Jeremy Vega scored four touchdowns, including three in the first quarter, as Hanover Area built a 28-point lead before holding off a Holy Redeemer comeback Friday night for a 46-38 victory in a Wyoming Valley Conference Class 3A Division football game.
The win was not secured until Aiden Shamaski intercepted a pass in the end zone for Hanover Area as time expired.
Vega carried 32 times for 255 yards, including touchdowns of 2, 12 and 35 yards in the first quarter. The first touchdown came in the opening minute and he added the two-point conversion after each of the first two scores for a 16-0 lead.
The passing combination of Jacob Hunter and Justice Shoats got Holy Redeemer’s offense going with a 46-yard touchdown pass just 16 seconds after the second Vega touchdown.
Hunter threw four touchdown passes and Shoats scored four touchdowns. Three of each of those were when they connected.
Vega made it 22-6 after one quarter with this third touchdown.
Short touchdown runs by Christian Torres and Shamaski built the Hanover Area lead to 34-6.
Shoats responded to the biggest deficit with an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to make it 34-14 at the half.
Vega’s last touchdown gave the Hawkeyes a 40-14 lead before the Royals’ comeback picked up momentum in the last three minutes of the third quarter.
Holy Redeemer scored the next three touchdowns.
Hunter hit Jayden Halstead with a short touchdown pass in the third and Shoats with a 16-yarder in the first minute of the fourth. He then ran 3 yards for a score with 4:11 left for the first of two times that Holy Redeemer closed within eight.
Torres scored from the 1 for his second touchdown with 1:27 left.
The Royals came back one last time with a 17-yard, Hunter-to-Shoats touchdown with 38 seconds left.
Holy Redeemer recovered the on-side kick to continue the threat until Shamaski’s interception ended the game.
Hanover Area improved to 2-5 while Holy Redeemer slipped to 1-6.
Shoats had more than 100 yards on his 7 receptions.
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