DVHS Homecoming football game becomes relentless effort

An unusual Saturday afternoon football game at Delaware Valley this week replaced the regular Friday night game. It also happened to be the Homecoming game with extra ceremonies.

Alexis Grimes was named Queen and Michael Moralas was named King at the Homecoming Delaware Valley High School football game. Both had an entourage of four other candidates. All were honored.

The football had elements of what some have come to expect from all DV sports teams, a never quit attitude. However it was also a bit unusual for DV football teams that usually overpower other teams.Wilkes Barre was the opposition and they were a good and solid team.

Without a play by play account of the game, here are some highlights indicating why one team won and the other team lost.

First, Wilkes Barre was highly motivated and spirited. This is usually the case when teams come to town to square up with the perennial powerhouse Delaware Valley. Wilkes-Barre had a couple of bulldozer running backs who could plow through for 3 to 7 yards every time they were given the ball. These guys were powerhouses that were very tough to bring down. Gang tackling was the only way to stop them.

Wilkes-Barre also had a couple of speedsters who could not be caught by the DV players. The game looked like it was going to be a runaway by Wilkes Barre who at one point was up 21-7 and also 24-14. However, and this is a big however, DV just never hangs their heads and quits. They keep plowing along and fight to the end.

Wilkes Barre also shot themselves in the foot repeatedly with penalties at the worst possible moments. They had a touch down called back and two very nice gains from great passes called back too. They doomed themselves several more times with foolish penalties. Of course Delaware Valley took advantage of every gift that was handed to them.

As the game progressed it looked as if DV was wearing Wilkes Barre down and WB was looking demoralized.

DV shows no mercy in situations like this, and they were infused with energy, grinding out a very improbable victory, winning 35-24.

Delaware Valley is always so well balanced that naming just a few key players is difficult. Everyone contributed big plays at big moments, but Paulie Weinrich and Ryder Machado were without a doubt the work horses. Ryder had a big interception that he turned into a touchdown and another back breaking interception as well. He also caught a pass for a touchdown. He and Paulie ran big plays for big gains. The one that stands out was near the end of the game when Paulie ran in a touch down from about the 12 yard line while he had 5 Wilkes Barre defenders on him. He just dragged them into the end zone for the score.

Wilkes Barre tried hard in the last 2 minutes to make it look like a reasonable game for them but a now charged up Del Val prevented it, thus the 35-24 victory for Delaware Valley.

Next week a really powerful Valley View comes to town with their 6-1 record. It should be a Battle Royale.