Carbondale Rallies To Defeat Old Forge

By TIMOTHY J. RAUB [email protected] Times Leader Sports

Saturday, October 27, 2001 Page: 4B

OLD FORGE – Rumors of boastful comments by Old Forge head coach Paul
Iacavazzi, stating that he had the best 25 athletes in Lackawanna County would
be enough to enrage any opposing team.

That statement especially did not sit well with Carbondale Area head coach
John Lasavage, or any one of his players.
The Chargers (6-2 NEPFC Division 4, 7-2 Overall) took advantage of big
opportunities, and scored with under five minutes to play to come from behind
and defeat the Blue Devils (6-2 NEPFC Division 4, 6-3 Overall) 13-10 in
Northeastern Pennsylvania Football Conference Division 4 action at Old Forge
Stadium.

“Last week, (Iacavazzi) said that he had the best 25 athletes in
Lackawanna County on his team,” said Lasavage. “That was our motivation all
week at practice. We shut their offense down most of the game, and I think
that I can make a bold statement by saying that I have 25 of the best athletes
that I have ever coached.”

Carbondale jumped out to a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter Friday, when
Jared Nepa hooked up with running back John Lasavage on a screen pass that
turned into a 52-yard touchdown strike.

Old Forge answered in the second quarter, when Bill Pregman booted a


Ryan Marsico gave the Blue Devils their first lead of the game midway
through the third quarter when he took the ball on the Carbondale 2-yard line,
and bulled his way into the endzone and the score, which made it a 10-7 game.

The Carbondale defense took over late in the third quarter, and held Old
Forge’s offense in check long enough for Nepa to hook up with Corey Frazier on
a 50-yard strike to gave the Chargers the lead once again at 13-10 after the
extra point attempt was blocked.

The Blue Devils had a chance late in the fourth quarter, but on
fourth-and-10 from their own 24, Old Forge quarterback Ricky Carey caught
Brian Rodell along the sideline, but Rodell was stopped a yard short, sealing
the victory for Carbondale.

“I am not going to make any excuses,” said Iacavazzi. “We were outplayed
(Friday night). We have to bounce back next week.”