Hazleton Area and Wilkes-Barre are an even 3-3 against one another since September of 2019, but not for long. The Hazleton Area Cougars will host the Wilkes-Barre Wolfpack at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Wilkes-Barre is hoping to do what Wyoming Valley West couldn't on Friday: put an end to Hazleton Area's winning streak, which now stands at three games. Hazleton Area breezed by Wyoming Valley West at home to the tune of 34-7. That 27 point margin sets a new team best for the Cougars this season.
Ashton Karlick had a dynamite game for Hazleton Area, rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns while picking up 8.7 yards per carry. That's the most rushing yards Karlick has posted since back in October of 2023.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, Hazleton Area was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 243 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.
Hazleton Area's defense was in the mix too, especially the secondary: they snagged two passes before it was all said and done. The picks came courtesy of Riley Vangilst and Carlos Gonzalez.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Wilkes-Barre). They simply couldn't be stopped on Friday as they easily beat West Scranton 35-2 at home. With the Wolfpack ahead 27-0 at the half, the game was all but over already.
DAVON UNDERWOOD continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines, rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries, while also picking up 65 receiving yards and a touchdown. He really tore up the turf during one magnificent 73-yard run. JAKE HOWE was another key player, throwing for 166 yards and a touchdown.
Hazleton Area now has a winning record of 3-2. As for Wilkes-Barre, the win snapped their losing streak at three games and leaves them with a 2-3 record.
Hazleton Area lost to Wilkes-Barre at home by a decisive 27-8 margin when the teams last played back in September of 2023. Thankfully for Hazleton Area, HOWIE SHINER (who rushed for 220 yards and a touchdown while picking up 7.9 yards per carry) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
