Drew DeLucca found Kevin Lockett with a 16-yard pass for the game-winning touchdown Friday night as Pittston Area snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 16-13 victory over visiting Wyoming Valley West in a non-league football game between Wyoming Valley Conference teams.
Wyoming Valley West entered the game 1-1, with the loss coming in overtime, and ranked sixth among Big Schools in the Gaughan Auto Store Super Six on NEPAFootball.com.
The Patriots came in winless since a last-minute rally to beat Crestwood late in the 2019 season. They had suffered Mercy Rule shutout losses three times during the streak.
Pittston Area, however, kept Friday’s game close, then took advantage of a break on the special teams.
The game was tied entering the fourth quarter and the Patriots were within 13-7 when they kept the Spartans pinned deep in their territory and forced a punt with seven minutes left.
A low snap led to the Spartans covering the loose ball in their end zone for a safety that cut the lead to 13-9.
It also led to the free kick from the 20 and Pittston Area turned the field position they gained there into the game-winning touchdown drive.
Luke Buss hit Ryan Meyers for an early, 69-yard touchdown pass for Wyoming Valley West and the Spartans never trailed until Lockett’s touchdown with 4:20 to play.
Wyoming Valley West got into position for a tying, 45-yard field goal attempt on the final play, but the kick fell short.
Harry Pugliese’s touchdown run for Pittston Area 35 seconds into the second quarter created the tie that remained until the first minute of the fourth quarter when Isaiah Cobb scored from the 2 for Wyoming Valley West.
Cobb, coming off a 53-carry, 293-yard effort last week, ran for 105 yards, but he needed another 32 carries to get them.
Both quarterbacks, DeLucca and Buss, passed for more than 100 yards.
