WEST PITTSTON — Wyoming Area keeps losing players that would seem hard to replace, then winning football games easily.
Next-man-up rules have applied to the entire season, even if that man happens to be a freshman.
Freshman Leo Haros ran for 123 yards and three touchdowns — all in the first half — as the Warriors opened the postseason with a 44-0 rout over visiting Hanover Area in a District 2 Class 3A quarterfinal Friday night.
Haros was pressed into a busier night when 1,000-yard rusher Corey Mruk was carted off the field after suffering a lower leg injury just over two minutes into the game.
While Mruk waited for X-ray results at a local hospital, the Warriors kept on rolling through the rain and the mud at Jake Sobeski Stadium, opening up a 38-0 halftime lead.
Wyoming Area held Hanover Area to minus-10 yards rushing, just three first downs and only 13 yards total offense.
The only time the Hawkeyes got closer than the Warriors’ 39 was when Wyoming Area could not get off a punt in the deteriorating conditions in the third quarter. Hanover Area took over that time at the Wyoming Area 25, but lost yardage on three of four plays and gave it back at the 35.
Wyoming Area got the maximum 24 points from its first three possessions, then converted turnovers into two more touchdowns in the last three minutes of the second quarter to make sure the entire second half was played under the Mercy Rule.
The rain and the matchup kept it from feeling much like a playoff atmosphere. Weather contributed to keeping the size of the crowd down and there was little suspense after Wyoming Area won the same matchup on the same field two weeks ago 56-7 by opening a 49-point halftime lead.
The intrigue could begin next week when the second-seeded Warriors (11-0) host third-seeded Lakeland (8-3). The Chiefs won the Lackawanna Conference Division 3 title by ending Dunmore’s seven-year, 43-game divisional winning streak last week.
Mruk picked up 33 yards on four carries before leaving in the middle of the game-opening, 56-yard scoring drive.
Haros completed the drive with a 10-yard run, then added the two-point conversion with 7:03 left in the first quarter for an 8-0 lead. He started picking up yards more regularly on the second drive, getting 44 on the first four plays to start a march that he completed with a 17-yard run on the first play of the second quarter.
Dominic DeLuca added the two-pointer for a 16-0 lead.
Haros, DeLuca and Zajquay Williamson all wound up running for at least one touchdown and one two-point conversion.
Field position contributed to the remaining three second-quarter touchdowns.
Brian Williams returned a punt 30 yards to the Hanover Area 45, setting up a 5-yard run by Haros with 8:15 left.
Dillon Williams returned an interception 17 yards to the 7 and Williamson scored from the 5. Williamson added his second straight two-point run for a 32-0 lead.
Jacob Williams forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and Jake Busch recovered at the 34.
DeLuca scored from the 1 in the last minute of the half.
Jevani Sancho ran 66 yards for the last score in the fourth quarter.
Sammy Solomon, a Wyoming Valley West transfer and Division I prospect, returned to the Wyoming Area lineup for the first time since hurting his leg opening night. Solomon started in the defensive line and served as a blocking back on the two-point conversion runs.
Wyoming Area 44, Hanover Area 0
Hanover Area`0`0`0`0`—`0
Wyoming Area`8`30`0`6`—`44
First quarter
WA – Leo Haros 3 run (Haros run), 7:03
Second quarter
WA – Haros 17 run (Dominic DeLuca run), 11:54
WA – Haros 5 run (Zajquay Williamson run), 8:15
WA – Williamson 5 run (Williamson run), 2:43
WA – DeLuca 1 run (pass failed), 0:50.6
Third quarter
None
Fourth quarter
WA – Jevani Sancho 66 run (run failed), 4:10
Team statistics`HA`WA
First downs`3`16
Rushes-yards`20-(-10)`45-279
Passing yards`23`9
Total yards`13`288
Passing`2-7-2`1-3-0
Sacked-yards lost`1-10`0-0
Punts-avg.`5-33.8`1-35.0
Fumbles-lost`3-1`3-0
Penalties-yards`3-32`7-40
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — HA, Peter Hibard 13-8, James McCabe 1-1, Aaron Hummer 3-minus 2, Tanner Bednarski 1-minus 2, Auggie George 2-minus 15. WA, Leo Haros 20-123, Jevani Sancho 3-78, Corey Mruk 4-33, Dominic DeLuca 5-33, Zajquay Williamson 3-12, Colby Gashi 2-9, Enzo Scotto-Diluzio 3-6, F.J. Braccini 1-4, Jacob Williams 1-minus 3, Team 1-minus 4, Blaise Sokach-Minnich 2-minus 12.
PASSING — HA, AHummer 2-6-2-23, George 0-1-0-0. WA, DeLuca 1-2-0-9, JWilliams 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING — HA, Bobby Sadecky 1-12, Connor Hummer 1-11. WA, Braccini 1-9.
INTERCEPTIONS — HA, None. WA, Dillon Williams 1-17, Braccini 1-6.
MISSED FIELD GOALS – None.
