Wyoming Area senior running back Aaron Crossley took home the 2023 Carmelo Falcone game MVP award against cross-town rivals Pittston Area. The trophy was presented by Carmelo’s grandson, Carmen Falcone, left, and Carmelo’s great-grandson, Sammy Falcone.
                                 Tony Callaio file photo | For Sunday Dispatch

Wyoming Area senior running back Aaron Crossley took home the 2023 Carmelo Falcone game MVP award against cross-town rivals Pittston Area. The trophy was presented by Carmelo’s grandson, Carmen Falcone, left, and Carmelo’s great-grandson, Sammy Falcone.

Tony Callaio file photo | For Sunday Dispatch

Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer has not been shy about handing the ball to his top back – repeatedly, if necessary.

For the past decade, what those running backs have done when called upon has often led to them being handed the Carmelo Falcone Award.

Aaron Crossley became the latest recipient of the award last season, surpassing an impressive series of performances by his predecessors as tailback of the Warriors.

Crossley scored the first three touchdowns of last year’s game on a 5-yard run in the first quarter, an 86-yarder in the second quarter and a 77-yarder less than a minute into the third. He finished with 29 carries for 349 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Warriors past Pittston Area 35-14 in the annual meeting between the two rivals.

Related Video

“We had nine guys in the box,” then Pittston Area coach Nick Barbieri said after the game. “ … The second long touchdown, in the second half, we must have hit him 10 times and we still couldn’t bring him down. He’s a man. That’s why he’s a Division I football player.”

Crossley, who now carries the ball as a freshman at Lehigh University, added an 8-yard run for the game’s final touchdown. It was the 16th time in the 29 carries that he managed at least eight yards. He also had a 25-yard kickoff return and made five tackles.

“One of the best players in the state of Pennsylvania put it on display again,” Spencer said.

Wyoming Area has won eight of the last 10 meetings and the team’s primary ballcarrier has received the Falcone Award six of those times.

Jeff Skursky had the busiest night of those award-winners, carrying 39 times for 236 yards and four touchdowns in 2014.

Skursky was followed in the past decade by Jeff Miles in consecutive seasons, Corey Mruk, Drew Mruk and Crossley.

Quarterback Dominic DeLuca and lineman Nick Elko were other Warriors to claim the award during the time, along with Pittston Area quarterbacks Walter Coles and Drew DeLucca, son of current, first-year Pittston Area coach Joe DeLucca.

Miles became the first back-to-back recipient of the award in 2015 and 2016. He ran for three touchdowns each time, carrying a combined 47 times for 311 yards.

The Mruks became the second set of brothers to earn the award, following Gary and Greg Dolhon, who were recognized in 1980 and 1988.

Corey Mruk carried 36 times for 239 yards in 2018. Compared to recent recipients, Drew Mruk had a relatively light offensive workload, running 18 times for 168 yards in 2020, but he was also in on 11 tackles in that game.

Family is deeply rooted in the Carmelo Falcone Award.

The award was created after the 1978 death of the Falcone Beverage owner who enjoyed spending time around and offering support to high school football teams. His family will present the award for the 47th time Friday night.

Some other highlights of the award through the years:

Charlie McDermott from Wyoming Area completed 11 of 14 passes for 207 yards and made a late end-zone interception to earn the first award.

Jim Pizano from Wyoming Area was the first repeat winner, in 1991 and 1993.

Like Pizano, Nick O’Brien won the award in both his sophomore and senior seasons at Wyoming Area in 2010 and 2012.

Pittston Area’s Tony Avvisato rushed for 300 yards in 2003.

Jim Norris, who later coached at Pittston Area was credited with 17 tackles for the Patriots in a 14-13, overtime victory in 2000.