Pats clinch playoff spot with win over rival Wyoming Area

By Frank Kastreva, WVCD2.com

YATESVILLE- When your defense hands the opposing offense minus yards in the first half, your chances of winning the football game are pretty good.

So after the Pittston Area Patriots went to halftime of their game with Wyoming Area up 7-0 and holding the Warriors to minus 8 eight yards of offense, it looked like the second half could get ugly.

Sr. RB Joe Ardo would be the Pats only score of the first half capping the drive on a three yard jaunt. Sr. Sam Parente hauled in a key reception from So. QB James Castellino to set Ardo up for the score.

The game would never get ugly and Wyoming Area found their offense a bit in the second half, scoring TD’s from Sr. Nate Bowden on a reverse pass thrown by Jr. Leo Malsky and then again on a 70 yard toss from So. QB Chris Murphy.

The Pats would find paydirt three different times in the second half with Parente leading the way on an 85 yard scamper on a short pass reception.

Jr. RB Chris Price also found the goldzone on a one yard jaunt and Sr. Matt Kobeski got in on the scoring with an interception and a 30 yard return, with the final score Pats 28 Warriors 14.

With the win the Patriots have clinched a spot in the district two class AAA playoffs in which they will travel to Clarks Summit and battle the Abington Heights Comets at “The Pit”.

As for Wyoming Area, they needed a win here to secure a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but with the loss it looks like their season has come to a close.