DALLAS TWP. — When things aren’t quite going as planned, Dallas knows the solution.
Give the ball to running back Dylan Geskey.
Geskey rushed for 190 yards and five touchdowns the Mountaineers eventually pulled away from Nanticoke Area for a 48-22 victory in a District 2 Class 4A semifinal game Friday night.
“When we had to push, old number 4 (Geskey) took over,” said Dallas coach Rich Mannello after running down a list of issues that hampered his team. “That’s the kind of back that he is. When we’re struggling and not firing on all cylinders, you hand it to that guy and he can get downhill.
“He’s something. What a football player.”
Dallas (12-0) will host the championship game next Friday, taking on Valley View (10-2). Valley View defeated Wyoming Area 20-0 in the other semifinal. Nanticoke Area finished its season at 7-5.
Geskey scored three consecutive touchdowns in the second half, with his third at 10:45 of the fourth quarter bringing on the 35-point mercy rule.
“At halftime, we came out with a plan, stuck to it and got it done,” said Geskey, who carried the ball 27 times.
Dallas had a first-half plan, although the results weren’t as anticipated.
The Mountaineers were stopped on their first two possessions. They had an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after scoring a touchdown. The passing game misfired on a couple potentially long gains. And punter Rowan Laubach, a soccer player by trade, had to try to run for a first down after a high punt snap.
“I’m not happy, to be honest with you,” Mannello said. “If we’re going to come out here and win a championship seven days from now, we have work to do.”
Special teams and defense helped Dallas build a…