Honesdale suffers lopsided Week 6 LFC loss at the hands of top-ranked Lakeland
CHAPMAN LAKE − In the minutes leading up to the start of Friday’s Week 6 Lackawanna Football Conference battle between Honesdale and Lakeland, both head coaches sensed a palpable electricity in the air.
“These are the type of games you dream about,” said Hornet skipper Paul Russick. “The kids are really pumped up. It’s not often you get to play an undefeated team that’s ranked number four in the state.”
Chiefs mentor Dave Piwowarczyk was equally anxious to see how his 5-0 team would respond against the talented, aggressive young Hornets.
“Our kids are really focused and locked in right now,” he said. “I think the most important thing is for us to play our game. Stay within ourselves, not try to do too much, and dictate the pace.”
As it turned out, Coach Piwowarczyk’s assessment proved prophetic. Lakeland flexed its muscles early and often on both sides of the ball.
With All-Region quarterback Dominico Spataro leading the way, the Chiefs built a 35-2 halftime lead en route to an eventual 42-2 victory.
Spataro shredded Honesdale’s defense on the ground and through the air in the early going. The senior signal caller rushed for a pair of touchdowns and threw for two more, accounting for 270 yards and four scores in the first half alone.
Jon Seamans and Lacota Dippre were Spataro’s favorite target. Seamans caught five passes for an even 100 yards and two TDS, while Dippre added 63 yards and two tallies of his own … all before intermission.
Honesdale’s lone bright spot came courtesy of Bryce Stone. The senior defensive lineman blocked a punt late in the second quarter that resulted in a safety.
Spataro fired one more touchdown pass early in the third period, hitting Dippre from 12 yards out. After that, both teams substituted liberally as the clock wound down on Lakeland’s sixth straight win.
What it means
Lakeland remains the "top dog" among all LFC teams this season. Period. End of statement.
The Chiefs are unstoppable on offense and relentless on defense. Spataro is hands-down the top quarterback in the league and he's surrounded by all sorts of weaponry. From Dippre and Seamans to tailback Evan Pochas and wideout Kevin Snyder, Coach Piwowarczyk's squad simply overwhelms its opponents with talented athletes.
Lakeland built a 14-0 lead in the opening period, then expanded that advantage to an insurmountable 35-2 at halftime. Spataro directed the attack. The cannon armed quarterback has now thrown 24 touchdowns this year and suffered just two picks. He's also rushed for more than 500 yards and nine more scores.
So, what it all means for the Chiefs is this: They're four games away from a perfect regular season, an LFC Division II championship and the top seed among District 2 Class AA teams. Dunmore and Western Wayne are still out there lurking in the tall grass, but an upset at the hands of either seems like a long shot.
For Honesdale, it's another lesson learned for the young and injury ravaged Hornets.
Coach Russick should be commended for how far he's brought this program in just three years. However, with star players like wide receiver Cage Southerton and tight end Isaac Carmody lost for the season, any thoughts of division titles and playoff runs may seem like a pipe dream now.
The Hornets are sitting at .500 and ranked fifth among Class 4A teams. They still have West Scranton, Mid Valley, Dunmore and Western Wayne on the schedule. The good news is that three of those final four contests are at home and two of them feature Homecoming and Senior Night festivities ... always good to help bring in the crowds and ratchet up the emotions.
Key moments
Let's start with Honesdale ... because while the points were few and far between, several Hornets did indeed distinguish themselves on the gridiron in this one.
First up is Bryce Stone. An unheralded senior who plays his heart out on defense and special teams, Stone delivered Honesdale's only points against Lakeland by blocking a punt into the endzone. The resulting safety came with 3:04 remaining in the first half and brought Hornet fans to their feet.
"Bryce is such a great kid," Coach Russick said. "He works his butt off every single day. Bryce is all of about 175 pounds, but he's out there giving 100 percent on every play. He's been close to blocking a punt a bunch of times this year, so I'm not surprised he got one today. Great play."
Rocco Fluck, Aaron Phillips, Mason Avery, Samson Fluck and Tyler Winters also contributed to the Red & Black attack. The Fluck Brothers each recorded a sack. Phillips powered his way to a big first down run that gave the Hornets possession in Lakeland territory. Avery ripped off a nice gain of his own, while Winters hauled in a key pass reception that kept Honesdale drive alive.
For Lakeland, Dippre and Spataro took turns visiting the endzone early on. Lacota broke the scoring seal on the Chiefs' first possession via a three-yard touchdown rumble right up the pipe just 4:25 in. Dominico then raced around right end for a 13-yard TD at the 6:27 mark. He crossed the goal line again early in the second quarter with a two-yard quarterback sneak.
Seamans also stamped his presence on the game in a big way. The senior co-captain intercepted a Hornet pass, then hauled in back-to-back scoring strikes from Spataro. The first covered 15 yards and the second was a 50-yard bomb right down the middle of the field.
Dippre closed out the offensive assault with a 12-yard TD catch midway through the third.
What's next
Honesdale (3-3) returns to the Maple City for a Week 7 crossover contest versus West Scranton. The Invaders (1-5) are coming off a 35-0 drubbing at the hands of Western Wayne.
Lakeland (6-0) hits the road for a much-anticipated showdown with Dunmore. The Bucks (5-1) are fresh off a 37-2 rout of Mid Valley.
Both of theses LFC games kick-off at 7 p.m. Friday night, October7.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Lackawanna Football Conference Lakeland Chiefs Honesdale Hornets
