web1_Polar-Express3.jpeg

‘Polar Express’ to pull in to Downtown Arts

web1_TTL120118boat1.jpg

Paddling, cardboard and a lot of math for WBA students to stay afloat

<p>Lackawanna Trail will play for a state football championship for the first time in school history.</p><p>Sophomore running back Ray Melnikoff rushed for three touchdowns, including an 8-yarder midway through the fourth quarter, as Trail defeated Juniata Valley 24-14 Friday night in a PIAA Class A semifinal game at Danville High School.</p><p>District 2 champion Trail (14-1) became the first District 2 team to advance to a championship game since Dunmore played for the 2A title in 2014. District 2 hasn&#8217;t had a state champion since Berwick won the 3A title in 1996. The Lions will play District 10 champion Farrell (14-0) at 1 p.m. Thursday at Hersheypark Stadium. Farrell defeated D7 champion OLSH 41-10 in the other semifinal.</p><p>After a quiet first quarter, the teams combined for 31 points in the second.</p><p>Trail struck first on a 4-yard TD run by quarterback Nate Rolka at 9:23 after a 26-yard run by Melnikoff, who finished the first half with 100 yards rushing. Juniata Valley didn&#8217;t take long to tie the game as quarterback Quinn Zinobile scored on a 1-yard run two minutes later.</p><p>Trail, though, struck just four seconds later on a 57-yard touchdown run by Melnikoff for a 14-7 lead.</p><p>Zinobile tied the score 14-14 on a 12-yard run at 3:33 of the second, but Trail took a 17-14 lead into the locker room when Rolka connected on a 34-yard field goal with 0.9 seconds left on the clock.</p><p>Trail shut out District 6 champ Juniata Valley (11-3) in the second half and used Melnikoff&#8217;s third rushing TD with 6:32 remaining to take a 24-14 lead.</p><p><strong>Middletown 35, Scranton Prep 21 </strong></p><p>Scranton Prep&#8217;s season ended like it did the past two years &#8212; with a loss to Middletown.</p><p>Middletown scored in the first half on a Prep special teams blunder and two touchdown passes by Scott Ash as the Blue Raiders went on for a victory in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals at the Bethlehem School District Stadium.</p><p>Middletown defeated Prep in the 3A quarterfinals the past two seasons &#8212; 35-0 in 2017 and 40-13 in 2016. Middletown went on to play in the Class 3A state championship games, losing both times.</p><p>District 2 champion Prep finishes its year at 13-2. District 3 champion Middletown improved to 14-1 at will play for the state championship at noon Saturday, Dec. 8, at Hersheypark Stadium. The Blue Raiders&#8217; opponent will be the winner of Saturday&#8217;s game between District 10 champion Sharon and District 7 champion Aliquippa.</p><p>Prep found itself in trouble on the fifth play of the game after failing to get a first down. The snap sailed over the head of punter Alec Buttner and into the end zone. Middletown&#8217;s Adonis Taveras won the scramble for the ball for a touchdown at 10:28 of the first quarter.</p><p>Middletown increased the lead to 14-0 at 3:20 of the opening quarter when Lamar Ventura turned a short pass from Ash into a 60-yard touchdown. Ash hooked up with Richie Sykes down the middle for a 23-yard TD pass just before halftime.</p><p>Middletown extended its lead to 28-0 on a 60-yard run by Sykes at 11:35 of the third quarter. Prep later had four cracks from the Middletown 4-yard line, but couldn&#8217;t score on three runs and a pass.</p><p>The Cavaliers finally got on the board at 0:27 of the third quarter when Leo O&#8217;Boyle hit Michael Grady for a 70-yard touchdown pass. They cut the deficit to 28-14 at 7:47 of the fourth on a 6-yard TD reception by Brendan Colleran. The momentum, though, died as Lopez answered with an 80-yard touchdown run for the Blue Raiders.</p><p>Prep punched in a final score with 48 seconds left on a 6-yard touchdown catch by Mike Greco after Middletown fumbled a punt at its 15.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_Football.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_Football.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Times Leader sports at 570-829-7143 or on Twitter @TLSports</p></shirttailMeta></div>

PIAA FOOTBALL: Lackawanna Trail moves to Class A title game; Scranton Prep loses