Colin Skeen scored three first-half touchdowns, Connor Hilling added two and Jordan Rebar led the defensive effort Friday night when unbeaten Valley View overpowered visiting Western Wayne, 42-7, to set up a showdown for the Lackawanna Football Conference Division 2 title.
Valley View avenged the loss that forced it to share the division title three ways in 2020. The victory sets up a meeting of unbeatens at Valley View against the other team that shared first place last season, Scranton Prep.
The Cougars (3-0 in the division and 9-0 overall) opened leads of 28-0 in the first 9:12 and 42-0 with 8:16 still remaining in the first half.
Long touchdowns bookended short drives in the fast start.
Hilling, who finished with 143 yards on just 6 carries, went off the right side 80 yards on the game’s first play.
Skeen capped the early onslaught with a 60-yard punt return for the 42-0 lead.
In between, Valley View’s defense set up the Cougars offense so that it only needed to cover 38, 45, 25 and 42 yards on its four scoring drives.
Three-and-outs led to the first two “drives.”
Skeen ran 20 yards for a 14-0 lead with eight minutes left in the first quarter.
Hilling went 25 yards for the next score.
Rebar’s sack forced a fumble that he also recovered, then Dante Randle ran 20 yards to set up Dominic Memo’s 5-yard touchdown run on an option keeper.
Andrew Heid’s sack forced the next Western Wayne punt and Skeen scored from the 2.
Rebar had three tackles for losses. In addition to the sack that forced the fumble, he assisted on another.
Sean Mackinder picked off his fourth pass of the season, Mason Iyoob also had an interception and Steven Halloran had a fumble recovery as the Cougars forced four turnovers.
Rebar was in on seven tackles while Heid and A.J. Kucharski were in on six each.
Matt Cole went 6-for-6 on extra points.
The entire second half was played under the Mercy Rule.
Freshman Josh Vinton scored a second-half touchdown for Western Wayne.
The Wildcats (2-2, 4-5) managed just four yards passing and were limited to less than 2½ per attempt on the ground.
MORE FRIDAY FOOTBALL COVERAGE
Abington Heights-West Scranton: https://nepasportsnation.com/marzolino-defense-lead-ah-to-win/.
Carbondale-Montrose: https://nepasportsnation.com/carbondale-moves-above-500-mark/.
Dallas-Berwick: https://nepasportsnation.com/wydra-delgaudio-lead-dallas-win/.
Delaware Valley-Wallenpaupack: https://nepasportsnation.com/weinrich-machado-lead-dv-victory/.
Hazleton Area-Wyoming Valley West: https://nepasportsnation.com/hazleton-area-passes-latest-test/.
Holy Redeemer-Holy Cross: https://nepasportsnation.com/holy-redeemer-avenges-opening-loss/.
Honesdale-Nanticoke: https://nepasportsnation.com/hornets-rally-past-trojans-12-7/.
Lakeland-Riverside: https://nepasportsnation.com/shutout-allows-chiefs-to-clinch-tie/.
North Pocono-Scranton: https://nepasportsnation.com/north-pocono-blanks-scranton-21-0/.
Old Forge-Susquehanna: https://nepasportsnation.com/old-forge-overwhelms-susquehanna/.
Pittston Area-Crestwood: https://nepasportsnation.com/lockett-catches-lift-patriots-28-21/.
Tunkhannock-Towanda: https://nepasportsnation.com/konen-leads-tunkhannock-victory/.
Wyoming Area-Dunmore: https://nepasportsnation.com/pizano-paces-wyoming-area-rout/.
Canton-Hanover Area: https://nepasportsnation.com/canton-pounds-hanover-area-60-7/.
Scoreboard: https://nepasportsnation.com/fridays-football-scoreboard-5/.
