Wyoming Area’s James Hizynski (11) and senior tackle Riley Knaub (86) tackle the Trojan’s Jaylin Collins (2) in the closing minutes of the first half.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Sophomore running back Lidge Kellum (2) for a substanial gain against Nanticoke Area at Nanticoke.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Aaron Crossley (5) broke several Trojan tackles before scoring a Warrior touchdown. Nanticoke Area’s Ayden Kolet (8) was in pursuit.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Warrior sophomore Michael Crane (23) recovered a fumble for a Wyoming Area score. Teammates Gage Speece (12) and James Hizynski (12) follow.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Trojan running back Zack Fox (22) fumbled the ball and the Warriors Aaron Crossley (5), left, and James Hizynski (11) converge to recover the ball for a turnover.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
NANTICOKE – The pile of Nanticoke defenders put up a roadblock, apparently stopping a running play for minimal gain to the point where just about everyone in the stadium figured the play was stopped.
Only Aaron Crossley kept pushing it.
And pushing.
And pushing, until that pile had dissipated, and he was the only one left standing.
In the end zone.
That 9-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter Friday night exemplified both the will and power of Crossley and the Warriors, who muscled their way past Nanticoke during a 26-13, Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 victory that suddenly left Wyoming Area at .500 overall and full of hope.
“It feels great, after losing those games we didn’t really want to lose,” said Crossley, who finished with 129 rushing yards on his three-touchdown night to help the Warriors snap a two-game losing streak and move past last week’s 49-7 loss to Crestwood to even up their record at 2-2 on the season. “We still have work to do, though.”
Apparently, the bullish running back doesn’t know how to stop working.
Or quit.
With the Warriors holding a 6-0 lead thanks to Michael Crane’s fumble recovery and 23-yard return in the first quarter, Crossley turned a straight-ahead running play destined to go nowhere into a bulldozing 9-yard scoring surge by pushing a gang of defenders backward, giving Wyoming Area a 12-0 lead and leaving the crowd at Nanticoke amazed.
“Coming up, growing up and playing football, I’ve always been a runner who wasn’t very agile,” Crossley said. “So I just kept going, moving my legs and they kept sliding off.”
Still, Nanticoke kept sticking around.
Zach Fox slipped away for an 81-yard touchdown run to pull the Trojans within 12-7 right after Crossley’s first touchdown run and Ashton Brozusky powered for an 11-yard touchdown run on a fullback dive as Nanticoke Area closed within 18-13 in the final seconds of the third quarter.
But Crossley had answers for each Nanticoke Area score.
Crossley’s 15-yard touchdown run around left end sent Wyoming Area into halftime with an 18-7 lead.
“Based on previous history, we didn’t expect this kind of game with Nanticoke,” Crossley said. “But everybody we play now, the game’s going to be tough. We just have to play every one like it’s Week 9 against Southern Columbia.”
And when Nanticoke Area’s second score threatened to take the game down to the wire, Crossley toughened up again with a victory-sealing 21-yard touchdown run with 9:08 on the game clock.
“Aaron’s a leader,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said. “He’s an outstanding football player. He’s very strong. He’s a willful runner. He does a great job of playing through to the whistle. If we’re going to go anywhere, he’s going to have to lead us.
“He did a great job tonight.”
BY THE NUMBERS
The teams combined to run 78 times and throw 19. … Wyoming Area led in first downs, 11-9. … Nanticoke had slight yardage advantages – 214-210 in rushing, 59-35 in passing and 273-245 total. … Zach Fox led Nanticoke with 152 yards on 19 carries. … Aaron Crossley led Wyoming Area’s defense with six tackles and six assists. Riley Knaub had two sacks.
UP NEXT
Wyoming Area is 2-0 in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 and 2-2 overall. The Warriors lead the seven-team division going into Friday’s game when they host last-place Hanover Area (0-2, 1-3). The Hawkeyes rallied from two touchdowns down to beat Holy Cross, 35-28, in the opener, but have lost three straight since. Hanover Area is allowing 32.3 points per game and gave up 40 in the first half Friday, losing to Pittston Area, 40-12.
