Thanksgiving is over, but Tamaqua has been whipping up a recipe for success all season.
Take the school’s all-time leading passer. Add the school’s all-time leading receiver and the school’s all-time leading rusher. Then mix them with an aggressive defense.
Now it’s Wyoming Area’s chance to spoil everything. The District 2 champion Warriors (12-1) will get that opportunity when they play D11 champion Tamaqua (12-2) at 7 p.m. today in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal game at Wyoming Valley West’s Spartan Stadium.
Wyoming Area has the benefit of playing at a stadium that is in the neighboring school district. The Warriors also held a couple practices there last week, perfectly legal since they had no idea where they would be playing if they defeated Montoursville. (Teams can’t practice at a field during state playoffs if they know in advance that will be the site of their next game).
Tamaqua, though, isn’t exactly flying to the game as it’s located about 12 miles south of Hazleton. Oddly, the Blue Raiders haven’t played a Wyoming Valley Conference team in 20 years despite the proximity that would make a non-conference game doable.
“I see a team in terms of experience and talent that’s been very hot throughout their playoff run,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said of the Blue Raiders. “A team that’s been knocking on the door the past several years for their district championship and they finally done that. They did a very fine job against a powerful Wyomissing team.”
First the hot part.
Popular opinion was either three-time state finalist Middletown or Wyomissing would emerge from Tamaqua’s part of the bracket. Wyomissing, though, knocked off Middletown and Tamaqua then bumped off Wyomissing 20-10 in the quarterfinals. Tamaqua held Wyomissing’s offense without a touchdown, with the defense recovering a fumble in the end zone for the Spartans’ only TDs.
Now the experience and talent factors.
Tamaqua is also a team like Dallas, which will be playing in a Class 4A semifinal, in that the Blue Raiders have steadily built to this season. The three record-holding seniors all saw their varsity careers begin as freshmen.
Senior running back Nate Boyle holds Tamaqua’s all-time rushing marks in yardage with 4,033 and touchdowns with 69. Quarterback Brayden Knoblauch has thrown for a program-best 4,416 yards and 42 TDs. Receiver Matt Kistler holds the school record with 105 receptions.
All three also hold a laundry list of other school records
Boyle, in particular, has caught the attention of Spencer.
“He is his own blocker at times,” Spencer said. “It’s always a concern when you see someone running through tackles.”
Speaking of blocking, Wyoming Area needs to improve opening running lanes. The Warriors rushed 29 times for 95 yards in their 43-27 quarterfinal victory over Montoursville, although there were extenuating circumstances.
Wyoming Area was missing running back Darren Rodney, who was ruled out the morning off the game due to an injury. Rodney took over the starting role in Week 4 when Corey Mruk, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2018, suffered a season-ending knee injury. Leo Haros started against Montoursville and did an admirable job. Spencer was pleased with the progress Rodney was making earlier in the week.
Montoursville stacked the front to stop Wyoming Area’s running game, making it more difficult for Wyoming Area’s interior line of center Bryce Hinkle, guards Nick Elko and Sam Solomon and tackles Shawn Kostak and Nasir Condry to open running space.
Tamaqua doesn’t quite have the size of Montoursville to do the same. The Blue Raiders might not have that option either considering how Wyoming Area quarterback Dominic DeLuca ripped apart the Montoursville secondary.
DeLuca threw a season-high 19 passes, completing 11 of them for a career-high 310 yards and four touchdowns. Receiver Brian Williams finished with five catches for 191 yards and three touchdowns. He doesn’t have the same inflated stats as other WVC wideouts because of how the offense is structured, but is considered among the best pass catchers in the conference.
Both teams are going for their first berth in a state championship game. Wyoming Area can also set the school record for wins in a season. The 1980 Warriors also won 12 games.
