Crestwood’s Jacob Jeckell races to the goal line for a 22-yard touchdown just 21 seconds into Friday night’s game with Nanticoke Area.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
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Crestwood’s Carter Kennedy heads to the end zone with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Jack Rodgers in the first quarter.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Crestwood running back Matthew Bealla pushes past Nanticoke Area defenders for yardage in the second quarter.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Nanticoke Area’s Christopher Julian runs around the end in the second quarter as Crestwood’s Carson Oresick (26) and Corban Sellers (77) pursue.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Crestwood’s Lincoln Bibla runs behind his blockers for a 13-yard touchdown against Nanticoke Area in the first quarter.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
NANTICOKE — Crestwood scored on its first five possessions Friday night.
And also on a couple of Nanticoke Area possessions as well.
The Comets completely dominated from the onset, defeating Nanticoke Area 55-0 in a Wyoming Valley Conference interdivisional game.
Crestwood improved to 2-3 overall as it tries to gain one of four District 2 Class 4A playoff spots. The Comets were sixth in the standings at the close of Friday’s games. Nanticoke Area fell to 1-4.
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” Crestwood coach Ryan Arcangeli said. “We can’t change what has been. We can’t change the close games or this or that, we can only change today. We’re going to continue to do that.
“We’re going to treat every practice like a playoff practice. Urgency was the name of the game this week. We didn’t feel like we played with urgency last week against Western Wayne.”
The game was a rematch of last year’s District 2 Class 4A quarterfinal game won by Nanticoke Area 28-21 in double overtime. Nanticoke Area, though, was depleted by graduation and no match for the Comets, who scored on three of their first four plays from scrimmage.
Crestwood’s Giovanni Barna returned the opening kickoff 54 yards and Jacob Jeckell scored on a 22-yard run on the next play.
Crestwood’s Kyle Draina blocked a punt on Nanticoke Area’s first possession, and Lincoln Bibla scored on a 13-yard run two plays later for a 14-0 lead.
The Comets needed one play the next time they got the ball as Jack Rodgers threw a perfect pass to Carter Kennedy for a 60-yard touchdown.
Rodgers, a sophomore, will be running the Crestwood offense the rest of the way. Junior starter Jaden Shedlock suffered his second consecutive season-ending injury against Western Wayne last Friday.
“I feel for him,” Arcangeli said. “I feel for the young man because he shouldn’t have to endure two season-ending type things, but he has to. That’s his challenge and he’ll meet that challenge because that’s what guys of high character with great support do.”
The defense got in on the scoring the next time Nanticoke Area had the ball as Emmett Seyer returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown.
Crestwood increased its lead to 35-0 in the first quarter on a 21-yard run by Nate Walsh.
Another fumble return touchdown — this one for 57 yards by Bibla after a sack — increased the lead to 42-0 at 9:28 of the second quarter.
Matthew Bealla scored on a 25-yard run at 5:49 of the second quarter as Crestwood scored on its first five possessions. The only time the Comets didn’t score in the first two quarters was when they took two knees to end the half.
The coaches agreed after Bealla’s touchdown to play eight-minute quarters in the second half. Crestwood finished up its scoring on a 12-yard run by Dylan Gensel in the fourth quarter.
Crestwood 55, Nanticoke Area 0
Crestwood`35`14`0`6 — 55
Nanticoke Area`0`0`0`0 — 0
First quarter
CRE — Jacob Jeckell 22 run (Cooper Laubach), 11:39
CRE — Lincoln Bibla 13 run (Laubach kick), 8:34
CRE — Carter Kennedy 60 pass from Jack Rodgers (Laubach kick), 6:03
CRE — Emmett Sayer 32 fumble return (Laubach kick), 4:19
CRE — Nate Walsh 21 run (Laubach kick), 0:21
Second quarter
CRE — Bibla 57 fumble return (Laubach kick), 9:28
CRE — Matthew Bealla 25 run (Laubach kick), 5:49
Fourth quarter
CRE — Dylan Gensel 12 run (kick failed), 4:56
Team statistics`CRE`NAN
First downs`8`4
Rushes-yards`19-162`42-4
Passing yards`60`3
Total yards`222`7
Passing`1-1-0`2-4-1
Sacked-yards lost`0-0`4-22
Punts-avg.`0-0`1-33
Fumbles-lost`0-0`3-3
Penalties-yards`4-25`1-5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Crestwood, Jeckell 1-22, Walsh 3-33, Bibla 1-13, Bealla 4-50, Colin Lazo 1-1, Gensel 4-58, Amias Ocasio 1-(minus-3), Dylan Bellas 1-2, team 3-(minus-14). Nanticoke Area, Treston Allen 6-13, Manny Sosa 6-11, Mike Stachowiak 5-(minus-18), Christopher Julian 11-(minus-10), Tyler Skordensky 5-16, Landyn Hules 2-(minus-1), Denick Tixi 1-(minus-2), Serafino Raggi 3-7, Chet Beggs 2-2, team 1-(minus-14).
PASSING — Crestwood, Rodgers 1-1-0-60. Nanticoke Area, Stachowiak 2-4-0-3, Beggs 0-1-1-0.
RECEIVING — Crestwood, Kennedy 1-60.
INTERCEPTIONS — Crestwood, Ocasio 1-28. Nanticoke Area Julian 1-6, Jason O’Borski 1-(minus-3).
MISSED FGs — none.