In 2019, after an unforgettable comeback victory, the Wyoming Area Warriors were crowned PIAA State Football Champions. Standout quarterback and safety, Dominic DeLuca, then in his final year, suffered a knee injury in the third quarter. He returned to the field, hobbled yet focused, and orchestrated a three-touchdown rally. The Warriors won the school’s first ever state title. Celebrations ensued and the boys proudly brought their trophy home to Jake Sobeski Stadium in West Pittston. The rest, it seemed, was history.

For Dominic DeLuca, however, the triumphant, dream ending of one remarkable season marked only the first steps on a long, difficult road ahead. Penn State Head Football Coach, James Franklin caught the game from the bleachers that cold, clear December Saturday. He had his eye on the Wyoming Area quarterback. The injury, it turned out, was a torn ACL. It would require surgery and a long year of rehabilitation – a long year of not playing football, a long year of wondering how it all could have been different.

DeLuca spoke with Coach Franklin shortly after. The result was not a full scholarship to Penn State. It was not 100,000+ screaming his name on a chilly Saturday in Happy Valley. Instead, it was a dream crushed in an instant, by chance or dumb luck. Or was it? Coach Franklin had a plan for DeLuca. He would take a semester off. He would work harder than he had ever worked in his life. He would not walk-on at Penn State. In Franklin’s words, in a year’s time, DeLuca would “run-on.” And he did. Right away, he made his mark on the special teams unit, on the defensive squad, on his coaches and more importantly on his teammates. In 2023, the day before the Nittany Lions victorious appearance in the Rose Bowl, Franklin proudly placed the kid from West Pittston on full scholarship. And by that spring, DeLuca was named a team captain.

It’s one for the storybooks, as they say. And it’s also one better told by the man himself. We had the chance to catch up with DeLuca, the all-too-proud NEPA native, on a cloudy Monday in State College. He gave us the old campus tour (including a necessary stop at the iconic Berkey Creamery, of course). He shared his incredible Penn State story, his love for NEPA pizza, and his enthusiasm to use his profile, his position and his deep West Pittston roots to help us celebrate all things NEPA.

Check out our local connection to Penn State Football! Get to know Dominic DeLuca.

What was it like growing up in West Pittston?

I was always outside playing with my friends and my brother’s friends. It was a small community. Everyone was right down the road from each other. We would walk to each other’s houses and play outside in each other’s yards. We’d always have a good time.

What did you love most about growing up in NEPA?

I would have to say how it’s so scenic and how everyone’s right next to each other. Everyone is so close to each other. No one’s really too far away. You could always walk to someone’s house if you wanted to see them. My mom used to just yell for me down the street if I was outside playing (laughs).

When you’re back home in NEPA, what’s your favorite restaurant?

Alright, two big ones that I would always go to near my hometown are Valenti’s and Grico’s. You can always get great pasta from both of them. Even Arcaro & Genell, too. He’s not that far away either. A little trip to Old Forge never hurt. I’m a big fan of Old Forge pizza as well.

Of course, now we have to talk about NEPA pizza – Who’s your favorite?

(Exhales nervously) Ok. That’s a hard one. That’s a loaded question. I would say that it really depends on how I feel. I mean, there’s Angelo’s in Wilkes-Barre if you want that sweet sauce. I’m a big Sabatini’s fan as well. Also, there’s Arcaro & Genell’s. The white, double crust pizza – I’m a big fan of that. It’s really hard to choose just one. Oh, Napoli’s Gramma Pizza – big fan of that as well.

Where is one place that you have to go whenever you’re back home?

I would say that the one spot I always hit with my friends when I’m home is Sabatini’s Bottle Shop. We hang out and talk and order lots of pizza. It’s great to just talk and get to see everyone again. It’s always nice to be with my friends in a relaxed environment.

What’s your favorite thing to do in NEPA?

I would definitely say fishing. All my buddies from home are all fishermen, and we love going down to the Susquehanna River. We even go up to the Lehigh for trout as well. Having that time to hang out with my friends in the wild – either it’s hiking at Ricketts Glen or fishing or even hunting. We all hunt as well. It’s just about having a good time.

What was it like going from Wyoming Area to Penn State?

It was a big transition going from a small-town high school to 80,000 people on campus and no one really knows who you are. You’re really just doing your own thing. I mean, I was always hanging out with my friends and having a good time. It was a little bit of a change from home. You get to see everyone’s different cultures and new habits. It’s also kind of a good feeling.

Can you tell us a little about your Penn State story?

In my senior year of high school, I tore my ACL in the state championship game. Coach Franklin was there. I didn’t know it was torn at the time. I got surgery and found out it was torn. I remember calling Coach Franklin the day after surgery, crying. I was actually in tears, saying things like, “My career’s over. I’m done. I don’t know what to do.” He calmed me down and got me to relax. And he had a plan for me. He said I was going to take the first semester off and do a medical gray-shirt year.

So, that’s what I did. I stayed home. I did rehab at Elite Spine & Fitness in Wilkes-Barre with Jack and Steve. They’re great guys there. I thank them a lot for getting me back and healthy. And then I came in as a walk-on, or as Coach calls it, a “run-on.” I put my head down and worked. I asked a lot of questions. A lot of the older guys took me under their wing and helped me learn the standard of Penn State Football and how to go about your day and to always have a routine. I was in the playbook a lot. And special teams is what really took me to the next level – working my way onto special teams and playing there. That helped a lot and then the following year I got put on defense a little bit as well. I was a third guy in the rotation. I tried to go out there and do my job. And I did the best I could when I had the opportunity.

What was that feeling like when you found out that you were being put on scholarship?

It was a surreal feeling, but it was also like I was not ready for it at all. I was getting ready to play another game on New Year’s – January 2nd, I believe it was. They told me they were putting me on scholarship during that team meeting. It was a weight lifted off my shoulders pretty much. And it was like, “Wow, I’ve done it.” This was all that I worked for. I just wanted it all to pay off eventually. I never knew when it was going to come. When he announced it, everything just went away. It was such a great feeling with everyone celebrating with me, congratulating me and happy to celebrate with all my friends and family there.

How about all those Deluca fans? Do they make it out to the games?

Yeah. My parents go to every game no matter where it is. And I’m really happy that I have such a supportive family and that they do everything that they possibly can to see me succeed. They helped me get to where I’m at today. I’m happy that I have them in my life.

What’s it like to run out onto that field in front of over 100,000 people?

It’s a crazy feeling. The first whiteout was really eye-opening for me – just hearing all that noise. It’s definitely the best fanbase in the nation. I mean it’s hard to beat that feeling. It’s such a great atmosphere. I really try to take one big look and take it all in and be where my feet are at the time. But after that, I lock back in and get ready to play.

What do you miss most about NEPA while you’re on campus?

I gotta’ go right back to the pizza. I mean, you can’t find pizza like that in this area. There are some that come close, but nothing really compares to Northeastern PA pizza.

Is there anything here at Penn State that reminds you of home in NEPA?

I would say the hiking. The hiking around here really does remind me of home. Hiking at Campbell’s Ledge was always big when I was young. The Nittany Mountain hike here is where I can really see those similarities. It gives me those little flashbacks of home.

What do all your people back in NEPA think of you playing linebacker and being Special Teams Captain for Penn State?

The community and the support they give me, it’s breathtaking. They’re awesome. They always have my back no matter what. They’re always supportive. I love everyone from the 570 and I’m so appreciative of how much they support me.

If mom’s sending you a little care package from home, what’s one thing that you just gotta’ have in there?

She actually brings me Sabatini’s pizza before every home game. That’s just one of the things she always does for me. She always makes sure I have snacks and goodies from home like Hillside Chocolate Milk – you can’t go wrong with that.

*Note: As of this writing, Dominic DeLuca has been nominated for the 2023 Burlsworth Trophy, an annual honor given to the nation’s best college football player who began their career as a walk-on.