Nanticoke handles Montrose

BY TOM ARENS

Times-Shamrock Writer

Montrose had trouble holding onto the ball to start the 2010 season and it led to a 33-12 loss to Nanticoke Area on Friday night in a nonconference football game.

Thanks to two Montrose turnovers, Nanticoke scored twice in the final minute of the first half, giving it a 19-6 halftime lead and all the momentum it needed.

“We can’t win if we can’t hold onto the ball,” Montrose coach Jack Keihl said. “We’ve got to get better at securing the ball and we will.

“Hopefully it was just first-game jitters.”

Nanticoke came out in the second half and scored in just four plays on the opening drive extend the lead to 26-6.

Montrose coughed up two more fumbles and lost possession on both, crippling its chances each time, just when it seemed the Meteors appeared to be creeping back into the game.

Junior running back Brian Maslowski led the Nanticoke attack with 156 rushing yards rushing and two touchdowns, while adding another score on a touchdown pass to Zak Matulewski on a fake punt that opened the scoring in the second quarter.

“This was a good win for this team,” first-year Nanticoke coach Ron Bruza said. “We want these kids to believe in themselves and this will go a long way toward accomplishing that and that’s what’s been missing here at Nanticoke.”