Dallas’ Hunter Pitcavage (4) runs the ball during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Pittston Area’s Santino Salvo (15) stiff-arms Dallas’ Marc Saracinaj (24) during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dallas’ Hunter Pitcavage (4) breaks away from the Pittston Area defense during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Pittston Area’s Lucas Lo Presto (1) runs the ball during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dallas’ Marc Saracinaj (42) runs with the ball during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dallas’ Marc Saracinaj (42) fights for extra yards during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dallas’ Talan Geskey (15) makes a pass during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dallas’ Trevor Slavinski (20) runs with the ball during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dallas’ Bobby Gallagher (3) runs the ball during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dallas’ Bobby Gallagher (3) runs the ball during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dallas’ Talan Geskey (15) pushes into the Pittston Area defense during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Pittston Area’s Deondre Miller (3) runs the ball during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
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Dallas’ Hunter Pitcavage (4) runs the ball during a football game in Yatesville on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
YATESVILLE — One play Friday night epitomized Dallas head coach Rich Mannello’s entire philosophy in action.
Brady McCann blocked a Pittston Area punt and Marc Saracinaj returned it for a 13-yard touchdown early in the third quarter, putting a bow on a four-touchdown explosion across just 6 minutes, 23 seconds of game time.
Efficiency on offense and physicality on defense contribute to winning football, but most importantly, according to Mannello, soundness on special teams makes all the difference.
The third phase certainly aided that scoring burst as Dallas mounted a 35-7 victory over the Patriots in a Wyoming Valley Conference game at Charley Trippi Field.
The punt block returned for a touchdown gave Dallas a 35-0 lead with 8:30 left in the third quarter that enforced a running clock.
“It’s the most important thing we do at Dallas,” Mannello said. “People may be getting sick of hearing about it, but as long as I’m standing on that sideline, special teams is the No. 1 priority 12 months a year at Dallas.”
If anything, Mannello is self aware. Touting the value of special teams every week can be redundant, but when all three phases work harmoniously, the proof of concept is Friday night’s scoring eruption.
Hunter Pitcavage scored on a 7-yard rush with 2:53 until halftime, giving Dallas a 14-0 advantage. It was set up by a 19-yard Talan Geskey scramble and a 37-yard deep pass from Geskey to Tyce Mason.
After forcing a three-and-out, Dallas used tempo to drive 65 yards in just over a minute. Saracinaj notched a 21-yard rush and a 26-yard catch-and-run to set up a 6-yard touchdown pass from Geskey to Mason 16 seconds before halftime.
Brandon Miller consistently sent kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks to give Pittston Area tough starting field position, and he did so to start the second half.
The Patriots lost 19 yards in three plays and punted from their 1, and Mason returned it 40 yards to the Pittston Area 6 to set up first-and-goal.
Two defensive pre-snap penalties later, Pitcavage scored on a 2-yard carry to make it 28-0 at the third quarter’s 10:05 mark.
Another Pittston Area three-and-out led to the blocked punt and return to put the game out of hand quickly.
“Pittston played well and played hard. That’s Pittston, they’re always going to do that,” Mannello said. “We adjust, everybody stayed in the game and that’s when the weight room takes over. … We went to 10-personnel at one point and sped up the game, trying to change the tempo of things at the end of the first half.”
The victory elevates Dallas to 4-0 for the first time since 2023, a season that ended in the state championship game.
The Mountaineers have displayed a high-powered offense this season, but Pittston Area (1-3) kept them at bay early.
A holding penalty wiped out a 50-yard gain on the third play of the game and Dallas ultimately punted on that opening series.
It took a 95-yard drive to open the scoring. Pittston Area punter Jordan Talarico flipped the field midway through the first with a 62-yard punt that was downed at the Dallas 5.
Geskey then led a methodical drive, including four first downs, eventually muscling in a 1-yard QB sneak to make it 7-0 with 19 seconds left in the first quarter.
The junior completed 7 of 14 passes for 130 yards and rushed for 51 yards.
With kicker Brandon Miller booming kickoffs into the end zone, Pittston Area rarely started in favorable field position as Dallas pulled away.
The mercy rule was in effect by the time freshman Levi Pisano got Pittston Area on the board with a 3-yard touchdown rush with 3:31 left.
Jude Ferentino paced Pittston Area with 71 yards rushing on 19 carries.
The Dallas secondary, led by McCann and Bobby Gallagher, made it nearly impossible for Santino Salvo to pass and Lucas LoPresto to find open space. Dallas allowed just 18 passing yards through three quarters.
Pittston Area’s longest plays — passes of 19 and 27 yards by Salvo — came on its final drive.