The start of the Lackawanna Football Conference Division 1 season represents a potential upturn in the difficulty of the schedule for Abington Heights and other divisional teams.
Instead, the arrival of divisional play saw improved results for the Comets.
Abington Heights entered the LFC portion of the schedule with an 0-4 overall record, but immediately picked up its first win, then threatened an upset before falling short in its second game.
The Comets head into the final four weeks of the regular season at 1-1 in the division and 1-5 overall. They got there by defeating visiting Wallenpaupack, 24-12, in the division opener, then losing at Valley View, 21-14, Sept. 30.
Valley View 21, Abington Heights 14
Valley View entered the fourth quarter with a 21-0 lead on its home field on the way to its fifth straight victory, but Abington Heights mounted a threat with a pair of Roman Cutrufello touchdown receptions from Shawn Theodore.
Theodore and Cutrufello connected for 2- and 56-yard scores 1:16 apart to pull the Comets within seven with 2:32 remaining.
Connor Hilling had given Valley View a 21-point lead with touchdown runs of 5 yards in the first quarter, 18 in the second and 2 in the third.
Theodore shook off a tough start to finish 9-for-21 for 146 yards. Cutrufello had four catches for 85 yards.
Nico Bossi, who had four assists, and Nate Grimaldi, who had two assists, each made nine tackles, including one for a loss.
Abington Heights 24, Wallenpaupack 12
Theodore hit Mason Fedor with a pair of touchdown passes and Abington Heights held visiting Wallenpaupack scoreless into the fourth quarter of the division opener.
The Comets led 14-0 after one quarter, 21-0 at the half and 24-0 going into the last 12 minutes.
Fedor caught six passes for 95 yards and Jack Burke caught four for 77 yards. Theodore was 8-for-13 for 137 yards passing.
Christian Henzes ran for the other touchdown and Mike Hartshorn kicked a 21-yard field goal, along with three extra points.
The Comets limited the Buckhorns to 58 yards rushing.
Garrett Sespico was in on four tackles for losses and Bossi was in on three. Bossi finished with four tackles, six assists and two broken-up passes.
Austin Boersma was in on two sacks and Kevin Schmidt picked off a pass.
Western Wayne 28, Abington Heights 21
The positive signs actually started for the Comets in a non-league road game against Western Wayne, which like Valley View, has a 5-1 record.
The Comets, who had been outscored 114-27 in the first three games, led into the fourth quarter before falling short.
Luke Janiszewski carried 23 times for 160 yards and two touchdowns and returned an interception for the game-winning score to lead the Wildcats.
Abington Heights ran off 21 straight points after falling behind 14-0 in the first eight minutes.
The comeback started when Hartshorn picked up an errant snap on a planned field goal attempt and ran for a touchdown.
Theodore scored on a quarterback sneak, then put the Comets ahead with a touchdown pass to Bossi and a two-point conversion to Fedor.
Fedor had four catches for 76 yards and Burke had three for 61 yards. Theodore was 11-for-23 for 163 yards.
Berwick 49, Abington Heights 0
Special teams and defense gave Berwick a series of short field, which the visiting Bulldogs used to open a 42-0 halftime lead in the non-league game between teams that came in with 0-2 records.
