TimesLeader.com

Old Forge clinches at least a tie for division title

By Tom Robinson
Scranton Edition sports correspondent

TUNKHANNOCK -- James Fruehan ran for three touchdowns and was part of a strong defensive effort that carried Abington Heights to a 37-6, non-league victory over Tunkhannock Friday night.

Fruehan ran seven times for 57 yards. His 14-yard run with 1:20 left in the first half broke open a tight game and gave the Comets a 16-6 advantage at halftime. Fruehan then ran 3 and 11 yards for third-quarter touchdowns.

On defense, Fruehan had two of the team's 10 tackles for losses and forced a fumble on the second play of the game.

"Every week, our backs do a great job running," Abington Heights coach Joe Repshis said. "It starts up front. We get a great push."

Paul Gallagher carried 16 times for 164 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown on the team's first offensive play. He also helped defensively with eight tackles.

"We know what kind of football team they are," Tunkhannock coach Frank Berardelli said. "Everyone does.

"They're not hiding it."

The Comets used their straight-ahead power attack to take control. They pulled their starters after Mike Umerich raced 58 yards untouched on a punt return on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 37-6 lead.

Tunkhannock evened out the final statistics somewhat by compiling advantages of 6-1 in first downs, 19-4 in offensive plays and 105-22 in total yards the rest of the way.

Abington Heights finished with a 337-216 lead in total offense.

The Comets need only a win over winless Honesdale next week to gain at least a share of the Lackawanna Football Conference Division 1 title.

UPDATED: 10:59 p.m.

Malkolm Blackshear threw for two touchdowns and ran for another Friday night to lead Old Forge to a 28-6 victory over Mid Valley, clinching at least a tie for the Lackawanna Football Conference Division 3 title for the unbeaten and state-ranked Blue Devils.

Old Forge improved to 5-0 in the division and 9-0 overall.

The Blue Devils took a 7-0 lead at halftime with a second-quarter touchdown.

Brian Morris ran for 103 yards in the win, putting him over 1,000 yards rushing for the season.

Mid Valley fell to 3-2 and 6-3.

For more details on this event, see Rick Notari's coverage Sunday in the Pittston Dispatch.

UPDATED: 10:50 p.m.

North Pocono and Delaware Valley created a three-way tie for the Lackawanna Football Conference Division 1 lead with victories Friday night.

While Abington Heights was playing a non-league game, the Trojans and Warriors caught the Comets with league victories.

North Pocono downed winless Honesdale, 39-6.

Delaware Valley battled past host Scranton, 14-8.

In other games:

West Scranton knocked off Wallenpaupack, 34-20, in Division 1.

Scranton Prep shut out Valley View, 13-0, in Division 2.

Lakeland defeated Western Wayne, 36-21, in Division 2.

UPDATED: 10:22 p.m.

TUNKHANNOCK -- Paul Gallagher ran for 164 yards and James Fruehan ran for three touchdowns Friday night to lift Abington Heights to a 37-6, non-league football victory over Tunkhannock.

In other games: 

Old Forge clinched at least a tie for the Lackawanna Football Conference Division 3 title with a 28-6 win over Mid Valley.

Riverside did all the scoring in the first half of a 46-0 Division 2 rout of Montrose.

Dunmore remained unbeaten with a 14-6, non-league victory at Hanover Area.

For more details on these games and scores on other games, return to www.scrantonedition.com/sports throughout the weekend.

UPDATED: 8:22 p.m.

Old Forge took a 7-0 halftime lead Friday night on visiting Mid Valley.

The unbeaten Blue Devils can clinch at least a tie for the Lackawanna Football Conference Division 3 title with a win.

In other games:

Abington Heights used a Paul Gallagher 64-yard touchdown run on the team's first offensive play to get started toward a 16-6 halftime lead at Tunkhannock in a non-league game.

Riverside piled up a 46-0 lead at halftime at Montrose in an LFC Division 2 game.

Dunmore was leading Hanover Area, 7-6, in the second quarter in non-league play.