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Firefighter injured by live wire while battling blaze in Plains Township

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WVC Football Week 9 preview: Plenty of the line in Dallas vs. Berwick

Dallas (7-1) at Berwick (7-1)7 p.m. FridayThe Coaches: Dallas&#8217; Rich Mannello (22-19, 4th year); Berwick&#8217;s Frank Sheptock (25-9, 3rd year)Last Meeting: Berwick 23-7 in 2017All-Time Series: Berwick leads 16-4Scouting Dallas: Dallas trailed unbeaten Valley View 6-0 at halftime, but ended up losing 33-0. A missed scoring chance in the second quarter seemed to swing the momentum. After having five turnovers all season, the Mountaineers had three in the game. Valley View dominated the line of scrimmage in the final two quarters.Scouting Berwick: Berwick defeated Crestwood 61-13, scoring its most points since a 63-26 victory over Pittston Area in Week 7 of 2016. Since a 35-7 loss to Valley View in Week 6, the Dawgs have leaned heavily on the running game. They have 72 rushes vs. 12 passes. The run defense has been solid, with Valley View (201) the only opponent to get more than 200 yards.What To Expect: A toss-up with the winner likely locking up the D2-4A second seed.Hanover Area (3-5) at Wyoming Area (8-0)7 p.m. FridayThe Coaches: Hanover Area&#8217;s Mike McCree (9-29, 4th year); Wyoming Area&#8217;s Randy Spencer (57-49, 10th year)Last Meeting: Wyoming Area 54-14 in 2017All-Time Series: Wyoming Area leads 29-9Scouting Hanover Area: After winning two in a row, the bottom fell out in a 35-6 loss to D2-A power Lackawanna Trail. The running game went dormant, there were five turnovers and the run defense allowed 247 yards, the most since Week 2. Still, the Hawkeyes are in the postseason for the first time since 2014 because of the bloated D2-3A playoff field.Scouting Wyoming Area: The starters played just nine minutes in a 43-7 win against winless Holy Redeemer. By that time, the Warriors had a 30-0 lead and could have really made the final score incredibly ugly if they desired. Not much could be culled from the game other than the starters should be well rested.What To Expect: Wyoming Area to roll to another victory.Hazleton Area (3-5) at Coughlin (0-8)7 p.m. FridayThe Coaches: Hazleton Area&#8217;s Mike Brennan (132-94, 17th year); Coughlin&#8217;s Ciro Cinti (71-69, 13th year)Last Meeting: Hazleton Area 22-20 in 2015All-Time Series: Hazleton Area leads 12-10Scouting Hazleton Area: The Cougars snapped a two-game losing streak with a 38-14 win over Scranton. QB Sparky Wolk threw two TD passes for a third consecutive game. RB Lance Johnson ran for 92 yards with standout Damon Horton still dinged up. The run defense, though, needs to perform better.Scouting Coughlin: It was more of the same in a 42-0 loss to North Pocono. The running game was non-existent as Coughlin rushed for a season-low 76 yards. The passing game produced 16 more as the Crusaders were shut out for the first time this season. The defense once again was on the field much more than the offense.What To Expect: Hazleton Area by a few touchdowns in Coughlin&#8217;s last chance for a win.Lake-Lehman (6-2) at Lackawanna Trail (7-1)7 p.m. FridayThe Coaches: Lake-Lehman&#8217;s Jerry Gilsky (63-36, 9th year); Steve Jervis (86-83, 16th year)Last Meeting: Lehman 31-7 in 2015All-Time Series: Lehman leads 7-2Scouting Lehman: Already secured in the D2-3A playoffs, Lehman&#8217;s next step is getting a home game. The Black Knights could do so, but need at least one win and some missteps by Western Wayne for a chance of that happening. That Week 1 loss to Western Wayne has come back to haunt them. Had few issues in wiping out GAR last Friday 50-22Scouting Trail: Standout QB Nate Rolka was kept in check last Friday, but RBs Ray Melnikoff and Cody Moyle picked up the slack in a 35-6 victory over Hanover Area. Like Lehman, things go best when the Lions stick to running the ball. They have won seven in a row against WVC opponents, with the last loss coming when the teams met three years ago.What To Expect: A game that could go either way.Old Forge (6-2) at Northwest (3-5)7 p.m. FridayThe Coaches: Old Forge&#8217;s Mike Schuback (149-56, 17th year); Northwest&#8217;s Lon Hazlet (108-104, 20th year)Last Meeting: Old Forge 35-6 in 2013All-Time Series: Old Forge leads 7-0Scouting Old Forge: The Blue Devils recorded their third shutout of the season with a 38-0 victory over neighbor rival Riverside. QB Dante Lucarelli had a big day throwing the ball. He&#8217;s a veteran of many big games. The question mark coming into the season was the running game as 2,000-yard rusher Brendan Mozeleski graduated. For the most part, Old Forge has answered the concern.Scouting Northwest: The Rangers rebounded from a one-point loss to Hanover Area to defeat Wyalusing 35-8. While the final score was impressive, it must be noted that Wyalusing&#8217;s offense hasn&#8217;t shown up all year. QB David Piestrak has thrown the ball better in the last few games. RB George May had a career-high 97 yards.What To Expect: Old Forge to continue its upward trend.Pittston Area (3-5) at Crestwood (2-6)7 p.m. FridayThe Coaches: Pittston Area&#8217;s Nick Barbieri (9-10, 2nd year); Crestwood&#8217;s Greg Myers (81-79, 14th year)Last Meeting: Crestwood 34-15 in 2017All-Time Series: Crestwood leads 10-5Scouting Pittston Area: The Patriots couldn&#8217;t generate anything in a 50-12 loss to Scranton Prep. Of course, most Prep opponents had the same problem. They also turned over the ball five times after having seven turnovers in the first seven games. The run defense has been decent the past few games, but the passing defense hasn&#8217;t.Scouting Crestwood: The Comets lost 61-13, allowing the most points in a game since a 61-21 setback to Scranton Prep in the 2012 Eastern Conference Class 3A semifinals, a span of 64 games. The passing game gained a season-low 13 yards. The run defense was gouged for a season-high 453 yards. Yet, they still have an outside shot at a D2-4A playoff berth.What To Expect: The team that regroups better after last Friday&#8217;s blowouts should prevail.Tunkhannock (2-6) at Mid Valley (1-7)7 p.m. FridayThe Coaches: Tunkhannock&#8217;s Mike Marabell (2-6, 1st year); Mid Valley&#8217;s Dave Rebar (40-63, 9th year)Last Meeting: Tunkhannock 26-0 in 1981All-Time Series: Tunkhannock leads 8-4Scouting Tunkhannock: The Tigers enter off their worse loss of the season, 47-7 at Wallenpaupack. The running game had its worse performance of the season and hasn&#8217;t topped 100 yards in any of the past three games. The run defense has undergone similar issues in that same span. Plus, Tunkhannock has a minus-7 turnover ratio during the slide.Scouting Mid Valley: The Spartans came into the season with high hopes for a pair of returning 1,000-yard running backs. Things haven&#8217;t worked out. Joe Chylak hasn&#8217;t played since an early-season injury and Colin Hazelton was forced to played quarterback in a 42-14 loss to Meyers. When Hazelton moved back to tailback, the Spartans had a little more offense.What To Expect: Tunkhannock has a little more punch offensively and that could be the difference.Wallenpaupack (5-3) at Williamsport (5-3)7 p.m. FridayThe Coaches: Wallenpaupack&#8217;s Mark Watson (61-71, 13th year); Williamsport&#8217;s Chuck Crews (41-43, 8th year)Last Meeting: never playedAll-Time Series: never playedScouting Wallenpaupack: The Buckhorns have won five of their last six games to go from a fringe D2/11-5A playoff team to the second seed. RB Nick Ruggieri ran all over Tunkhannock in a 47-7 victory. Considering Williamsport is pretty small on the defensive line, a similar gameplan makes plenty of sense.Scouting Williamsport: Williamsport traveled about 150 miles to be embarrassed 41-0 by Delaware Valley. The loss wasn&#8217;t the surprise; the shutout was. Even though the Millionaires don&#8217;t have Minnesota-bound RB Treyson Potts, there is too much talent remaining to be held scoreless for a second time this season.What To Expect: Wallenpaupack to take control in the second half.Wyoming Valley West (4-4) at Delaware Valley (5-3)7 p.m. FridayThe Coaches: WVW&#8217;s Pat Keating (80-34, 10th year); Delaware Valley&#8217;s Keith Olsommer (138-84, 20th year)Last Meeting: DelVal 35-25 in 2017All-Time Series: Valley West leads 7-5Scouting Valley West: The Spartans are in a funk. They&#8217;ve lost four of their last five, with the only victory vs. winless Coughlin, to fall outside a playoff spot in the D2/11-5A playoffs. The latest loss was 35-21 in Abington Heights, which entered the game with one win and a shaky offense. Might need to win the next two to make the postseason.Scouting DelVal: Almost written off as a rebuilding season after a 2-3 start, DelVal has gone on a three-game winning streak. The 41-0 win vs. Williamsport was the Warriors&#8217; second consecutive shutout. The running game trampled Williamsport, but will probably have a tougher time tonight. The passing game is average.What To Expect: DelVal has momentum and should get the win.Nanticoke Area (3-5) at GAR (1-7)7 p.m. SaturdayThe Coaches: Nanticoke Area&#8217;s Ron Bruza (36-54, 9th year); GAR&#8217;s Paul Wiedlich Jr. (53-45, 9th year)Last Meeting: Nanticoke Area 45-6 in 2017All-Time Series: GAR leads 42-34-6Scouting Nanticoke Area: The Trojans became the only team to opt out of the District 2 playoffs, likely opening a spot for another 4A team. Had they stayed in, they would have played at either Valley View, Berwick or Dallas, which defeated them 35-0 two weeks ago. Last week, Nanticoke Area fell 30-0 to Lakeland. The offense scored one TD three other times.Scouting GAR: The Grenadiers lost 50-22 to Lake-Lehman as they gave up over 300 yards rushing for the second time this season. While QB Kam Taylor threw for a career-high 216 yards, the running game continues to struggle with little promise in sight. The ground game is averaging 57 yards and 2.5 per carry over the last four games.What To Expect: Nanticoke Area by a couple TDs.<style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By John Erzarjerzar@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar</shirttailMeta></div>

WVC football Week 9 at a glance