Western Wayne runs roughshod over Carbondale Area in Week 5 LFC action
CARBONDALE - Longtime rivals Western Wayne and Carbondale Area squared off Friday night in a much-anticipated Week 5 Lackawanna Football Conference contest.
For the Wildcats (3-1) the game plan was simple. In order to leave the Pioneer City with a win, Coach Randy Wolff’s team would need to control the line of scrimmage.
“My philosophy is pretty much always the same,” the veteran skipper said. “In my mind the key to the game for us will be running the ball and stopping them from running it.”
Chargers skipper Jeff Arthur admitted that he was thinking right along those same lines.
“To me, tackling is the most important aspect of this game,” he said. “They have a great tailback in Janiszewski and if we want to win tonight, we have to slow him down.”
As it turned out, both coaches were right on the money with their pre-game assessments. Western Wayne did indeed control the line of scrimmage. Led by Sean Owens, Josh Vinton and Janiszewski, the Wildcats ran the ball at will against a Carbondale defense that simply couldn't tackle consistently.
The result was a 38-7 victory for Western Wayne and a disappointed Homecoming at the Andrew Cerra Memorial Complex.
What it means
Western Wayne dominated this one right from the opening kick-off.
The Wildcats forced a three and out on Carbondale's first possession, then took over at the Charger 35 after a short punt. They needed just one play to score as Owens sprinted down the visitors sideline to paydirt. Carter Mistishin tacked on the PAT and just like that it was 7-0.
From there on out it was all Western Wayne. Janiszewski and Vinton took turns racing into the endzone as Luke tallied twice in the first half and Josh scored twice in the third quarter. Junior tailback Alex Lucke got into the act as well, powering his way in from 12 yards out for his second touchdown of the season.
Meanwhile, the Wildcat defense was every bit as impressive. Nate Swingle led the charge. The senior D-Lineman notched eight tackles including two behind the line, spearheading a relentless attack that held Carbondale to just one first down in the entire first half.
What does all this mean for Western Wayne? Well, for starters it means the Wildcats notched their fourth win in five LFC contests. They also keep pace with undefeated Lakeland in the race for this year's Division II championship. The Chiefs currently hold a one-game lead over the second place 'Cats after a 47-20 rout of Old Forge.
For Carbondale Area, the loss means a third setback in five games and a big hit in the chase for Division III laurels. The Chargers couldn't generate any offense Friday night against a stingy, hard-hitting Wildcat defense. The season is now officially half over and offensive standouts Vincent DePalma (TB), Jonathan Orta (WB) and Darryl Bennett (QB) have yet to kick it into gear.
Key plays
It's not hard to pick Western Wayne's biggest play of the night.
It came when quarterback Frankie Leyshon took the team's first offensive snap and handed off to Owens. A sophomore wideout with intimidating size and blinding speed, Sean executed the jet sweep to perfection. He followed his lead block around the end, shrugged off a would-be tackler, cut to the outside and raced 35 yards to paydirt.
Janiszewski brought the Wildcat faithful to their feet with touchdown runs of 12 and 43 yards. The former was an inside power play with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter. The latter saw Luke showcase strength and speed with a stiff-arm and then a sprint down the sidelines to the pylon.
Carbondale Area seemed on the verge of a second quarter score of its own when DePalma recovered a fumble in Western Wayne territory. Sadly for the hometown fans, the Wildcat defense once again rose up and forced a punt.
What's next
Western Wayne (4-1) puts out the proverbial welcome mat for West Scranton (1-4). The Invaders are coming off a 42-7 drubbing at the hands of Hazleton Area.
Carbondale Area (2-3) hits the road for an LFC Division III clash with Riverside (2-3). The Vikings are fresh off a 27-12 non-league victory over Mahanoy Area.
Opening kick-off for each of these contests is slated for Friday, September 30 at 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Lackawanna Football Conference Western Wayne Carbondale Area Week 5
