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November 20, 2009

Hanover Hawks brace for Red Tornadoes

Hanover Area faces Mount Carmel in Eastern Conference Class 2A title game tonight.

By John Erzar jerzar@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
John Erzar on Facebook | TLJohnErzar on Twitter

The wackiness of Wyoming Valley Conference football took yet another strange turn last Friday.

In fact, the complete reversal put Hanover Area in the Eastern Conference Class 2A championship game tonight as the Hawks (6-5) will travel to Mount Carmel (6-5) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The matchup is rather unexpected all things considered.

Hanover Area put itself in tonight’s game by defeating the Lackawanna Conference’s Carbondale, 28-14. Back on Oct. 2, Carbondale dominated the Hawks, 35-0.

“It was a chance to get a little redemption,” Hanover Area coach Ron Hummer said. “The kids played a lot better. They are peaking right now at the end of the season. We’re happy where we’re at.”

Hanover Area had a couple close losses along the way – 15-8 to Dallas and 14-6 to Dunmore. Those teams are going for District 2 championships this weekend.

“When we played Dallas really tough, the kids started to believe,” Hummer said. “We lost to GAR the week after that, but then we played Pittston, a team we thought whose record didn’t indicate how good they played all season. Our kids played them tough, then we almost knocked off Dunmore.”

The 16-10 victory over Pittston Area propelled Hanover Area into the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Mount Carmel lost its last three games of the regular season, but the Red Tornadoes can’t be judged by that swoon. The setbacks came against Lewisburg (10-1), Southern Columbia (7-4) and North Schuylkill (11-0).

Mount Carmel is a run-first offense, with senior running back Justin Pellowski (1,208 yds., 17 TDs) leading the way. The passing game has been erratic at best.

“Their line up front averages about 6-foot-2. They’re not big, heavy kids but tall and strong kids,” Hummer said. “The Pellowski kid is fast and he runs hard. We have our hands full.”

The Mount Carmel defense is led by 6-foot-6, 230-pound lineman Trevor Demko, who has verbally committed to West Virginia. The future looks bright as the leading tacklers are sophomore linebackers Tom Hynoski and Cody Shustack.

Eastern Conference 2A Championship

Hanover Area (6-5)

at Mt. Carmel (6-5)

7 p.m. today

ADMISSION: $5 adults and $2 students in advance; $5 at the gate

LAST MEETING: Mount Carmel won, 43-6, in 1996

QUICK FACT: Mount Carmel won the PIAA Class 2A championship in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002. Hanover Area won the Class 2A state title in 1990 and finished runner-up in 1991. Hanover Area coach Ron Hummer was the quarterback of the state championship team.

UP NEXT: This is the season finale for both teams.

TO GET THERE: Take Interstate 81 South to exit 116 (Minersville). Take Route 901 West for seven miles to the red light. Make a left and travel approximately two miles to the red light. Turn right and travel two miles. Pass the entrance to the Mt. Carmel Elementary and continue straight. The stadium will be on your left.