The Wallenpaupack Area Buckhorns will challenge the Pittston Patriots at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The timing isn't great for Wallenpaupack Area: they have been struggling with three straight losses at home, while Pittston has snatched up three consecutive wins on the road.
On Friday, Wallenpaupack Area lost to Abington Heights at home by a 31-14 margin. While the Buckhorns didn't get the win, they did start the game off strong, beating the Comets 14-7 in the first quarter.
Ed Kiesendahl
| 10/03/25 @ Scranton | 154 |
| 10/10/25 vs Abington Heights | 142 |
| 08/29/25 @ East Stroudsburg North | 119 |
| 09/05/25 vs Honesdale | 106 |
| 09/19/25 vs Delaware Valley | 76 |
| + 3 more games |
Wallenpaupack Area might have lost, but man, Ed Kiesendahl was a machine: he rushed for 142 yards and a pair of TDs. Kiesendahl has become a key player for the Buckhorns: the team is 3-1 when he posts at least 80 rushing yards, but 0-4 otherwise.
Wallenpaupack Area didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Kiesendahl and Logan Caruso.
Meanwhile, Pittston hadn't done well against Hazleton Area recently (they were 0-6 in their previous six matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Patriots claimed a resounding 49-13 victory over the Cougars. The Patriots might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five games by 33 points or more this season.
Pittston's win came from a few key players Wallenpaupack Area will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Lucas Lo Presto, who picked up 123 receiving yards, and also punched in two scores on the ground. Another back making a difference was Kayden Bailey, who rushed for 85 yards and one touchdown.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Pittston was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 250 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 168 rushing yards in six consecutive matchups.
Pittston's win bumped their record up to 7-1. As for Wallenpaupack Area, their loss dropped their record down to 3-5.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Wallenpaupack Area has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 197.1 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Pittston struggles in that department as they've been averaging 230.4 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Wallenpaupack Area was able to grind out a solid victory over Pittston in their previous meeting back in October of 2024, winning 22-10. Will the Buckhorns repeat their success, or do the Patriots have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
