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Tunkhannock had enjoyed four earlier wins this football season, but none quite like Friday night’s.

After relying almost entirely on a high-powered offense to get to this point in a breakthrough season at .500, the Tigers added in a big defensive performance.

Tunkhannock limited visiting Mid Valley to 74 yards and six first downs, half of them on penalties, while running away with a 45-0 non-league rout.

The victory means Tunkhannock is headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2007, which is also the last time the Tigers won five games. They will play in the District 2 Class 4A quarterfinals in two weeks.

Tunkhannock came in giving up 33.8 points per game, including at least 14 in each outing.

Friday night, the defense even got involved in the scoring.

Jacob Baltrusaitis took an interception 42 yards down the sideline to cap an outburst of 21 points in 3:31 to end the first half and start the second.

The defensive touchdown put the game in the Mercy Rule at 35-0 with 10:12 left in the third quarter.

The Tigers led just 14-0 before Jake Frisco scored two of his three touchdowns and added an interception during the final two minutes of the first half.

Frisco scored on a 25-yard pass from Jack Chilson with 1:43 left. His interception and 19-yard return put Tunkhannock at the Mid Valley 26 and the Tigers scored again in three plays on a 2-yard Chilson-to-Frisco pass.

The Tunkhannock defense was put to the test early.

The Tigers fumbled away the opening kickoff, but the defense held.

Tunkhannock moved 82 yards in nine plays and Frisco scored from the 5 on his only carry of the game.

Riley Jones also scored on his only carry, a 20-yarder in the second quarter for a 14-0 lead.

Chilson finished 18-for-23 for 245 yards and three touchdowns, the last of which was a 20-yarder to Jhamal Zacharias late in the third quarter.

Jaxson Montross went 6-for-6 on extra points, had two kickoffs for touchbacks and added a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to close the scoring.

Hazleton Area 28, Wallenpaupack 7

Freshman Matt Buchman turned in a breakout performance for the Cougars, scoring three touchdowns to help snap a six-game losing skid by beating the Buckhorns at Harman-Geist Memorial Field.

The game was tied 7-7 late in the first half when Buchman punched in the first of his three scores on the ground, which was also his first score of the season. Hazleton Area (2-7) held on to the 14-7 lead until the fourth quarter when Buchman helped put the game away.

Kevin Meluskey also caught a touchdown pass from Kellen Warner for the Cougars, who are battling Williamsport to claim the fourth and final playoff spot in Class 6A.

The Cougars will head up Route 309 to take on Crestwood next Friday in the regular season finale while Williamsport hosts Wyoming Valley West.

Tunkhannock 45, Mid Valley 0

Mid Valley`0`0`0`0 — 0

Tunkhannock`7`21`14`3 — 45

First quarter

TUNK – Jake Frisco 5 run (Jaxson Montross), 8:19

Second quarter

TUNK – Riley Jones 20 run (Montross kick), 6:12

TUNK – Frisco 25 pass from Jack Chilson (Montross kick), 1:43

TUNK – Frisco 2 pass from Chilson (Montross kick), 0:14

Third quarter

TUNK – Jacob Baltrusaitis 42 interception return (Montross kick), 10:12

TUNK – Jhamal Zacharias 20 pass from Chilson (Montross kick), 0:18

Fourth quarter

TUNK – Montross 30 FG, 4:58

Team statistics`MV`TUNK

First downs`6`21

Rushes-yards`35-72`26-156

Passing yards`2`258

Total yards`74`414

Passing`1-6-2`19-24-0

Sacked-yards lost`1-5`0-0

Punts-avg.`4-31.5`1-49.0

Fumbles-lost`1-0`2-0

Penalties-yards`3-12`8-90

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — MV, Aaron Killino 9-42, Devin Ayala 9-24, Darnell Callaway 10-23, Jacob Manson 4-minus 5, Patrick Ferke 1-minus 5, Jomar Morales 2-minus 7. TUNK, Gavin D’Amato 17-95, Jones 1-20, JChilson 2-19, Ty Konen 1-9, Matt Prebola 2-6, Jake Frisco 1-5, Mason Roccograndi 1-1, Evan Sackman 1-1.

PASSING — MV, Ferke 1-6-2-2. TUNK, JChilson 18-23-0-245, Ben Chilson 1-1-0-13.

RECEIVING — MV, Jeremiah Wallo 1-2. TUNK, Zacharias 6-72, Frisco 6-69, D’Amato 5-74, Baltrusaitis 2-43.

INTERCEPTIONS — MV, None. TUNK, Baltrusaitis 1-42, Frisco 1-19.

MISSED FIELD GOALS – None.

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Times Leader