Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

WILKES-BARRE — Northwest’s Tyler Stevens noticed the flaw the first time Meyers attempted a field goal, but couldn’t exploit it. Instead, teammates Ezra Judge came off the edge to block the kick.

Given a second chance, Stevens made sure he broke through.

Steven blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt as time expired as Northwest held on to defeat Meyers 14-13 Thursday night in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3A-A game.

Northwest (6-3) also clinched a spot in the District 2 Class A championship game against Lackawanna Trail (6-2). Three-time defending D2-A champion Old Forge (3-5) was eliminated from contention with the Rangers’ victory.

Meyers (5-4) took over possession for the final time at its 22-yard line with 2:52 left. Quarterback Willie Wallace, subbing for injured starter Janssen Wilborn, made two big throws on third downs — a 19-yarder to Khabir Williams and a 9-yard to Najese Wood — to get the ball to the Northwest 21.

Three plays netted minus-2 yards and Meyers sent kicker Ken Macko on the field to attempt a 41-yard field goal with 6.3 seconds left. Macko kicked a 38-yarder earlier in the season, so the attempt was on the fringe of his known range.

Macko’s kick never had a chance. A high snap gave Stevens an extra split second to break through the line and smother the kick.

“The first time they did a field goal I saw they had a weak spot,” Stevens said. “I tried to get in there, but he blocked me. But it was all on the line. We needed this to be undefeated in the Wyoming Valley Conference. I was like, I have to get this for my team.”

Northwest also needed a touchdown in the fourth quarter to overcome a 13-7 deficit. The last time the Rangers had the ball there was eight minutes left in the game, the idea was to score and waste as much clock as possible.

“We were trying to run out the clock,” said Northwest coach Lon Hazlet, whose team had a couple long drives where it came up empty. “We were trying to milk the clock down there and score with no time left. But we didn’t want to end up a fourth-and-6. But that’s the way it turned out and our young quarterback made a great throw.”

Northwest was in that situation at the Meyers 11. The Rangers went back to a play that worked for a touchdown just before halftime — a slant pass to Judge.

Judge had to make a sliding catch for the first touchdown, but quarterback David Piestrak made a better throw this time. He zipped a pass that Judge caught in stride.

“Time just slows down and all you see is the ball and you know you have to catch it,” said Judge, who had a season-best four receptions for 82 yards.

Freshman kicker Jack Wessler added the extra point, giving Northwest a 14-13 lead.

Meyers dropped from fourth to fifth in the battle for four D2-3A playoff berths. More shuffling is expected once Week 9 is completed.

“I thought our kids gave everything they had,” Meyers coach Jeff Labatch said. “I’m proud of them.”

Northwest 14, Meyers 13

Northwest`0`7`0`7`—`14

Meyers`0`0`13`0`—`0

Second quarter

NWT — Ezra Judge 9 pass from David Piestrak (Jack Wessler kick), 0:20

Third quarter

MEY — Je’Vondra McClair 44 fumble return (Ken Macko kick), 5:55

MEY — Reese Patronick 6 run (run failed), 0:46

Fourth quarter

NWT — Judge 11 pass from Piestrak (Wessler kick), 2:57

Team statistics`Nwt`Mey

First downs`16`19

Rushes-yards`42-181`47-235

Passing yards`100`67

Total yards`281`302

Passing`7-13-1`7-12-1

Sacked-yards lost`0-0`0-0

Punts-avg.`2-37.5`1-40

Fumbles-lost`0-0`6-2

Penalties-yards`3-20`8-64

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Northwest, Jake Anderson 27-123, Jack Stancavage 2-8, Piestrak 7-31, Tyler Stevens 4-14, Judge 1-2, Beau Getz 1-2. Meyers, Janssen Wilborn 10-46, Namir Murphy 9-52, Rajhan Woodson 9-44, Khabir Williams 9-67, Patronick 2-15, Willie Wallace 8-11.

PASSING — Northwest, Piestrak 7-11-1-100, Brandon Hardiman 0-1-0-0, team 0-1-0-0. Meyers, Wilborn 2-4-1-24, Wallace 5-8-0-43.

RECEIVING — Northwest, Judge 4-82, Hardiman 1-11, Anderson 1-7. Meyers, Wallace 1-11, Steven Morel 2-20, Williams 2-29, Najese Hod 2-7.

INTERCEPTIONS — Northwest, Hardiman 1-0. Meyers, Wallace 1-0.

MISSED FGs — Meyers, 24 BLK, 41 BLK.

Northwest’s Ezra Judge (24) scores a TD to the dismay of Meyers’ Willie Wallace (2) in Thursday’s WVC game in Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_meyersnw01.jpg.optimal.jpgNorthwest’s Ezra Judge (24) scores a TD to the dismay of Meyers’ Willie Wallace (2) in Thursday’s WVC game in Wilkes-Barre. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader

Northwest’s Jake Anderson (35) gets a big gain on run during Thursday’s WVC game in Wilkes-Barre.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_meyersnw02.jpg.optimal.jpgNorthwest’s Jake Anderson (35) gets a big gain on run during Thursday’s WVC game in Wilkes-Barre. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader

Northwest’s Brandon Hardiman (3) picks off a pass intended for Meyers’ Willie Wallace in the end zone during the second quarter.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_meyersnw03.jpg.optimal.jpgNorthwest’s Brandon Hardiman (3) picks off a pass intended for Meyers’ Willie Wallace in the end zone during the second quarter. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader

By John Erzar

[email protected]

Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar