By PATRICK MATSINKO pmatsinko@tnonline.com

ALLENTOWN – Dieruff turned back Pleasant Valley 27-15 on Saturday to earn its first victory of the season in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference contest.

The Huskies (1-4) got a huge game from Jessiah Woods, who scored three touchdowns and came up with a critical interception late in the game to seal the win.

Woods scored on pass plays of 62 and 45 yards, and added a four-yard touchdown run that gave Dieruff a 27-9 lead with 7:11 to play in the fourth quarter.

But his biggest play might have come on the other side of the ball, when the senior picked Bears’ (0-5) quarterback Jack Stephens on first-down at the Huskies’ 16-yardline with 3:51 to play in the fourth quarter with the Huskies holding on to a two-score lead.  

Pleasant Valley cut it to 27-15 when Stephens hit Doug Haines for a 15-yard score with 5:06 to play in the fourth quarter.

The Bears forced a fumble on Dieruff’s next possession and moved into scoring position when Stephens hit Johnny Mitchell on a 42-yard pass play before Woods came up with the interception on the next play to end the drive.

Pleasant Valley trailed throughout, but fought to get back into the game.

After Nasai Moon was tackled in the end zone for a safety, the Huskies cashed in following the free kick when Ejau Collazo’s 12-yard score capped a 62-yard drive to give the Huskies a 9-0 lead at the 7:54 mark of the first quarter.

Jack Kaye’s field goal as time expired in the first half cut Dieruff’s lead to 9-3.

Woods went 62 yards on a screen pass on third-and-five for his first score of the game to push the Huskies’ advantage to 15-3.

Pleasant Valley answered on its next drive, as Moon raced 63 yards to make it 15-9 with 4:45 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bears were unable to do anything after Moon picked Collazo on the next drive, failing to convert on a fake punt on their next drive.

Dieruff took advantage of the good field position, as Collazo hit Woods for 45 yards on the first play of the possession to make it 21-9 with 2:29 to play in the third quarter.

Pleasant Valley will host Pocono Mountain East next Friday in the annual “Bucket Game.”

Check out Monday's Times News for more coverage of the game.