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.