HS Football: Parker Bolesta tops 300 yards, scores 5 TDs to help Dallas reclaim old boot

On a chilly Friday night under the lights, the Dallas Mountains beat rival Lake Lehman 49-6 to reclaim the Old Shoe trophy.

After last season’s edition of the annual rivalry was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, the Black Knights entered the competition by beating Dallas in 2020 and posting a 40-13 victory against Hannover on last week. Dallas, meanwhile, looked to bounce back from a tough 35-7 loss at Wilkes-Barre Area.

The Mounties (8-2) answered on both sides of the ball. In addition to a strong defensive effort that held Lemon to just six points, senior captain Parker Bolesta led the way as he rushed for a career-high 334 yards on just 16 carries to go with five rushing touchdowns and earn game MVP honors.

“It’s pretty amazing to bring the Old Shoe trophy back,” Bolesta said. “We’ve been sitting on that loss to Lehman two years ago for a while now, and we’ve had that game in the back of our minds since we were sophomores. If we didn’t play this game last year, we were ready.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be named the MVP of this game. I give all the credit to my team for helping me get here and making me the player I am today.”

Dallas started the scoring early in the first quarter after winning the coin toss and starting an impressive 66-yard opening drive. With just 1:19 left in the game, Bolesta scored from 14 yards out to give his team a quick 7-0 lead.

But the Black Knights (3-7) came back about five minutes later. Quarterback Landon Shukers connected with fellow senior Gavin Parashak on a 47-yard touchdown pass on third-and-6. That cut the deficit to 7-6 with 5:27 left in the first quarter.

Dallas would grab the momentum right away when Mountaineers quarterback Brady Zapatycki found sophomore Dylan Hesky on his own big play, a 63-yard pass down the right sideline to extend the lead to 14-6.

Dallas didn’t finish the first quarter as Bolesta burst into the end zone from 7 yards out with two seconds left in the period to extend the lead to 21-6.

The second quarter was just as productive for the Mounts, who scored three more touchdowns to take a 42-6 halftime lead.

It started with a 71-yard scoring drive that ended with Ballesta’s third touchdown of the night, this time from 8 yards out. Dallas then extended their lead with 3:08 left in the half when the Mounts capitalized on a fumble recovery that thwarted a Black Knights drive near the goal line.

Dallas turned it into a 95-yard march the other way as Bolesta scored his fourth touchdown on a 45-yard run on the ground.

The Mountaineers took to the air to close the half when Zapatycki found junior tight end Nick Farrell for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 36 seconds left before halftime.

Bolesta closed the scoring early in the second half, scoring his fifth touchdown of the night on his biggest play, an 83-yard sprint to the end zone to give Dallas a dominant 49-6 lead.

Bolesta was proud of its effort against archrival Dallas after losing two of its last three games after a 6-0 start.

“Yeah, we’ve been in a slump the last three games and that’s been our whole conversation this week — to get our groove back — and it showed tonight,” Bolesta said. “If we watch today’s film, it will be pretty clear. All I saw was open field and many of these big runs are just taking off.

“… Heading into the playoffs, we have to get this win and build off of it. We have another game next week and I’m sure we’ll be ready.”