North Pocono suffers Homecoming Heartbreak against visiting Scranton
MOSCOW — It might only have been the middle of the Lackawanna Football Conference season, but a quick shift in the weather brought temperatures to Trojans Stadium more akin to playoff time Friday when 4-0 Scranton rolled in to face 2-2 North Pocono.
Although the Trojans were hoping for a Homecoming victory, the Knights would close the night still undefeated after delivering a 35-0 shutout.
What it Means
As their campaign has progressed, Scranton has increased their margin of victory each week except for during Week 4 against Scranton Prep.
They won 21-9 against the Cavaliers but prior to that had defeated Wilkes-Barre Area by a field goal, Wyoming Valley West by a touchdown, and West Scranton by 19 points.
North Pocono became their first opponent to not score against them. It was also the first time this fall that the Trojans had been shut out.
Since Week 1, NP has been progressively slipping, with the exception of Week 4 when a 33-13 loss to Valley View wasn’t as bad as the 54-7 bombardment, absorbed at the hands of Hazleton Area the week prior.
Yes, a 35-point loss to the Knights is still lower than the 47-point deficit the Cougars from the Mountain City handed them. However, even in that one the Trojans offense managed to crack the end zone at least once.
As dismal at it sounds, the Trojans is surprisingly still on par to have a first-round post-season game in the District 2 Class 4A tourney provided they can make some gains. In a worst case scenario, they should still make the playoffs unless Paupack and Tunkhannock, both at 1-4, make miraculous comebacks.
In the post-game huddle Head Coach Greg Dolhon told his Trojans not to lose heart.
“We’re going to get better,” said the North Pocono skipper. “Obviously Scranton is a good team with a great skill set. We played hard and didn’t back down, but we have to expect better from ourselves too.”
Key Moments
Although things remained scoreless through the first quarter, an interception in the endzone by Scranton’s Elijah Ortiz quelled North Pocono’s first chance at getting on the board midway through the period.
It would be the harbinger of things to come as the Knights would go on to pick off the Trojans three more times before the night was over.
Scranton’s offense exploded in the second quarter.
After gaining possession late in the opening stanza the Knights notched their first touchdown just eight seconds into the new quarter when Billy Maloney found Matt Schilling on a 29-yard pass.
Before the halftime horn sounded Donato Stepney would log a trip over the goal line and Maloney would bring in two more on keepers.
The 28-0 score stood through the third but seconds into the final frame Lamiare Saldano would put the game on to the fast-track to an early ending making it 35-0 and invoking the mercy rule.
Offensively, Noah West did make 10-of-21 passing attempts for 89 yards and the Trojans counted two more first downs than did the Knights.
However, Scranton’s defense held North Pocono to just 119 rushing yards while collecting 220 of their own. Maloney only tried nine passes but hit on seven of them for 97 yards. Two were for touchdowns.
“We did see some good things. Our guys stuck with it and didn’t quit,” Coach Dolhon said. “I have to give credit to Scranton. They are extremely skilled and did a great job.”
Up Next
North Pocono has another opportunity to defend its home turf this week when 1-4 Delaware Valley pays a visit.
The Warriors lost three straight games to non-conference powerhouses in the attempt to toughen up for the LFC.
While they posted a win at Paupack in Week 4, they slipped to Scranton Prep this past week and are now off their track to the post-season. A win over North Pocono is vital to keep DV in the hunt.
A North Pocono victory over DV coupled with probable wins against Paupack and Abington Heights would put the Trojans at a 5-5 regular season record even if they drop to Prep and Crestwood.
Beating DelVal is likely the difference between a losing season and breaking even. More will be revealed on the final evening of September at Trojans Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Lackawanna Football Conference North Pocono Trojans Homecoming
