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Wired AOTW: Duda Runs Angry, Powers Honesdale to First Win Over Wallenpaupack Since 2018

Wired AOTW: Duda Runs Angry, Powers Honesdale to First Win Over Wallenpaupack Since 2018

By: SportzWire | SportzWire | August 31, 2026 | Photo courtesy Baylee Burkhardt

HONESDALE — Gabe Duda entered the season as one of the Lackawanna Football Conference’s proven running backs.

It didn’t take him long to remind everyone why.

Duda turned in a dominant two-way performance Friday night, rushing for 218 yards and two touchdowns while adding six tackles on defense to help Honesdale defeat Wallenpaupack, 26-14, in the 34th annual Wayne-Pike Shrine Bowl.

The performance earned Duda Wayne-Pike Shrine Bowl 34 Most Valuable Player honors and helped the Hornets accomplish something they hadn’t done in eight years, beat Wallenpaupack in the annual showdown for the first time since 2018.

For Duda, it was also quite a way to follow up a breakout 2025 campaign.

The All-LFC and All-Region running back rushed for 1,295 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, establishing himself as the workhorse of the Honesdale offense.

One game into 2026, that role hasn’t changed.

Honesdale head coach George Howanitz described exactly what makes Duda so effective.

That workhorse mentality was on full display against the Buckhorns.

Whether it was grinding out yards on the ground, finding the end zone or contributing defensively, Duda left his mark on both sides of the football in one of the region’s traditional opening-week matchups.

And when the night was over, Honesdale had a Shrine Bowl victory that had been eight years in the making.

218 rushing yards. Two touchdowns. Six tackles. Shrine Bowl MVP.

One heck of a way to start a season.

For his performance, Honesdale’s Gabe Duda is the Sportzwire Wired Athlete of the Week, powered by HYDRABATHS® Swing Salt.