East Stroudsburg South escaped with a 40-27 victory at Hazleton. The Cougars, who fall to 3-6, had no answer for the Cavalier rushing attack. Hazleton had won 3 of their last 5 prior to tonight’s loss. East Stroudsburg South (9-0) wins their 11th straight regular season contest.
On second play of the game, the Cavaliers’ Niko Petrone took his initial carry and went 77 yards up the far sideline for a score. On the ensuing Hazleton possession, the Cougars grinded out a 13-play, 7 minute drive which ended with a Nick George 8 yard run to tie the game at 7.
In the second quarter, Hazleton’s Jeff Ochs intercepted a Jake Cirillo errant pass near midfield. That set up a Zach Zukoski 19-yard TD run to take the lead. The Cougars’ advantage would not last long as Petrone found paydirt for the second time in the game to lock the game up at 14. Just before the half, Cirillo found Mike DelCorso across the middle in the endzone to take the 20-14 lead into the intermission.
Midway through the third frame, Ryan Heller threw an out to Ochs for a 5 yard score to give Hazleton a surprising advantage with 16 minutes to play. The next play from scrimmage, Petrone dashes 74 yards for the go ahead touchdown (26-21).
Almost a minute into the final period, Petrone plunges his way into the endzone for his fourth touchdown of the game. The Cougars would not fold, Ochs went 29 yards on a pass play to bring Hazleton inside the Cavs’ 3-yard line. From there, Zach Zukoski dove past the goalline from 2 yards away to bring the Cougars back within 7 points.
After a fumble by East Stroudsburg South recovered by Hazleton, the Cougars were held on downs deep in Cavalier territory just over 7 minutes remaining.
Petrone sealed the game with his fifth touchdown, this time from 29 yards out to give East Stroudsburg South a 40-27 lead.
Next week, the Cavaliers will travel to take on rival East Stroudsburg North (2-7). Hazleton will host Berwick (9-0).
Scoring Chart
First Quarter
E – Niko Petrone 77-yard TD run (kick good) – ESS, 7-0 (11:03)
H – Nick George 8-yard TD run (Tristan Williams kick – T 7-7 (3:24)
Second Quarter
H – Zach Zukoski 19-yard TD run (Williams kick) – H, 14-7 (8:55)
E – Niko Petrone 13-yard TD run (kick good) – T 14-14 (4:42)
E – Mike DelCorso 5-yard TD catch from Jake Cirillo (kick failed) – ESS, 20-14 (0:10)
Third Quarter
H – Jeff Ochs 5-yard TD catch from Ryan Heller (Williams kick) – H, 21-20 (4:19)
E – Niko Petrone 74-yard TD run (run failed) – ESS, 26-21 (4:03)
Fourth Quarter
E – Niko Petrone 2-yard TD run (Demetrius Lanier run) – ESS, 34-21 (10:14)
H – Zach Zukoski 2-yard TD run (kick failed) – ESS, 34-27 (8:25)
E – Niko Petrone 29-yard TD run (kick failed) – ESS, 40-27 (3:42)
