Game Summary: One could have only imagined what Coach Spencer’s half time locker room speech was like in the Warrior’s game against Northwest Area last Friday night. The 5 -3 Warriors were favored to beat the s 4-4 Rangers—but a lackluster first half put the Warriors behind 13-7 at halftime. Wyoming Area started off well enough with Nick O’Brien at quarterback. The Warriors held Northwest on their first possession, then proceeded to march down the field 75 yards in 11 plays, capped off by a 1 yard Matt Kintz TD run. On Northwest’s first play after the kickoff, QB Gunner Majer dropped back and found a wide open Jeremy Rittenhouse streaking down the middle of the field. Majer hit him on the numbers good for a 60 yd TD, tying the score at 7. The Warrior offense sputtered in the second quarter and Northwest put together a nice 11 play, 79 yard drive to take the lead 13-7. The Rangers opened the game with a new spread offense that seemed to have the Warriors back on the heels. Northwest hit numerous short passes and mixed in runs from Bret Rutkoski and Kyle Kramer. Going into the locker room, the Warriors looked like they were going to let this one slip away.
The Warriors needed a spark and that’s exactly what they got to start the second half. Kody Nowicki received the 2nd half kickoff, at his own 21 yard line. As he proceeded up along the hashmarks closest to the near sideline, a huge hole opened up. At midfield, with one man to beat, Nick O’Brien threw a key block to spring Nowicki for the score. While O’Brien’s block was critical, you have to go back to the beginning of the play and recognize the entire left side of the return team. In particular, Joe Taylor, Joe Erzar, AJ Lemardy, Matt Kintz, and Jake Smith all made critical blocks—there were probably others.
So in about 10 seconds, the Warriors went from being deflated to having a 14-13 lead, thanks to Nowicki’s return and Katie Scalzo’s extra point. On the ensuing kickoff, Northwest started about their own twenty yard line and managed a first down. But Chris Murphy had seen enough of the Northwest passing attack. Murphy, playing left cornerback, did his best Assante Samuel impression and jumped a quick slant pass intended for Christian Foley. Murphy came up with the ball--which marked the beginning of the end for Northwest. Murphy, working from his own 43 hit Nick O’Brien on a pass down to the Northwest 26. Corey Popovich carried about six tacklers down to the 10 and Nick O’Brien took care of the rest with a QB keeper for a TD.
On Northwest’s next series, a bad shotgun snap chased QB Majer back about 10 yards where he was hit as he was throwing by blitzing LB Nick Perugini. Majer released the ball and Nick O’Brien was there to pick it off. On the next play, Chris Murphy lofted a nice pass to Larry Popovich streaking down the far sideline, setting up a Katie Scalzo 33 yard field goal making the score 24-13.
Things were just getting started for the Warriors. The Rangers fumbled the ensuing kickoff that was recovered by the Warriors. Murphy scrambled for 22 yards setting up another Nick O’Brien TD. A 34 yard screen pass to Rob Russick capped off a 31-point third quarter for the Warriors who held a commanding 38-13 lead. (So much for lamenting about poor third quarter performance in my pre-game writeup.)
While the Warriors are out of the District 2 playoff picture, they still are in the hunt for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. A win against Pittston would likely assure they gain that spot. We'll be discussing the possibilities more later in the week. |
