Wilson Area vs. Hanover Area
(Friday, November 25th, PIAA Eastern Semis, WK 13)
Wilson's team speed too much for Hawks
By Frank Kastreva, WVCD2.com
You have heard it before quoted by coaches at all levels of the game, you can't coach team speed, you either have it or you don't. The Wilson Area Warriors trotted into WB Memorial Stadium making sure to let everyone know they have it and that they did with an impressing 42-14 win over the Hanover Area Hawkeys.
Wilson isn't big like some of the teams still alive in the PIAA Championship Tourney, they have more the look of a track team with pads on. Hanover Area was unable to run the pitch play around the end because of Wilson's defenses speed and the Warriors also did a nice job firing the gaps with their linebackers on the run up the middle.
On the offensive side of the ball Wilson had a fine QB in Jr. D.J. Lenehan who is getting looks from Purdue and Maryland on the recruiting scene.
The Warriors would strike paydirt first on a 21 yard scamper by Sr. RB James McCall. Sr. K Juan Lozano would boot through the PAT and with :37 seconds left in the 1st quarter it was Warriors 7 Hawks 0.
Wilson would take a 14-0 lead in the 2nd quarter breaking off a 48 yard dash and then tacked on another TD when Lenehan scampered 15 yards to the goldzone on the QB keeper. With 6:26 left in the half it was all Wilson, but Hanover Area did mount a bit of a comeback.
The Hawks would finally find paydirt with 3:15 left in the 2nd quarter on an 11 yard dash by Sr. RB Dave Paveletz. The PAT was missed with the score Warriors 21 Hawks 6.
That would be the end of the scoring in the 1st half with both teams heading to their respective locker rooms.
Hanover Area would come out in the 2nd half and take their opening drive right to the goldzone, going 68 yards in 12 plays. Capping the drive was Sr. WR Matt Kaufer on a 4 yard strike from Sr. QB Kyle Krupa. The Hawks would also convert the 2 point play on another pass from Kaufer, this one to Sr. RB Shawn Mullery. With a full quarter and a half of football left to play the score was now Warriors 21 Hawks 14 and this one was getting interesting, but that wouldn't last long.
The Warriors would reel off three unanswered TD's by the time it was all over with the final score Wilson 42 Hawks 14.
Hanover Area ran into a team that could surely outrun them in all fazes of the game. Just goes to show you that in HS football speed is more important then size a lot of times.
This Wilson team was not expected to go this far, by now they were expected my many to be watching Northern Lehigh play. NL defeated Wilson the first game of the season 28-21, only to have the Warriors come back and knock them off in the playoffs 29-14. Lenehan, Wilson's QB and NCAA D1 prospect set a school record that game completing 17 of 38 passes accumulating 366 passing yards.
Lenehan is only a junior and Wilson Area will return 38 players from this year's 48 player roster, defenitely a team that will get some ink in the Lehigh Valley.
These rankings are compiled by Frank Kastreva for entertainment purposes only. All questions or comments can be made to wvcgridironman@aol.com
2005 FINAL Rankings
Wyoming Valley Conference
1.) Hazleton Area (10-2)
2.) Hanover Area (11-2)
3.) Wyoming Area (8-3)
4.) Berwick (7-3)
5.) Dallas (6-4)
6.) Meyers (7-4)
7.) Valley West (5-5)
8.) Tunkhannock (4-6)
9.) Lake-Lehman (6-4)
10.) Coughlin (4-6)
District 2 Overall
1.) Abington Heights (10-1)
2.) Hazleton Area (10-2)
3.) Hanover Area (11-2)
4.) Wyoming Area (8-3)
5.) Berwick (7-3)
6.) North Pocono (8-3)
7.) Delaware Valley (8-3)
8.) West Scranton (7-3)
9.) Scranton (6-4)
10.) Lakeland (8-4)
Kastreva's Picks
(PIAA Semifinals)
Season Record 175-75
Class AAAA
Bishop McDevitt over McKeesport
Bethlehem Liberty over North Penn
Class AAA
Manheim Central over Pottsville
Franklin Regional over General McLane
Class AA
South Park over Reynolds
Montoursville over Wilson Area
Class A
Duquesne over Coudersport
Southern Columbia over Steelton-Highspire