PD Sports

By Jack Smiles jsmiles@psdispatch.com
Times Leader Staff Writer

For all the Pittston Area Patriots statistical domination of Wyoming Area in their 28-14 win Friday night at Charley Trippi Stadium as late as 3:30 of the fourth quarter the Patriots had just a 21-14 lead and WA had the ball with decent field possession at the WA 35.

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Pa tailgaters, front row, from left, Nick Montini, Angela Aita, Rosaria Aita and Carmel Montini. Second row Ryan Aita,Debbie Montini, Don Montini Lou Ferriero, Marie Ferriero, Jim Aita, Sue Aita, Elaine Aita, Jim Aita and Don MontiniJoanne Pimental outside the WA Booster tent

Photos by Steve Hutz

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Pa tailgaters, front row, from left, Nick Montini, Angela Aita, Rosaria Aita and Carmel Montini. Second row Ryan Aita,Debbie Montini, Don Montini Lou Ferriero, Marie Ferriero, Jim Aita, Sue Aita, Elaine Aita, Jim Aita and Don MontiniJoanne Pimental outside the WA Booster tent

Photos by Steve Hutz

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That’s when Patriot senior linebacker Matt Kobeski made the play that put the game away. He tipped a pass, caught the ball on the rebound and ran it 33 yards into the end zone to make it a two score game, 28-14, with Paul Gattuso’s fourth point after.

“It’s high school football,” PA coach Tony Donato said, “what do you expect? Kids make mistakes and they make plays. Our kids made the plays. That’s how you win football games.”

The biggest plays were the Kobeski interception, the game’s only turnover, and a an 85-yard catch-and-run pass play from PA quarterback James Castellino to tight end Sam Parente early in the fourth quarter. Like the interception, the long touchdown thwarted a Warrior chance to tie the game. The Patriots led 14-7 and were backed up at their own 15 in a 2nd-and-10. Castellino tossed a 5-yard pass over the middle to Parente on a delay route, a play that worked earlier to pick up two crucial first downs. This time it looked like WA had it covered. “They hit my face mask, I bobbled it, I opened my eyes and the ball was there,” Parente said.

Parente cut up field, ran through a couple of tackles and picked up a block downfield from Ronal Grayson to complete the 85-yard play.

That play came just three plays after Wyoming Area had pulled within one score, 14-7, on a tricky 17-yard touchdown pass from Leo Malsky to Nate Bowden. Malsky took a hand off going to his right and threw back the other way to Bowden who stretched for the catch and stumbled into the end zone. The 65-yard drive was the only sustained drive of the game for the Warriors. It was aided by a 15-yard penalty on PA and a great twisting catch by Bowden that picked up 16 on a 3rd-and-10 from the PA 35. Freshman running back Matt Kintz ran seven yards for a first down on a 4th-and-1 play in the drive, one of only two first downs the Warriors got on the ground in the game.

“It’s tough when you can’t run the ball,” WA coach Randy Spencer said. “Give them credit on defense they really shut down the run. Credit Kobeski and Sam, they played great.”

The Patriots run defense was so stout the Warriors made only nine net yards on 22 carries, including 26 yards lost on two sacks.

After the Parente touchdown the teams exchanged possessions. Wyoming Area punted, and then PA lost the ball on downs at the WA 28 after a 9-play drive that ate up five minutes.

On the first play after the fourth down stop, WA sophomore quarterback Chris Murphy looped a pass down the left sideline. Bowden ran under it and away from the defender for a 70-yard touchdown that made it 21-14, with a second PAT by Katie Scalzo, with 5:36 left. That led to a PA three-and-out and the Kobeski interception on the first play after the punt.

Kobeski was all over the field getting into the Warrior backfield and making tackles and he made it difficult on the MVP selectors, Sal Licata representing PA and Dave Amico representing Wyoming Area. They chose Parente, but not until after a long deliberation. After the game and after the initial chaos of celebration, announcer Pat Bilbow stretched out the announcement. The stadium went quiet and everyone stared up at the press box. Bilbow wasn’t going for drama, he was making time for Licata and Amico to make their decision. “We were in a dilemma. He had a heck of a game,” Licata said later on the field as he pointed to Kobeski.

Hard to argue with the selection of Parente who caught five passes for 137 yards, the touchdown, two crucial first downs, blocked well and played defense getting one sack.

PA junior running back Chris Price wasn’t in the MVP debate, but he had a heck of a game, too. The 150-pound Price rushed for 105 yards on 37 carries and a touchdown and ate the clock. In the second quarter, on the Patriots first touchdown drive Price carried on six of 11 plays as the Patriots took up four minutes. Castellino and Parente hooked up on a 4th-and-5 for 21 yards to the WA 6. Joe Ardo scored the touchdown on a short run. Despite getting into WA territory four times, PA led only 7-0 at the half. WA blocked a PA field goal attempt and stopped PA on downs on earlier possessions .

The Patriot offense opened the second half with a classic 15-play, 65-yard, 8-minute grind-it-out drive. With Bob Shannon, Tom Ross and Parente opening holes on the right side Price carried on 13 of the 15 plays, including the last one yard for the score. The other two plays were catches by Parente of four and then nine huge yards on a 4th-and-5 from the WA 15. There was only 3:55 left in the third when Price punched it in for 14-0.

Price ran hard and took some licks, especially from WA sophomore linebacker Stan Timinski who was the Warriors leading tackler. Price went to the sideline a couple times, but came back for more.

Kobeski, Shannon, Parente, Ardo, Brett Strunk, Rich Harth, and Jesse Smigiel led the rugged PA run defense and pressured the WA quarterbacks. For WA Bob Kintz, two sacks; Timinski, Perugini and seniors Bowden, Adonizio and DeMark, playing in their last game, led the defense.

Castellino was 8-11 passing for 157 yards. Adonizio was 4-13 for 37 and Murphy was 3-6, 85 for WA.

Spencer is not discouraged as a first-year coach. “Our standards haven’t changed. We have lofty goals, to get to the state playoffs. That’s where the bar is set. We’re not satisfied with 4-6, but save for the Valley West game down the stretch our young kids showed growth and the seniors stepped up and demonstrated leadership.”

As the fourth seed in the District 2 AAA playoffs the Patriots have a tough road game at no. 1 Abington Heights (9-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. The Patriots will be underdogs, but they aren’t intimidated. “The kids are confident they can play with anybody. They are getting more confident every week. That’s all you can ask for this time of the season.”

For the PA seniors who were on the team the last three seasons when PA lost to WA the win was sweet. “It was a weight off our shoulders to finally beat them, they have a tough team and never quit. They deserve a lot of credit.” Kobeski said. “If you put anything in the paper say we will be going over to Wyoming Area Monday morning to deliver the flag.”

Wyoming Area superintendent Ray Bernardi will display a Patriots flag in his office to pay off a bet with PA super Ross Scarantino.

Parente said after the flag gets delivered it’s back to business. “We have to put this game away, have a good week of practice and go to Abington Heights. This is the greatest bunch of guys I’ve ever been around. We stuck together since seventh, eighth grade. We’re jelling now.”