DALLAS TWP. — Four plays. Three touchdowns. Twenty points.
It was just that easy for the undefeated Dallas football team before hitting the meat and potatoes of its schedule.
The Mountaineers had little trouble dismantling Nanticoke Area in a 62-7 victory on a chilly Friday night. Dallas had nearly nine times the total yardage as the Trojans (475-54).
“In the end, it doesn’t matter who you are playing,” Dallas coach Rich Mannello said. “It has to be the same approach every week. We went through the same process all week long. I thought we were really challenged a week ago with the weather and a good Wilkes-Barre team.”
After a short-yardage carry to start the game, the Mountaineers reached the end zone on three consecutive plays.
Lenny Kelley blasted for a 46-yard run a mere 53 seconds into the game. After a Ben Fife interception, Luke Delgaudio found open room for a 67-yard receiving score. Kelley capped off the scoring barrage with a 31-yard rushing touchdown with wide-open real estate for him to go untouched.
Kelley finished the night with 116 yards on seven carries with two rushing touchdowns. Delgaudio caught five passes for 104 yards.
Dallas quarterback Michael Starbuck found three different receivers for each of his passing touchdowns. Starbuck completed nine of 14 attempts for 149 yards.
The Mountaineers wrap up their regular season against three opponents with a combined 18-3 record. Dallas plays Valley View next weekend in a battle of two 7-0 programs.
“It never is good, it never is bad,” Mannello said. “There are going to be teachable moments on that film. We’ll go through it with the kids and start that whole process again for Valley View.”
For the second consecutive week, Nanticoke Area spoiled a shutout thanks to a big Sincere Shiloh play. Trailing 62-0, Shiloh returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown with 10:38 remaining.
Dallas 62, Nanticoke Area 7
Nanticoke Area`0`0`0`7 — 7
Dallas`27`22`7`6— 62
First quarter
DAL — Lenny Kelley 46 run (run failed), 11:07
DAL — Luke Delgaudio 67 pass from Michael Starbuck (Ryan Fisher kick), 8:27
DAL — Kelley 31 run (Fisher kick), 6:08
DAL — Parker Bolesta 12 pass from Starbuck (Fisher kick), 1:43
Second quarter
DAL —Ben Fife 12 pass from Starbuck (David Bisconti pass from Starbuck), 2:45
DAL — Starbuck 25 run (Fisher kick), 2:26
DAL —Danny Meuser 4 run (Fisher kick), :10
Third quarter
DAL — Matt Jesse 8 run (Mitchell Burgess kick), 6:21
Fourth quarter
DAL — Jake Delgaudio 12 run (kick failed), 11:00
NAN — Sincere Shiloh 80 kick return (Ricky Klepadlo kick), 10:38
Team statistics`NAN`DAL
First downs`4`22
Rushes-yards`22-31`41-326
Passing yards`23`149
Total yards`54`475
Passing`4-11-1`9-14-0
Sacked-yards lost`1-7`0-0
Punts-avg.`6-30`0-0
Fumbles-lost`2-1`1-0
Penalties-yards`1-0`2-25
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — NAN, Devon Lohman 6-11, Pierson Park 12-29, Keanu Ammons 1-(minus-2), Mike Marcella 1-(minus-7); DAL Cole Hart 2-1, Kelley 7-116, Meuser 3-38, Bolesta 3-2, Fife 1-5, Starbuck 4-37, Jackson Wydra 2-6, Jacob Fenske 5-39, Matt Jesse 1-8, Burgess 1-16, Michael Lukasavage 1-6, JDelgaudio 8-46, Logan Young 1-3, Mark Karcutskie 2-3
PASSING — NAN, Marcella 4-11-1-23; DAL Starbuck 9-14-0-149
RECEIVING — NAN, Ammons 1-15, Shiloh 3-8; DAL LDelgaudio 5-104, Bolesta 2-17, Jack Farrell 1-16, Fife 1-12
INTERCEPTIONS — DAL, Fife 1-0
MISSED FGs — none.
