Winning numbers drawn in 'Mega Millions' game

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Vince Ferrari leads five touchdown drives to spark Lake-Lehman

<p>NANTICOKE &#8212; The week couldn&#8217;t have gone better for Nanticoke coach Ron Bruza.</p><p>On Tuesday, he became a father for the first time. On Friday night, his team held off a Crestwood comeback bid for a 25-22 victory in a Wyoming Valley Conference interdivisional game.</p><p>Both created some anxiety no doubt.</p><p>&#8220;For me, it was tough to keep focused,&#8221; Bruza said. &#8220;Like I said, you put a coaching staff together you know you can instill trust in. They know to take care of business when it needs to be done. My staff did a great job, the players responded. My hat goes off to them.&#8221;</p><p>Bruza missed two days of practice. His wife Amanda gave birth to Teagan Elizabeth on Tuesday afternoon.</p><p>With fatherhood out of the way, at least for one night, Bruza coached his Trojans to a 3-3 record. Moreover, Nanticoke didn&#8217;t squander a second-half lead, something they&#8217;ve done in all three losses.</p><p>Nanticoke trailed 13-6 midway through the first quarter as Crestwood (1-5) got TD runs of 1 and 58 yards from Pat Rother. But Nanticoke quarterback Matt Wrubel followed with touchdown passes of 18 yards to tight end Justin Casey and 29 yards to speedy receiver Darren Boseman.</p><p>Casey then came up with the defensive play of the game at 6:39 of the second quarter. He scooped up a Crestwood fumble in the backfield, peeked over his shoulder and raced 65 yards for a touchdown for a 25-14 halftime lead.</p><p>&#8220;First off, I don&#8217;t know what I was thinking trying to scoop and score that,&#8221; Casey said. &#8220;It was at the guy&#8217;s ankles. It was all luck, I&#8217;m not going to lie. I&#8217;m sprinting down the sideline and I turned around just to see what&#8217;s going on behind me, and I see their quarterback chasing me. I&#8217;m like, &#8216;Oh, my God. I better pick it up.&#8217;&#8221;</p><p>Crestwood certainly needed to pick it up in the second half. The Comets turned over the ball three times in the first half.</p><p>The Comets responded with two long drives into Nanticoke territory only to have penalties ruin both of them. They finally put together a scoring drive late in the third quarter into the fourth as Rother ended the 12-play possession with a 2-yard TD run. Quarterback Chase Passman threw to Kyle Richards for the two-point conversion, moving Crestwood within 25-22 with 7:55 remaining.</p><p>Crestwood was moving the ball late in the game as well, but fumbled again and Nanticoke linebacker Kris Seiwell won the scramble for the loose ball at the Nanticoke 30-yard line with 2:22 left.</p><p>On the next play, Nanticoke crossed midfield for the first time in the second half &#8212; picking up its first first down as well since halftime &#8212; on a 29-yard run by Eric Jefferies.</p><p>A few runs by Dawson Hughes, who rushed for 101 yards, and a couple knee-downs by Wrubel sealed the victory.</p><p>Rother rushed for 185 yards on 32 carries, both career highs for the sophomore. Lance Blass, Crestwood&#8217;s top player, missed his third game with a leg injury. He might be back for next Friday&#8217;s game against Tunkhannock.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Nanticoke 25, Crestwood 22</p><p><strong>Crestwood`14`0`0`8`&#8212;`22</strong></p><p><strong>Nanticoke`12`13`0`0`&#8212;`25</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>First quarter</strong></p><p>CRE &#8212; Pat Rother 1 run (Alex DeSpirito kick), 6:44</p><p>NAN &#8212; Dawson Hughes 49 run (pass failed), 5:56</p><p>CRE &#8212; Rother 58 run (DeSpirito kick), 5:07</p><p>NAN &#8212; Justin Casey 18 pass from Matt Wrubel (run failed), 3:20</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Second quarter</strong></p><p>NAN &#8212; Darren Boseman 29 pass from Wrubel (run failed), 11:29</p><p>NAN &#8212; Casey 65 fumble return (Rickey Klepadlo kick), 6:39</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Fourth quarter</strong></p><p>CRE &#8212; Rother 2 run (Kyle Richards from Chase Passman), 7:55</p><p><strong>Team statistics`CRE`NAN</strong></p><p>First downs`15`9</p><p>Rushes-yards`55-259`24-126</p><p>Passing yards`65`117</p><p>Total yards`324`243</p><p>Passing`7-15-1`6-18-0</p><p>Sacked-yards lost`2-9`1-7</p><p>Punts-avg.`2-38`5-26</p><p>Fumbles-lost`3-3`0-0</p><p>Penalties-yards`11-81`9-46</p><p><strong>INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS</strong></p><p><strong>RUSHING</strong> &#8212; Crestwood, Owen Grigas 7-25, Rother 32-185, Brandon Brozena 2-8, Chase Passman 10-38, Kevin Klusewitz 4-3. Nanticoke, Hughes 15-101, Wrubel 4-3, Eric Jefferies 2-25, team 3-(minus-3).</p><p><strong>PASSING</strong> &#8212; Crestwood, Passman 7-15-1-65. Nanticoke, Wrubel 6-18-0-117.</p><p><strong>RECEIVING</strong> &#8212; Crestwood, Brozena 2-32, Klusewitz 3-22, Richards 2-11. Nanticoke, Boseman 4-88, Casey 2-29.</p><p><strong>INTERCEPTIONS</strong> &#8212; Nanticoke, Dylan Szychowski 1-0.</p><p><strong>MISSED FGs</strong> &#8212; None.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke Area's Darren Boseman makes a catch for a first down against Crestwood in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke.   Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Nanticoke Area's Darren Boseman makes a catch for a first down against Crestwood in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke.   Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Crestwood runnung back Patrick Rother, right, gets near the goal line as quarterback Chase Passman blocks Nanticoke Area's Dylan Szychowski in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke.   Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Crestwood runnung back Patrick Rother, right, gets near the goal line as quarterback Chase Passman blocks Nanticoke Area's Dylan Szychowski in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke.   Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke Area quarterback Matt Wrubel, right, tries to stay inbounds on a keeper against Crestwood in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke.  Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Nanticoke Area quarterback Matt Wrubel, right, tries to stay inbounds on a keeper against Crestwood in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke.  Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke Area's Dawson Hughes races for a touchdown against Crestwood in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke.  Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Nanticoke Area's Dawson Hughes races for a touchdown against Crestwood in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke.  Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Crestwood's Brandon Brozena, left, bulls his way through the Nanticoke Area defense in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke.  Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_5.jpg</photo4><caption4>Crestwood's Brandon Brozena, left, bulls his way through the Nanticoke Area defense in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke.  Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_1CMYK.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke&#8217;s Darren Boseman makes a catch for a first down against Crestwood in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_1CMYK.jpg</photo5><caption5>Nanticoke&#8217;s Darren Boseman makes a catch for a first down against Crestwood in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke. </caption5><photoCredit5>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_2CMYK.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Crestwood running back Pat Rother, right, gets near the goal line as quarterback Chase Passman blocks Nanticoke&#8217;s Dylan Szychowski in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_2CMYK.jpg</photo6><caption6>Crestwood running back Pat Rother, right, gets near the goal line as quarterback Chase Passman blocks Nanticoke&#8217;s Dylan Szychowski in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke. </caption6><photoCredit6>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_3CMYK.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke quarterback Matt Wrubel, right, tries to stay inbounds on a keeper against Crestwood in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_3CMYK.jpg</photo7><caption7>Nanticoke quarterback Matt Wrubel, right, tries to stay inbounds on a keeper against Crestwood in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke. </caption7><photoCredit7>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit7></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_4CMYK.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke&#8217;s Dawson Hughes races for a 49-yard touchdown against Crestwood in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo8>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_4CMYK.jpg</photo8><caption8>Nanticoke&#8217;s Dawson Hughes races for a 49-yard touchdown against Crestwood in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke. </caption8><photoCredit8>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit8></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_5CMYK.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Crestwood&#8217;s Brandon Brozena, left, bulls his way through the Nanticoke defense in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo9>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Nan-CrestwoodFB_5CMYK.jpg</photo9><caption9>Crestwood&#8217;s Brandon Brozena, left, bulls his way through the Nanticoke defense in WVC football action Friday night in Nanticoke. </caption9><photoCredit9>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit9></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Trojans coach gets win to end crazy week</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By John Erzar</p><p>jerzar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>FRIDAY&#8217;S SCORES</strong></p><p>Berwick 17, Coughlin 9</p><p>Nanticoke 25, Crestwood 22</p><p>Wyoming Area 28, Hanover 7</p><p>Valley West 31, Wallenpaupack 6</p><p>Del Valley 35, Hazleton 0</p><p>Northwest 40, Redeemer 13</p><p>Williamsport 62, Scranton 18</p><p>Lehman 49, Tunkhannock 26</p><p>Meyers 36, Dallas 35</p><p>Abington Hts 49, Pittston 20</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar</p></shirttailMeta></div>

WVC Football: Nanticoke holds off Crestwood