It didn’t take long for Old Forge to get on top last
Saturday afternoon at Susquehanna Community High School. And it took even less
time to put the game away.
The Blue Devils scored on their first play from scrimmage
and added two more touchdowns within 26 seconds during the end of the first
quarter as they ran away with a 49-6 victory over the Sabers to claim the
Lackawanna Football Conference Division III title for the second consecutive
season, and the fifth time in seven years.
Anthony Piccolini put Old Forge (10-0) on the board when he
took a screen pass from Brenden Wahl and sprinted 29 yards down the visitor’s
side line for a touchdown. The two-point run failed but the Blue Devils led 6-0
just 2:46 into the game.
A penalty and an interception on a trick play cost Old Forge
a chance to score one possession later. But the Blue Devils again struck
quickly on its ensuing possessions when Wahl hit Jake Manetti for a 3-yard
touchdown pass with 38 seconds remaining in the first stanza.
Wahl hooked up with Piccolini with 14 yards, and Shane
Schuback for 41 during the three-play drive. Matt Mancuso took the two-point
conversion into the endzone on an option play and Old Forge led 14-0.
Paul Papi recovered a fumble for Old Forge on Susquehanna’s
next offensive snap to give the Blue Devils the ball on the Sabers 34.
After scoring twice through the air, the Blue Devils went to
the ground and handed the ball to Brian “Bubba” Tomasetti for a 24-yard gain
before the senior tailback scored from 10 yards out with 12 seconds left before
the second quarter. Mancuso booted the extra-point and Old Forge led, 21-0.
Mike Vieira snatched an interception on Susquehanna’s next
possession, and the Blue Devils went back to the air.
Wahl found Schuback for a hookup at the 10, and Old Forge’s
junior tight end did work the rest of the way, finding the endzone for a
31-yard touchdown. Mancuso’s PAT was good and the Blue Devils led 28-0 with
9:42 left before halftime.
The defense continued to dominate for Old Forge forcing a
punt after Kyree Tomey, Paul Papi and Jorden Sekol sacked Sabers QB Cole
Mallory. The Blue Devils then got a piece of the punt, and took over at the
Sabers 10.
Two players later, Tomasetti scored from 10-yards out to put
Old Forge ahead, 35-0, after Mancuso’s kick.
Tomasetti then got into the act defensively with his seventh
interception of the season, and two plays later, the 1,500-yard rusher scored
from 11 yards out for 42-0 lead
with 4:33 before haltime.
The touchdown also tied Tomasetti with Bob Rinaldi Sr. for
the OFHS single-season rushing touchdown record with 27.
Susquehanna tried to get on the board against the Blue
Devils second team defense to end the half, but the Sabers had a 71-yard
touchdown run by Mallory called back because of an offensive facemask.
At the half, Old Forge had held Susquehanna to minus-23
yards rushing on 18 carries.
The starters took the second half off with the exception of
an extra-point after senior Tyler Salerno went 30 yards for this third
touchdown of the season with 11:00 left in the game.
Tomsetti finished the day with 78 yards to give him 1,528
for the season – the fourth best single-season mark in school history.
Wahl also moved into fourth position for passing yards in a
season after finishing 5-for-7 for 117 yards. His total of 1,453 trails leader
Benny Pritchyk by 306 yards for the school record for passing yards in a
season. Pritchyk threw for 1,760 in 1996. Wahl’s three TD passes moved him into
first place for touchdown tosses in a season with 19 as he surpasses Corey
Hodick who had 18 in 2008.
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