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Nanticoke Advances With Double Overtime Victory At Crestwood

Tagged under: District 2, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

| November 4, 2023

For Gavin Turak, the moment was a dream come true. In double overtime, with Nanticoke needing to hold the lead to win the game, Turak read the route perfectly and got the interception that ended the game as Nanticoke advanced to the District Semifinals with a 28-21 road victory at Crestwood. Turak ended the night with three interceptions. A diving interception in the third quarter, a pick 6 in the fourth and the game winning interception in double overtime. When asked after the game if he thought he’d get three interceptions, he shakes his head and said “No, I wouldn’t. It was a dream come true.” Turak talking about the victory. “It feels amazing. I couldn’t do it without my three guys up front, Jaidyn (Johnson), Ryan (Wiaterowski) and Seth (Raymer). Forced the quarterback to throw faster and opening it up more for me.” Turak took a few years off from football but decided to come out to play for his senior year and Trojans head coach Ron Bruza is happy he decided to come out. “He’s a great kid, he does everything we ask him to do. He comes to work. He has that will, that old Nanticoke mentality. Bend but don’t break and he played up right to the end.” Bruza said.

“These guys played their hearts out, bend but don’t break. They knew it was going to be a battle coming in. The adversity they overcame in the first half from some big plays going into halftime down. Coming in overtime to win it. This is a win these guys deserve. The whole season, the breaks didn’t go our way but these guys battled and they fought and I’m proud of each and every one of them.” Bruza said talking about his team’s victory tonight.

The first quarter had four punts and a turnover on downs for a scoreless quarter. Nanticoke had the ball to start the second quarter. They drove down the field where they faced a fourth and goal at the four yard line. Zack Fox punched it in from four yards for a 7-0 Trojan lead with 7:13 remaining in the second quarter.

Crestwood got the ball and faced a third and 10 at their own 32. Jack Rodgers found Matt Sklarosky for a 33 yard gain to the Nanticoke 35 yard line. On the next play, Rodgers found Sklarosky for a 35 yard touchdown to tie the game at 7. Nanticoke got the ball back but they fumbled the ball back to the Comets and returned it to the one yard line. Two plays later, Logan Rolles scored from one yard out to make it 14-7 with 4:02 to go in the second quarter. Nanticoke was forced to punt on their next drive. Both teams traded turnovers. Crestwood fumbled the ball and the Trojans recovered. Then Seth Raymer’s pass was intercepted by Colin Lazo and the Comets ran out the clock as we headed to halftime.

Nanticoke got the second half kickoff and Treston Allen got a great return, giving the Trojans the ball at the Crestwood 25 yard line. Four plays later, Ryan Wiaterowski scores from four yards out to tie the game up at 14. On Crestwood’s opening drive of the second half, the Comets drove into Nanticoke territory after Rodgers found Sklarosky for a 28 yard completion. On a second and 11, Rodgers’ pass was tipped and Turak made a diving interception.

The teams traded punts as the third quarter came to an end. Nanticoke got into Crestwood territory as Mike Stachowiak found Eugene Gyle for a 19 yard gain to the Crestwood 38 yard line. However, they faced a fourth and 6 and Raymer’s pass fell incomplete and the Comets took over with 6:20 to go. On the second play of the Crestwood drive, Rodgers’ pass was intercepted by Turak for the second time and returned 65 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-14 Trojans with 6:03 remaining in the game.

Crestwood’s offense came back on the field at their own 35 yard line. Jason Swank went to Lazo for a nine yard completion to midfield. James Barret got 11 yards on second and third down to get the ball to the Nanticoke 39 yard line. On a second and 5, it appeared as though Crestwood tied the game but a holding penalty negated the touchdown. A facemask penalty on third down gave the Comets a first down at the Nanticoke 29 yard line. Crestwood faced a fourth and 3 but a pass interference penalty negated a pick six by Fox and new life for the Comets with 1:17 to go. On a third and 1, Swank found Sklarosky from two yards out to tie the game up at 21 with 18.8 to go as we go to overtime.

Crestwood got the ball to start overtime. After a run and two incompletions, the Comets elected for a field goal and kick sailed wide left and no good. Nanticoke with a score can win. After two Zack Fox runs, the Trojans elected to go for the field goal. The attempt sailed wide left as well and we went to double overtime. Nanticoke got the ball to start double overtime and on third and goal, Fox scored from two yards out to make it 28-21 Trojans. On the first play for the Comets, Swank’s pass ended up intercepted by Turak for the third time and Nanticoke advanced to the District 2 4A Semifinals with a 28-21 victory in double overtime over the Crestwood Comets. Crestwood finishes their season at 5-6. Nanticoke improves to 7-4 and will travel to undefeated Dallas next week.

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