Anglin Powers Abington Heights Past Wallenpaupack, 21-7, as Comets Get Back on Track
By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | October 9, 2026 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus
CLARKS SUMMIT — Abington Heights needed a response. Thursday night, the Comets delivered one on homecoming night against a Wallenpaupack team that arrived on a heater.
Behind a strong rushing performance from Jayden Anglin and a defense that kept the Buckhorns off the scoreboard for the final three quarters, Abington Heights earned a 21-7 victory in Week 7 District 2 football action.
The Comets entered the matchup searching for answers offensively after being held scoreless since Week 4. Facing a 5-1 Wallenpaupack squad, getting back in the win column would require a complete effort.
They got exactly that.
Abington Heights struck first when quarterback Noah Kayal connected with Rodman Azar on a 24-yard touchdown pass with 8:10 remaining in the opening quarter. Azar, Sportzwire’s Week 1 Fit AF Nutrition Fit of the Week selection, gave the Comets their first points in weeks and an early 7-0 advantage.
Wallenpaupack responded late in the quarter behind another familiar Sportzwire standout.
Ed Kiesendahl, a previous HYDRABATHS Swing Salt Athlete of the Week honoree, broke free for a 33-yard touchdown run with 1:44 remaining. Colby Bonagura added the extra point to even the score at 7-7.
From there, Anglin took over.
The Abington Heights running back scored on an 8-yard run midway through the second quarter, putting the Comets back in front 14-7 heading into halftime.
Anglin struck again in the third quarter, adding another 8-yard touchdown run with 6:41 remaining to extend the lead to 21-7.
The senior finished with 155 rushing yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns, accounting for nearly all of Abington Heights’ 165 rushing yards.
The Comets didn’t need much through the air. Kayal completed 2 of 6 passes for 26 yards and a touchdown, while the ground game and defense handled the rest.
Wallenpaupack finished with 156 total yards, including 83 through the air and 73 on the ground. Kiesendahl led the Buckhorns with 89 rushing yards on 14 carries, but the Comets limited the remainder of Wallenpaupack’s rushing attack to negative yardage.
Quarterback Jake Rafferty completed 10 of 18 passes for 83 yards, with Kenny Morrison collecting two receptions for 28 yards and Jevin Folk adding three catches for 19 yards.
After surrendering Kiesendahl’s first-quarter touchdown, Abington Heights held the Buckhorns scoreless for the remaining 38-plus minutes.
For a team looking to turn its season around, Thursday’s performance offered a much-needed boost.
Following the victory, Anglin, Sportzwire’s Player of the Game, credited the team’s approach during the week.
“We knew we had to take this week zero and zero, forget about the past and focus on the current game, work our hardest in practice, and come out and get this win,” Anglin said.
His performance also added to an impressive individual season. Anglin has been featured among District 2’s rushing leaders in the Sportzwire Player Data Hub, powered by Cryotherapy Rejuvenate, which highlights the coldest stat leaders and emerging talent throughout the district.
But for Anglin, Thursday was about more than individual numbers. It was about getting the Comets moving in the right direction with three weeks remaining in the regular season.
And the road ahead won’t get any easier.
Looking Ahead
Abington Heights improves to 3-4 and travels to Valley View in Week 8 for another anticipated Lackawanna Football Conference matchup.
Anglin knows what awaits.
“They’re a really hard-nosed football team,” he said. “We gotta, once again, zero and zero focus on this next week.”
Wallenpaupack falls to 5-2 and returns home to host top-ranked small-school contender Scranton Prep.
For the Comets, Thursday night wasn’t just about ending a scoring drought. It was a reminder of what this team can accomplish when its running game, defense and execution come together.
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