Here’s a look at Dallas’ season as the Mountaineers prepare to play Thomas Jefferson for the PIAA Class 4A state championship at 7 p.m. Thursday at Hersheypark Stadium.
WEEK 1
Dallas 49, Tunkhannock 13
The Mountaineers show how dangerous the offense can be as fullback Danny Meuser starts the season off with an 82-yard TD run. He would score again and finish with 141 yards on five carries. Running back Lenny Kelley begins his march to rushing for over 2,000 yards with 13 carries for 115 yards and three TDs. Quarterback Michael Starbuck connects twice with receiver Luke DelGaudio for touchdowns.
The defense gives up 203 yards passing and no other opponent will reach 200 yards in the air until Week 15.
WEEK 2
Dallas 42, Crestwood 0
After a slow first quarter, Dallas takes control with a 21-point second quarter highlighted by receiver Matt Maransky’s 41-yard TD run. Lenny Kelley and Danny Meuser again rush for well over 100 yards each as Dallas piles up 504 yards of offense.
The defense holds visiting Crestwood to 100 yards and forces the Comets to punt eight times.
WEEK 3
Dallas 41, Hazleton Area 13
Lenny Kelley runs for 263 yards and four touchdowns and Matt Maransky catches two TD passes in the road rout of Hazleton Area. Maransky’s second touchdown reception makes it 41-7 early in the fourth quarter.
Defensive back RJ Wren picks off his first pass of the season as Hazleton Area throws for just 94 yards.
WEEK 4
Dallas 56, Pittston Area 15
Danny Meuser snaps a 7-7 tie with a 61-yard TD run late in the first quarter and it’s all Dallas from there. Lenny Kelley follows with three rushing TDs and finishes with 150 yards on 12 carries.
The defense holds Pittston Area to 141 yards and posts three sacks and an interception by linebacker Dylan Schuster.
WEEK 5
Dallas 49, Wyo. Valley West 0
The Mountaineers take advantage of a banged-up Spartans squad as the second half is played under the 35-point mercy rule. A 28-point second quarter features three rushing touchdowns by Lenny Kelley and an 95-yard interception return for a TD by Ben Fife just before halftime.
Jacob Esposito, Michael Lukasavage and RJ Wren also nab interceptions. The offense is so efficient that the Mountaineers don’t punt all game.
WEEK 6
Dallas 35, Wilkes-Barre Area 7
The defense records two sacks and three turnovers, including interceptions by Ben Fife and RJ Wren, in the road victory. Wilkes-Barre Area’s lone touchdown comes midway through the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Michael Starbuck throws for one touchdown and runs for another as the Mountaineers top 500 yards of offense for the second time this season.
WEEK 7
Dallas 62, Nanticoke Area 7
Dallas races out to a 49-0 halftime lead against visiting Nanticoke Area and holds the Trojans to 54 yards. Once again, Ben Fife adds an interception. Nanticoke Area’s only touchdown comes on a kick return with the score at 62-0.
It’s a light workload for running backs Lenny Kelley and Danny Meuser, who combine for just 10 of Dallas’ 41 rushing attempts.
WEEK 8
Dallas 37, Valley View 7
Dallas heads to Valley View where the Mountaineers were embarrassed 49-14 in last season’s D2-4A championship game. Dallas dominates behind a 275-yard rushing performance by Lenny Kelley.
The defense holds elusive Valley View quarterback Janaasah Boone to 10 of 22 passing and 39 rushing yards. Matt Maransky picks off Boone twice.
WEEK 9
Dallas 22, Berwick 12
Dallas trails 12-7 at halftime, but a dominating defensive performance in the second half leads to a comeback victory. The defense causes five turnovers, including interceptions from Jacob Esposito, Ben Fife and Lenny Kelley. Berwick’s only touchdown comes on an interception return.
Entering the game, Berwick’s defense had allowed just 155 rushing yards all season, but Kelley rushes for 174 in the home win.
WEEK 10
Dallas 45, Lake-Lehman 6
Dallas dominates its Back Mountain rival in the annual Old Shoe Game, taking a 38-6 lead into halftime and cruising from there.
Quarterback Michael Starbuck completes 9 of 11 passes for 200 yards with two touchdown passes going to Matt Maransky and another to Luke DelGaudio.
WEEK 11
Dallas 56, Abington Heights 14
The Mountaineers host a three-win Abington Heights team in the D2-4A quarterfinals and the results are predictable. They lead 56-7 at halftime. Defensive lineman Xander Shaner gets his name in the box score by recovering a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
Danny Meuser runs for touchdowns on four of his seven carries and finishes with 119 yards on the ground. Lenny Kelley runs 10 times for 111 yards and runs for two TDs before five minutes are gone in the first quarter.
WEEK 12
Dallas 37, Crestwood 16
Crestwood has a better game plan this time around and holds a 3-0 lead after one quarter in the D2-4A semifinal game. Dallas, though, eventually wears down Crestwood’s defense. Lenny Kelley shakes off a slow start to finish with 209 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries, his most rushing attempts to date.
The defense records three sacks and three turnovers, including an interception by Jacob Esposito.
WEEK 13
Dallas 29, Valley View 7
The teams meet for the second consecutive year in the D2-4A championship game, and Valley View cuts the deficit to 17-7 with a touchdown at 8:45 of the third quarter. Lenny Kelley, though, responds with two rushing touchdowns as part of his 236-yard game.
The defense holds Valley View to 8 yards passing and linebacker Dylan Schuster’s interception after the Valley View score tilts the momentum Dallas’ way.
WEEK 14
Dallas 43, Imhotep 35
Dallas prevents Imhotep from possibly playing for a fifth consecutive state championship with a wild state quarterfinal win at Lehighton High School. The Mountaineers erase a 36-35 deficit on a 6-yard TD run by Lenny Kelley with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Michael Starbuck follows with a two-point conversion pass to tight end Jack Farrell, putting the final touches on an outstanding night. Starbuck finished 14 of 16 for 212 yards and three touchdowns. Imhotep’s last gasp ends when quarterback Jalen Sutton-Christian is flushed from the pocket and his scramble is stopped well short of the goal line.
WEEK 15
Dallas 56, Jersey Shore 28
Dallas fumbles on its first two plays of the state semifinal game and is tied 14-14 against Jersey Shore, which features at furious offensive pace. The Mountaineers adjust as Jersey Shore throws 59 passes, with Jack Farrell, Lenny Kelley and Danny Meuser recording interceptions.
Kelley scores three consecutive rushing touchdowns in the second quarter and finishes with five rushing TDs as Dallas advances to a state championship game for the first time since 1993. The 15 victories break the school mark set in 1993 by state championship team.
