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FLINTON -- After the West Branch players broke the team huddle following the Warriors' 36-22 upset win over Glendale, 6-3, 195-pound senior cornerback Frankie Leskovansky was the center of attention.
West Branch coach Kenn Vandevander and retired Tyrone coach John Franco, who helps the Warriors in the coaching booth, offered pats on Leskovansky's chest and shoulders and he got a hug from behind by a teammate on a chilly senior night at Dr. Roy F. Baker Field.
"Man I am so happy. You can tell with my voice," said Leskovansky as tears welled in his eyes. "I treasure these boys, and I'm just so happy to help this team. Everyone doubted us. I'm just so happy to prove them wrong and punch them right in the face. Oh man, it's the best feeling ever."
Leskovansky was getting so much attention because he returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter in a span of 2:21.
He returned the first one 70 yards with 5:05 left and Leskovansky took the second pickoff 59 yards for a score with 2:45 remaining after the Vikings had recovered an onside kick with the score at 28-22. Both passes from Michael Leskovansky were thrown to Levi Hamilton.
"For weeks, I've been picturing a sideline pick 6, or just a pick 6 in general," Leskovansky said. "I wasn't expecting two, baby. I'm so happy."
Play of the game: After Glendale's Tanner Ammerman scored on a 1-yard run to make the score 28-22 with 3:33 remaining in the game, Hamilton's onside kick was recovered by Mason Brink. But then Leskovansky sealed it when he picked off the pass at the Glendale 41 and outran every defender along the Vikings' sideline.
"It was a little overthrown," Leskovansky said, "and I reached up and caught it. I was like pick 6, baby. I was thinking that all the way." Player of the game: Leskovansky not only had the two pick 6s, he also caught three passes for 34 yards. Unsung hero(es): West Branch's senior Max Gibson, a 6-0, 205-pounder who played on the offensive line the whole season but moved to running back for Friday night. He led the Warriors with 95 yards rushing on 16 carries and scored on runs of 2 yards and 1 yard.
"He was the running back the last two years," Vandevander said. "He broke his leg, so he switched over to offensive line this year. He's been gradually getting healthy, and at the end of last week he said 'Coach, I want one more shot to run the ball.' So we eased him into it all week-long.
"Once we got his feet wet tonight, we just rode the hot hand, and it just opened everything up. I'm just so happy for him. He has sacrificed so much going to the offensive line and being a total team player."
Taking the Warriors lightly: Coming off of a big win over previously twice-beaten Southern Huntingdon, Glendale (5-4) was looking to win their third straight game. The Vikings were t No. 6 in the District 6 Class A playoff rankings.
"They played phenomenal," Glendale coach Chase Hill said of the Warriors. "I think coming in we just took them lightly, including myself and all the coaches. You see a team that was 2-6 and it's hard not to take them lightly. We preached all week that if we turn the ball over that's a game that we drop. They're not a bad team by any means. I think the record doesn't do them justice."
Next week: West Branch hosts Tussey Mountain. Glendale visits North Star.
Records: West Branch (3-6); Glendale (4-5).
SCORE BY QUARTERS
West Branch 0 16 0 20 --36
Glendale 8 6 0 8 --22
First Quarter
G--Hamilton 24 pass from M. Venslosky (Hamilton run), 7:38
Second Quarter
WB--Danko 3 run (J. Esposti pass from Danko), 11:56
G--T. Ammerman 15 run (run failed), 6:57
WB--Gibson 1 run (J. Esposti pass from Danko), 1:27
Fourth Quarter
WB--Gibson 2 run (pass failed), 6:20
WB--Leskovansky 70 interception return (pass failed), 5:05
G--T. Ammerman 1 run (Hamilton run), 3:33
WB--Leskovansky 59 interception return (Danko run), 2:45
TEAM STATISTICS WB G
First downs 13 14
Total yards 260 286
Rushes-yards 35-188 28-169
Yards passing 72 117
Passing (comp.-att.-int) 6-13-0 13-21-3
Punts-avg. 2-32.5 2-39.5
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-yards 6-40 2-6
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--West Branch, Gibson 16-95, Danko 18-93, TEAM 1-(-1). Glendale, T. Ammerman 26-168, M. Venslosky 2-1.
PASSING--West Branch, Danko 6-13-0-72. Glendale, M. Venslosky 12-17-2-104, Hamilton 1-4-1-13.
RECEIVING: West Branch, J. Esposti 3-38, Leskovansky 3-34. Glendale, Hamilton 6-68, T. Ammerman 4-35, Jenkins 2-13, Hoopsick-Bell 1-3.