Wyoming Area gets past Nanticoke

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John Kotsko | September 17, 2022

After a 1-2 start to the season, Wyoming Area was looking for a big win. Aaron Crossley scored three touchdowns and the Warriors defense forced two turnovers, returning a fumble for a score as they took the victory on the road. Wyoming Area Head coach Randy Spencer on the win tonight. “This victory is definitely good feelings tonight. We have youth and inexperience and we played alot of players tonight.”

Both teams had their first possession go three and out. On the next Nanticoke possession, they fumbled the ball and Wyoming Area recovered at the Trojan 30 yard line. The Nanticoke defense forced a turnover on downs, however, on the first play of the Trojan drive, an errant snap that was unable to get picked up by Nanticoke was recovered by the Warriors’ Michael Crane and returned 20 yards for a score.

The Trojans got great field position with a kick return by Zach Fox. However, Nanticoke went four and out on the drive. After both teams traded three and outs, Wyoming Area got the ball and went to work. Aaron Crossley gained 15 yards on the first two plays of the drive. Lidge Kellum ran for 11 on second and 11. Crossley gained 13 on the next play to make it first and goal at the Trojan nine yard line. On first and goal, it looked like Crossley was down but he ended up escaping the pile and going into the end zone for the nine yard touchdown and a 12-0 lead with 7:58 remaining in the second quarter. Spencer on his star running back. “Aaron is such a hard worker and talented. Ran hard and really pushed hard. He’s playing three phases of the game. He really played a full football game and really proud of him.”

On the third play of the Nanticoke drive, Zach Fox took a handoff on the left side and ran it in for an 81 yard touchdown to cut the Warrior lead to 12-6. Wyoming Area came back with an answer on their next drive. Brady Jones found Joe Marranca for 14 yards to get to midfield. Kellum went for 35 yards to the Trojan 15 yard line. Very next play, Crossley found the end zone for a 15 yard touchdown for his second score of the game to make it 18-7 with 4:34 remaining in the second quarter.

The Warriors forced another three and out and punt. On third and 4 of the Wyoming Area drive, Jones’s pass ended up intercepted by John Kus at their own 35 yard line just before halftime. On a second and 4, Jaylin Collins found Mykal Julian for 29 yards to the Wyoming Area 39. On a third and 17, Fox found Ayden Kolet for a 38 yard completion to the eight yard line. After a spike to stop the clock, the Trojans were unable to score as we hit halftime.

The Warriors started with the ball in the second half. They faced a third and 6 and Jones found Kevin Wiedl for 17 yards. Facing another third and 6 and offsetting penalties, Kellum went for eight yards. Wyoming Area drove all the way to the Nanticoke 13 yard line with a Crossley 19 yard run. The Warriors were unable to move the chains and settled for a field goal but the attempt ended up being no good. The Trojans started at their own 20. They got the ball to the Wyoming Area 46 yard line where they faced a fourth and 4. Collins went for 35 yards to the 11 yard line. On the next play, Ashton Brozusky pushed the pile of defenders into the end zone for an 11 yard touchdown run. It cut the lead to 18-13 as we headed to the fourth quarter.

The Nanticoke defense answered with a three and out and the offense took over at their own 20 yard line. However, on third down and 7, Fox’s pass ended up intercepted by Matt Rutkoski to the Trojan 21 yard line. Two plays later, Crossley went into the end zone from 21 yards out for his third touchdown of the game to make it 26-13 with 9:08 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Nanticoke offense needed to get a score. On third and 4, Collins went to Seth Raymer for 10 yards. Collins went for 35 yards to the Wyoming Area 32 yard line. The Trojans faced a fourth and 3 and Collins ended up sacked and the Warriors took over. Wyoming Area got the ball and gained three first downs and ran out the clock to take the 26-13 road victory at Nanticoke. Nanticoke Head Coach Ron Bruza on the game. “You can’t give a team like Wyoming Area the ball inside the 20 yard line three times. You have to take care of the football. They had some hiccups but they overcame them and we just had a little more hiccups than they did tonight.”

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