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h.s. football

Dallas improves to 5-0

WVC’s only unbeaten team gets another 3-TD passing game from Adam Goeringer.

By John Erzar jerzar@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter

DALLAS – As bad as last season ended up, Dallas quarterback Adam Goeringer truly believed this year was going to be much brighter.

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Dallas running back Jake Simon fends off Wyoming Area’s Ahmad Bowie during Saturday’s WVC Division 3A game in Dallas.

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So far, he and the Mountaineers have been the brightest thing in Wyoming Valley Conference football.

Goeringer threw three touchdown passes for a second consecutive week and the defense quelled a Wyoming Area rally attempt in the second half as Dallas stayed unbeaten with a 21-7 victory in a WVC Division 3A game.

Dallas, which won only two games in 2008, improved to 5-0 to widen its lead in WVC Division 3A.

“We’re having a great start,” said Goeringer, who also for the second week threw his TD passes to three different teammates. “We knew coming in we were going to have a good team. We thought we could go undefeated to this point, and we’ve done a great job of doing that.”

Wyoming Area lost its third consecutive game to fall to 2-3. The Warriors have lost seven of their last 10 games dating back to last season.

Saturday’s victory for Dallas, though, came with some trepidation, especially in the third quarter.

Trailing 14-0 at the half and netting just 73 offensive yards to that point, Wyoming Area put together an impressive nine-play, 76-yard scoring drive to start the third quarter.

The Warriors put their spread offense attack on hold and used Leo Malsky, normally a receiver, at tailback. He responded with four solid gains before quarterback Chris Murphy connected on a 26-yard pass to freshman tailback Nick O’Brien, placing the ball just over two defenders.

Murphy snuck into the end zone from the 1-yard line four plays later, cutting the deficit to 14-7 with 7:45 left in the third.

Wyoming Area appeared it was going to put together another drive on its ensuing possession until penalties ruined it. The Warriors were penalized for delay of game on a fourth-and-inches at the Dallas 28-yard line. An illegal procedure penalty and another delay of game followed, sapping their last legitimate scoring chance.

As for the spread offense, Murphy did complete 10 passes, but eight were to O’Brien and none to wideout Sam Eramo, the WVC’s leading receiver coming into the weekend. Murphy also was sacked five times.

“They got some things, the underneath stuff and that was because we blew a few coverages on the little guy coming out,” Dallas coach Ted Jackson said. “We were very concerned about (Eramo) and Murphy. He has like 500 yards of receptions. He’s a helluva receiver.”

Goeringer demonstrated once again he has a nice group of pass catchers as well. He and tight end Cody Plesnar connected eight times for 82 yards. Receiver Shane Dunn grabbed an 8-yard TD pass midway through the first quarter and wingback Paul Brace made it 14-0 with a 26-yard TD catch late in the second quarter.

Goeringer’s final touchdown toss – a 5-yarder to tailback Nick Lombard – came with 8:30 to play and after he handed the ball to Brace, who then handed it back to him.

“We have two guys out on our line,” Goeringer said, “but our protection is great and I’m really comfortable sitting back in the pocket with those guys protecting me.”

NOTES: Malsky was taken to the hospital via ambulance as a precaution after a collision with Dallas players in the fourth quarter. He had his head stabilized, but was responsive and moving his arms and legs. … The Hanover Area at Dallas game is 2 p.m. next Saturday. It was originally listed as a 1 p.m. start.

Dallas 21, Wyoming Area 7

First Quarter

DAL – S.Dunn 8 pass from Goeringer (Rice kick), 6:50

Second Quarter

DAL – Brace 26 pass from Goeringer (Rice kick), 2:30

Third Quarter

WA – Murphy 1 run (Scalzo kick), 7:45

Fourth Quarter

DAL – Lombard 5 pass from Goeringer (Rice kick), 8:30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING –Wyoming Area, O’Brien 4-17, Murphy 11-(minus-5), Rogers 3-(minus-1), Malsky 7-43. Dallas, Brace 8-32, Goeringer 5-36, Simon 11-34, Lombard 4-19, Roccograndi 2-8, Plesnar 2-9, Shutlock 2-8, team 3-(minus-6).

PASSING – Wyoming Area, Murphy 10-20-1-117. Dallas, Goeringer 11-14-0-158.

RECEIVING – Wyoming Area, Malsky 1-3, O’Brien 8-99, Marich 1-15. Dallas, Plesnar 6-82, S.Dunn 1-8, Brace 3-63, Lombard 1-5.

INTS – Dallas, Richardson.