HS FOOTBALL: West breaks out with complete performance in win over Honesdale

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MOSCOW — Cole West got going early and often, and North Pocono got primed for a showdown next week.

West ran for 66 yards and a touchdown, caught two passes for 53 yards and a touchdown, and returned an interception 45 yards for a score, as the top-ranked Trojans powered to a 42-0 win over No. 8 Honesdale in a nonleague football game Friday night.

It is the third straight dominant performance for the defending District 2 Class 4A and Lackawanna Football Conference Division I champions. North Pocono (3-0) has outscored opponents 101-0 in the first half of games this season.

The victory sets up Friday’s game against No. 3 Valley View (2-1), which defeated Wilkes-Barre Area, 17-7, at John Henzes/Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“It felt awesome for me personally,” said West, who is a Cornell University commit. “Just helping my team get the win means a lot. Defensively, I struggled the first two weeks, and I was not happy about that. I know I should be better. Getting that pick early and taking it back, and then having the defense shut it down from there is huge.”

A Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class 4A all-state defensive back last season, West, the reigning Times-Tribune Defensive Player of the Year, took his first interception of the year back for a 45-yard touchdown during a 23-point first quarter for the Trojans.

He also entered the game with only one reception for seven yards this season. He hauled in a 38-yard reception to set up his 17-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter.

Later in the quarter, he added a 15-yard touchdown reception, turning in his most complete early-season performance.

“Teams don’t know that we can pass the ball,” West said. “They see North Pocono rush for 200 yards a game, but No. 12 (Chase Zimmerman) can throw it.”

North Pocono also got a lift from Henry Wolff.

He took over as the team’s starting running back because Joe Briskie suffered a season-ending injury last week. Wolff scored two touchdowns in the explosive first quarter. He put the Trojans up, 7-0, on a 10-yard run on the game’s opening possession.

After West returned his interception for a score, North Pocono earned a safety on a Honesdale punt snap out of the end zone to take a 16-0 advantage. West returned the free kick 31 yards, and two plays later, Wolff muscled his way to a 29-yard touchdown and a 23-0 lead.

“We always talk about the next man up,” said Wolff, who finished with 47 yards on four carries. “Unfortunately, Joe has gone down, and I am ready to play. It felt great to break out and score a couple of touchdowns.”

North Pocono quarterback Chase Zimmerman, who had attempted only six passes in the first two games, hit West for 38 yards in the second, and West converted it into more points and a 30-0 lead with 9:34 left in the first half.

With 1:29 left in the second quarter, after West bolted 39 yards, Zimmerman found his favorite receiver for a 15-yard touchdown to push the lead to 36-0.

“We prepared all week for this game, and our coaches prepared us really well,” said Zimmerman, who also contributed a 56-yard run in the first half, a pass breakup, and a tackle for loss on defense. “Our players were ready to compete. I thought our line did a great job, and we were physical the whole game.”

Jayden Taylor finished the scoring for North Pocono with a bruising initial run to break free and then showed off his speed on a 61-yard sprint with 5:48 remaining in the third.

Honesdale, which started the season with wins over Wallenpaupack and East Stroudsburg North, had 60 yards on 31 plays in the first half. Gabe Duda, the LFC’s leading rusher, finished with 49 yards on 14 carries.

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