PD Sports

With both of their usual running backs, CJ Werner and Nate Bowden, out with injuries, the Warriors turned to freshman tailback Matt Kintz and he came through with his second straight 100 yard game. He rushed for a game-high 107 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns.

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Left, Perugini and Timinski, tackle a WVW runner. Above, Perugini again on the tackle.

Photos by Jonathan Juka

click image to enlarge

Left, Perugini and Timinski, tackle a WVW runner. Above, Perugini again on the tackle.

Photos by Jonathan Juka

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But that came up way short as the Wyoming Valley West Spartans cruised to their fifth straight win 41-13 over the Warriors on Friday night in West Pittston. The Warriors fell behind 14-0 just over two minutes into the game, as WVW scored touchdowns on two of their first three plays from scrimmage. WVW quarterback Jack Crossin ran 52 yards for a touchdown to give the Spartans a 7-0 lead on their second play from scrimmage.

On the WA possession a snap over the quarterback’s head led to a Valley West recovery at the WA 3. George Sims ran it in on the next play at suddenly it was 14-0 with just under 10 minutes left in the first.

WVW receiver Ali Muhammad, 6-3, caught passes for 41 and 46 yard touchdowns and caught another long one of 56 to set the Spartans up at the WA 1 for a Crossin sneak for six.

Muhammad’s 46-yard touchdown gave WVW a 35-0 lead before halftime, which kept the clock running through the second half with the mercy rule in effect.

Valley is back in the 4A playoff pictured. They seemed out of it after a 1-3 start, but the 6-3 Spartans have rallied for five straight victories to put themselves in position for the postseason entering their regular season finale with Coughlin next week.

WVW threw only six times but completed four for 157 yards and the two touchdowns. PJ Adonizio was 2-5 for WA hitting Ryan Carr both times for 61 yards. Evan Musto got 58 yards on five carries for WA and Ryan Maloney 20 on two carries.

The Warriors are out of the D-2 playoff picture, but may get a look from the Eastern Conference.