Scranton duo too much for Hazleton

SCRANTON �?? It started with a blocked punt that turned into a touchdown for the other team and finished with Hazleton Area just nine yards away from at least salvaging a score.

In between, not much else went right for the Cougars.

Instead, Scranton�??s terrific tandem of Marlinn Waiters and Karlon Quiller stole the show, hooking up for two electric touchdowns early as the Knights rolled over Hazleton Area 43-0 in a high school football season opener for both.

�??They just took it to us,�?� Hazleton Area coach Jim Drumheller said.

It took just over two minutes for Scranton to establish complete dominance.

After a quick three-and-out, the Cougars had their first punt of the season blocked into the end zone and Scranton captain Matt Gorton pounced on it. Running back Jake McCarthy then took a direct snap across the goal line for a conversion run, and Scranton had a quick 8-0 lead.

�??That first punt, that�??s uncharacteristic,�?� Drumheller said. �??We�??re better than that. We just made mistakes early. We needed something good to happen to us early to be successful.�?�

Instead, Quiller and Waiters made sure it got worse for the Cougars.

On Scranton�??s opening possession, Waiters lofted a deep 26-yard toss and Quiller leaped high between two Hazleton Area defenders to pull it down for a 26-yard touchdown.

�??We had two kids in position on the fade and Quiller took the ball away,�?� Drumheller said. �??We knew all about Quiller, he�??s definitely a Division I (college) prospect. He makes plays. And Waiters has a big-time arm.�?�

A promising 67-yard march by Hazleton Area�??s reserves in the fourth ended nine yards short of the end zone, as time expired.

�??We have a young team,�?� Drumheller said. �??Give all the credit in the world to Scranton. They�??re sharp.

�??We just weren�??t any match for them.�?�

Scranton 43, Hazleton Area 0

First Quarter

S �?? Matt Gorton blocked punt recovery in end zone (Jake McCarthy run), 9:52

S �?? Karlon Quiller 26 pass from Marlinn Waiters (Brandon Navoczynski run), 3:46

Second Quarter

S �?? Quiller 21 pass from Waiters (Alvaro Fernandez kick), 11:08

Third Quarter

S �?? McCarthy 41 run (Fernandez kick), 10:34

S �?? Kyle Czarkowski 1 run (Fernandez kick), 5:42

Fourth Quarter

S �?? Scott Syryla 23 run (run failed), 4:37

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING �?? HAZ, Joey Bryzick 4-60, Mitch Sefcik 3-25, Zach Zukoski 9-21, Nick George 2-10, Jeff Fendrick 6-6, Carmen Beltram 1-1, Glenn Zukoski 2- (minus 3), Julius Ward 5- (minus 10). SCR, Jake McCarthy 7-65, Scott Syryla 3-30, Paul Rutledge 4-10, Brad Zanette 1-6, Kyle Czarkowski 3-5, Kyle Piercinski 2-4, Marlinn Waiters 3- (minus 6).

PASSING �?? HAZ, Ward 11-15-0, 69; SCR, Waiters 7-9-1, 152, Piercinski 1-3-0, 16.

RECEIVING �?? HAZ, Fendrick 4-23, George 2-5, Danny Conahan 1-11, Jeff Ochs 1-10, Zack Kehler 1-9, Devion Barlow 1-6, Zach Zukoski 1-5; SCR, Brandon Navoczynski 2-61, Karlon Quiller 2-47, Jim McNally 2-29, Brad Zanette 1-16, McCarthy 1-15.

INTS �?? HAZ, Zach Zukoski.