Wallenpaupack’s Ben Defeo runs in the second half against Scranton at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Scranton on Friday, Sept. 18, 2206. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Wallenpaupack’s Ben Defeo runs in the second half against Scranton at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Scranton on Friday, Sept. 18, 2206. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
SCRANTON — Matt Nawrocki admits he’s never seen it before.
Two players with back-to-back, interception returns for touchdowns less than one minute apart. But the Wallenpaupack coach is quick with another observation.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing more of it from our side,” he smiled.
With the way his Buckhorns have been playing on the defensive side of the ball, anything and everything is possible.
Jaxton Pouliot and Cade Pittinger had the house calls in the second quarter as Wallenpaupack eased past Scranton, 54-0, on Friday night in a Lackawanna Football Conference Division I game at Scranton Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Wallenpaupack (3-1) ran for 364 yards as Edward Kiesendahl and Ben Defeo each finished with more than 100 yards.
“Those interceptions, credit to our kids because they are just doing what they are coached to do,” Nawrocki said. “They were in positions where they were supposed to be, and they are trusting it right now. I would contribute our last two wins to defense and special teams. We’ve created a lot of turnovers, and that’s something we preach in practice every day. To see it come out on the field, it’s really nice.”
Edward Kiesendahl’s third touchdown of the game, a 2-yard run through the middle, gave Paupack the 21-0 lead with 9:40 left before halftime.
Enter Pouliot.
On a second-down play, the Buckhorns junior jumped the route perfectly, picking off quarterback Christopher Manning with nothing but green turf in front of him. Twenty yards later, Pouliot had the first touchdown of his high school career.
“I just dropped back in my coverage. I was watching the quarterback the entire time, so I was able to undercut the ball and go for six,” Pouliot said. “I had a lot of confidence in that moment that I was going to be able to make the catch and run it in.”
Enter Pittinger.
Two plays after Pouliot’s pick-6, Pittinger also perfectly read a screen pass — picking off Scranton’s second quarterback Jack Cabets near the Buckhorns sideline and taking it back 26 yards for the score.
In a two-minute span, a two-score lead blossomed to a five-touchdown bulge.
“I saw what they lined up in, and I heard our sideline calling out about the screen,” Pittinger said. “I sat back, saw it and just went after it. Honestly, my mentality at that moment was to get into the end zone. Nothing was going to stop me.
“Back-to-back picks like that, it was awesome. The defense was just so hyped in that moment.”
The Buckhorns’ defense was tenacious and ferocious, holding the Knights to 15 yards for the game as Scranton fumbled 10 times — losing one of them late in the second half.
“The defense played amazing. It’s always an amazing game when you can shut out a team,” Pouliot said. “I am just so proud of them. The defense played great. Now, we have to work hard in practice, and watch a lot of film going into next week (against Delaware Valley). We will be prepared.”
Scranton’s best drive came on its opening possession as a long kickoff return by Sean Fairweather set up the Knights in Wallenpaupack territory. A Manning-to-Ismael Salazar completion pushed the ball in the red zone, but a bad snap on fourth down ended any scoring hopes.
It was the only time Scranton (0-4) drove deep into Wallenpaupack’s side of the field.