SCRANTON, Pa. — Bloomsburg wasted little time taking control Saturday afternoon, scoring three touchdowns in the opening quarter and riding a balanced offensive attack and another disruptive defensive performance to a 42-10 victory over Lackawanna at Scranton Memorial Stadium.
The Huskies improved to 4-1 on the season after producing 403 yards of total offense, including 196 on the ground, while holding the Falcons to 235 total yards. Bloomsburg forced two turnovers, recorded three sacks and piled up 11 tackles for loss.
Zayd Etheridge (Bridgeport, Pa./Upper Merion) delivered an efficient performance at quarterback, completing 11 of 17 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Declan Clancy (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) powered the ground game with 118 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries, averaging 7.4 yards per attempt. Justin Wolfe (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) caught four passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns, while Xavier Diaz (Mount Carmel, Pa./Mount Carmel) added two receptions for 86 yards and a score.
Bloomsburg set the tone immediately.
After Clancy carried three times for 17 yards on the opening possession, Etheridge connected with Wolfe for a 48-yard touchdown just 45 seconds into the game. The Huskies' defense quickly gave the offense another opportunity when Brady Thompson (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) intercepted David Naniewicz and returned it 15 yards to the Lackawanna 10. Three plays later, Clancy powered in from a yard out to give Bloomsburg a 14-0 advantage less than three minutes into the contest.
The Huskies' defense continued to turn away the Falcons later in the quarter. Lackawanna moved into Bloomsburg territory, but Ian Donohue (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain) blocked a 39-yard field goal attempt to keep the Falcons off the scoreboard. Bloomsburg responded with an eight-play, 78-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by Clancy runs of 22 and 13 yards and a 23-yard Etheridge-to-Wolfe connection. Clancy finished the march with his second 1-yard touchdown run, sending the Huskies into the second quarter with a 21-0 lead.
Another defensive takeaway led directly to Bloomsburg's fourth touchdown. Tyler Frey (York, Pa./Central York) intercepted Naniewicz in the end zone early in the second quarter, and two plays later Etheridge found Diaz down the left side for an 80-yard touchdown, stretching the advantage to 28-0. Lackawanna managed a 33-yard Isiah Rodriguez field goal with 29 seconds remaining before halftime to make it 28-3.
Clancy put the game further out of reach in the third quarter. The Huskies drove 70 yards in six plays before the running back broke loose for a 36-yard touchdown, completing his first career three-touchdown rushing performance and pushing Bloomsburg's lead to 35-3.
Lackawanna reached the end zone on Jalen Fletcher's 3-yard run early in the fourth quarter, but Bloomsburg answered immediately. Etheridge directed a six-play, 58-yard drive and capped it with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Wolfe with 8:25 remaining for the final 42-10 margin.
The Huskies were particularly effective at controlling Lackawanna's rushing attack. The Falcons managed just 70 yards on 34 carries, an average of 2.1 yards per attempt, while Bloomsburg accumulated 196 yards at 6.1 per carry. The Huskies also limited Lackawanna to 3-of-18 on third down and turned the Falcons' two interceptions into 14 points.
Garrett Garcia (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia) led the Bloomsburg defense with nine tackles, while Nahzier Booker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) finished with seven tackles and two tackles for loss. Donohue continued his disruptive play with five tackles, a team-high three tackles for loss, a half-sack and the blocked field goal. Connor Rickabaugh (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area) recorded two sacks for 14 yards, while Thompson and Frey supplied the two interceptions.
Bloomsburg's offensive line also kept Etheridge clean throughout the afternoon, allowing no sacks while helping the Huskies average 6.1 yards per rushing attempt. Peter Kashynski (Falls Church, Va./Justice) was perfect on all six extra-point attempts.
The victory moves the Huskies to 4-1 overall as they return to PSAC East competition.
The Huskies host East Stroudsburg next Saturday for their annual Husky Legacy Club and Think Pink game.Â
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