Wyoming Area defensive back Gage Speece (12) breaks up a pass from the Patriots’ Drew DeLucca to Matt Walter (4) on Oct. 27, 2023.
Tony Callaio file photo | For Sunday Dispatch
Wyoming Area’s Aaron Crossley (5) is off to the races as he clears the last Patriot defender for an 86-yard touchdown on Oct. 27, 2023.
Tony Callaio file photo | For Sunday Dispatch
Rob Barbieri (4) hauls in a two-point conversion pass from the Patriot’s Drew DeLucca. The Warriors’ Garret Pocceschi (1) was covering on Oct. 28, 2022.
Tony Callaio file photo | For Sunday Dispatch
The Pittston Area-Wyoming Area series mirrors high school football through the decades — it has steadily become a higher-scoring game in recent years.
The Patriots and Warriors will meet for the 60th time Friday night at Charley Trippi Stadium.
Two trends have developed in recent seasons. More points are being scored and Wyoming Area is winning more often.
The series was even at 20 wins apiece through 2004. The Warriors now lead 33-26.
During the 1900s, the 34 meetings featured an average of 30.4 points scored. In the 2000s, there has been an average of 45.0 points in the 25 games between the two rivals.
This is the 58th year that the teams are playing each other. There were two seasons when they had a rematch in the playoffs.
Looking at the series in blocks of 10 games, rather than decades:
• First 10, 1967-76 — Pittston Area led series 7-3. Average 35.5 points per game.
• Second 10, 1977-86 — Wyoming Area led series 6-4. Average 25.1 points per game.
• Third 10, 1987-96 — Wyoming Area led series 7-3. Average 32.4 points per game.
• Fourth 10, 1997-2004 — Pittston Area led series 6-4. Average 40.2 points per game.
• Fifth 10, 2005-14 — Wyoming Area led series 6-4. Average 42.7 points per game.
• Recent years, 2015-23 — Wyoming Area leads series 7-2. Average 47.7 points per game.
The highest-scoring game, both in terms of one team and the two teams combined, occurred in 2001.
Pittston Area defeated Wyoming Area 52-24 in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
It was an odd situation for such scoring.
The Warriors had shut out the Patriots 15-0 when they met in the regular season.
The rematch was close.
Wyoming Area pulled to within 28-24 before Tony Avvisato responded for Pittston Area with a 92-yard kickoff for the first six of 24 straight points at the end of the game.
Pittston Area also won the second-highest scoring game.
The Patriots won 40-30 back in 1976. Wyoming Area’s point total was the highest by a losing team in the series.
Carmen LoPresto ran for 107 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Patriots. It was his second straight 100-plus rushing effort in the series as part of his second straight 1,000-yard season.
Pittston Area’s 52-point output was the biggest ever in the series, but Wyoming Area produced the other six games of 42 or more points.
The Warriors won 46-20 in 2016.
Brian Miles carried 25 times for 142 yards and three touchdowns while also contributing five tackles and an assist defensively.
Steve Homza threw two touchdown passes. Justin Joseph carried 11 times for 103 yards and a touchdown to help the Warriors finish with 323 rushing yards.
Walter Coles threw three touchdown passes for Pittston Area in the loss.
The largest margin of victory was 45-0 by Wyoming Area in 2019. The Warriors opened a 43-0 lead at halftime.
Current Penn State captain Dominic DeLuca accounted for four touchdowns.
The Warriors quarterback carried eight times for 92 yards and two touchdowns, was 4-for-9 passing for 142 yards and two more scores and set up a touchdown with a 36-yard punt return.
Wyoming Area scored 42 points four times, including in 2015 and 2021, giving the Warriors four games of 42 or more points in the last nine seasons.
The Warriors won 42-13 in 1993, 42-14 in 1997, 42-10 in 2015 and 42-13 in 2021.
Jim Pizano became the first two-time winner of the Carmelo Falcone Award when he ran for 140 yards and three touchdowns in the 1993 game. The Warriors led just 14-7 before scoring four touchdowns in the second half.
Miles ran for 169 yards and three touchdowns for Wyoming Area in 2015.
The teams were tied 7-7 late in the first half before Blaise Sokach-Minnick passed 23 yards to Rocco Pizano, Pizano ran 68 yards and 300-pound lineman Nick Elko returned an interception 61 yards for a score all in a span of 3:37 late in the second quarter and early in the third in 2021.
The third-highest scoring game came in 2005 when Wyoming Area won 41-28.
The 2016 game produced the fourth-highest total and Pittston Area’s 40-19 win in 2009 was the fifth-highest scoring game of the series.
