Hazleton playing for pride
Playing for no more than pride, the Cougars and the Cavliers renewed an old rivalry friday night in East Stroudsburg. It was the first time since 1996, when the James Mungro-led Cavaliers prevailed over the cougars 54-21.This time around the cougars were able to calm the cavs down, and come out on top with the win.
The Cougars big play of the game would come early in the 1st half when Nate Staruch would hook up with his tight end Nick Searles for 33 yards. That would lead to 25 yard field goal for Ian Hearne to give the cougars the early lead. It did't take to long for the Cavaliers to take that lead back. They did it through the air with a 29 yard TD pass. Hazleton's Ray Koslop would come up with a big sack to get the ball back to the cougars, and they wasted no time re gaining the lead. Between Dave Fedor's speed and Kyle Dempsey's power, the cougars would find the endzone for the first time, giving then a 10-7 lead at the end of the half.
Their was not much action early in the 2nd half until the cougars were able to record a saftey on a play in which the ball was snaped over the cavs kicker and in to the end zone, making the score 12-7. After having good field position due to the free kick after the saftey, Staruch was sacked and the cougars forced to punt. On the next drive the cougars defence, led by Tony Postupak (cougars leader in tackles on the night) caused the cavs to go 3 and out and once again fumble the snap. Hazleton Area would take over on the 11 yard line, and Kyle Dempsey would find the endzone again. The gave a cougars a 20- 7 lead after the 2 point conversion. A balanced offence would give a cavliers a TD on their next drive. But a missed PAT would only cut the lead to 20-13. Hazleton was then held to a three and out, and the cavliers were putting together a nice drive until sophomore Josh Wenner came up with a game ending INT. Before it was all said and done, Dempsey would find the end zone once more making the score 33-13. And that is how it would come to an end. Hazleton became just the second team to beat East Stroudsburg this year and tied the over-all series up a 2-2.
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Hazleton playing for pride