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Western Wayne too much for Susquehanna to handle

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

| August 24, 2024

A new year and a new season usually means a new opportunity for teams chasing glory. Western Wayne and Susquehanna Community are both certainly looking at things this way. Susquehanna had 5 wins last year with a new head coach and some young players who already have experience, and Western Wayne made it to the District 2 Class 3A championship game last season and returns a good number of experienced players as well. When a game lines up this way, it is usually the team that makes the fewest mistakes that comes out on top.

This game was no exception.

Western Wayne capitalized early and often on Susquehanna mistakes on their way to a dominant 42-14 victory at William Emminger Memorial Field in Lanesboro. The special teams unit for the Wildcats was especially effective, with a punt blocked for a TD and several critical punt returns to set up scores for the offense.

The Sabers received the opening kick and were pinned deep at their own 12 to start. After a quick 3-and-out, the ensuing punt was blocked and returned for a TD by DL Vinny Baldini to give the Wildcats a quick 7-0 lead with 10:28 still left in the 1st quarter. Susquehanna settled in however, and Sophomore QB Weston Yannone picked up his team on the ground with 2 strong runs. Yannone capped the drive by hitting WR Joel Decker for a nice 35-yard scoring strike to tie the game at 7 with 7:10 left in the 1st quarter.

Toward the end of the 1st quarter, the Wildcats had a sustained drive going mainly due to RB Josh Vinton. The drive began at midfield and Vinton had 4 straight carries that gained 24 yards down to the Sabers 26 yard line. Beginning the 2nd quarter, RB Quinn Swartz had a nice 12 yard run and then RB James Jimenez capped the drive with a 14-yard scamper for the score. The PAT missed and Western Wayne led 13-7 with 11:14 to go in the half.

Unfortunately, the wheels came off for the Sabers and the Wildcats took full advantage. A tipped pass on the next Susquehanna drive turned into an interception returned by DB Sean Owens down to the Sabers 1 yard line. Vinton then immediately dove in for the score on the next play and it was 20-7 Wildcats with 10:19 still to go in the half.

On the next Susquehanna drive, several bad snaps and some penalties hampered the Sabers and on the ensuing punt return it was Owens again with a huge return down to the Sabers 11 yard line. 3 plays later Vinton struck again, this time from 5 yards out for his 2nd TD. Vinton also hit paydirt on the 2-point conversion to make it 28-7 Wildcats with 6:56 left in the half.

The Sabers were determined to get back in the game, but Yannone was injured on the next drive and RB William Marcy stepped in under center. RB Nathan Oropallo also came in and had some effective runs that drove the Sabers down to the Western Wayne 33. Unfortunately, Owens picked off another pass for Western Wayne and 2 plays later Wildcat QB John Pyatt hit Owens on a nice screen pass that turned into an 83-yard catch and run for another TD. Western Wayne led 35-7 with only 20 seconds left in the half, effectively sending the game to halftime.

Western Wayne had won the toss and deferred, so they received the 2nd half kickoff. Starting at their own 35, WR Vinny Silon had a big 45-yard run and a very quick moving drive was capped 2 plays later when Vinton scored on a hard-fought 14-yard run to make it 42-7 with 10:17 left in the 3rd quarter. With the mercy ruled invoked, the clock ran for the remainder of the game.

Susquehanna did score again in the 4th quarter when a returning Yannone hit TE Ryken Hobart on a jump ball pass for a 45-yard score to make it 42-14, but it was too little too late and the Wildcats ended up with the win.

After the game I spoke to RB Josh Vinton about how the Wildcat line made the difference: “The line just had to keep giving their push up front, keep putting guys on their back and just driving them back so I could see the holes and get through them and get into the secondary.” Vinton had 3 TD’s and a 2-point conversion in the game.

Next week, Western Wayne heads home to face a tough Lackawanna Trail team, while Susquehanna heads on the road to face Montrose.

Check out the photo gallery from the game here:  Photo Gallery

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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