NANTICOKE — Everything for Coach Dennis.
Nanticoke Area’s Christopher Julian sprinted through the pre-game breakaway banner with a sign of his own. He circled his way in front of the Frank J. Chicknosky Field stands with a homemade sign of his own: “Everything for Coach Dennis.”
Regardless of whatever the scoreboard read in the 46-7 loss to North Pocono, Dennis’ sign served as a reminder for what — rather whom — that Nanticoke Area was playing for on Friday night.
Nanticoke Area head coach Scott Dennis died unexpectedly on Tuesday night, just three days before he was to lead his alma mater for the first time. He formerly served as head coach at Holy Redeemer (2014) and Central Columbia (2015-21).
“We all have heavy hearts – he was a heck of a person,” Nanticoke Area interim coach Bill Goodman said. “When I was a head coach here in the 1980s, he played for me. He was great then, and he became a better person.”
Greater Nanticoke Area administrators left the decision to play their opening week game to the football players and coaches. With just over 48 hours before kickoff, the Trojans’ student-athletes told the administrators they wanted to play.
At the Wednesday meeting in the Nanticoke high school auditorium, Goodman spoke on behalf of the coaching staff.
“I spoke up and said, ‘Coach Dennis would want us to play because he’s football.’ He’s football 24/7. So, we decided to go.”
Following the pregame memorial, a surge of adrenaline and focus energized Nanticoke Area against a formidable opponent. They held North Pocono to a quick three-and-out on the opening drive. A fumbled punt return gave North Pocono possession within the red zone and led to a Brady Lavery 20-yard touchdown run.
“Our guys handled it rather well,” Goodman said. “I don’t know if a lot of these kids know about death. We’re so young. They probably handled it better than me. I had tears in the eyes when I was talking to them because I knew Coach Dennis so well.”
Nanticoke Area scored its first points of the season early in the fourth quarter. Freshman James Bush bobbled a kickoff and jetted 94 yards for a touchdown.
“That saved us. It rallied the troops,” Goodman said. “There were four freshmen on the field during that play. We had seniors come out for the first time. We had juniors come out for the first time. They’re nice kids, and they’re tough kids. But they’ve never been in action like this with the lights on.”
As a show of sportsmanship and empathy, the North Pocono players and coaches fist-bumped every member of the Nanticoke Area team before kickoff.
Nanticoke Area will take its first road trip of the season. The team will head on the bus to Coach Dennis’ celebration of life on Saturday in Wapwallopen.
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