WYOMING AREA FOOTBALL

WEST PITTSTON — The big question coming into Wyoming Area’s season was who would fill the void left by the graduation of all-state running back Aaron Crossley.

Lidge Kellum answered that Friday night.

Kellum ran for a career-high 337 yards and three touchdowns plus returned a kickoff for another score as Wyoming Area outlasted Dallas 49-41 in a Wyoming Valley Conference interdivisional game between last season’s championship teams.

“With Aaron gone, somebody has to step up,” said Kellum, who rushed for 369 yards during the 2023 regular season. “I had to be the one who stepped up and I did just that.”

Kellum carried 39 times, with his running to start the third quarter allowing Wyoming Area to take its first lead of the game. He carried the load on two scoring drives that were capped by touchdown runs of 3 and 9 yards by Trustin Johnson.

“They told me I was going to be running a lot,” Kellum said. “I didn’t expect to have the game I did, I’ll tell you that.”

Wyoming Area extended its lead to 42-28 at 8:47 of the fourth quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Anthony DeLucca to Luke Kopetchny.

Dallas came right back 39 seconds later to cut it to a one-possession game. Quarterback Brady Zapoticky, who finished with 396 passing yards, threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cole Rigol to move the Mountaineers within 42-35.

Kellum then struck for the final time, running for a 61-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 49-35. Kellum also answered Dallas’ first touchdown by returning the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a score. He had touchdown runs of 5 and 63 yards in the second quarter as the teams combined to scored 35 points in those 12 minutes.

“I’ve talked about it all preseason,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said. “(Kellum) has been evaluated very highly at the camps he’s gone to as far as going to that next level. He has the potential to be the most dynamic player in District 2 and if not on a state level.

“When he plays with confidence, when he plays like he’s the best player on the field, he is the best player on the field. We’re thrilled to see him have that kind of night tonight with his teammates.”

Dallas opened the scoring on an 82-yard pass from Zapoticky to Logan Geskey in the first quarter.

Kellum’s kickoff return made it 7-7. The teams were tied again at 14-14 and 21-21 in the second quarter, then 28-28 in the third quarter. This came after Wyoming Area was tied at 7, 14 and 21 with Crestwood before pulling out a win in the opener.

The Mountaineers took the lead three times in the second quarter on Zapoticky’s 19-yard pass to Nate Malarkey, Dylan Geskey’s 2-yard run and Zapoticky’s 27-yard pass to Sam Kelley.

Zapoticky ran 2 yards for the game’s final touchdown with 3:58 left.

BY THE NUMBERS

The teams combined for 890 yards in total offense. The Warriors had a 366-53 advantage in rushing yards, but Dallas used its 396-75 lead in passing for a 449-441 edge in total offense. … Wyoming Area led in first downs 21-15. … Dallas quarterback Brady Zapoticky was 22-for-46 passing with Logan Geskey catching eight for 177 yards and Sam Kelley five for 128. … Wyoming Area kicker Nick Ciampi went 7-for-7 on extra points. … Kevin Weidl led the Warriors defense with six tackles, five assists and an interception.

UP NEXT

Wyoming Area travels to Western Wayne for a meeting of 2-0 teams that are favorites to win their divisions. The Wildcats, a Lackawanna Football Conference Division 2 team, have started the season with two impressive wins over LFC Division 3 teams. Dynamic wide receiver/defensive back Sean Owens and durable tailback Josh Vinton lead a team that returns its entire line from last season. Owens has three interceptions, including one he returned 70 yards for a touchdown Friday night when Western Wayne handed Lackawanna Trail its first loss of the past two regular seasons 28-7. Vinton ran for 1,467 yards last season and three touchdowns in the opening, 42-14 victory over Susquehanna.