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Dallas Makes Early Statement, Rolls Past Tunkhannock in Season Opener

Dallas Makes Early Statement, Rolls Past Tunkhannock in Season Opener

By: Matt Flanagan | SportzWire | August 29, 2026 | Photo courtesy Jake Speicher

TUNKHANNOCK, PA — It took Dallas only 18 seconds to find the end zone Friday night.

From there, the Mountaineers never slowed down.

Dallas scored six first-half touchdowns and opened its 2026 football season with a commanding 42-0 victory over Tunkhannock at Memorial Field.

Senior running back Hunter Pitcavage set the tone on the Mountaineers’ first offensive play, breaking free for a 66-yard touchdown run. Brandon Miller added the extra point to give Dallas a 7-0 lead just 18 seconds into the game.

The Mountaineers quickly struck again through the air. Junior quarterback Talan Geskey connected with Tyce Mason for a 19-yard touchdown with 9:10 remaining in the opening quarter.

Jim Youngblood added a seven-yard touchdown run later in the period, sending Dallas into the second quarter with a 21-0 advantage.

Dallas then turned its defense and special teams into points.

Pitcavage blocked a Tunkhannock punt and returned it four yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. Less than a minute later, Bobby Gallagher intercepted Tunkhannock quarterback Tye Cokely, giving the Mountaineers another short field.

Sophomore Marc Saracinaj capitalized with a 19-yard touchdown run, extending the Dallas lead to 35-0 with 9:28 remaining before halftime.

Another blocked punt helped set up the final score of the night. Geskey found Gallagher for a 20-yard touchdown pass, giving Dallas a 42-0 lead with 7:41 left in the second quarter.

The Mountaineers scored 21 points in each of the first two quarters before playing a scoreless second half.

Geskey completed 4 of 5 passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Mason led Dallas with two receptions for 56 yards, while Gallagher finished with a touchdown reception and an interception.

Saracinaj led the Dallas ground game with 85 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Pitcavage’s only offensive carry resulted in the 66-yard touchdown, while Youngblood, Tom Fostock, Owen Oldt and Trevor Slavinski also contributed to a balanced rushing attack.

Dallas finished with 306 rushing yards and 386 yards of total offense. Ten different Mountaineers recorded at least one rushing attempt.

The Mountaineers were equally effective defensively, limiting Tunkhannock to 177 total yards and seven first downs. Dallas recorded eight sacks and held the Tigers scoreless despite Tunkhannock reaching scoring territory on multiple occasions.

Lucas Ciprich led Tunkhannock with 36 rushing yards on seven carries. Cokely completed 6 of 21 passes for 88 yards, while Jayden Newell caught two passes for a team-high 53 yards.

The victory gives Dallas a 1-0 start as the Mountaineers prepare to host Wyoming Valley West in their home opener next Friday.

Tunkhannock begins the season 0-1 under first-year head coach R.J. Haas. The Tigers will remain home to face Mid Valley next Friday night.