Riley Moore and Ty LaFave led a North Pocono defense that forced five turnovers and shut out host Abington Heights, 28-0, in a Saturday afternoon Lackawanna Football Conference Division 1 game.
The Trojans did all the game’s scoring in the final 6:05 of the half, capped by Moore’s 51-yard interception return with nine seconds left in the second quarter.
Moore intercepted two passes while LaFave recovered two fumbles, one to prevent Abington Heights from taking the lead in the first quarter and the other to set up the third touchdown in the second quarter.
LaFave also caught 3 passes for 34 yards and a touchdown plus another pass for a two-point conversion.
Will Soma threw both those passes to LaFave, plus another touchdown pass during a first half in which he was 6-for-9.
North Pocono has won four straight to improve to 2-0 in the division and 5-1 overall. They have shut out two opponents and held two others to a single touchdown with one of those coming on special teams.
Abington Heights has lost five straight since winning its opener. The Comets are 0-2 in the division.
North Pocono held Abington Heights to 131 yards total offense.
The defense scored one touchdown and set up the offense at the 25 and 31 for short scoring drives.
The Trojans also turned away the Comets in the Red Zone twice when the game was scoreless.
First, LaFave’s fumble recovery ended the best Abington Heights drive of the game in the first quarter.
Then, after Nico Bossi blocked a punt for the Comets, the Trojans held on downs.
From there, North Pocono drove 81 yards for the game’s first touchdown.
LaFave made a tough catch for a 24-yard gain and Korry Eisley ran 21 yards to the 8.
On second-and-goal from the 4, Soma rolled right and found LaFave in the back corner of the end zone for a 6-0 lead.
The other three touchdowns came in the last 2:04 of the half.
Eisley scored on a 2-yard run, then LaFave recovered a fumble at the Abington Heights 31.
Soma spotted Noah West wide open running down the right hash marks and hit him just after he crossed into the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown.
North Pocono lined up to kick the extra point, but after an Abington Heights penalty moved the ball to a yard and a half from the goal line, the Trojans went for two. Soma again rolled right off of play action and hit LaFave in the back of the end zone for a 21-0 lead.
Moore worked his way down the right sideline for a touchdown on his first interception in the closing seconds of the half.
MORE SATURDAY FOOTBALL COVERAGE
Lake-Lehman/Holy Redeemer: https://nepasportsnation.com/roberts-knights-run-over-royals/.
Scranton Prep-West Scranton: https://nepasportsnation.com/scranton-prep-pounds-west-55-7/.
Scoreboard: https://nepasportsnation.com/saturdays-district-2-scoreboard-5/.
