HS FOOTBALL: Wallenpaupack knocks off Berwick to stay alive in 4A – Scranton Times-Tribune

PALMYRA TWP. — Ed Kiesendahl rushed for 142 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Jack Rafferty hauled in a pair of touchdown receptions from Sam Kiesendahl to lead Wallenpaupack past Berwick, 31-14, in the District 2 Class 4A quarterfinals Friday at Wallenpaupack High School.

Without the likes of leading rusher Gavin Galutia, leading pass-catcher Gabe Decker, key contributor Jake Lisnock and others, the Bulldogs’ season unraveled quickly against the fourth-seeded Buckhorns, who advance to face No. 1 Dallas in the semifinals next week. Dallas defeated Hanover Area, 48-14, on Friday.

On the first drive of the game, Brady Cleaver — who made his return to the Bulldogs’ starting lineup for the first time since Week 4 — missed his twin brother Bryce on what could have been a sure-touchdown pass. Instead, the Bulldogs had to punt, which turned into a muffed punt that only went four yards.

Several plays later, the Buckhorns (7-4) struck first on an Ed Kiesendahl 8-yard run for the first score of the game.

On Berwick’s next possession, the fifth-seeded Bulldogs (5-6) lost a fumble that set the Buckhorns up in close scoring range. It only took a few more plays before Rafferty reeled in a 13-yard pass from Sam Kiesendahl to push Wallenpaupack’s lead to 14-0.

Shiloh Escobar stopped the Buckhorns on fourth-and-1 on their third drive of the night at the Berwick 20. With the new-found life, the Bulldogs’ offense drove into Buckhorns territory, but a Cleaver pass was tipped and intercepted, setting up a long return for the Buckhorns.

Ed Kiesendahl only needed three plays to move the Buckhorns 49 yards for a score, which included a 28-yard gallop to the end zone with 3:27 left in the half.

The quick lead for the Buckhorns did not deter the Bulldogs.

Aided by a Cleaver 40-yard scamper on the next drive, the Bulldogs finished off a long scoring drive to end the first half when Cleaver connected with Shiloh Escopar on a 9-yard strike, bringing the score to 21-7 with 17.1 seconds left to play.

To start the second half, the Bulldogs managed to keep the Buckhorns off the scoreboard on their first possession, keeping them far enough away to miss a field goal attempt with 7:35 left in the third.

From there, Berwick drove 80 yards, thanks to a 59-yards scurry by Cleaver that set up his 6-yard scoring run that pulled Berwick to within a score.

Berwick kept its defensive pressure on in the fourth quarter, even though the Buckhorns mounted a long drive that took plenty of time off the clock. It didn’t result in a touchdown for the Buckhorns despite the strong running of Ed Kiesendahl and Rafferty, but it did allow Colby Bonagura to boot a 45-yard field goal for a 24-14 lead with 7:10 left.

Then came a big play, when on fourth-and-6 from its own 35, Cleaver fired a pass over the head of his intended receiver, resulting in a turnover on downs with less than five minutes left.

Rafferty then put the game away for the Buckhorns with a 27-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown that gave Wallenpaupack a 31-14 lead.

THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT.