Pittston Area football team gets 30-8 home field victory

YATESVILLE – Long Nanticoke drives appeared to be leading toward scores in the second quarter of Friday night’s Wyoming Valley Conference Class 4A football opener.

Those drives did lead to touchdowns, but in an unconventional way.

Andrew Krawczyk scored four touchdowns, reaching the end zone on special teams, defense and offense to lead Pittston Area to a 30-8, home-field victory.

The Trojans were dominating statistically when Krawczyk provided a much-needed spark.

Consecutive threatening Nanticoke scoring drives ended in Krawczyk touchdowns on returns of a blocked field goal and an interception.

“Ridiculous,” Pittston Area coach Nick Barbieri said. “First of all, I didn’t think anybody had enough sense to pick the ball up on a blocked field goal. He picked up and went with it. Then, he picks off a pass and goes with it.

“He saved our rear ends in the first half. And he comes back with two more in the second half, so that’s a great effort by him.”

Nanticoke took nearly 10 minutes off the clock in a 10-play, 86-yard drive.

When the Trojans had to settle for a short field goal try, Franny George blocked the kick and Kracwczyk took the loose ball 86 yards for the game’s first scoring with 5:55 left in the half.

Krawczyk struck again before halftime.

Nanticoke took more than five minutes off the clock in a 62-yard drive.

Krawczyk stopped the drive with an interception that he returned 72 yards for a touchdown to give the Patriots a 14-0 lead 44 seconds before halftime.

“I just read the ball,” said Krawczyk, who intercepted two passes in the first half.

Nanticoke had a 39-13 advantage in offensive plays run in the first half, but reached the locker room still scoreless.

Keanu Ammons broke the shutout for Nanticoke with a 90-yard return of the second-half kickoff. The Trojans added the two-pointer on a pass to move within 14-8.

When Nanticoke covered its own fumble in the end zone, Pittston Area added a safety for a 16-8 lead.

The Patriots then got some scoring from their offense on two sustained drives.

Mike Nocito hit Krawczyk with touchdown passes of 5 and 21 yards in the first 3:13 of the fourth quarter.

“It’s unbelievable,” Krawczyk said. “You always think about (having a game like this), but you just come out here and play and do what you gotta do.”

Pittston Area’s Andrew Krawczyk smiles at his coaches congratulate him on his second touchdown of the game.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_ttl082419nanticokepittstonfootball-1.jpgPittston Area’s Andrew Krawczyk smiles at his coaches congratulate him on his second touchdown of the game. Amanda Hrycyna | For Sunday Dispatch

Pittston Area’s Alex Hoban looks to run while Mike Nocito runs alongside him.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_ttl082419nanticokepittstonfootball-3-1.jpgPittston Area’s Alex Hoban looks to run while Mike Nocito runs alongside him. Amanda Hrycyna | For Sunday Dispatch

Pittston Area’s Alex Hoban attempts to tackle Nanticoke’s Colby Butczynski.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_ttl082419nanticokepittstonfootball-4-1.jpgPittston Area’s Alex Hoban attempts to tackle Nanticoke’s Colby Butczynski. Amanda Hrycyna | For Sunday Dispatch

Pittston Area’s Alex Anastasi attempts to get past Nanticoke’s Devin Lohman.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_ttl082419nanticokepittstonfootball-5-1.jpgPittston Area’s Alex Anastasi attempts to get past Nanticoke’s Devin Lohman. Amanda Hrycyna | For Sunday Dispatch

Nanticoke’s Darren Boseman looks for a clear path away from Pittston Area’s defense.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_ttl082419nanticokepittstonfootball-6-1.jpgNanticoke’s Darren Boseman looks for a clear path away from Pittston Area’s defense. Amanda Hrycyna | For Sunday Dispatch

Nanticoke player Keanu Ammons tries to block the ball from Pittston Area by the sideline in the first quarter of the game.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_ttl082419pittstonnanticokefootball-2-1.jpgNanticoke player Keanu Ammons tries to block the ball from Pittston Area by the sideline in the first quarter of the game. Amanda Hrycyna | For Sunday Dispatch