Joanne Arduino of Dunmore, who is director of Ballet Theater of Scranton, took time out from rehearsals for the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend production of The Nutcracker to take a walk at Dunmore Cemetery which she snapped this photo of an actual Dunmore buck!
By Steve Svetovich
He can do it all. That’s Dunmore senior Danny Pigga who has scored 16 touchdowns this season in a multi-faceted role as a running back, wide receiver, and punt and kick returner.
Son of Danny and Lacey Pigga, the senior stalwart scored three touchdowns in Dunmore’s 47-21 win over Honesdale Friday, Oct. 20. It was the Bucks fifth straight win as Dunmore moved to a 7-2 overall record.
Danny ran 76 yards for a touchdown, breaking a tie with 9:31 left in the third quarter, and sparking the win.
The shifty senior’s three touchdowns either tied the contest or gave Dunmore a lead. Dunmore senior quarterback Tommy Bowen fired two touchdown passes, one on an 11-yard pass to Pigga with 16 seconds left in the first half and the other on a 63-yard toss to Dom DeSando with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
Danny’s 7-yard run tied the game after the extra point kick, 7-7, with 8:34 left in the first half. His 11-yard touchdown catch from Bowen put the Bucks ahead, 14-7, after the extra point kick.
Pigga scrambled 76 yards for a touchdown with 9:21 left in the third quarter giving Dunmore a 21-14 lead after the extra point kick.
The senior standout rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries. He also had four receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown.
The four-year Dunmore football player has a 3.0 academic average. His favorite academic subject is economics.
Pigga has 914 rushing yards, with a prolific average of over 13 yards per run after just nine games this season. He has 22 catches for 296 yards.
He has scored touchdowns on runs, receptions and long kickoff and punt returns this season.
He is a major threat to score every time he touches the football.
His favorite position? “I like them all,” he said. “Wherever I get the ball more.”
Pigga, who played two years of basketball at Dunmore, wants to play college football.
But right now he is focusing on the task at hand.
“I want to go to a state championship this year,” he said. “We expect this team to make a strong run to the state title.”
Being a versatile performer on the gridiron is something he strives for. “It all comes from the weight room,” he said. “You need to push yourself in the off-season to be the best.”
The confident senior said he learned a lot from his parents and Dunmore football coach Kevin McHale.
“My parents tell me to keep my cool on the field and play my game. They tell me to be me.
“Coach McHale tells me to work hard in the off-season and good things will happen. Working hard makes you a better player.”
He talked about what it takes to excel as a running back and as a punt and kick returner in high school football.
“You need to see the small holes and read your blockers well.”
The hard working, multi talented senior talked about his future goals.
“First of all, I want to win a state championship this season,” he said. “Then I want to play college football and win a championship there too. I did not choose a college yet, but do want to play college football.”
Pigga also excels as a cornerback on the Dunmore defense.
He likes listening to music in his spare time. Cabinet is his favorite local band. “I was on stage with them once when I was about 12,” he said. “My mom knows them. I love their music.”
A football die-hard in every way, the speedy senior said he is enjoying his years at Dunmore.
“I’ve had a lot of good times at Dunmore. Our school has great spirit, especially when it comes to football. There are a lot of fun activities related to football. I’ve made lots of great friends. A bonfire and pep rally we had the night before a football game recently went over big with the entire Dunmore community. I love playing football for Dunmore. We’re going after a state title. That’s the goal.”
Editor’s Note: At the Friday, Oct. 27, football game against West Scranton at Dunmore, the Bucks rolled up 310 yards on the ground behind a tough offensive line led by Nathan Reuther in beating the Invaders 42-19, for its first Lackawanna Football Conference Division II title since 2017. Pigga led the way with 98 rushing yards on 10 carries and scored his 17th touchdown this season on a 78-yard kick return. He also went over the 1,000 yard rushing mark for the season.
By Steve Svetovich
Dunmore senior Domenic DeSando is the ultimate scholar-athlete.
And he is demonstrating strong leadership skills both in the classroom and on the gridiron.
President of his senior class and member of the National Honor Society with a 3.68 grade point average, the senior scholar-athlete excels in four sports at Dunmore, including the football team where he plays running back and cornerback.
DeSando had some big games in the early going helping Dunmore to a 7-2 start, including five wins in a row recently, at press time.
He scored a touchdown on a 63-yard toss from senior quarterback Tommy Bowen to help Dunmore to a 27-14 lead with 3:18 left in the third quarter in the Bucks 47-21 win over Honesdale Friday, Oct. 20.
Son of Nick and Amy DeSando, Dunmore, Dom is also a member of the track and field, tennis, and basketball teams at the high school.
He went to states in track and field where he runs the 100 and 200 meter and four by four. Dom said he feels track and field is his best sport and would like to participate in it on the college level.
Dom is not sure where he will attend college, but he wants to major in finance. He is leaning towards West Chester University.
He is a member of the yearbook staff, French Club and Earth Club at Dunmore.
He is also both a referee and coach for the NEPA Youth Flag Football League. The team he coached won a championship.
And if he is not busy enough with all of his sports and academics, Dom even has a part-time job at the Dunmore Community Center.
“You know I enjoy his participation in all of the sports,” his dad said, “but I’m even more proud that he is the student body president and a member of the National Honor Society. And he works too.”
The well-versed senior said his dad has given his time to help the Dunmore football program.
“I’m very impressed with what he does for the players and coaches,” he said. “He has always been my number one supporter. He really supports the whole team.
“Both of my parents teach me that hard work leads to success. Never give up on anything you want in life.”
Well-spoken and articulate, Dom said he has learned a lot from Dunmore football coach Kevin McHale.
“He tells us in order to be successful, we need to play with a lot of passion and discipline. We need to want to get better by learning from the coaches.”
A four-year member of the Dunmore football team, Dom has eight touchdowns in the first nine games. He scored five touchdowns on runs, two on catches and one on a punt return.
The highly-talented, mature senior said math is his best academic subject.
With his participation in four sports, various clubs, working and being president of the student body, Dom has learned how to balance his time and multi-task. “There is a lot of day-to-day preparation and time management,” he said. “I take one day at a time and focus on what I have to do that day or at a particular time.”
Dom likes listening to music in his little spare time. He likes AC/DC and would like to see the classic rock group in concert.
He talked about what it takes to excel at running back in high school football.
“It takes toughness and grit and a lot of hard work in the off season.”
Dilligent and hard-working by nature, Dom talked about the success of the Dunmore football team this season.
“I think it’s because of the guys up front,” he said. “They put in the work in the off-season day in and day out.”
He predicts a successful and strong finish for the Bucks this season.
“Winning the state title is our goal 100 percent. When we are clicking at 100 percent like we are now, it is very hard to stop us.”
The personable senior said he loves Dunmore. “It’s been a great four years. Dunmore is like one big family. The community is behind you every day. Everyone is so connected.”
Old school and traditional despite his youth, Dom has a goal as he looks to his future after high school and college.
“I want to be a successful business person living in the suburbs with a wife, four kids, and two dogs.”