DUNMORE – Randy Spencer pondered the query of whether Dominic DeLuca was best as an offensive, defense or special teams player?
The Wyoming Area coach did not bite on making a choice that is not required.
“He’s best at being a football player,” Spencer said after DeLuca showed off his abilities in all three while leading Wyoming Area to its second straight come-from-behind victory, 35-14, at Dunmore Friday night. “And, we needed every aspect of it tonight.”
The only question Spencer and his staff have to solve is when to extend DeLuca beyond quarterback, safety and punter to add kick returner to his duties.
They chose the right time Friday night.
DeLuca’s dynamic 79-yard kickoff return was the winning score, starting a 21-point outburst in 6:31 to decide a game that had long been in doubt for the unbeaten Warriors.
The rest of the fourth-quarter surge showed off DeLuca in other aspects of the game. He ran 46 yards for the next touchdown and set up Darren Rodney’s third touchdown – a 23-yard run – with an interception and 48-yard return.
Dunmore, which led for more than 11 minutes in the first half, had tied the game at 14-14 on Cristian Buckley’s 9-yard touchdown run with 9:14 remaining.
“Our coaching staff is constantly evaluating situations,” 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.”
As it turned out, there were no bigger plays than Dunmore’s last kickoff of the night.
“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.”
The first Dunmore kickoff following the touchdown was blown dead because the Bucks were offsides. DeLuca noticed that the Bucks had tried to drop that kickoff between rows of the Wyoming Area return team so he repositioned himself, moving up as the right-side returner in a three-deep formation.
The second kick came right to DeLuca, who started the touchdown return by first running across the field to get to the left sideline where his blockers were set up.
“I’m usually the emergency guy when we need a big return or a big play, or when we have injuries,” DeLuca said. “I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do sometimes.”
When called upon, DeLuca has averaged 51.5 yards on kickoff returns and 14.3 on punt returns.
His earlier special teams work Friday included two 50-yard punts and a 61-yarder. He pinned Dunmore at the 6 and 1, which in turn helped give Wyoming Area field position.
On average, Wyoming Area started drives from its 42 while Dunmore began at its 24.
The Warriors turned one of those boosts, starting at the Dunmore 40 in the third quarter, into their first lead of the night.
Rodney, who had run 2 yards for the tying score in the last minute of the half, scored from the 1 for a 14-7 lead with 2:57 left in the third quarter.
Rodney led the Warriors in rushing with 101 yards on 17 carries.
“It’s all a team,” Rodney said. “I can’t do anything without my offensive line.
“That’s the most important part.”
DeLuca added 94 yards on 11 carries. He also made four tackles and assisted on five others, in addition to his interception.
