AUSTIN COWPERTHWAIT

BY JOBY FAWCETT

Times-Shamrock Writer

Austin Cowperthwait, Gage Piechocki and Jesse Pruitt helped resurrect the Susquehanna football program in the last two seasons.

And as members of the City all-star team, they played with a passion to prove they belonged among the best players from the Lackawanna Football Conference.

GAGE PIECHOCKI

All three made key contributions in a 41-20 win over the County in the 78th Scranton Lions Club Dream Game at Scranton Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night.

“We play up there along the river and we play for a small school, so we just wanted to prove that we could play,” said Pruitt, who helped the Sabers to a District 2 Class AA playoff berth in 2010 and a 5-5 season in 2011. “We had a lot of fun.”

Offensively, Cowperthwait had one of the biggest plays, catching a 61-yard touchdown pass fromDunmore’s Jordan Dempsey late in the first half that made

JESSE PRUITT

the game 27-17.

Defensively, Piechocki was overpowering on the line, racking up five tackles, including one for a loss and another on a sack.

“We are a small school and to come out here and start with these guys was great,” Piechocki said. “I just played hard. All week in practice and all game, I just played real hard.”

On special teams, Pruitt raced downfield and arrived at the ball carrier on three kickoffs, while adding a fumble recovery on defense.

“I just tried to be the first one down there,” Pruitt said. “Got to get your tackles any way you can get them.”