BY SCOTT VEITH

CORRESPONDENT

DUNMORE — Dunmore continued its red-hot start to the season with a 35-0 victory over Lake-Lehman in a nonconference high school football game at Dunmore Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Senior fullback Xavier Burke rushed for three touchdowns and senior all-purpose back Weston Yannone scored twice, once on the ground and once through the air.

Dunmore (4-0) got on the board early with a 27-yard Burke touchdown run on its first possession for a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.

Yannone capped the Bucks’ second possession with a 3-yard touchdown for 14-0 lead with 6:46 left in the first quarter.

Burke added his second touchdown of the game — a 2-yard plunge — with 7:35 left in the second quarter as the Bucks took a 20-0 lead into halftime.

It stayed that way until Burke found the end zone again, this time from 1 yard out. His two -point conversion reception from Brady McCormick made it 28-0 with 5:32 left in the third.

The Bucks capped the scoring with 1:49 left in the third when Yannone took a pass from McCormick 15 yards for a score and a 35-0 lead, kicking in the mercy rule and running clock

McCormick was efficient, completing 11 of 15 passes for 151 yards to lead a balanced attack.

Through four games, the Bucks have outscored opponents, 202-14.

“It’s my pleasure to coach this group of seniors,” Dunmore head coach Kevin McHale said. “I’ve known these guys for a long time. I’ve watched them grow up. They’re great for our community, and they walk the walk.”

Defensively, tackle Ethyn Durst and senior cornerback Jacob Costanzo paced a group that kept the Black Knights from sniffing the endzone. Durst recorded a sack and two tackles for losses, while Costanzo intercepted two passes and knocked down another.

“They (Lake-Lehman) were able to move the ball a little bit tonight, but we kept them out of the end zone,” McHale said. “I credit our coaching staff with having our defense well prepared each week. All three levels are ready to go. The defensive lineman, the linebackers and the defensive backs all contribute.”

Despite the convincing  victory, it wasn’t all positive for Dunmore. The Bucks committed 12 penalties, which McHale knows is not typical of a championship caliber team.

“We were undisciplined,” McHale said. “We talked to our guys about it at halftime. We were fortunate that it didn’t affect the outcome of the game, but it’s something we’re going to have to clean up moving forward for sure.”