NEPA Sports Nation

Knights start, finish strong on road

Scranton’s 2-0 beginning to the football season, includes the fastest possible start to Friday night’s game.

Lamaire Saldano returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and the Knights were also able to come up with a big finish when they needed one.

Billy Maloney threw 25 yards to Donato Stepney for the game-winning score with 1:38 remaining to lift Scranton to a 21-14 road victory over Wyoming Valley West.

The Spartans had tied the game, 14-14, minutes earlier when quarterback Lucas Zdancewicz ran 30 yards for a score.

Each team managed a kick return for a touchdown in the first quarter of what turned into a defensive struggle.

From there, Maloney, Stepney and Donovan Laybourn-Boddie combined to lead Scranton to victory.

Maloney went 6-for-12 for 96 yards passing while carrying 16 times for 58 yards.

Stepney caught 3 passes for 68 yards and contributed five tackles and five assists on defense.

Both Maloney and Stepney had interceptions as the Knights picked off 3 passes along with limiting the Spartans ground game to 78 yards on 31 carries.

Laybourn-Boddie made three tackles and assisted on seven others. He also ran 2 yards for the second-quarter score that put Scranton back ahead after Devon Suda returned a punt 36 yards for Wyoming Valley West’s first touchdown.

Craig Pabst matched Stepney’s team-best production of five tackles and five assists and made one of his tackles for a loss. Adan Salazar had three tackles for losses.

Zdancewicz was 12-for-21 for 177 yards passing for Wyoming Valley West. Nick Giza pulled in 5 passes for 58 yard while Maki Wells caught 3 for 54 yards.

Isaiah Cobb led the defense for the Spartans (0-2) with 5 tackles, including 2 for losses, and 10 assists.

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