Wilkes-Barre Area advances to Subregional Final
Tagged under: District 2, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs
John Kotsko | November 1, 2025
After a slow start, Wilkes-Barre Area looked like a team that couldn’t be stopped on offense. Jake Howe had five total touchdowns and Running back Davon Underwood had four total touchdowns as Wilkes-Barre Area advances to the Subregional Final with a 46-20 victory over Hazleton Area. “Those guys gave their hearts to this team for four years. A lot of victories with those guys, makes coaching a lot easier.” said Wilkes-Barre Area head coach Ciro Cinti.
Hazleton Area received the opening kickoff and the Wilkes-Barre Area defense forced a three and out but a Wolf Pack played touched the punt and the Cougars recovered. However, Wilkes-Barre Area forced a turnover on downs. On the first offensive play, Jake Howe went to Jonathan Otway-Kellom on a screen pass and he took the pass all the way to the 30 yard line. The Wolf Pack did not get another yard and turned the ball over on downs.
The Cougars got a couple first downs from Xavier Heck but they faced a fourth and seven, JJ Lantigua completed the pass but it was short of the sticks. Howe found Kevon Creech to the six yard line and then Davon Underwood scored from six yards out to make it 7-0 Wolf Pack with 37 seconds left in the first quarter.
Hazleton Area looked to answer and faced a fourth and 4 deep in their own territory and Lantigua found Logan Gennaro for a first down. Then Lantigua moved the chains with a quarterback keeper on third and 2. An unsportsmanlike conduct on Wilkes-Barre Area moved the ball to the Wolf Pack 34 yard line. Later in the drive, Lantigua scores from 15 yards out but the PAT was blocked as Wilkes-Barre Area still leads 7-6 with 7:20 remaining in the second quarter.
The Wolf Pack answered as they started at their own 41. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the ball to the 30 then Howe found Underwood for a 30 yard touchdown to make it 14-6 with 6:51 remaining until halftime. The Cougars faced a fourth and 7 at their own 44, Lantigua completed the pass but short of the chains and Wilkes-Barre Area takes over at midfield. Passes to Kieselowski and Underwood gets to the 24 yard line. Howe and Underwood then ran the ball for a first and goal at the ten yard line. On fourth and goal at the three, Howe ran in for a three yard touchdown to make it 21-6 with 1:55 remaining in the second quarter.
A pass interference penalty and a Lantigua pass to Connor Bacon got the Cougars to the Wilkes-Barre Area 20 yard line. Heck gets another first down to make it first and goal with 39 seconds left. However, Hazleton Area fumbled and the Wolf Pack recovered with 19 seconds left. Wilkes-Barre Area kneeled down and went to halftime.
At the start of the third quarter, Howe found Underwood for a 28 yard score to make it 28-6 Wilkes-Barre Area with 10:25 remaining in the third quarter. The Wolf Pack cruised from there. Howe ran in from 13 yards out to make it 34-6 then Underwood scored from 14 yards out for a 40-6 lead. At the start of the fourth quarter, Howe found Otway-Kellogg for a 33 yard touchdown to make it 46-6. Hazleton Area got a pair of touchdowns in the fourth as Ashton Karlick scored from nine yards out and Heck scored from 21 yards out to make it 46-20 in favor of the Wolf Pack and that was your final. Wilkes-Barre Area advances to the Subregional Final where they play Williamsport who defeated Scranton and defeated Wilkes-Barre Area in Week 10.
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