TUNKHANNOCK – Wyoming Area needed just 15 offensive plays to score eight touchdowns Friday night in a 54-13, road victory over Tunkhannock in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 game.
Lidge Kellum ran for touchdowns on two of his three carries and both Anthony DeLucca passes went for scores as the Warriors won their division opener and improved to 4-1 overall. Tunkhannock is 0-2 and 1-4.
DeLucca connected with fellow senior Kevin Wiedl for a 65-yard scoring strike for a 7-0 advantage just 2:28 into the game.
Kellum sprinted down the left sideline for a 40-yard touchdown and 14-0 lead with 4:57 left, sending the Warriors on their way to a 28-0 lead after one quarter and 48-0 at halftime.
Sophomore wideout Luke Kopetchny made a terrific 26-yard touchdown catch from DeLucca for a 21-0 advantage.
Kellum covered 50 yards on his second touchdown run.
Trustin Johnson provided the first two touchdowns of the second quarter on a 51-yard run and 48-yard punt return.
Michael Crane added the last points of the half on an 8-yard run.
“Lidge Kellum got off to a fast start, outstanding running game for him and to see his potential and he really ran hard tonight with his opportunities he had,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said. “Amazing catch by Luke Kopetchny for that passing touchdown; Anthony DeLucca putting the ball in a nice spot.
“Again our other running backs ran hard behind an outstanding effort by our offensive line tonight. I think we were physical and really throughout that first half did what we needed to do and played very well.”
Tunkhannock freshman tailback Lucas Ciprich got the Tigers on the board by plunging into the end zone from 2 yards out to cut the deficit to 48-7 with 3:18 remaining in the third period.
The Warriors scored to close out the third quarter when senior running back Oliver Bolin barreled in from 4 yards out with just eight seconds left in the period.
Ciprich picked up a teammate’s fumble and scampered into the end zone for the 12-yard score with 1:16 left in the game.
Tunkhannock slipped to 0-2 and 1-4.
BY THE NUMBERS
Wyoming Area averaged 19.7 yards on its 13 running plays and 45.5 yards on its two passing attempts. … Lidge Kellum carried three times for 103 yards while Tunkhannock’s Lucas Ciprich carried 17 times for 108 yards. … Wyoming Area had 10 players in on its nine tackles for losses. Brad Bohn led the Warriors defense with two tackles and six assists.
UP NEXT
Wyoming Area is home Friday night against Berwick, which is 1-1 in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 and 1-4 overall. The Bulldogs scored just 24 points in an 0-4 loss before breaking loose for a 48-7 victory over Hanover Area Friday night. The Bulldogs switched quarterbacks with Billy Hanson taking over the offense. Hanson ran for two scores, but Berwick did not complete a pass while running for 468 yards. Ty Wilkerson rushed for 161 yards and three touchdowns on six carries.