H.S. Football Week 5 Preview: Patriots have tough task in Dallas

Pittston Area has looked like the football team it hoped to be the past two weeks.

The issue for the Patriots is tonight’s opponent looked like the team it hoped to be last Friday.

So when Pittston Area (1-0 Div. 1, 2-2 overall) hosts Dallas (1-0, 1-3) at 7 p.m. for first place in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1, the Patriots are going to approach the Mountaineers as if they are as formidable as they’ve been in the recent past.

“Obviously, they were in some battles those first four week against vs. quality, top-ranked opponents,” Pittston Area first-year coach Joe DeLucca said. “They had a couple key injuries in a couple of those losses and all the games were close games.”

Dallas finished the PIAA Class 4A state runner-up last season and could very well be undefeated.

Consider the Mountaineers’ first three games.

• Led Jersey Shore — ranked second in the state in Class 4A at the time — 21-14 with just under eight minutes remaining. Lost 28-21.

• Trailed Wyoming Area 42-35 with under six minutes left. Lost 49-41.

• Trailed Abington Heights 17-13 with nine minutes to play. Lost 30-13.

“Certainly, anybody who knows anything about football can’t look at the record and think this is not an exceptional Dallas football team,” DeLucca said.

Dallas’ early-season issues were twofold. First, there were a couple key injuries to an experienced skill group. The main problem, though, was a rebuilt offensive line from tackle to tackle plus tight end just wasn’t opening holes for the ground game.

Dallas finally had a breakout game running the ball in a 41-33 victory over Wilkes-Barre Area.

“There is a lot going on up front,” Dallas coach Rich Mannello said after the win. “The days of just lining up and knocking people off the ball, that’s part of it and there’s a place for that. Our biggest kid that starts here is 224. We’ve got to combo block, and that takes a lot of time to get all that figured out.”

Running back Dylan Geskey, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2023, had just 139 rushing yards and averaged just 2.9 per carry through three games. He had 139 yards, averaging 5.4 per rush, and four touchdowns against the Wolfpack.

Quarterback Brady Zapoticky rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown. He threw just 18 times after throwing 111 passes through three games, but connected on a 38-yard TD to a wide-open Nate Malarkey.

Pittston Area entered the season with more questions than answers.

DeLucca was moving up from assistant to his first head coaching gig. He was replacing three-year starting quarterback Drew DeLucca, his son, with converted wide receiver Matt Walter. There was a need to improve a running game that barely scratched out 100 yards per game in 2023.

No solutions were found in the opener, a 32-0 loss to a Mid Valley team which has so far lived up to its preseason billing. Things improved in Week 2 in a 23-13 loss to North Pocono where Walter threw a TD pass and running back CJ Pietrzak ran for 109 yards and a score.

The Patriots have dominated their opponents the last two week, although the 55-0 win was against a then-winless Nanticoke Area team and last Friday’s 47-7 victory was against Wyoming Valley West, which has lost 13 in a row.

Lucas Lopresto, a Times Leader All-WVC selection as a freshman last year, played a huge role last Friday with two touchdown catches as well as returning a kick and punt for touchdowns.

“We’re certainly progressing the way we anticipated,” DeLucca said. “It take a while. This is a whole new offensive and defensive system for the kids. They’re picking it up pretty well. I liked our improvement from Week 1 to Week 2 and the way we’ve played over the last couple of week as well.”

WEEK 5 AT A GLANCE

Crestwood (1-3) at Nanticoke Area (1-3)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Crestwood’s Ryan Arcangeli (37-25), 6th year; Nanticoke Area coaching staff

Last Meeting: Nanticoke Area 23-20 in 2023

First Meeting: Crestwood 14-0 in 1981

All-Time Series: Tied 12-12

Scouting Crestwood: The Comets were shut out for the first time in the regular season since 2021 in a 21-0 loss to unbeaten Western Wayne. QB Jaden Shedlock rushed for 133 yards on 17 carries, but the rest of the running game totaled 100 on 29 rushes. Crestwood is now sixth in the race for four D2-4A playoff spots, but has a solid opportunity to gain some ground over the next few weeks.

Scouting Nanticoke Area: The Trojans gutted out a 14-12 win over Tunkhannock as the offense scored for the first time all season. RB Treston Allen rushed for 90 yards and both scores. The defense pitched a shutout in the second half and held Tunkhannock to 146 total yards. However, the unit has had trouble vs. the run in the first three games and Crestwood will certainly run the ball plenty.

Bottom Line: Crestwood’s ground game will be too much for the Trojans.

Dallas (1-3) at Pittston Area (2-2)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Dallas’ Rich Mannello (78-35), 10th year; Pittston Area’s Joe DeLucca (2-2), 1st year

Last Meeting: Dallas 25-12 in 2021

First Meeting: Pittston Area 14-0 in 1970

All-Time Series: Dallas 25-18

Scouting Dallas: After losses to three very good opponents, the Mountaineers picked up their first win with a 41-33 victory over Wilkes-Barre Area. The biggest part of the victory was the running game getting traction. RB Dylan Geskey rushed for 119 yards – his total in three previous games – plus four TDs. QB Brady Zapoticky had 135 on the ground. The defense, though, giving up way too many points.

Scouting Pittston Area: The Patriots rolled winless Wyoming Valley West 47-7 as Lucas Lopresto returned a kick and punt for touchdowns. He also grabbed two touchdown passes. RB CJ Pietzrak turned in a third consecutive solid game running the ball. Dallas is surrendering 182 yards rushing per game, but have been better in that category in its last two contests.

Bottom Line: Dallas picked up some momentum last Friday and that should continue.

Hanover Area (0-4) at Berwick (0-4)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Hanover Area’s Jason Majiros (4-21), 3rd year; Berwick’s CJ Curry (0-4), 1st year

Last Meeting: never played

First Meeting: never played

All-Time Series: never played

Scouting Hanover Area: The Hawkeyes were outscored 26-0 in the second half in a 42-7 loss to Old Forge. The defense allowed three TD passes, but Berwick hasn’t had much success putting the ball in the air. The offense had a nice opening drive, but didn’t build off that the rest of the game. The old Hanover High School played Berwick every year from 1944-1949.

Scouting Berwick: The Dawgs led 10-7 in the third quarter, but two long TD runs and a pick-6 let Hazleton Area rally for a 27-10 victory. Berwick is the lowest scoring team in the WVC with 24 points, but may have found something with WR Billy Hanson taking snaps at quarterback and running the ball. Still, the offense has scored just two touchdowns this season. This game presents a chance to break out a bit.

Bottom Line: Curry picks up his first win at Crispin Field where his granddad George won countless times.

Holy Redeemer (0-4) at Lake-Lehman (2-2)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Redeemer’s Tyson Kelley (7-42), 6th year; Lake-Lehman’s Jerry Gilsky (89-70) 15th year

Last Meeting: Lehman 43-19 in 2023

First Meeting: Lehman 38-6 in 2007

All-Time Series: Lehman 17-0

Scouting Redeemer: The Royals fell 40-14 to Susquehanna. The tackling was suspect early as Susquehanna led 20-0 after one quarter. Redeemer managed to move the ball decently late behind the throwing of freshman QB Brody McDermott. But once again, there was no running game and that has made it much easier for opponents to scheme against the offense.

Scouting Lehman: The Black Knights surrendered a kickoff return TD to start the second half and things unraveled from there in a 42-12 loss to unbeaten Riverside. RB Jaydon Skipalis had a strong game running the ball and Lehman should be able to exploit a Redeemer defense that has been porous vs. the run. This is the first of three consecutive games where Lehman can really solidify a D2-3A playoff spot.

Bottom Line: The game should play out similar to last year.

West Scranton (0-4) at Wilkes-Barre Area (1-3)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: West Scranton’s Jake Manetti (4-20), 3rd year; WBA’s Ciro Cinti (98-101) 6th year at WBA, 19th overall

Last Meeting: never played

First Meeting: never played

All-Time Series: never played

Scouting West Scranton: The Invaders were shut out for a second time this season, losing 21-0 to Scranton in the Bell Game. They haven’t scored a touchdown since a one-point loss to Old Forge in Week 1. RB Dayron Groves is speedy and elusive, but the supporting cast needs to pick up the pace. Based on the next three opponents, points might be scarce. The defense has played OK the last two games.

Scouting WBA: The Wolfpack has been snake-bitten. Friday’s 41-33 loss to Dallas was another case where they had a chance at a victory. The run defense was an issue for a second consecutive game and has surrendered 529 yards those two games. QB Jake Howe threw for 239 yards and three TDs on 48 attempts, but was sacked four times and pressured way too much on other occasions.

Bottom Line: WBA should be able to shut down West Scranton’s limited offense.

Wyoming Area (3-1) at Tunkhannock (1-3)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Wyoming Area’s Randy Spencer (107-64) 16th year; Tunkhannock’s Pat Keating (86-44), 2nd year at Tunkhannock, 11th overall

Last Meeting: Wyoming Area 49-0 in 2023

First Meeting: Wyoming Area 6-0 in 1967

All-Time Series: Wyoming Area 25-4

Scouting Wyoming Area: Wyoming Area enters off a 56-6 thrashing of a young Lakeland team where it piled up over 500 yards of offense. That wasn’t a surprise considering the Warriors have put up some impressive offensive numbers. The defense played its best game – granted Lakeland doesn’t have the firepower of the three previous opponents – and forced three turnovers.

Scouting Tunkhannock: The Tigers had an opportunity to gain ground in the D2-3A playoffs race, but instead gave up a late touchdown in a 14-12 loss to a Nanticoke Area team which has struggled to score points. Three turnovers didn’t help their offense. The defense allowed Nanticoke Area, which had a net of zero rushing yards through three games, to rush for 184 yards.

Bottom Line: Wyoming Area can go on a run here heading into the D2-3A playoffs.

Wyo. Valley West (0-4) at Hazleton Area (2-2)

7 p.m. Friday

The Coaches: Valley West’s Bob Stelma (1-13) 2nd year; Hazleton Area’s Dennis Buchman (24-20), 5th year

Last Meeting: Hazleton Area 50-14 in 2023

First Meeting: Valley West 28-13 in 1992

All-Time Series: Valley West 19-13-1

Scouting Valley West: The Spartans gave up kick and punt return touchdowns in the first quarter and things snowballed from there in a 47-7 loss to Pittston Area. Special teams and defense have to play much better tonight because the offense hasn’t gained any consistency all season. Valley West has scored 27 points this year, second worst only to Berwick’s 24 in the WVC.

Scouting Hazleton Area: The Cougars defeated Berwick 27-10 as QB Austin Wilson ran for 112 yards and three touchdowns. If they could get the passing game up to or near last year’s level, the offense could have a nice stretch to end the regular season. The defense has given up 13 points in the last two games, but the caveat is the performances came against winless teams with struggling offenses. (Sounds like Valley West).

Bottom Line: Hazleton Area will have enough offense to make it three wins in a row.