WEST PITTSTON – The faces change but the results remain the same for the unbeaten Wyoming Area football team.
Leading rusher Corey Mruk went out with a lower leg injury in the first drive and freshman Leo Haros ran for 123 yards and three touchdowns by halftime Friday night to lead the Warriors to a 44-0 rout of visiting Hanover Area in a District 2 Class 3A football quarterfinal.
“We just haven’t had very good luck,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said. “Quite a few games have been affected by injury and, of all guys, Corey, who had such a great season and great game last week.
“He’s one of our leaders and to lose him early in a playoff game like tonight, certainly your heart breaks for him to go out early.”
Mruk won the Carmelo Falcone Award last week as the Most Valuable Player in the Wyoming Area-Pittston Area game when he rushed for 239 yards to go over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. He picked up 33 yards on four carries before leaving the field on a cart and heading right to the hospital for x-rays.
“It puts our guys in familiar position where multiple guys have to step in and fill his role and, as we’ve done all year, guys were able to do that,” Spencer said.
Haros was one of them.
After carrying 24 times for 189 yards and two touchdowns as a reserve in the 10-0 regular season, he stepped into the spotlight. He had 19 of his 20 carries by halftime while running for 20 points on three touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
Dillon Williams was another. He took over Mruk’s linebacker spot and set up a touchdown with a 17-yard interception return to the 7 late in the first half. Williams also made three tackles, including one for a loss.
Haros ran for the first 14 points on a 3-yard run and the conversion to complete the drive that Mruk had gotten started to open the game. He also ran 17 yards for a score on the first play of the second quarter.
“Leo came up as a freshman this year and established himself in our secondary, playing extremely well,” Spencer said. “When he’s had his opportunities in the flow of games, he’s performed very well.
“We knew he has a lot of potential, but to see him realize it tonight and step in and carry the load was great to see.”
Haros ran 5 yards for the team’s third touchdown with 8:15 left in the second quarter.
Zajquay Williamson, who ran for a pair of two-point conversions, ran 5 yards for another score. Dominic DeLuca scored on a 1-yard sneak and a two-point conversion.
The final score came from Jevani Sancho with a 66-yard run in the fourth quarter.
