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WVC football: Crestwood runs past Coughlin in hard-fought 2018 debut

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Hazleton Challenger Division squad ready to take the field at Little League World Series

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; Carson Canavan raced for a 70-yard touchdown with 3:09 left in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory for Wyoming Valley West, 24-13, Friday night at Spartan Stadium.</p><p>Canavan, a 5-foot-10 senior running back, took the hand-off from quarterback Jake Shusta, shook a couple of tacklers and then hit open field for the score.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s our favorite play in practice,&#8221; Canavan said after the game. &#8220;Coach (Pat Keating) knew it would work and it did. I just followed my blocks and got free.&#8221;</p><p>The Spartans got off to a slow start in the first quarter, mishandling several snaps and hand-offs, but they managed to battle back after Scranton had opened the scoring at the 2:07 mark in the first quarter. Senior Jerrod Brown scored from 25 yards out to put the Knights on the board.</p><p>Spartan Coach Pat Keating said he planned to alternate seniors Jake Shusta and Nate Baranski at quarterback and the plan worked. Baranski connected with Canavan on a 67-yard pass that gave the Spartans a first down at the Knights&#8217; 11 yard line. From there, sophomore Darius Redguard hauled it into the red zone to tie the game with 32 seconds left in the opening quarter. Adam Sivak&#8217;s kick was good for the extra point and a 7-6 Spartan lead at the end of the quarter.</p><p>Sivak tacked on a 25-yard field goal with 4:06 left in the second quarter to give the Spartans a 10-6 halftime lead.</p><p>Valley West couldn&#8217;t mount a scoring drive in the third quarter and the Spartans would lose their lead on a freak play. After Shusta missed on a long pass sure to be a TD to sophomore Nah-Syr Garner that went through the receiver&#8217;s hands. He followed that with a completion that somehow was stripped and returned by Scranton&#8217;s James Vieira for a 20-yard touchdown. Marco Guerrero&#8217;s kick was good, giving the Knights a 13-10 lead with :03 left in the third quarter.</p><p>Down 13-10, the Spartans defense rose to the occasion. The Knights couldn&#8217;t move the ball on a drive that began on their own 9 yard line. Scranton was forced to punt from its own end zone and after a penalty on the fair catch, Valley West had it first and 10 at the Scranton 29 yard line.</p><p>Gardner and junior Zack McDaniels each gained six yard to put the ball on the Scranton 17. Baranski then found Canavan open for a 17-yard TD to regain the lead with 6:23 left in the game. After Sivak&#8217;s PAT, the Spartans were up 17-13.</p><p>Scranton started its next possession on its own 20 yard line, but couldn&#8217;t move the ball. With 6:06 left in the game, Scranton Coach Steve Shumbres opted to punt. That would prove to be a fatal mistake.</p><p>After two short gains, Canavan then galloped his way 70 yards for the clinching score, giving the Spartans the lead for good at 24-13 with 2:55 left to play.</p><p>After the game, Keating said several Spartans played in their first varsity game Friday night. He credited his senior leadership for keeping the team focused.</p><p>&#8220;When we went down, 13-10, I just told them to keep their heads up and to stay together,&#8221; Keating said. &#8220;I think we were dealing with some nerves, but that is to be expected with inexperience. But our seniors wouldn&#8217;t let the moment get away.&#8221;</p><p>Keating said his team regrouped and managed to notch a victory.</p><p>&#8220;We will be looking at a lot of film this week,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We made a lot of mistakes. We have to work on that.&#8221;</p><p>Canavan, from Larksville, said this year&#8217;s Spartan team has a family bond that showed through Friday night.</p><p>&#8220;We created that bond this year,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It really set a good tone.&#8221;</p><p>Valley West is at Hazleton Area next Friday.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West running back Carson Canavan gets tackled by Scranton free safety Tylil White. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_wvw_s4_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wyoming Valley West running back Carson Canavan gets tackled by Scranton free safety Tylil White. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_wvw_s3_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West running back Carson Canavan hauls in a sideline pass and slips out of the grasp of Scranton cornerback Caleb Sherman. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_wvw_s3_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wyoming Valley West running back Carson Canavan hauls in a sideline pass and slips out of the grasp of Scranton cornerback Caleb Sherman. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_wvw_s1_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Wyoming Valley West Spartans take the field to open the season on Friday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_wvw_s1_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>The Wyoming Valley West Spartans take the field to open the season on Friday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_wvw_s5_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West running back Carson Canavan brakes away for a long gain. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_wvw_s5_faa.jpg</photo3><caption3>Wyoming Valley West running back Carson Canavan brakes away for a long gain. </caption3><photoCredit3>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_wvw_s2_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West running back Darius Redguard plows his way over Scranton defenders to score the first Spartans touchdown of the season on Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_wvw_s2_faa.jpg</photo4><caption4>Wyoming Valley West running back Darius Redguard plows his way over Scranton defenders to score the first Spartans touchdown of the season on Friday night. </caption4><photoCredit4>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle</p></shirttailMeta></div>

WVC football: Valley West rumbles past Scranton in season-opener