YATESVILLE – Even through Pittston Area’s many struggles on the football field in recent seasons, it has still had its moments offensively.
There have been few nights defensively, however, that compare with Friday night’s Homecoming effort.
Pittston Area shut out visiting GAR until the final 5:14 of a comfortable, 35-13 victory at Charley Trippi Stadium.
The Patriots did not allow GAR inside the 33 until after the game went into the Mercy Rule for the final 7:07. They allowed only 38 of the Grenadiers’ 70 yards total offense up to that point.
“Compared to our last few outings, that was a much better defensive performance, but we know we still have to get better,” first-year Patriots head coach Nick Barbieri said. “ .. Any improvement is a good sign.
“I thought we played much better on defense. The last two touchdowns I wish didn’t happen.”
The effort came a week after being run over for 360 rushing yards and 58 points in a loss at Valley View.
“That hurt,” senior linebacker Tyler Ferlick said. “We had a lot of guys out. We just wanted to get back after it.”
Ferlick led the charge defensively with seven tackles, including two for losses, and an assist.
Matt Starinsky added six tackles, one for a loss, an assist and a broken-up pass.
Kevin Krawczyk also had two tackles for losses. Dorian Ryans and Hugh Bentham recovered fumbles.
“This is the first time we made a team stop running the ball,” Ferlick said. “Make them throw the ball; make them make mistakes.
“That’s the first time we ever did that.”
The Patriots improved to 2-2 with the help of a 200-yard, 4-touchdown passing effort by Walter Coles, 107 yards and a touchdown rushing by Keemar Woodruff and two touchdown catches each from Ryans and Andrew Krawczyk.
Coles was 4-for-5 for 99 yards and three touchdowns passing in the second half.
“We were having little protection issues there in the beginning,” Barbieri said. “They were bringing a lot and we were trouble on the edge.
“(Coles) got rushed and forced some bad throws, so we squared that away at halftime. We took care of that, then he made some big plays.
With the adjustments made, Coles sandwiched touchdown passes of 25 and 27 yards to Andrew Krawczyk around a 23-yarder to Ryans in a span of less than 10 minutes to turn a 14-0 halftime advantage into the 35-0 lead, invoking the Mercy Rule.
Ryans had scored on his 15-yard pass in the first quarter and Woodruff ran 4 yards for second-quarter touchdown.
Special teams play helped winless GAR score twice late.
Tai’Wan Bradley’s 53-yard kickoff return gave the Grenadiers their deepest penetration, starting the drive at the Pittston Area 32. That led to an 11-yard Ronald Peguero-to-Will Johnson touchdown pass.
Jalil Timmons blocked a punt that Zynear Bradford ran in 29 yards for the score.
NUMBERS GAME: Pittston Area had team statistical advantages of 19-6 in first downs, 154-40 in rushing yards, 354-74 in total offense and 28:01-19:59 in time of possession. … Coles finished 11-for-22 passing. … Kevin Krawczyk had a game-high three catches while teammates Ryans, Andrew Krawczyk and Woodruff had two each. … Shane Syms was 5-for-5 on extra points for the Patriots. Both teams were penalized nine times. … GAR managed to gain yards on just 14 of 37 offensive plays and had positive net yards on just five of nine possessions.
UP NEXT: Pittston Area travels to Abington Heights Saturday at 1 p.m. for a non-league game. The defending District 2 Class 5A champion Comets are off to a 1-4 start.
