Blazers snap losing streak with big defensive plays
2024 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By TJ Eck — LNP/Lancasteronline
Daniel Boone got a blocked point-after attempt by Jayden Salata to protect its lead and beat Donegal 7-6 Friday in a Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4 game at Brazinsky Field.
The loss snapped the Blazers’ 14-game losing streak, longest in program history.
“These young men put a lot of hard work in,” Daniel Boone coach JD Okuniewski said after the Blazers first win of the season. “We have had a lot of adversity throughout the year. Winning football games is hard.”
| Section 4 | ||
| Wyomissing | 5-0 | 7-1 |
| Lampeter | 5-0 | 8-0 |
| Twin Valley | 4-1 | 7-1 |
| Elco | 3-3 | 3-5 |
| Octorara | 2-4 | 4-4 |
| N. Lebanon | 1-4 | 2-6 |
| Boone | 1-4 | 1-7 |
| Donegal | 0-5 | 1-7 |
Daniel Boone (1-4, 1-7) limited Donegal to 9 passing yards and had interceptions by Maddox Roy and Grant Pingitore, each a defensive lineman.
The Blazers were led offensively by senior Darius Cruz, who had 66 yards rushing on 11 carries. It was Cruz’s 18-yard run in the first quarter that set up the Blazers’ only touchdown, a 4-yard plunge by Jayden Salata.
Daniel Boone’s defense shut down Donegal (0-5, 1-7) for much of the night.
The Indians broke through early in the fourth quarter when Leelan Baughman scored on a 1-yard run. However, the Blazers blocked the ensuing extra-point attempt to maintain a one-point lead.
Donegal again drove into Daniel Boone territory late in the fourth but quarterback Chase Marshall was sacked on fourth down from the 33-yard line. The Blazers then ran out the clock to earn the victory.
“They didn’t quit,” Okuniewski said. “They stuck together. I am proud of them.”
Donegal played for the first time since its 49-0 loss to Twin Valley on Oct. 3, a game that was ended at halftime due to the Indians being decimated by injuries.
Cruz set the tone in the first quarter. The Daniel Boone running back/wide receiver ran for 53 yards in the quarter, including his 18-yard carry that led to the Blazers’ only TD.
Daniel Boone allowed just two completed passes while also getting two interceptions from defensive linemen.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Donegal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Daniel Boone | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Daniel Boone | Salata, 4 run (Heffner kick) |
| 4 | Donegal | Baughman, 1 run (kick blocked) |
Team statistics
| Donegal | Daniel Boone | |
| First downs | 6 | 9 |
| Rushes-yards | 34-170 | 33-75 |
| Passing yards | 9 | 44 |
| Total yards | 179 | 119 |
| Passes | 2-11 | 4-10 |
| Fumbles-lost | 4-1 | 0-0 |
| Punts-average | 3-26 | 6-26.3 |
| Penalties-yards | 10-98 | 7-61 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Donegal: Baughman 20-144, Weymer 5-19, Marshall 8-9, Alkinburgh 1-(-2).
Daniel Boone: Cruz 11-66, Heffner 3-10, Salata 3-7, Moyer 15-(-3), Williams 1-(-5).
PASSING
Donegal: Baughman 1-2-0–5, Marshall 1-9-2–4.
Daniel Boone: Moyer 4-10-1–44.
RECEIVING
Donegal: Leaf 1-5, Baughman 1-4.
Daniel Boone: Heffer 2-24, Delissaint 1-11, Cruz 1-9.
INTERCEPTIONS
Daniel Boone: Roy, Pingitore.
