HS FOOTBALL: 85th Dream Game celebrated the stars one last time

The 2018 high school football season officially ended.

Graduated star players stormed the scorching FieldTurf at John Henzes/Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursday night and, with an early rush of adrenaline, gave the fans reminders of their stellar careers that included players who led their respective teams to all six of the District 2 team championships.

The night also provided an opportunity for a football fanatic area to salute the legendary Jack Henzes in person as the octogenarian accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award after a head coaching career that spanned six decades and is decorated with incomparable championships.

 

 

 

 

THE PRESENTATION

 

 

 

 

 

THE FIRST HALF

 

The County came out firing. And, in all due respect, after spending the evening on its sideline, the group that had players from Valley View who were playing in their final game at their home stadium, had a cohesive bond and a team approach toward earning a win.

As the beaming sun cooked the stadium and the athletes who hadn’t worn the added 15 pounds of equipment in a game since the chill of November, the County came out and threw the ball all over the field, got big plays, and scored two first-quarter touchdowns that indicated this edition of the summer all-star classic might turn into a track meet.

The sweltering heat and soupy air made that impossible as the players wilted finding it difficult to even maintain their feet while resting on the sideline. They were all provided plenty of water, and everyone kept giving the best effort they could.

Honesdale quarterback — the only quarterback selected for the County all-stars — Ethan Dunn capped a big-play drive beneath the still sun-splashed skyline. Western Wayne’s Dylan Walck had a 21-yard reception and an 18-yard run, and Thomas Pidgeon added a very important 22-yard catch on a third-and-16 from the County 48. Then, Dunn capped the march with one of the wilder 1-yard runs where he avoided a tackle for loss and reached the ball just across the goal line.

 

COUNTY 7, CITY 0. 3:17 First quarter.

 

 

 

 

On the second play of the ensuing drive, Valley View’s combination of Chase Combs and Traon Jones created a swing in momentum. Combs finally tracked down West Scranton’s Zakeem Quincey Vassell who looked like he was playing a game of tag in the school yard avoiding defenders. The hit caused a fumble and Jones, last season’s Defensive Player of the Year, pounced on the loose ball.

Once the celebration settled, Dunn launched a pass to Valley View’s Jaden Duplessis, who leaped above a defender and corralled the ball in the end zone for another score that breathed life into the stadium. Unfortunately, a certain sideline reporter for ON THE BLOG doesn’t have the same glue-like hands of the County receiving corps hence his short-lived collegiate career, and he bobbled his iPhone and in the movie industry it’s called missing the shot. Thankfully, a professional like Christopher Dolan was on the spot and captured the moments.

 

COUNTY 14, CITY 0. 2:38 First quarter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The County had another deep offensive drive in the second quarter. Old Forge’s Anthony Rios had a 7-yard catch. Again, Pidgeon hauled in a 12-yard pass on a third down to keep the team moving toward the goal line and Valley View’s Mason Kordish had two runs that pushed the ball to the 1-yard line.

However, a penalty and three straight incomplete passes — two that were tipped at the line by West Scranton’s Bailey Loureiro and Jake Ciullo — stopped the County in its tracks.

Then, Lakeland’s James Lewis had an interception that prevented the City from pulling to within 14-7 at the half. It was one of four turnovers for the City in the game.

 

 

 

 

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THE SECOND HALF

 

It didn’t take long for the City and Vassell to recover from the first-half miscue, After Donny Blaine had a near-perfect pass fall incomplete off the finger tips of Scranton’s Rodo Brown, who subsequently did 10 push ups at midfield for his drop, the North Pocono senior repeated his display of a big arm that Kutztown University will be thrilled to have on campus. He hit Vassell in stride and the track sprinter simply left the County secondary in his dust for a 79-yard touchdown.

 

READ JARED PALLO’S STORY ON VASSELL’S BOUNCE-BACK GAME BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW:

 

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/hs-football-west-s-vassell-has-big-night-for-city-1.2510125?fbclid=IwAR2Zy-KwRyTzbyuoXcxGaAaHsrYA7Stj3CX5Sbjj7HXidIFRnLyqwXbcX5w#.XTHCT2S_I20.facebook

 

 

COUNTY 14, CITY 7. 11:34 Third quarter.

 

 

Sensing the intensity of the heat was taking its toll on the players, County head coach Mike Jurkowski turned to Kordish and his big offensive line to chew up the clock. Last season’s Offensive Player of the Year responded. He carried the ball nine times in the second half, had a 14-yard run, and finished as the game’s leading rusher with 75 yards on 19 carries.

 

 

 

 

 

Neither team could score again.

The County really rose to the occasion with impact plays. Dangerous Donnie Collins hit the nail right on the head when he wrote about the outstanding effort of the County defensive unit that had several important stops in the second half to preserve the win:

 

• Western Wayne’s Kobe Sauter intercepted a pass at the goal line and returned it 39 yards at 2:30 of the third quarter.

 

• Honesdale’s Justin LoBasso had a sack to force a punt at 8:45 of the fourth quarter.

 

• Old Forge’s Brett Wargo collected a sack for a 10-yard loss at 3:45 of the fourth quarter.

 

• Western Wayne’s Kobe Sauter had his second interception of the half to secure the win at 3:09 of the fourth quarter.

 

 

READ DONNIE COLLINS’ STORY ON THE COUNTY DEFENSE BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW:

 

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/defense-steals-the-show-for-the-county-1.2510087

 

 

 

 

COUNTY 14, CITY 7. FINAL.

 

 

THE HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

 

 

 

READ THE GAME STORY ON THE COUNTY’S VICTORY BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW:

 

 

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/hs-football-county-defeats-city-14-7-1.2510119

 

 

 

 

SCENES FROM

 

THE 85th SCRANTON

 

LIONS CLUB

 

DREAM GAME

 

 

PHOTOS BY

CHRISTOPHER DOLAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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