On a Friday night under the lights in Tunkhannock, the visiting Nanticoke Area Trojans completed the comeback late with a go-ahead, goal-line touchdown run with just 66 seconds remaining in regulation to seize their first victory of the season, beating the Tigers 14-12.
The Trojans bounced back in a big way in Week 4 after losing their first three contests of the season to North Pocono, Carbondale, and Pittston Area, respectively, following the sudden death of coach Scott Dennis last month.
Coach Ron Bruza, who rejoined the staff after the start of the season, was proud of his team’s effort and showing what it means to have heart through adversity after losing Dennis just three days before the season opener.
“No one knows what these kids have gone through,” Bruza said. “They fight and come to practice every day. Most of the time they’re outmanned, they’re outgunned, but they come to work everyday.
“Coach Dennis did a great job in the offseason, instilling that Trojan heart into this young football team. A lot of these guys never even put on a uniform before. … This is Coach Dennis’ team, Coach Dennis’ program and I think we had a little help from that guy upstairs today and these kids played their butts off for him.”
Nanticoke Area got on the scoreboard first, capitalizing on a Tunkhannock fumble before senior Tyler Skordensky took it almost to the house for a lightning quick 57-yard run that would set up the Trojans at the goal line
Tailback Treston Allen plunged into the end zone from 3 yards out and fellow senior Manny Sosa converted on a two-point rushing attempt to give their squad an 8-0 advantage with 6:58 left in the opening quarter.
However, after Tunkhannock was held scoreless in the first period, the Tigers would come roaring right back less than two minutes into the second at the 10:34 mark when senior stalwart running back Karver Lewis scampered home for the 11-yard touchdown run. After his two-point conversion failed, the Trojans lead was cut to 8-6.
About six minutes later, the Tigers would take their first lead of the ball game when junior wide out Andrew Lupinski sprinted to the end zone from 26 yards out to give his team the 12-8 lead with 4:35 left in the first half, a slim lead they would enjoy heading into the locker room.
Then after both teams were held scoreless in the third quarter, the Trojans went on a gritty final offensive drive that culminated in Allen’s second rushing score of the contest, this time barreling into the end zone from the 1-yard line to give his squad the hard fought 14-12 advantage with just 1:06 remaining in regulation.
The Trojans defense held strong on Tunkhannock’s final offensive drive and would-be comeback attempt to ensure the thrilling two point comeback win when the game clock hit all zeroes.
The 1-3 Trojans will look to build on this first triumph of the season when they host the Crestwood Comets next Friday night.
Meanwhile, head coach Pat Keating and his 1-3 Tigers will look to bounce back from this defeat and snap a two-game skid when they host a tough Wyoming Area squad next Friday.
Nanticoke Area 14, Tunkhannock 12
Nanticoke Area`8`0`0`6 —`14
Tunkhannock`0`12`0`0 — 12
First Quarter
NAN — Treston Allen 3 run (Manny Sosa run), 6:58.
Second Quarter
TUN — Karver Lewis 11 run (run failed), 10:34.
TUN — Andrew Lupinski 26 run (kick failed), 4:35.
Fourth Quarter
NAN — Allen 1 run (run failed), 1:06.
Team statistics `Nanticoke ‘Tunkhannock
First downs`10’8
Rushes-yards`48-184`19-106
Passing yards`29`40
Total yards`213`146
Passing`3-6-0-0`5-16-0-2
Sacked-yards lost`2-13`3-24
Punts-avg.`3-26`3-28
Fumbles-lost`1-1`2-1
Penalties-yards`3-20`9-70
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING- NAN, Manny Sosa 6-18, Treston Allen 20-91, Christopher Julian 15-8, Tyler Skordensky 1-57, Michael Stachowiak 5-8, James Bush 1-2. TUN, Karver Lewis 8-60, Randall Paxton 6-25, Andrew Lupinski 4-15, Josiah Parr 1-6.
PASSING- NAN, Michael Stachowiak 3-6-29-0-0. TUN, Zach Latwinski 5-14-40-0-2, Randall Paxton 0-2-0-0-0.
RECEIVING- NAN, Tyler Skordensky 1-8, Dennis Hall 1-17, Manny Sosa 1-4. TUN, Andrew Lupinski 2-5, Bobby Seidel 1-14, Jayden Ransom 2-21.
INTERCEPTIONS- NAN, Chet Beggs 1-5, James Bush 1-0. TUN, None.
MISSED FIELD GOALS —NAN, None. TUN, None.
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