LFC's top two ranked teams take to the field at Riverside high school in the last week of the regular season. The winner will finish the season unbeaten and be LFC Division II champion.
First quarter:
Drive 1:
Riverside's ball: Riverside's Joe Klebon returned the opening kickoff for a 95-yard score to give the Vikings an early 6-0 lead. A 2-point conversion try was unsuccessful and the score remains 6-0.
Riverside 6, Dunmore 0
Drive 2:
Dunmore's ball: The Vikes defense stiffled the Bucks on their opening drive, forcing the Bucks to punt after a couple promising first downs.
Riverside 6, Dunmore 0
Drive 3:
Riverside's ball: The combo of Joe Klebon and Matt Talerico drove the ball downfield, including a 4th and 1 conversion deep in the Bucks territory. The drive resulted in a Jay Velehoski to Ryan Chisdock touchdown pass. Talerico tacked on the two-point conversion, giving the Vikes a 14-0 lead.
Riverside 14, Dunmore 0
Drive 4:
Dunmore's ball: The Bucks drove past midfield and looked to be rolling, but the Vikings batted down a 3rd-and-5 pass up the middle to end any shot at scoring. The Bucks did however punt the ball inside the 10 yard line, backing the Vikings back close to their own zone.
End of first quarter. Score: Riverside 14, Dunmore 0.
Second quarter
Drive 5:
Riverside's ball: Corey Schuster came up with a big catch on 2nd and long in Riverside territory and Klebon followed that play up with a long run to put the Vikings in Dunmore territory. Back to back runs accounting for 30+ yards from Talerico resulted in a 1st and 10 in the Bucks' redzone. 2nd and 12, Velehoski to Chisdock for a 12 yard gain and a 3rd and 1 situation. Next play, Klebon 8-yard touchdown run. 2-point conversion good after Klebon breaks through five Bucks defenders.
Riverside 22, Dunmore 0
Drive 6:
Dunmore's ball: Riverside's squib/onside kick was unsuccessful as the Bucks recovered at the Vikings' 45 yard line. Michael Perry runs for a big gain down the left side line and brings the Bucks in the Vikes' redzone. Miller Holmes throws the ball up the middle inside the five and is intercepted by Matt Talerico, ending a promising Bucks drive.
Riverside 22, Dunmore 0
Drive 7:
Riverside's ball: Big runs and a big catch from Klebon put the Vikings inside the Bucks redzone and Velehoski connected up the middle with Corey Schuster for a 17 yard touchdown pass to put the Vikings up big. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful.
Riverside 28, Dunmore 0
Drive 8:
Dunmore's ball: After several big Dunmore gains, Holmes connected with J.J. Dempsey inside the 10 yard line. Three plays later, Holmes to Brian Copeland in the corner of the endzone. Copeland's one-handed catch puts the Bucks on the board at the end of the first half.
Riverside 28, Dunmore 7
End of first half. Score: Riverside 28, Dunmore 7
With the exception of Dunmore's last drive, Riverside dominated the Bucks in every phase of the game from the opening kickoff return. Momentum is the only positive factor the Bucks have going for them at this point, but Miller Holmes is a playmaker and is capable of marching his team back into the game.
Start of second half
Drive 1:
Dunmore's ball: Dunmore keeps the momentum rolling as Holmes' pass up the middle is complete for a 50 yard touchdown pass to Tallarico. PAT good.
Riverside 28, Dunmore 14
Drive 2:
Riverside's ball: Dunmore forces a quick 4th and 2. The aggressive Vikings' offense goes for it but falls short of the first down, turning the ball over on their own 35 yard line.
Riverside 28, Dunmore 14
Drive 3:
Dunmore's ball: A personal foul haults Dunmore's pivotal drive, forcing them to punt the ball away. A stellar punt lands on the 2-yard line, giving the Vikings offense little room to breathe on the ensuing drive.
Riverside 28, Dunmore 14
Drive 4:
Riverside's ball: Velehoski goes back to the air attack, hitting Talerico right outside the 10 yard line. Talerico breaks several tackles and scampers for a 98 yard touchdown, and in doing so, takes the wind out of the Bucks faithful. The two-point conversion fails, but the Vikings go up big.
Riverside 34, Dunmore 14
Drive 5:
Dunmore's ball: Michael Perry grinds out a few long rushes including a 2 yard touchdown run to push the Bucks within two scores. A fake PAT resulted in a broken up pass, leaving the Vikings up 14.
Riverside 34, Dunmore 20
Drive 6:
Riverside's ball: The Vikings run a reverse to Velehoski who then passed up the middle to Schuster for a big gain. Klebon takes the snap and runs for a first down but fumbles the ball. Dunmore recovers the ball.
Riverside 34, Dunmore 20
Drive 7:
Dunmore's ball: The Bucks endurance is showing in big ways as they drive into the redzone after long runs. The Vikings did however muster up enough energy to keep the Bucks out of the end zone, including a huge 4th and 6 stop on the 8 yard line.
Riverside 34, Dunmore 20
END OF THIRD QUARTER
Drive 8:
Riverside's ball: The Vikings are having trouble moving the ball upfield and turned it over on downs on a three-and-out.
Riverside 34, Dunmore 20
Drive 9:
Dunmore's ball: A wearied Michael Perry keeps the Bucks in the game, gradually moving the ball up field. However, a feisty Vikings defense sacks Holmes on consecutive plays for big losses. A 4th and 27 turns into an interception at the Vikings' 18. There's eight minutes left in the game and the Vikings have the ball.
Riverside 34, Dunmore 20
Drive 10:
Riverside's ball: The Vikings main objective is to kill the clock, which they do without any trouble. The Bucks force a turnover with 48 seconds left on there own 8 yard line, but are still down two scoers and will need a miracle to get themselves back in the game.
Riverside 34, Dunmore 20
Drive 11:
Dunmore's ball: Holmes leads the Bucks up the field with three consecutive first down completions. The Bucks don't have enough time to get into the endzone as the Vikings go on to win 42-30, and are crowned the Lackawanna Football Conference Division II champions.
END OF GAME
Riverside 34, Dunmore 20