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WILKES-BARRE — The Northwest football team was clicking on all cylinders Friday night when it travelled to Holy Redeemer.
After forcing a three-and-out to open the game and then driving 40 yards down the field, in just eight plays, to score their first touchdown of the night, the Rangers never looked back.
Northwest was able to do whatever it wanted against a shorthanded Holy Redeemer squad en route to a 40-13 victory over the Royals. With the win, the Rangers got back to .500 for the first time since Week 2.
“We’re starting seven sophomores and have four seniors,” Northwest head football coach Lon Hazlet said. “We’re a young football team and our young guys are getting better every time out. We try and keep it real simple, and every day at practice we try and get a little bit better, and our guys are growing up. We’re pleased with where we’re going.”
The Rangers used a strong night on the ground and a stout defensive effort to propel themselves to the 27-point win.
Northwest junior running back Jake Anderson scored two of the Rangers’ first three touchdowns.
Anderson capped off an 8-play, 40-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run to give the Rangers a 7-0 lead with six minutes and 28 seconds remaining in the first quarter. A little less than 15 minutes later Anderson found himself in familiar territory once again. The junior’s 61-yard run put Northwest up 21-0 with 7:26 remaining in the first half. Anderson finished with a game-high 170 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
“Jake’s a tremendous player and he’s our bell cow right now,” Hazlet said. “He would tell you the credit goes to the fullbacks and the tight ends and the offensive line, but we think he can make some noise down the stretch here. We’re excited about him.”
The Northwest defense gave the Royals fits all night long.
Holy Redeemer started the game with three straight three-and-outs and didn’t achieve it’s first non-penalty first down until the end of the second quarter. The Rangers also came away with three turnovers, including a pick-six returned 27 yards by senior defensive back Ezra Judge.
“Our defense is coming around,” Hazlet said. “They’re starting to understand, to execute the game plan. A couple weeks ago we were just running around out there and we’re starting to read some keys on the line better and communicating, all the simple things you have to do to be a good defense. We’re growing up in that area also.”
Facing a 34-0 deficit at the break, the Royals dug too deep of a hole to get out of.
However, after Northwest quarterback David Piestrak scored on an 11-yard rushing touchdown to take a 40-0 lead late in the third quarter, the Royals didn’t quit and scored 13-unanswered points in the final 12 minutes.
Holy Redeemer junior quarterback JD Turosky through a pair of deep touchdown passes. Junior wide receiver John Winters caught a 30-yard touchdown pass, and was followed by a 62-yard Cade Fahey touchdown reception on the very next drive to cut the deficit to 40-13.
Northwest 40, Holy Redeemer 13
Northwest`14`20`7`0`—`40
Holy Redeemer`0`0`0`13`—`13
First quarter
N — Jake Anderson 9-yard run (Jack Wessler kick), 6:24
N — Austin Ford 9-yard pass from David Piestrak (Wessler kick), 3:57
Second quarter
N — Anderson 61-yard run (Wessler kick), 7:26
N — Jack Stancavage 2-yard run (kick failed), 1:30
N — Erza Judge 27-yard interception return (Wessler kick), 0:59.9
Third quarter
N —Piestrak 11-yard run (kick failed), 1:48
Fourth quarter
H — John Winters 30-yard pass from JD Turosky (Maricio Rodriguez kick), 7:23
H — Cade Fahey 61-yard pass from Turosky (kick failed), 2:41
Team statistics`NWT`HR
First downs`10`5
Rushes-yards`30-244`18-16
Passing yards`45`135
Total yards`299`151
Passing`8-17-0`11-20-2
Sacked-yards lost`2-13`1-8
Punts-avg.`1-37`6-13.3
Fumbles-lost`0-0`3-1
Penalties-yards`7-75`4-30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Jake Anderson 12-170, David Piestrak 10-64, Ezra Judge 1-9, Jack Stancavage 2-6, Tyler Stevens 2-1, Gavin Davis 1-(-5), Colton Babcock 2-(-5). HR, Tom Engle 6-13, John Winters 2-11, Dorien Ryans 4-4, Robb McClay 2-1, JD Turosky 4-(-13)
PASSING — NWT, David Piestrak 8-15-0-45, Tyler Stevens 0-2-0-0. HR, JD Turosky 11-20-2-151.
RECEIVING — NWT, Dylan Womelsdorf 4-19, Ezra Judge 2-12, Austin Ford 1-9, Jake Anderson 1-2. HR, John Winters 3-86, Cade Fahey 5-80, Dorien Ryans 3-8.
INTERCEPTIONS — NWT, Erza Judge 1-27, Connor Hazlet 1-0. HR, None.
MISSED FGs — NWT, Jack Wessler 0-1. HR, None.