Joe Sciascia and Justin Kalitsnik led the way Friday night when Delaware Valley went on the road and came away with a 14-9 victory over Hazleton Area in a non-league football game between teams that could meet again in the District 2 Class 6A playoffs.
All four District 2 Class 6A teams are 3-3, but Delaware Valley and Hazleton Area came out of the weekend ranked 1-2 in the playoff ratings race that will determine seedings and home-field advantages.
Sciascia and Kalitsnik scored the touchdowns for the Warriors, who won their third straight after an 0-3 start against state-ranked opponents.
The Warriors held the Cougars to 58 yards rushing on 23 carries and limited the damage done by quarterback Tyler Wolfe, who surpassed 1,000 yards passing for the season in the loss.
Sciascia carried 29 times for 134 yards and the touchdown in the last minute of the second quarter that opened a 14-3 halftime lead.
Kalitsnik led the defense by being in on 12 tackles and also scored the game’s first touchdown when he recovered a teammate’s fumble in the end zone in the first quarter.
Luke Russo kicked a 20-yard field goal for Hazleton Area, which moved within five when it opened the second half with a 5-yard Matthew Buchman touchdown.
That, however, proved to be the last scoring in the game.
Wolfe finished 12-for-21 for 150 yards passing. Connor Shamany, who had 62 receiving yards, and Matthew Cusatis, who had 52 yards, each caught 4 of the passes.
Ryder Machado and Harlem Cook had interceptions for Delaware Valley.
Paulie Weinrich carried 9 times for 61 yards and C.J. Ross passed for 96 yards for the Warriors.
MORE FRIDAY FOOTBALL COVERAGE
Berwick-Tunkhannock: https://nepasportsnation.com/berwick-downs-tunkhannock/.
Dallas-Williamsport: https://nepasportsnation.com/dallas-holds-off-williamsport-27-20/.
Dunmore-Carbondale: https://nepasportsnation.com/bowen-leads-bucks-past-chargers/.
Mid Valley-Old Forge: https://nepasportsnation.com/ayala-extends-mid-valley-streak/.
Old Forge-Hanover Area: https://nepasportsnation.com/blue-devils-rout-hawkeyes-54-0/.
Scranton-Wallenpaupack: https://nepasportsnation.com/scranton-pulls-out-last-minute-win/.
Valley View-Crestwood: https://nepasportsnation.com/howanitz-leads-win-before-early-exit/.
Western Wayne-Honesdale: https://nepasportsnation.com/wildcats-pound-hornets-42-0/.
Wyoming Area-Lakeland: https://nepasportsnation.com/haros-leads-wyoming-area-rally/.
Scoreboard: https://nepasportsnation.com/fridays-football-scoreboard-3/.
