NEPA Sports Nation

Cavaliers finish strong for 3A title

Scranton Prep scored the game’s final 21 points Saturday night at Western Wayne to defeat the Wildcats and claim its third straight District 2 Class 3A football title, 28-14.

Western Wayne led 7-0 in the first quarter and 14-7 in the second, but Scranton Prep moved ahead by halftime.

Quenton Palermo’s touchdown run tied the game, 14-14.

A snap over the punter’s head allowed Scranton Prep to take over deep in Western Wayne territory and score in the final minute of the second quarter for a 20-14 halftime lead.

Louis Paris ran 2 yards for the first of his two touchdowns to put the Cavaliers in front.

Paris got to the right flag for a 9-yard touchdown run with less than four minutes left in the third quarter, closing the scoring.

Alex Lucke had opened the scoring for Western Wayne (9-3) when he powered his way into the end zone from the 1 with 9.6 seconds left in the first quarter.

Liam Barrett took a reverse around left end for a 32-yard touchdown, lifting Scranton Prep into a 7-7 tie.

Western Wayne went back in front when Frankie Leyshon threw deep down the left side to Sean Owens for a 65-yard touchdown.

Both teams moved the ball throughout the game.

Scranton Prep led in first downs, 15-13.

Leyshon passed for 151 yards, but the Cavaliers came up with two interceptions. Owens had 105 receiving yards on 3 catches.

Josh Vinton carried 23 times for 99 yards, but Scranton Prep limited the rest of the Western Wayne ground game to 10 yards. He also was in on 11 tackles, second to Paul Guidice’s 14.

Scranton Prep (9-3) advances to play District 12 champion Neumann-Goretti (7-3) in Friday’s Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 3A playoff game at Dunmore at 7 p.m.

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