Wyoming Valley West linebacker Isaiah Cobb (6) returns a North Pocono fumble as North Pocono tight end Ryan Marsh attempts to bring him down Friday night.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Wyoming Valley West’s Tyler Mattis returns the opening kickoff of Friday night’s game against North Pocono for a touchdown.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Wyoming Valley West quarterback Carson Brown stretches for extra yardage during a high school football game against North Pocono on Friday night in Kingston.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Wyoming Valley West’s Ty Makarewicz tries to get away from North Ponoco’s Kevin Wickizer (5) and Noah West during a high school football game Friday night in Kingston.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Wyoming Valley West running back Paul Riggs shakes off North Pocono defender Nate Hauenstein after pulling in a pass during Friday night’s game in Kingston.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
KINGSTON — New year. New coach. New results.
Wyoming Valley West its season opener Friday night, defeating North Pocono 21-13 and snapping the school’s 16-game losing streak.
It was the first win for first-year coach Bob Stelma and the first win for Spartans running back Isaiah Cobb in what seemed like an eternity.
“It feels great,” the senior said. “It feels great to come out and work with all my boys and come out and get a hard fought win.
“I’m so happy go celebrate with my boys.”
Cobb’s last taste of victory came in the 2021 season. He certainly did everything in his power to make sure his new coach wouldn’t have to wait that long.
Cobb rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, including 115 in the second half when he helped the Spartans pull away from a determined North Pocono team. He also recovered a fumble in the first half.
“He flipped the switch and bang,” Stelma said of his running back, who left the field for a time during the first half after getting sick on the field. “That was awesome. We were trying to get that old Isaiah back.”
Cobb was quick to spread the credit for his big night.
“It was my offensive line,” he said. “I would like thank every single one of those boys. They fought the whole game and they gave me holes that I love to run through.”
Cobb’s biggest play of the night came at the end of the fourth quarter when North Pocono appeared set to grab the momentum.
Leading 14-6, the Spartans watched as starting quarterback Carson Brown left the field with an injury, leaving Valley West facing a second-and-15 at the North Pocono 45-yard line.
With the Trojan defense smelling blood, Cobb took a handoff from backup quarterback Madden Sandly, broke several tackles in the backfield with his punishing running style and raced up the sidelines for a 45-yard touchdown. Roger Staron converted the extra point and the Spartans had a 21-6 lead with just 39 seconds left in the third quarter.
North Pocono would cut the lead to 21-13 with just under 11 minutes left to play in the game on a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Noah West. The play capped a 10-play scoring drive.
The Trojans would then drive deep into Spartan territory again but were stopped on a fourth-and-3 from the Valley West 7-yard line when West’s pass into the end zone fell incomplete.
Several big Cobb runs helped the Spartans run out all but 18 seconds of the game, and a couple of late Hail Marys were incomplete, allowing the Valley West sideline and rooting section to celebrate.
“Emotions are running high,” Stelma said. “It’s a great win. That’s on the players, my entire coaching staff and the administration.”
The game couldn’t have started any better for Valley West. Tyler Mattis took the opening kickoff and returned it 91 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead just 12 seconds into the game.
Valley West then held North Pocono to a three-and-out and appeared to set to add its lead, driving to Trojan 10-yard line. An interception at the 2-yard line thwarted the drive.
Neither team could muster much offense in the remainder of the first half until North Pocono went 80 yards for a score on 16-yard touchdown pass from West to Riley Moore. A missed extra point left it 7-6 heading into halftime.
Valley West will travel to Scranton next Friday, while North Pocono visit’s Western Wayne.
Wyoming Valley West 21, North Pocono 13
North Pocono`0`6`0`7 — 12
Wyo. Val. West`7`0`14`0 — 21
First quarter
WVW — Tyler Mattis 91 kick return (Roger Staron kick), 11:48
Second quarter
NP – Riley Moore 16 pass from Noah West (Kick failed), :05
Third quarter
WVW – Isaiah Cobb 12 run (Staron kick)
WVW – Isaiah Cobb 45 run (Staron kick)
Fourth quarter
NP – West 1 run (Brady Maples kick)
Team statistics`NP`WVW
First downs`13`18
Rushes-yards`37-253`41-201
Passing yards`35`104
Total yards`288`305
Passing`8-10-1`9-18-0
Sacked-yards lost`0-0`0-0
Punts-avg.`3-31.3`3-26.6
Fumbles-lost`2-1`2-1
Penalties-yards`6-53`10-57
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — NP, Kevin Wickizer 24-139, Brady Lavery 5-33, Noah West 6-19, Cole West 1-4, Riley Moore 1-1. WVW, Cobb 10-133, Brown 12-15, Mattis 2-(-2), Madden Sandly 1-1.
PASSING — NP, Noah West 9-18-0-104. WVW, Brown 7-8-0-28, Madden Sandley 1-1-0-7.
RECEIVING — NP, Cole West 3-49, Riley Moore 2-42, Wickizer 3-11. WVW, Maki Wells 3-14, Kamau Ingram 1-0, Paul Riggs 1-6, Jake Dubaskas 1-8, Ty Makarewicz 1-7.
INTERCEPTIONS — NP, Noah West 1-0. WVW, None.
MISSED FGs — None.