the next Valley View drive stalled and they punted it away to the Comets. As Crestwood took the punt, a great return was aided by a personal foul against the Cougars to give the Comets great field position at the Valley View 25. A series of unsportsmanlike and offsides penalties against Valley View gave Crestwood all the yardage they needed, and it was Rodgers on the 1-yard keeper that got Crestwood on the board again. With 8:49 to play, it was 28-13 in favor of the Cougars.

Valley View drove out to near midfield on their next drive but drained valuable time from the clock. On their punt attempt, a bad snap allowed Crestwood to get the ball back on the Valley View 30. Unfortunately, Crestwood could not get anything going against the Cougar defense and turned the ball over on downs to Cougars at their own 26. Valley View then kneeled it out for the win.

Valley View improved to 1-1 and heads out on the road next week to face the 1-1 Wilkes-Barre Area Wolfpack, while Crestwood fell to 0-2 and goes up to Tunkhannock to face the 1-1 Tigers.

Check out the photo gallery from the game, courtesy of Sherryl Samuel:  Crestwood vs. Valley View

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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