Wilkes-Barre Holds Off Valley View in 16-14 Defensive Battle

By: SportzWire | Sportzwire | September 6, 2025 | Photo courtesy Brad Loff

Valley View’s late-game gamble came up short Friday night as Wilkes-Barre Area held on for a 16-14 win in Plains. The Cougars, trailing by two with under two minutes to play, worked their way into prime position but elected to go for it on fourth-and-one rather than attempt a 30-yard field goal that could have put them ahead. The Wolfpack defense stood tall, turning back the run and securing the victory.

The Cougars finished with 173 rushing yards on 36 attempts, led by Tyler Muchal’s 109 yards on 14 carries. Brady Bachman added 24 yards and a 7-yard touchdown run, while quarterback Caleb Brown managed just -21 yards on the ground but delivered a 37-yard scoring strike to Gabe Davis for Valley View’s first touchdown. Davis led all Cougar receivers with 43 yards on two catches, while Marco Ruby chipped in with a 9-yard reception .

Wilkes-Barre balanced its attack with 182 passing yards and 86 rushing yards. Senior quarterback Jake Howe completed 15 of 22 passes, including a 10-yard touchdown toss to Jordan Kieselowsky in the second quarter. Rajan Watson was Howe’s top target, hauling in three catches for 51 yards, while Kevon Creech provided the ground presence with a 3-yard touchdown run in the opening quarter and finished with 75 receiving yards on four catches .

Special teams were a difference maker throughout. Valley View’s Braden Loff converted both of his extra point attempts and launched two kickoffs for touchbacks, pinning Wilkes-Barre deep in its own territory. The Wolfpack missed an extra point but made up for it when Jaedyn Sanchez drilled a 19-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to give them the final margin.

Defensively, Valley View contained Wilkes-Barre’s rushing game, holding them under 90 yards on 28 carries. Bachman, Muchal, and Brady Cunningham led the charge in the trenches, but Howe’s steady play through the air allowed the Wolfpack to extend drives. Both defenses held firm in the second half, with neither team reaching the end zone after halftime.

 The Cougars will look to bounce back next week, knowing that missed opportunities in the red zone and key decisions on fourth down can determine outcomes in tight contests.

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