WRIGHT TWP. — Crestwood had just two offensive plays and already enjoyed a three-touchdown lead. With less than 10 minutes into the game, the Comets led by 44 points.
It was those kinds of crazy numbers that gave the Crestwood student section the green light to leave after the first quarter was completed.
Crestwood quickly defeated Nanticoke Area 58-14 on Friday.
“It’s just a huge win to break .500 again,” Crestwood quarterback Jaden Shedlock said. “We worked hard all week. We kept our heads down all week, and we didn’t overlook anybody. If anything, we worked harder.”
Speaking of not being pressed for time, the Comets scored their first two touchdowns in a nine-second span. On a halfback pass, Teddy Taylor threw a 40-yard pass to Jack Rodgers on the Comets’ first play from scrimmage. After Nanticoke fumbled the ball inside its 20-yard line, Jake Jeckell ran in for a 13-yard touchdown with 10:17 left in the opening quarter.
“You want to have some fun with the kids and inject some things to work on,” Crestwood coach Ryan Arcangeli said. “It’s nice to have a young guy come in, get a play for him, and have him execute it.”
On the Trojans’ next possession, Crestwood blocked a punt, and Shedlock returned it 40 yards for a touchdown.
At the midway point of the season, Crestwood moved above .500 with its third consecutive win. The Comets face a tough second half with Pittston Area, Dallas and Wilkes-Barre on the docket.
“We’re a confident bunch for sure,” Arcangeli said. “We had two close ones (versus Wyoming Area and Valley View) in the beginning of the year that our kids haven’t forgotten about.
“We were really close to coming out of that first half 5-0. But we’re not, we’re very hungry.”
Rodgers scored his second receiving touchdown of the game – and the quarter – when he caught a 33-yard catch from Shedlock. He finished with two catches – both for touchdowns – for 73 yards.
Jeckell also had a pair of touchdowns. He added his second when he punched in a 3-yard run to cap the Comets’ first-quarter scoring with 2:05 remaining in the quarter.
Nanticoke Area broke through with 45.5 seconds left in the opening half. Jayden Fondeur ran up the middle for a 7-yard touchdown.
The Trojans added another touchdown late in the third quarter. Wide receiver Justin Johnson pulled a would-be interception out of the cornerback’s hands for a 20-yard touchdown catch from Ian Walsh.
Sixteen seconds into the fourth quarter, Eli Jeneski wrapped up the Comets’ scoring. Jeneski’s first move on a screen pass opened up a lane for a 40-yard score.
Crestwood 58, Nanticoke Area 14
Nanticoke Area`0`7`7`0 — 14
Crestwood`44`7`0`7 — 58
First quarter
CRE — Jack Rodgers 40 pass from Teddy Taylor (Cooper Laubach kick), 10:26
CRE — Jake Jeckell 13 run (Laubach kick), 10:17
CRE — Jaden Shedlock 40 punt block (Laubach kick), 8:16
CRE — Nate Walsh 18 run (Laubach kick), 4:55
CRE — Rodgers 33 pass from Shedlock (Laubach kick), 3:22
CRE — TEAM Safety, 2:31
CRE — Jeckell 3 run (Laubach kick), 2:05
Second quarter
CRE — Gio Barna 8 pass from Shedlock (Laubach kick), 8:08
NAN — Jayden Fondeur 7 run (Juanpablo Pastuizaca kick), :45
Third quarter
NAN — Justin Johnson 20 pass from Ian Walsh (Pastuizaca kick), 3:14
Fourth quarter
CRE —Eli Zeneski 41 pass from Tayor (Laubach kick), 11:44
Team statistics`NAN`CRE
First downs`11`17
Rushes-yards`29-104`29-211
Passing yards`60`134
Total yards`164`345
Passing`6-18-1`6-9-0
Sacked-yards lost`0-0`1-8
Punts-avg.`3-26`1-35
Fumbles-lost`7-2`2-0
Penalties-yards`4-15`9-70
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — NAN, Fondeur 9-18, Elaiph Denson 2-2, Ian Walsh 5-59, David Jackson 1-4, Jonah Guzman 9-46, TEAM 3-(minus-25). CRE, Jeckell 5-70, Shedlock 2-5, Barna 3-16, Kyle Schade 7-87, Taylor 7-24, Amias Ocasio 1-15, Dylan Bellas 1-(minus-3), TEAM 1-(minus-6).
PASSING — NAN, Max Leonard 3-9-18-1, Walsh 3-9-42-0. CRE, Taylor 2-4-81-0, Shedlock 4-5-53-0
RECEIVING — NAN, Denson 4-43, Fondeur 1-(minus-3), Johnson 1-20. CRE, Rodgers 2-73, Barna 2-13, Zach Zeneski 1-7, EZeneski 1-41.
INTERCEPTIONS — CRE, Cayden Bellas 1-28
MISSED FGs — None
