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Calm and clear in the Wyoming Valley this weekend

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Size and speed play a key role in Parkland’s win over Wyoming Valley West

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; The final play of the first half epitomized what was easily the worst seven minutes of football for Wyoming Valley West this season.</p><p>Parkland quarterback Devante Cross lofted an underthrown pass down field. Receiver Kenny Yeboah, a Temple recruit, plucked the ball at the Valley West 33-yard line. As he was being tackled, he flipped the ball to Zach Bross to finish off the 46-yard touchdown.</p><p>It was Parkland&#8217;s fifth TD in a span of 7:04. It wasn&#8217;t the only disastrous part of Valley West&#8217;s 63-21 loss to Parkland in the District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game.</p><p>&#8226; The 63 points were the most ever scored against Valley West, which fielded its first team in 1967. It topped the 57-7 loss to Berwick in 1994. By comparison, the Spartans (12-1) allowed 78 points in 10 regular-season games.</p><p>&#8226; Quarterback Aaron Austin was knocked out of the game on a play where Parkland defensive lineman Noel Brouse, a Syracuse recruit, picked off a middle screen pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown as part of the five-TD eruption.</p><p>&#8226; And even Valley West&#8217;s starting defense couldn&#8217;t stop Parkland&#8217;s backups, who tacked on the final score.</p><p>&#8220;It was a very talented team we ran into there,&#8221; Valley West coach Pat Keating said. &#8220;They had a lot of talented players. It was one of those situations where it wasn&#8217;t our night. It didn&#8217;t help losing our quarterback in the second quarter. It really limited us to what we wanted to do.&#8221;</p><p>Parkland (12-1) moved to the state quarterfinals and will play either Simon Gratz or LaSalle College. Those teams play Saturday for the District 12 championship.</p><p>Valley West had trouble stopping Parkland&#8217;s offense early until a 102-yard interception return by Valley West&#8217;s Sean Judge tied the score 14-14 at 8:51 of the second quarter.</p><p>&#8220;Things like that happen,&#8221; Parkland quarterback Devante Cross said. &#8220;It&#8217;s the state playoffs and you have to work through adversity. It was a big play for them, a great play for them. But we responded.&#8221;</p><p>Cross, a Boston College recruit, certainly did with touchdown runs of 15 and 77 yards, patiently waiting for a hole to open before darting through.</p><p>The Spartans&#8217; first play from scrimmage following Cross&#8217; 77-yard score changed everything. Austin threw a middle screen that Brouse returned for a touchdown. Austin was injured, Keating saying it appeared to be ribs, and was transported to the hospital.</p><p>Parkland bounced the ensuing kickoff and recovered the ball at the Valley West 25. Three plays later, the 6-foot-5 Yeboah won a jumpball in the end zone for a 42-14 lead with 2:43 left until halftime.</p><p>&#8220;It was fantastic from my point of view,&#8221; Parkland coach Jim Morgans said. &#8220;Things just kind of snowballed. That wasn&#8217;t even an onside kick. The kid just mishandled it.&#8221;</p><p>Parkland&#8217;s catch-and-lateral gave the Trojans a 49-14 lead at halftime.</p><p>A dire situation became worse on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. Judge, one of the area&#8217;s top running/receiving threats, fumbled the snap playing quarterback in place of Austin. Parkland&#8217;s Jahan Worth scooped up the ball and ran 28 yards for a touchdown.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a whole different game playing quarterback,&#8221; said Judge, who added he hadn&#8217;t practiced the position since the first week of the season. &#8220;You have to hand off and you have to throw it. It&#8217;s just a lot different than playing the other positions I&#8217;m used to.&#8221;</p><p>Parkland had 422 yards and 18 first downs in the first half. The starters played one snap in the second half, with it being Worth&#8217;s fumble return.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>D2/4-11 4A Championship</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Parkland 63, Wyo. Valley West 21</strong></p><p><strong>Parkland`14`35`7`7`&#8212;`63</strong></p><p><strong>Wyo. Valley West`7`7`0`7`&#8212;`21</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>First quarter</strong></p><p>PARK &#8212; Erik DiGirolamo 1 run (Donovan Berger kick), 8:23</p><p>WVW &#8212; Devon Weidman 19 run (Jake Gurtis kick), 4:11</p><p>PARK &#8212; Nolan Ridgway 47 pass from Devante Cross (Breger kick), 2:29</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Second quarter</strong></p><p>WVW &#8212; Sean Judge 102 interception return (Gurtis kick), 8:51</p><p>PARK &#8212; Cross 15 run (Berger kick), 7:04</p><p>PARK &#8212; Cross 77 run (Berger kick), 4:17</p><p>PARK &#8212; Noel Brouse 30 interception return (Berger kick), 4:03</p><p>PARK &#8212; Kenny Yeboah 23 pass from Cross (Berger kick), 2:43</p><p>PARK &#8212; Zach Bross 46 pass from Cross (Berger kick), 0:00</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Third quarter</strong></p><p>PARK &#8212; Jahan Worth 28 fumble return (Berger kick), 11:34</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Fourth quarter</strong></p><p>PARK &#8212; Nick Suriel 38 run (Justin Bond kick), 10:43</p><p>WVW &#8212; Weidman 46 pass from Judge (Gurtis kick), 3:29</p><p><strong>Team statistics`PAR`WVW</strong></p><p>First downs`23`9</p><p>Rushes-yards`41-360`31-112</p><p>Passing yards`135`68</p><p>Total yards`495`180</p><p>Passing`5-8-1`4-11-1</p><p>Sacked-yards lost`0-0`0-0</p><p>Punts-avg.`0-0`4-44.8</p><p>Fumbles-lost`1-0`1-1</p><p>Penalties-yards`5-45`5-40</p><p><strong>INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS</strong></p><p><strong>RUSHING</strong> &#8212; Parkland, Cross 12-170, DiGirolamo 15-107, Ridgway 1-10, Nick Wieder 8-41, Nick Suriel 2-38, team 3-(minus-6). WVW, Judge 12-42, Aaron Austion 6-31, Weidman 4-31, Bill Davison 3-12, Chris Melovitz 5-2, team 1-(minus-6).</p><p><strong>PASSING</strong> &#8212; Parkland, Cross 5-8-1-135. WVW, Austin 3-7-1-22, Judge 1-4-0-46.</p><p><strong>RECEIVING</strong> &#8212; Parkland, Yeboah 2-56, Bross 1-22, Ridgway 2-57. WVW, Weidman 4-68.</p><p><strong>INTERCEPTIONS</strong> &#8212; Parkland, Brouse 1-30.</p><p><strong>MISSED FGs</strong> &#8212; None.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The Wyoming Valley West football team breaks through a paper banner and run out onto the field at Spartan Stadium before the start of Friday's District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game in Kingston. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland01.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Wyoming Valley West football team breaks through a paper banner and run out onto the field at Spartan Stadium before the start of Friday's District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game in Kingston. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland02.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Wyoming Valley West football fans watch Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game from the stands in Spartan Stadium in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland02.jpg</photo1><caption1>The Wyoming Valley West football fans watch Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game from the stands in Spartan Stadium in Kingston. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland03.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West quarterback Aaron Austin sits on the bench with an upper body injury during Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game against Parkland at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland03.jpg</photo2><caption2>Wyoming Valley West quarterback Aaron Austin sits on the bench with an upper body injury during Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game against Parkland at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland04.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West quarterback Aaron Austin sits on the bench with an upper body injury during Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game against Parkland at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. Consoling Austin is Spartan teammate Jason Wall (79). </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland04.jpg</photo3><caption3>Wyoming Valley West quarterback Aaron Austin sits on the bench with an upper body injury during Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game against Parkland at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. Consoling Austin is Spartan teammate Jason Wall (79). </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland05.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Sean Judge (10) tries to stretch out a running play against the Parkland defense in Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland05.jpg</photo4><caption4>Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Sean Judge (10) tries to stretch out a running play against the Parkland defense in Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game in Kingston. </caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland06.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West quarterback Aaron Austin walks off the field after getting injured in Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game against Parkland at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland06.jpg</photo5><caption5>Wyoming Valley West quarterback Aaron Austin walks off the field after getting injured in Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game against Parkland at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. </caption5><photoCredit5></photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland071.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Parkland's Noel Brouse (79) intercepts a pass from Wyoming Valley West's Aaron Austin and runs it back for a TD in Friday's District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland071.jpg</photo6><caption6>Parkland's Noel Brouse (79) intercepts a pass from Wyoming Valley West's Aaron Austin and runs it back for a TD in Friday's District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader)</caption6><photoCredit6></photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland08.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Parkland quarterback Devante Cross (12) finishes a long run from the line of scrimmage for a TD in Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game against Wyoming Valley West in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland08.jpg</photo7><caption7>Parkland quarterback Devante Cross (12) finishes a long run from the line of scrimmage for a TD in Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game against Wyoming Valley West in Kingston. </caption7><photoCredit7></photoCredit7></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland09.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West quarterback Aaron Austin looks to gain yardage on a running play in Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game against Parkland at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo8>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland09.jpg</photo8><caption8>Wyoming Valley West quarterback Aaron Austin looks to gain yardage on a running play in Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game against Parkland at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. </caption8><photoCredit8></photoCredit8></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland10.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Parkland quarterback Devante Cross (12) weaves his way through traffic to reach the end zone in Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game against Wyoming Valley West in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo9>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland10.jpg</photo9><caption9>Parkland quarterback Devante Cross (12) weaves his way through traffic to reach the end zone in Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game against Wyoming Valley West in Kingston. </caption9><photoCredit9></photoCredit9></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland11.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Devon Weidman (16) is caught by Parkland&#8217;s Devante Cross in Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo10>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_wvwparkland11.jpg</photo10><caption10>Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Devon Weidman (16) is caught by Parkland&#8217;s Devante Cross in Friday&#8217;s District 2/4-11 Class 4A championship game at Spartan Stadium in Kingston. </caption10><photoCredit10></photoCredit10></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By John Erzar</p><p>jerzar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>WYOMING VALLEY WEST</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>MOST WINS IN A SEASON</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">(School was formed in 1967)</p><p>2014`12-1</p><p>1997`12-1</p><p>1969`11-0</p><p>2013`10-2</p><p>2007`10-2</p><p>2000`10-2</p><p>1983`10-2</p><p>2011`9-2</p><p>2006`9-2</p><p>2004`9-2</p><p>1978`9-2</p><p>2012`9-3</p><p>1998`9-3</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar</p></shirttailMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><videoMeta><p><table class="mceItemTable" style="border:none;width:98%;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">VideoID:</td><td id="videoid" style="width:50em;font-size:90%;">ftdp9MAXmog </td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">VideoType:</td><td id="videotype" style="font-size:90%;">YouTube</p><p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">URL:</td><td id="url" style="font-size:90%;"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftdp9MAXmog</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Embed String:</td><td id="videoembedstring" style="font-size:90%;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Caption:</td><td id="videocaption" style="font-size:90%;"></p><p>Sean Judge completes his 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in a playoff game against Parkland on Friday.</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Credit:</td><td id="videocredit" style="font-size:90%;"> Russell Hryvnak | Times Leader</p><p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Position:</td><td id="videoposition" style="font-size:90%;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="margin-top:10px;font-size:70%;color:#555;">(use the &#8220;for files&#8230;&#8221; link above to associate attached files with this source)</p></videoMeta></div>

Valley West falls hard to Parkland