Northwest Area improves to 2-0 with victory Friday night
Tagged under: District 4, Gameday Hub, News
Brian "Hollywood" Ptashinski | September 5, 2026
Strong running game and solid defense propels Rangers to key win
Shickshinny- The last time the Northwest Area Rangers started 2-0 on the season was back in 2022, when they started with 4 wins in row. Friday night at their home opener at Lewis and Miller Memorial Stadium before a packed house, they got the second win with a gutsy 23 -10 victory over the Central Columbia Blue Jays.
Central Columbia caught the first break of the game when Loegan Diltz on the second paly from scrimmage had the ball pop out and the Jays recovered it in Ranger territory that led to 45 yard Gus Bauman field goal to make it 3-0 with 9:21 left in the opening quarter.
On their ensuing drive on a third-and-24, Caleb Ide dashed for a 15 yard game a face-mask penalty on Central gave the Rangers a first dow, the quarterback Cole Covuto punched it in from six yards out making a the score 7-3 after Wyatt Orlowski PAT with 6:06 still the play in the opening stanza.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-media-max-width=”560″><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>6yd Cole Covuto touchdown run for <a href=”https://x.com/NWARangers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NWARangers</a> 6:04 left 1st quarter <a href=”https://x.com/NWARangers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NWARangers</a> 7 <a href=”https://x.com/ccbluejaysports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@ccbluejaysports</a> 3 <a href=”https://x.com/PaFootballNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@PaFootballNews</a> <a href=”https://t.co/W2TLdNDawL”>pic.twitter.com/W2TLdNDawL</a></p>— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) <a href=”https://x.com/BPtashinski/status/2096015792152228288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.x.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
The only score in the second quarter came on a 15 yard double-reverse play when RB Noah Arnett took a hand-off then gave the ball to Ben Bonham who took it into the end zone for a 14-3 lead with 4:50 left before intermission.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-media-max-width=”560″><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>15yd touchdown run Ben Bonham of <a href=”https://x.com/NWARangers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NWARangers</a> with 4:50 left till intermission 14-3 over <a href=”https://x.com/ccbluejaysports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@ccbluejaysports</a> <a href=”https://x.com/PaFootballNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@PaFootballNews</a> <a href=”https://t.co/qOi5r3g9wJ”>pic.twitter.com/qOi5r3g9wJ</a></p>— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) <a href=”https://x.com/BPtashinski/status/2096022493681037515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.x.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Northwest opened up the second half with a 38 yard field goal by Wyatt Orlowski, that was low line drive kick that actually landed in the field hockey net behind the goal post making it 17-3 with 7:40 left in the quarter.
The the Blue Joys got it rolling on their next possession going 78 yards on 17 play drive when Owen Zanoline scored from 10 yards out making a it a 17-10 game with just 7:19 left in the contest.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-media-max-width=”560″><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>10yd Owen Zanoline touchdown run for Central Columbia Blue Jays Friday night 7:19 left in regulation 17-10 <a href=”https://x.com/NWARangers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NWARangers</a> lead <a href=”https://x.com/PaFootballNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@PaFootballNews</a> <a href=”https://t.co/IEKZJ54w99″>pic.twitter.com/IEKZJ54w99</a></p>— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) <a href=”https://x.com/BPtashinski/status/2096121442962231646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.x.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Then Noah Arnett took over, just had he had last week against Holy Redeemer with less than minute to play scampered in from 19 yards out to seal the victory for the Rangers. This time facing a 3rd-and-16 scenario from his own 24, Arnett ripped off a 76 yard scoring run to give Northwest a little bit of breathing room at 23-10 lead with 6:04 left on the clock. Anett finished with exactly 100 yards rushing in the contesyt and had a couple of key punt returns to set Northwest up in good field position.
Though Northwest was at 50 percent conversion rate on third downs in the contest, turnovers were the problem for the Rangers putting the gall on the turf five times and losing three thwarted several drives at least at their own 40 or better.
For Central Columbia penalties were their downfall having 82 yards on 10 penalties, especially at key moments in the game were costly. Also third down conversions, where the Blue Jays were only 2-for-11 including zero third conversions in the second half
“We have to clean up the fumble situation, Central is a heck of a football team. We just have to take better care of the ball.” Coach Greg Mullins stated after the game.
Northwest, now 2.0 will look to continue their winning ways as the face North Penn-Mansfield (0-2) Friday night at home. The Panthers lost Friday night 46-14 to Towanda. Central Colubia will look to snap a 15 game losing streak as the Blue Jays face Danville at home, the Ironmen (1-1) lost to Shamokin 53-14 Friday night.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-media-max-width=”560″><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>My post-game interview with HFC Greg Mullens of <a href=”https://x.com/NWARangers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NWARangers</a> after starting the season 2-0 with a 23-10 win over Central Columbia <a href=”https://x.com/PaFootballNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@PaFootballNews</a> <a href=”https://t.co/8vNEQYpLfG”>pic.twitter.com/8vNEQYpLfG</a></p>— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) <a href=”https://x.com/BPtashinski/status/2096057885734125618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.x.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
