By Steve Svetovich

It was a gallant season on the gridiron for the Dunmore Bucks.

A season to remember, even though the team fell one win short of a shot for a state title.

Dunmore lost, 39-7, to PIAA powerhouse Southern Columbia on Friday, December 1, in the state semifinal at Harman-Geist Stadium, Hazleton.

The Bucks returned to the state semifinal for the first time since 2017. Dunmore finished the season with a 12-3 record.

Garrett Garcia rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns to lead Southern Columbia to victory in the state semifinal.

Dunmore senior quarterback Tommy Bowen scored the Bucks lone touchdown on a 4-yard run with seven seconds left in the contest.

Dunmore senior standout back Danny Pigga rushed for 58 yards on 11 carries in the loss. He finished the season with a highly impressive 1,726 yards on the ground.

“This was a big turnaround for us from the past three years and really since 2017,”  said Pigga after the loss. “We worked real hard to get where we wanted to be, but came up short of our state goal.

“I think everyone came together and pushed for each other on and off the field to be the best team we could be.”

Dunmore fullback Jake Hickey spoke of the team’s chemistry after a gallant run in the state playoffs.

“This team went very far this season because of the brotherhood we have together,” he said.

“We always had each other’s backs and pushed each other everyday. We showed commitment with each other and sacrificed for the team.”

Dunmore head football coach Kevin McHale was proud of his team.

“I can’t say enough about our kids and what they accomplished throughout their four years,” he said after the loss to Southern Columbia. “We put our program back on the state map.”

Dunmore defeated Riverside, 13-7, for the District 2 Class 2A championship, Friday, November 10.

Bowen rushed for 84 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries in the district title win.

Nick Donvito added another touchdown on a 12-yard run.

The Bucks rolled up 230 yards on the ground on 41 runs in the district title win.

The Dunmore offensive line – Nathan Reuther, Anthony Anelli, Nick Tullio, Rogan Dougherty, Bryce Talutto and Chris Conte – were the backbone behind the Bucks brutal running attack.

Pigga, prolific as ever, rushed for 234 yards and scored five touchdowns as Dunmore rolled past Williams Valley, 41-21, in the PIAA Class 2A first-round game Friday, November 17, at Rotary Field, Schuylkill Haven.

Pigga scored four rushing touchdowns and another on a 12-yard pass from Bowen.

Fullback Hickey added a 19-yard touchdown run in the win.

The Dunmore defense intercepted four passes, one run back 45 yards for a touchdown by Jack McNeff, to lead the Bucks to a 41-25 win over Camp Hill in the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal contest Friday, November 24.

Pigga, outstanding as usual, rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries in the big win. He scored on runs of 29 and 32 yards.

Senior signal caller Bowen scored on two runs and Donvito added a 9-yard touchdown run in the win.

Hickey contributed 75 yards rushing on 17 carries.

Dunmore finished with a robust 335 yards on the ground, pounding the pigskin 52 times at the bewildered Camp Hill defense.

The Dunmore defense, particularly the secondary, was stellar in the win.

And for the seniors who will be graduating this year, it will be a football season to remember.

This team made Dunmore proud.