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LEHMAN TWP. — Holy Redeemer hasn’t had much success in its 10 years of football. But when the Royals do, it seems to come at the expense of their Catholic brethren to the north.
Redeemer posted its third shutout in school history, and once again Holy Cross was on the losing end, as the Royals dominated in a 44-0 victory Saturday afternoon at Lake-Lehman High School.
Quarterback J.D. Turosky completed 11 of 12 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 79 yards and two more scores. As an inside linebacker, he seemed to spend as much time in Holy Cross’ backfield as he did his own.
“We have a ways to go,” Redeemer coach Dwayne Downing said. “We started off kind of slow. J.D. got us going and made some plays. He kind of got us going offensively and defensively. But we have to get better. Next week is Susquehanna, and it’s going to be a tougher game.”
Redeemer’s previous two shutouts were 30-0 in 2014 and 21-0 in 2015, both against Holy Cross. The Royals also scored a school-record in points against Holy Cross back in 2008 in a 62-7 victory.
“What are you going to do,” said Holy Cross first-year coach Dave Gatto, who took over a program with a 15-game losing streak entering the season. “We’re young, we’re inexperienced. We’re just working and trying to get better each day. Once things went downhill, our kids have to learn.
“It’s a learning experience. We’re going to get better each week and give it our best shot.”
Redeemer got things going early in the second quarter. Turosky hit Colin Conway on a pair of passes for 17 and 15 and then ripped off consecutive 19-yard runs. He sneaked in from the 1-yard line to start Redeemer’s 23-point quarter.
The only pass Turosky missed on was a bomb into triple coverage that was intercepted on the Holy Cross 1-yard line by Dom Possenza. But on the next play, Redeemer recorded a safety. Another defensive score — a 43-yard interception return by John Sartin — capped the second-quarter outburst.
Special teams also contributed midway through the third to push the lead to 30-0. Matt Piontkowski, a 6-foot-6 transfer from Nanticoke, blocked a punt, scooped up the ball and ran 11 yards for a touchdown. Piontkowski and his 6-6 kid brother, Jared, both played basketball for Nanticoke last year.
Redeemer will be back at Lake-Lehman next Saturday to play Susquehanna. The Royals are hoping to be back at Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium on Week 3 to play Mahanoy Area. That stadium is closed due to structural concerns with the tunnel leading from the locker rooms to the field. Repairs are expected to be done in time for the Sept. 9 game.
Holy Redeemer 44, Holy Cross 0
Holy Cross`0`0`0`0`—`0
Holy Redeemer`0`23`14`7`—`44
Second quarter
HR — JD Turosky 3 run (Nate Roppelt kick), 9:50
HR — Safety, John Kowalski tackled in end zone, 5:23
HR — Turosky 1 run (Roppelt kick), 1:58
HR — John Sartin 43 int. return (Roppelt kick), 1:12
Third quarter
HR — Matt Piontkowski 11 blocked punt return (Roppelt kick), 6:03
HR — Sartin 11 pass from Turosky (Roppelt kick), 2:58
Fourth quarter
HR — Jared Piontkowski 4 pass from Turosky (Roppelt kick), 7:12
Team statistics`HC`HR
First downs`7`15
Rushes-yards`35-33`22-128
Passing yards`13`162
Total yards`46`290
Passing`4-8-1`11-12-1
Sacked-yards lost`2-24`3-13
Punts-avg.`5-30.6`2-43.5
Fumbles-lost`4-1`1-1
Penalties-yards`8-42`5-45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Holy Cross, Jason Kopf 10-65, Nick Brooks 12-12, Jake Wiercinski 7-(minus-27), Kowalski 1-(minus-1), Dom Possenza 3-(minus-8), Eric Dixon 1-3, team 1-(minus-11). Redeemer, Ryan Williams 4-36, Peter Shay 3-5, Turosky 12-79, James Cunningham 2-10, Dan Schuler 1-(minus-2).
PASSING — Holy Cross, Wiercinski 4-7-1-13, Dixon 0-1-0-0. Redeemer, Turosky 11-12-1-162.
RECEIVING — Holy Cross, Dan Dougherty 2-14, Kopf 1-(minus-1), Possenza 1-2. Redeemer, Sartin 2-34, M.Piontkowski 1-6, Colin Conway 3-33, J.Piontkowski 4-69, Williams 1-20.
INTERCEPTIONS — Holy Cross, Possenza 1-0. Redeemer, M.Piontkowski 1-43.
MISSED FGs — None.
