Late Heroics Lift Tigers To Upset Victory

By JAMIE PIERCE Times Leader Sports Correspondent
Saturday, October 27, 2001 Page: 3B

SCRANTON – When West Scranton scored a touchdown to take an eight-point
lead with 5:43 remaining in Friday night’s game, it looked as if visiting
Tunkhannock finally ran out of chances.

After scoring on just one of four trips inside the West Scranton 10 in the
first half, the Tigers were limited to one first down during the first 18
minutes of the second half.
But Tunkhannock never gave up.

In a wild fourth quarter that saw three touchdowns in the final 1:39, the
Tigers (2-7) forced overtime, and then used Luke Marcy’s 20-yard field goal to
upset the Invaders, 24-21, in an instant classic at Scranton Memorial Stadium.

“It was great to pull this one out, but we could have put the game away a
lot earlier” Tunkhannock coach Jan Cechak said. “I give West Scranton a lot
of credit, but I don’t think their players took us seriously.”

After Angelo DeSarno’s 15-yard touchdown put the Invaders (6-3) ahead 15-7,
things got crazy.

The Tigers – who had just 26 yards of total offense during the first 18
minutes of the second half – pieced together a 64-yard drive to tie the game.
With 1:39 remaining, senior Bill Hampton connected with Matt Blaisure for an

at 15-15.

On the first play of the ensuing possession, a Tunkhannock personal foul
moved the Invaders to the Tiger 45 with 1:22 left. Senior John McGloin hit
Evan Prall for a 31-yard reception before DeSarno ran 6 yards for his third
touchdown and a 21-15 lead with 1:08 remaining.

Tunkhannock marched right back. Hampton (162 rushing yards) ran for 39
yards, and threw a 30-yard pass to Tom Relation down to the West Scranton 2.
Kalmanowicz then bulled in for a 2-yard touchdown to tie the game at 21-21.
Prall kept the Invaders alive, blocking Marcy’s extra point attempt.

A 31-yard pass to Prall on the next West Scranton possession gave McGloin

attempt as time expired. The kick had the distance, but sailed wide right,
forcing overtime.

West Scranton passed on what would have been an 18-yard field goal in
overtime, and was stuffed by the Tigers on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

The Tigers couldn’t get in the end zone either, but Marcy booted a 20-yard
field goal to lift Tunkhannock to its second win of the season.