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On a bright, sunny warm Saturday afternoon, playing on a neutral field on the black turf at Lake-Lehman High School, the Wilkes-Barre Area Wolfpack won in thrilling 35-31 comeback fashion over the Tunkhannock Tigers on a last-second touchdown pass from the 2-yard line.
The improbable Wolfpack comeback was completed with only eight seconds to go, as quarterback Javant McClary connected with running back Jace John on the game-winning 2-yard touchdown pass.
“We feel like sister’s of the poor because we don’t know when and where we are playing without a true home field this season.” Wilkes-Barre Area coach Ciro Cinti said. “Give the Tigers a lot of credit, we were down two touchdowns in the third quarter, and by 10 points in the fourth quarter and came back and didn’t give up, and that’s what this team is about. Tunkhannock is a heck of a team, they have some great players and those kids don’t quit either. It’s sad to see a team lose here today.”
With the victory, Wilkes-Barre Area has now won three straight games and sits at a 4-3 record with only three games left in their regular season. Meanwhile, Tunkhannock with this heart breaking loss falls to 2-5 and has currently lost four straight games.
Tunkhannock got on the scoreboard first early in the first quarter with 7:26 left, capitalizing on a big special teams play. The Tigers blocked a punt deep into Wolfpack territory to set up junior quarterback Ben Chilson’s 9-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Gavin Montross to give the Tigers the early 7-0 advantage.
However, the Wolfpack came storming back right before the end of the first quarter, as they also capitalized on a key turnover, this one an interception from senior Michael Andrzejewski. The turnover set up a 4-yard plunge into the end zone by Mekhi Nelson with just seven seconds left in the period to knot things up at 7-7.
Early in the second quarter, Tunkhannock set up another score off of a fumble recovery, as Chilson connected on a 23-yard scoring strike to wide receiver Colin Madan with 9:36 remaining in the period to give his Tigers a 14-7 lead.
However, the resilient Wolfpack tied things up 14-14 just 29-seconds after the Tigers score, as they completed a rapid, two-play scoring drive, highlighted by a lightning quick 50-yard run by Nelson. On the next play, McClary found receiver Javon Goodwin on a 27-yard touchdown pass with 9:07 left in the first half.
The Tigers came roaring back to take a 21-14 lead. On a third-and-6 from their own 27-yard line, Chilson found running back Ty Konen on a short screen pass that he would take it all the way to the house for a 73-yard touchdown catch with 5:31 left in period.
The Tigers opened up the scoring in the third quarter as well, as they once again capitalized on a costly errant snap on a Wolfpack punt attempt to set up at the 3-yard line. On the next play, receiver Garrett Yuhas made Wilkes-Barre Area pay, barreling into the end zone for a rushing touchdown with 7:12 left in the period to up Tunkhannock’s lead to two touchdowns at 28-14.
However, the Wolfpack would once again get off the carpet, as with only 21 seconds left in the third stanza, Nelson scored his second rushing touchdown of the game, this one a 23-yard scoring scamper.
In the fourth, Wilkes-Barre Area outscored Tunkhannock 14-3, as the Wolfpack’s defense came up strong and made a crucial goal line stand to hold the Tigers to just a 20-yard field goal with 7:41 remaining in the contest, and keep the deficit at a manageable 31-21 mark.
Then four minutes later, the Wolfpack defense came up big once again, recovering a fumble. Nelson scored his third rushing TD of the game, this one from just 4 yards out to cut the Tigers’ advantage to 31-28 with just 3:39 remaining in the ball game.
Tunkhannock 31, Wilkes-Barre Area 35
Tunkhannock`7`14`7`3`— 31
Wilkes-Barre Area`7`7`7`14` — 35
First Quarter
TUN – Gavin Montross 9 pass from Ben Chilson (Ian Barbini kick), 7:26.
WBA – Mekhi Nelson 4 run (Evan Corcoran kick), 0:07.
Second Quarter
TUN – Colin Madan 23 pass from Ben Chilson (Barbini kick), 9:36.
WBA – Javon Goodwin 27 pass from Javant McClary (Corcoran kick), 9:07.
TUN – Ty Konen 73 pass from Ben Chilson (Barbini kick), 5:31.
Third Quarter
TUN – Garrett Yuhas 3 run (Barbini kick), 7:12.
WBA – Mekhi Nelson 23 run (Corcoran kick), 0:21.
Fourth Quarter
TUN – Ian Barbini 20 FG, 7:41.
WBA – Mekhi Nelson 4 run (Corcoran kick), 3:39.
WBA – Jace John 2 pass from Javant McClary (Corcoran kick), 0:08.
Team statistics’TUN`WBA
First downs`11`18
Rushes-yards`26-89`31-166
Passing yards`178`248
Total yards`267`414
Passing’12-23-3-1`17-27-2-0
Sacked-yards lost`3-15`3-20
Punts-avg.`7-38`5-40
Fumbles-lost`6-1`4-2
Penalties-yards`3-20`3-20
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – TUN, Ty Konen 17-60, Michael Sickler 2-7, Ben Chilson 5-17, Garrett Yuhas 1-3, Colin Madan 1-2. WBA, Naquon Johnson 9-38, Mekhi Nelson 12-113, Javant McClary 9-14, Ben Kenzakoski 1-1.
PASSING – TUN, Ben Chilson 12-23-1-178. WBA, Javant McClary 17-27-0-248.
RECEIVING – TUN, Michael Sickler 2-14, Garrett Yuhas 5-64, Colin Madan 1-23, Gavin Montross 2-12, Ty Konen 2-65. WBA, Javon Goodwin 5-63, Naquon Johnson 6-117, Mekhi Nelson 1-9, Jace John 1-2, Michael Andrzejewski 2-12, Guilbert Gonzales 1-1, Steven Simko 1-44.
INTERCEPTIONS – WBA, Michael Andrzejewski 1-10.