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PSU-Idaho: Defense ready to set the tone for Lions’ 2019 season

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WVC football: Wilkes-Barre Area celebrates first win as combined team

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; The play didn&#8217;t decided the game, but certainly changed the fortunes for Hazleton Area on Friday night.</p><p>And, perhaps, Wyoming Valley West for the next few weeks.</p><p>Hazleton Area linebacker Jonny DeBellis stopped a possible freefall for his team with a 16-yard fumble return for a touchdown. From there, the Cougars built some momentum on the way to a 35-34 victory over Wyoming Valley West in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 6A-5A game.</p><p>Hazleton Area (1-1) took the lead for good with 1:30 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 23-yard pass from quarterback Kellen Warner to receiver Matt Fisher, who was the starting quarterback in last Friday&#8217;s loss to Pottsville. Fisher double-caught the pass at the 10-yard line, turned and raced into the end zone. Luke Russo&#8217;s extra point made it 35-34.</p><p>The touchdown came on a fourth-and-7 play and completed a 45-yard scoring drive that lasted seven plays.</p><p>&#8220;It was fourth down and I was just trying to make a play,&#8221; said Fisher, who played receiver last season. &#8220;I knew I had to get to the yard markers and I ended up getting into the end zone. I couldn&#8217;t be more happy.&#8221;</p><p>Valley West drove down the field and scored with no time left on a 9-yard pass from backup quarterback Dylan Nastanski to Nah-Syr Garner. The extra point was wide left &#8212; a few Hazleton Area assistant coaches believe a Cougar may have misdirected the kick &#8212; and the Cougars left with a win.</p><p>Victory didn&#8217;t seem feasible the way the game started. Valley West (1-1) jumped to a 14-0 lead and picked off two passes when DeBellis caused a momentum swing.</p><p>Valley West quarterback Dontae Rhodes slipped while running the ball, injuring his hip, and fumbled. Players on both teams stood around for a few seconds before DeBellis picked up the ball and ran into the end zone. Rhodes left on a cart and didn&#8217;t return.</p><p>Nastanski switched from receiver to quarterback and could be there next week against Crestwood.</p><p>&#8220;Nastanski came in and did a great job,&#8221; Valley West coach Jack Baranski said. &#8220;He got a lot of snaps over the summer. He was prepared and did a nice job.&#8221;</p><p>The Spartans went ahead 21-7 at 8:47 of the third quarter on a 9-yard run by Brendan Woods. Hazleton Area, though, scored on its next two drives to move within 21-20 entering the fourth quarter.</p><p>The Cougars relied heavily on big fullback Kevin Meluskey during the rally. He ran just three times in the first half for 10 yards, but in the final two quarters he carried 16 times to finish with 97 yards. He scored on a 1-yard run at 7:44 in the fourth as the Cougars took a 28-21 lead.</p><p>Valley West came right back to tie the score as Jeremiah Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.</p><p>&#8220;Our offensive line took over the game in the second half at times,&#8221; Hazleton Area coach Mike Brennan said. &#8220;Our defense battled. A bunch of young kids came of age tonight.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West quarterback Dontae Rhodes takes off on a 41-yard keeper for a touchdown against Hazleton Area in WVC football action Friday night in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL083119HSFB-WVW-Haz_1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wyoming Valley West quarterback Dontae Rhodes takes off on a 41-yard keeper for a touchdown against Hazleton Area in WVC football action Friday night in Kingston. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL083119HSFB-WVW-Haz_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Hazleton Area&#8217;s Matt Fisher gets corralled by the Wyoming Valley West defense Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL083119HSFB-WVW-Haz_4.jpg</photo1><caption1>Hazleton Area&#8217;s Matt Fisher gets corralled by the Wyoming Valley West defense Friday night. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL083119HSFB-WVW-Haz_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West defensive back Nah-Syr Garner returns an interception against Hazleton Area Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL083119HSFB-WVW-Haz_3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Wyoming Valley West defensive back Nah-Syr Garner returns an interception against Hazleton Area Friday night. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL083119HSFB-WVW-Haz_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Hazleton Area quarterback Kellen Warner runs a keeper against Wyoming Valley West Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL083119HSFB-WVW-Haz_2.jpg</photo3><caption3>Hazleton Area quarterback Kellen Warner runs a keeper against Wyoming Valley West Friday night. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By John Erzar</p><p>jerzar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

WVC football: Hazleton Area rallies in second half to defeat Wyoming Valley West