DUNMORE – When Dominic DeLuca’s play at quarterback and safety is not enough to help separate Wyoming Area from an opponent, sometimes the Warriors need a little special extra from their senior leader.
Already having a big game as a punter, DeLuca took on additional special teams duties in the return game with Wyoming Area’s second straight unbeaten regular season in jeopardy Friday night.
The move paid off in DeLuca’s 79-yard kickoff return for the game-winning touchdown, sparking a 21-point burst over the final nine minutes to pull away from host Dunmore 35-14 in a non-league game between two of District 2’s top small school teams.
State-ranked Wyoming Area (7-0) currently leads the race for the district’s top seed in Class 3A. Defending champion Dunmore (4-3) led the Class 2A race going into the night.
The Bucks controlled the game’s first 20 minutes, scored first and came back to force a fourth-quarter tie.
On a night when Dunmore had more first downs, more yards and more time of possession, Wyoming Area needed to find another way to win the game.
DeLuca’s kickoff return put the Warriors ahead to stay. He fielded a ball on the right side, made it across the field to stick to the “return left” that was called.
“We didn’t have much momentum in the beginning of the second half,” DeLuca said. “I feel like that kick return changed the whole game.”
After getting to the sideline by working around a block by Jayden Rusyn, DeLuca cut back inside almost to the hashmarks, worked back to the sideline, then won a footrace to the end zone.
“I’m usually the emergency guy when we need a big return or a big play, or when we have injuries,” DeLuca said of his part-time role as a kick returner. “I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do sometimes.”
There was still more to be done.
DeLuca’s 46-yard run up the middle with 5:36 left provided an insurance touchdown. His interception and 48-yard return a little more than a minute later essentially finished off the Bucks.
“Our coaching staff is constantly evaluating situations,” Wyoming Area head coach Randy Spencer said. “In big games and situations, we have to use all of our resources.
“Dominic is an outstanding player. Even in the special teams game, he is explosive and can make big plays.”
DeLuca finished with another wide-ranging night on the statistical charts.
As a quarterback, he carried 11 times for 94 yards and a touchdown, hit three of seven passes for 32 yards and even slipped out of the backfield for a 9-yard catch. On special teams, three of his four punts covered at least 50 yards and he finished the night averaging 47.3. Defensively, he contributed three tackles and five assists in addition to the interception.
“He’s best at being a football player,” Spencer said, “and we needed every aspect of it tonight.”
The interception set up Darren Rodney’s third touchdown, a 23-yarder.
Rodney had scored on a 2-yard run in the final minute of the half, capping a momentum-changing, 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive to send the teams to the locker room tied.
Prior to that drive, Dunmore led 9-2 in first downs and 174-46 in total offense.
“We certainly weren’t executing and Dunmore was doing a great job up front in the first half, limiting what we could do,” Spencer said.
Rodney gave Wyoming Area its first lead on a 1-yard, third-quarter touchdown run that completed a 40-yard drive that consisted of seven straight runs.
The short field was the end result of a big advantage in the kicking game behind DeLuca’s punts and the returns of DeLuca and Brian Williams. Two of the punts pinned Dunmore at the 6 and 1.
The come-from-behind win was the second straight for Wyoming Area, which came from 10 down to beat Lake-Lehman 35-30 last Friday.
“We gave it all we had every play,” Rodney said.
Wyoming Area 35, Dunmore 14
Wyoming Area`0`7`7`21`—`35
Dunmore`7`0`0`7`—`14
First quarter
DUN – Steve Borgia 35 run (Peyton Badyrka kick), 0:08
Second quarter
WA – Darren Rodney 2 run (Stanley Moderski kick), 0:46
Third quarter
WA – Rodney 1 run (Josh Cumbo kick), 2:57
Fourth quarter
DUN – Cristian Buckley 9 run (Badyrka kick), 9:14
WA – Dominic DeLuca 79 kickoff return (Moderski kick), 8:54
WA – DeLuca 46 run (Cumbo kick), 5:36
WA – Rodney 23 run (Moderski kick), 2:23
Team statistics`WA`DUN
First downs`12`16
Rushes-yards`29-198`44-185
Passing yards`41`77
Total yards`239`262
Passing`4-8-0`7-15-1
Sacked-yards lost`0-0`2-34
Punts-avg.`4-47.3`2-29.5
Fumbles-lost`1-0`2-1
Penalties-yards`8-73`3-33
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — WA, DeLuca 11-94, Rodney 16-93, F.J. Braccini 1-6, Dillon Williams 1-5. DUN, Buckley 15-65, Rayshaun Dawkins 11-49, Borgia 9-32, Nick Stanco 2-22, Kameryn Reyes 4-16, Karl Kincel 1-3, Team 2-minus 2.
PASSING — WA, DeLuca 3-7-0-32; Leonardo Haros 1-1-0-9. DUN, Borgia 7-15-1-77.
RECEIVING — WA, Brian Williams 3-32, DeLuca 1-9. DUN, Buckley 2-3, Tommy Lewis 1-41, Dawkins 1-12, Stanco 1-8, Dom Temperino 1-7, Charles Valvano 1-6.
INTERCEPTIONS — WA, DeLuca 1-48. DUN, None.
MISSED FIELD GOALS – WA, None. DUN, Badyrka 28 (short).
