By Edward Kiesendahl
Wallenpaupack faced the 8-1 Valley View Cougars last Friday for an important Lackawanna Football Conference matchup. Valley View was coming into the game on a red hot eight game win streak. Heading into the game the Buckhorns held the three spot in the 4A district 2 playoffs, but they would need to win to keep this spot and stay in the playoffs. This game would also hold extra value because it was senior night for the Buckhorns.
The game started in the Cougars favor with an interception on the first play. They would capitalize on this turnover with a touchdown. The Buckhorns started their next drive with a determination to score, but on third and six from the Valley View thirty-three a Drew Kiesendahl pass was tipped and intercepted by a defensive lineman. Valley View once again took advantage of the turnover with another touchdown to start the second quarter. Both teams ensuing drives ended in punts with Valley View placing the Buckhorns on their own forty-one yard line with three minutes and change left to go in the first half. Two fifteen-yard runs from Wallenpaupacks running backs Logan Caruso and Edward Kiesendahl set up a six-yard touchdown run from Drew Kiesendahl. Though the extra point attempt for Paupack was blocked to end the half with a score of 14-6
Valley View started the second half strong driving the ball quickly downfield capping the drive off with a twenty-eight yard touchdown run from Preston Reed. Their extra point attempt was blocked by Senior linebacker Xaiden Shock. With a score of 20-6 Paupack needed a scoring drive of their own, but they stalled out on a fourth down try on Valley View’s thirty-eight yard line. The Cougar offense couldn’t create a score off the following possession. Though they were able to back Paupack up to within their own ten yard line. On second down and ten Drew Kiesendahl connected with senior receiver Michael Passenti for a ninety-two yard touchdown. This score brought the buckhorns within a score for the start of the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter would not go in the Buckhorns favor with the Cougars tacking on two more scores to finish the game with a final score of 34-13.
This loss ends the Buckhorns season, but they have much to be proud of and much to build on. The team handled the transition to a new playbook under new head coach, Coach Nawrocki exceptionally well. The team worked through many adversities and showed much resilience with many players playing both ways. Coach Nawrocki’s showed great potential, guiding the buckhorns to earn their best record since 2018 in his first season as a head coach. The end of the season also marks the departure of the senior class, and this will be a big loss for the program. Not only did this year’s senior class bring a lot of talent to the team but also a ton of leadership and support. If the leaders of next years team can replicate this leadership and support the team could do great things next year and in years to come.
