YATESVILLE – Nick Barbieri knows there have not been enough football wins at Pittston Area to get too picky.
“We need to get better,” Barbieri said after an uneven performance that featured enough highs to roll over visiting Nanticoke, 46-21, Friday night. “But, we’re not going to look any wins in the face and say we don’t want them. We’ll take any wins that come.”
This season, the Patriots have taken four of them for the first time since 2009.
“We’re pleased to be where we are, but we’re certainly not satisfied yet,” the first-year coach said.
The highlights were many.
Keemar Woodruff scored three touchdowns in a span of 5:11 in the first half and was responsible for two of the four Nanticoke turnovers.
Walter Coles made the most of receiving weapons Kevin Krawczyk, Rich Wallace and Woodruff to go 16-for-28 passing for 245 yards and three touchdowns.
Matt Starinsky intercepted a pass while also making eight tackles and four assists to lead the defense.
There were stumbles as well, however. They seemed to come whenever Pittston Area was in position to blow the game wide open.
The Patriots allowed a 72-yard touchdown pass on the first play after taking a 21-0, second-quarter lead.
After scoring on a 10-play, 70-yard drive to start the second half, Pittston Area got the ball right back on Starinsky’s interception and moved to second-and-1 from the Nanticoke 6 with a chance to add to a 34-7 lead.
Three penalties, a sack and another loss turned second-and-1 inside the 10 into fourth-and-37 and a punt.
Wallace took a short pass and went 47 yards for a touchdown and a 40-14 lead with 9:40 left, but the Patriots again gave up a quick score.
“We may have won by (25) points, but that was sloppy,” Barbieri said. “It’s not good enough to beat who’s left on our schedule.”
The best part about the Senior Night win for the Patriots is they got out in front early, so any mistakes that followed were not able to do too much damage.
Dylan Spurlin blocked a punt in the end zone and Midjerson Pierce fell on it there for a touchdown and 7-0 lead with 4:52 left in the first quarter.
That’s when Woodruff took over the game.
Woodruff’s big hit forced a fumble that he also recovered to set up one scoring opportunity that was squandered.
When Krawczyk returned a punt 40 yards to set up Pittston Area in Nanticoke territory again, Woodruff took it in from the 10 on the next play for a 14-0 lead with 1:11 left in the first quarter.
Woodruff intercepted a pass on the first play of the second quarter, then caught a 17-yard touchdown pass.
Nanticoke got its 72-yard, Colby Butczynski-to-Darren Boseman touchdown pass, but Wallace returned the kickoff 26 yards and Woodruff broke a 38-yard touchdown three plays later.
“The linemen did a good job and executed well,” Woodruff said. “ … The ends did a good job getting their defensive ends inside.”
Pittston Area turned away Nanticoke on fourth-and-one from the 2 to take a 27-7 lead into halftime.
Krawczyk caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Coles on the opening drive of the second half and Trevor Tigue tacked on a 4-yard touchdown run with 36 seconds left.
That was more than enough to answer Butczynski finding Boseman for another touchdown and running for one of his own.
NUMBERS GAME: Woodruff carried 12 times for a game-high 88 yards and caught two passes for 42 yards. … Coles was 10-for-13 for 147 yards passing in the second half. … Krawczyk caught seven passes for 65 yards and Wallace caught four for 75 yards. … Pittston Area’s average starting field position was its 45, compared to Nanticoke starting from its 26. … The Patriots had team statistical leads of 22-9 in first downs, 202-158 in rushing yards, 245-141 in passing yards, 62-47 in offensive plays, 447-299 in total offense and 27:12-20:48 in time of possession. … The time of possession advantage was 16:35-7:25 in the second half. … Boseman caught five passes for 132 yards for Nanticoke. … Krawcyzk had six tackles, including one for a loss.
