WEST PITTSTON — Freshman receiver Brian Williams scored two touchdowns on special teams as the Wyoming Area Warriors shut out the Wallenpaupack Buckhorns 32-0
Early on, Wallenpaupack’s inexperience showed. After the two teams traded field position to start the game, Wyoming Area was faced with a fourth-and-three from the Buckhorns 11. An encroachment penalty gave the Warriors the first down, and two plays later, Donovan O’Boyle powered into the end zone from 1-yard out. A missed PAT gave the Warriors a 6-0 lead.
After a Buckhorns three and out, the Warriors got back on the board quickly when freshman Williams returned the ensuing punt 65 yards for a score. A failed two-point conversion put the Warriors up 12-0.
In the second quarter, the ball took a Wallenpaupack bounce on a punt, and the Buckhorns were able to pin the Warriors at their own 1-yard line.
But, Wyoming Area’s experience showed, going on a nine-play, 99-yard drive, highlighted by Marc Minichello’s 57-yard catch and run from PJ Angeli. After breaking a tackle, Minichello picked up his blockers and found the end zone. A PAT later, and the Warriors led 19-0.
Williams provided a second splash play before the end of the half, blocking a Buckhorns punt and returning it 26 yards for his second score of the game to go up 26-0 at the half.
Both teams traded field position for most of the second half as the Warriors backup quarterback Steve Hozma saw the field for the first time this season. Brian Miles found the end zone with just over four minutes to go in the game.
A third missed PAT gave the Warriors a 32-0 lead.
Wallenpaupack’s next drive found them deep into Warriors territory, but a short field goal kept them off the scoreboard.
Next week, the Warriors remain home to play the Crestwood Comets in a WVC showdown.
Wallenpaupack returns home next week to face West Scranton.
Wyoming Area 32, Wallenpaupack 0
Wallenpaupack `12`14`0`6`—`32
Wyoming Area`0`0`0`0`—`0
First quarter
WYO – Donovan O’Boyle 1 run (kick failed) 2:31
WYO – Brian Williams 65 punt return 0:34
Second quarter
WYO – Marc Minichello 57-yard pass from PJ Angeli. (Charney kick) 2:27
WYO – Brian Williams punt block, 26-yard recovery (Charney Kick) 0:37
Fourth quarter
WYO – Miles 3 run (kicked failed), 4:19
Team statistics`WAL`WYO
First downs`6`13
Rushes-yards`24-79`35-170
Passing yards`45`96
Total yards`121`358
Passing`3-13-45`6-9-166
Sacked-yards lost`1-3 ‘4-8
Punts-avg.`7-39.3`2-34
Fumbles-lost`1-0`1-1
Penalties-yards`5-25 `5-40
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — WYO – Miles 11-40-1, O’Boyle 5-19-1, Angeli 4-29 Kostak 5-29, Cha+rney 5-11, Hozma 1-5, Cegelka 1-1 WAL, Neglia 16-57, Maldacker 6-22, McCormick, 1-4
PASSING — WYO, Angeli 2-3-1-71. Hozma, 4-6-1-95, WAL, McCormick 3-13-0-45.
RECEIVING — WYO, Minichello 4-149-1, Hozma, 1-14, Kostak, 1-3. WA, Fenstermaker 2-34, Maldacker 1-11
