The Dunmore Bucks travelled to Schuylkill County Friday night to face off against the Williams Valley Vikings in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A Football Playoffs.
The teams played on the neutral grounds of Schuylkill Haven's Rotary Field.
The District 2 Champion Dunmore Bucks emerged victorious, end the season of the District 11 Champion Vikings.
Entering the game with identical 10-2 records, both teams were hungry for success, but it was Dunmore that set the tone early on. The Bucks received the kickoff and wasted no time making their mark on the scoreboard.
With 6:38 left in the first quarter, Jake Hickey of Dunmore showcased his skill, dashing in from 19 yards out for a touchdown. The extra point was good, giving the Bucks an early 7-0 lead. Dunmore's dominance continued as they recovered the ball on the next kick off on the 17, then Danny Pigga Jr. found the end zone on the first play of the drive, extending the lead to 14-0.
As the rain set in during the second half, the Bucks showed no signs of slowing down. Pigga once again showing his presence, scoring from 3 yards out with 4:59 left in the second quarter. Although the extra point was missed, Dunmore headed into halftime with a commanding 20-0 lead after fending off a Vikings' attempt on fourth down.
The second half opened with the Vikings receiving, but Dunmore's defense held strong. Pigga Jr. further solidified Dunmore's lead with a 19-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, bringing the score to 27-0 after a successful extra point.
In the fourth quarter, Pigga continued to be a force to be reckoned with, catching a 12-yard pass from Thomas Bowen for another touchdown with 11:45 left in the game. The Bucks' lead soared to 34-0, leaving the Vikings struggling to find an answer.
Williams Valley's Alex Achenbach managed to break the silence with a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 34-7 with 8:12 left in the game. The Vikings, however, couldn't halt Dunmore's offensive onslaught. Another Pigga touchdown, coupled with a successful extra point, pushed the score to 41-7.
In a late-game surge, Achenbach scored once more for the Vikings from 2 yards out, with the extra point closing the gap to 41-14. The Vikings recovered a fumble on the kickoff at the 21-yard line, allowing Brady Shomper to connect with Kian Krzyzanowski for a 20-yard touchdown pass with just 17.9 seconds left on the clock. Despite the late effort, the final score stood at Dunmore 41, Williams Valley 21.
Dunmore now advances to the Quarterfinals of the PIAA Playoffs, where they will face off against Camp Hill. On the other side, Williams Valley wraps up their season with a commendable 10-3 record, reflecting their hard-fought journey through the playoffs.
Photos and Game Information by Dawn Daub
