SWIFTWATER ­- Pleasant Valley will keep the Old Oaken Bucket for another year after a 42-8 rout of Pocono Mountain East Friday night.’

The Bears got the ball rolling early with a 10-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Robert Papaleo to Jake Gethen in the first quarter. Papaleo was responsible for four of Pleasant Valley’s six touchdowns on the night.

The Bears rushed for 366 yards on the night and a majority of the rushing came from Papaleo. He carried the ball 25 times for 188 yards with two rushing touchdowns.

“We just played the football that we played, we play smash-mouth football and got the job done,” Papaleo said. “Practice has been absolutely focused and we did what we had to do. We executed and that’s what it’s all about. We’ve talked about this for so many years and this is a dream come true.”

Papaleo also connected with wide receiver Ryan Blass on a 53-yard touchdown pass with 8:20 left in the game. Pleasant Valley piled on 21 points in the fourth quarter for a convincing victory.

“We tried to do what we like to do well at running option and win the line of scrimmage and just out-tough people,” PV head coach Blaec Saeger said. “All the credit in the world to the kids and the coaching staff. They were outstanding. Coach Miller, he’s tough to scheme against. He puts our kids in great positions. We got kids that play for him and they fly around and enjoy playing defense. Tonight was another excellent game for them.”

Pocono Mountain East was finally able to score late in the game on a 74-yard rushing touchdown from Eithen McGuire.

McGuire also stepped into the game at quarterback for a banged-up Anthony Rodriguez in the fourth quarter. PV held the Cardinals to 227 yards of total offense, while the Bears more than doubled that with a 467-yard night.

“They’re such a great group of kids and I’m very happy for them, the school, the administration, the board,” Saeger said. “It’s an awesome win for our community,”

Pleasant Valley returns home next week to face the unbeaten Northampton Konkrete Kids in an Eastern Pennsylania Conference contest.

THE RUN GAME IS BACK... For the second straight week, the Pleasant Valley running game stormed out of the gate. After a tough loss to East Stroudsburg South two weeks ago, the rushing yards have been piling up and PV has rushed for 685 combined yards the past two weeks.

IT JUST HAPPENS...Papaleo on his chemistry with Blass: “Playing with a kid for nine or 10 years of your life, you build chemistry over time naturally, not that it’s forced, it just happens.”