WRIGHT TWP. — The Crestwood game plan was obvious from the opening drive. Take advantage of Williamsport’s rush defense. Run as much as possible.
The only wrinkle to the Comets’ game plan was that their defense was, well, too good at its job.
Crestwood stifled Williamsport in a 51-13 victory on Friday night. The Comets won their first of three consecutive games against Class 6A opponents.
Crestwood’s defense kept the Millionaires to just 3 yards on 16 carries in the first half. The Comets received nine points – a fumble recovery in the end zone and a safety – from their defense and special teams.
“If you have an opportunity to run the ball and you have an opportunity to stop the rush, you will find yourself in a place for great success,” Crestwood coach Ryan Arcangeli said. “They take it personally. Our guys are really big on setting an edge.”
Nick Miscavage was instrumental in the Comets’ special team play. On the Millionaires’ opening drive, he blocked a punt that allowed quarterback Jaden Shedlock to score on a 35-yard quarterback sneak that fooled defenders with a fake handoff. In the second quarter, Miscavage picked up a loose ball in the end zone on a snap that flew over the Williamsport punter’s head.
The Comets’ Lincoln Bibla tackled the Williamsport quarterback in the end zone for a safety that gave his team a 37-7 lead.
Noah Schultz was a linchpin to the Comets’ offensive attack. He finished with three touchdowns. Schultz carried the ball 10 times for 94 yards.
Schultz scored the opening touchdown on a 6-yard touchdown. After Shedlock’s quarterback sneak to take a two-touchdown lead, Williamsport cut its deficit in half. Jakiha Kline hauled in a beautiful 61-yard pass from George Whaley with 3:17 left in the first quarter.
“Williamsport’s always made us earn 5 or 6 yards per carry,” coach Arcangeli said. “That’s always how they have played. We stayed on schedule. Our offensive front was moving them even when we don’t. That’s how you put us in a great position.”
The Comets responded in fashion with a 46-yard touchdown run from Schultz. From there, the Comets scored 30 unanswered points.
Crestwood 49, Valley West 21
After an opening drive that lasted for over seven minutes, 50 lost yards due to penalties and a series that saw Crestwood 33 yards away from the first down, Noah Schultz would score his first of four touchdowns in the game as the Comets rolled through Valley West 49-21.
After the game Schultz credited his team for his stellar performance.
“Just stick to the plan, trust in my guys,” Schultz said. “We practiced hard all week.”
Early on the Comets were moving as expected, on the ground. With a tandem of Schultz and Jaden Shedlock, Crestwood was able to easily move the ball into Spartans territory, but with two personal penalties the Comets offense quickly faced a second-and-33.
Crestwood was forced to do something they have not done since Week 2, throw the ball. A Shedlock hitch pass to Josh Hilpp moved the chains and later in the drive the two would connect again on a 22-yard pass to lead to Schultz’s opening score.
After helping his team to a 35-0 halftime lead on 16 carries for 167 yards, Schultz did not feature in the second half but Crestwood coach Ryan Arcangeli was sure to praise his star player.
“Noah controlled the first half of the football game in the last two weeks,” Arcangeli said. “We have, what I feel, is the best player in the league.”
The Comets defense was set to get to work as they forced Valley West into a three-and-out on their opening drive. Throughout the game the Comets were able to control the line, constantly bringing pressure to Valley West quarterback Lucas Zdancewicz, forcing an interception and sacking him twice.
Following a punt that only netted the Spartans six yards, Schultz made quick work of the excellent field position taking the ensuing play to the house for a 28-yard touchdown, his second of the game.
Facing an early deficit, the Spartans looked to take advantage of a Crestwood fumble midway through the second quarter.
The drive would ultimately be derailed when their offense was flagged for holding and unsportsmanlike conduct to set them back.
The Comets offense went back to work and six plays later Brendan Dennis would plow his way to end zone from 30 yards out.
Valley West’s woes would continue when an errant pass ended in Aidan Jardine’s hands giving the Comets the ball back at the Spartan 11-yard line. Schultz would score his third touchdown less than a minute after his teammates.
Before the end of the half the Spartans finally got their offense under control and were beginning to move the ball. Valley West would move into the red zone but could not score as a fourth down pass attempt to Maki Wells fell to the ground.
With only six seconds left in the half, many in the stadium were expecting both teams to head into the locker rooms, but Crestwood had another plan.
“What’s the worst that can happen?” Arcangeli said of handing it off instead of taking a knee. “Let him take the ball and see if he can make something.”
And Schultz made something, as he found open space and ran the ball 75 yards to the end zone with time expiring.
Schultz’s score put the Comets ahead 35-0 heading into halftime, resulting in a mercy rule with a running clock in the second half.
The tough half did not deter the Spartans as Zdancewicz would connect with Wells for 39-yard completion to start the second. Isiah Cobb would finish the drive with a six-yard touchdown.
Cobb would score another touchdown in the game and Tyler Mattis would score on the last play from scrimmage, a 70-yard run, to outscore the Comets in the second half as the Spartans look for their first win.