Lake-Lehman’s Jaydon Skipalis (34) runs away from a crowd of Nanticoke Area defenders on his way to a 39-yard touchdown on Friday night.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Lake-Lehman’s Chris Yetter (29) crosses the goal line for a score on Friday night.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Nanticoke Area’s Michael Taylor (24) pounces on a Lake-Lehman fumble at the 8-yard line.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Lake-Lehman’s Jaydon Skipalis (34) sweeps left with teammates Devon Albee (45) and Robert Gregor (50) leading the way to a Black Knights’ score.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
LEHMAN TWP. — Lake-Lehman picked up right where it left off from last weekend and rolled up 336 yards on the ground to pave the way for a 42-0 defeat of Nanticoke Area Friday night at Edward Edwards stadium.
After rushing for over 500 yards in last weekend’s win, the Black Knights (3-3) turned early and often to the ground game. Jaydon Skipalis once again led the way, totaling 163 yards on 10 carries and a pair of touchdowns, both of which came after an early fumble looked like it might keep the door open for a scrappy Trojans team in search of its first win.
With a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, Skipalis’ fumble set Nanticoke in action at its own 9-yard line. The Trojans churned out yardage behind the running of quarterback Ian Walsh and running backs Jonah Guzman and Elaiph Denson before a fourth-down stop from Lake-Lehman’s defense brought the ball back to the Black Knights.
“My biggest line I’ve used for 16 years, ‘You’ve got to make that up,” Lake-Lehman coach Jerry Gilsky said of the early miscue. “Don’t compound things, go out there and make up for it.”
Safe to say Skipalis and the rest the Knights made up for it and then some.
Lake-Lehman needed just five plays on the ensuing drive – all handoffs to Skipalis – to grind 67 yards before scoring to take a 14-0 lead to start the second quarter.
Determined to get something going on offense, the Trojans again tried to rally. Cobbling together a 13-play drive again found Nanticoke Area in Black Knight territory, only to see yet another defensive stop from Lehman when defensive back Dylan Heinrich corralled an interception.
Four plays later, Skipalis fought his way in from 34-yards out, barreling into the middle of the field before cutting to his left and hitting a second gear, out-pacing the Trojans to the end zone. A 38-yard run from Alex Smith had Lehman in front 28-0 heading into the half.
Lehman continued to apply pressure to start the second half, forcing a fumble on the kick off to start the third quarter. A 1-yard plunge from Robert Gregor in which he pushed most of his offensive line into the end zone with him set the tone for the rest of the game.
“We got in at halftime and collected everybody, and now after halftime we come out like a bat out of hell and we’re hitting hard,” Gilsky said. “Our guys have to understand it’s full speed four quarters.”
Chris Yetter drove home Lehman’s last score of the game on a sweep from 30 yards out. Defensive back Joseph Lech’s interception stopped another long Trojan drive and allowed the home team to run out the clock. Denson led the Trojans with 100 yards on seven carries.
Lake-Lehman 42, Nanticoke Area 0
Nanticoke Area `0`0`0`0 — 0
Lake-Lehman `7`21`14`0— 42
First quarter
LL — Chris Yetter 7 run (Hunter Palka kick) 9:41
Second quarter
LL — Jaydon Skipalis 9 run (Palka kick) 11:18
LL — Skipalis 39 run (Palka kick) 4:48
LL — Alex Smith 38 run (Palka kick) 1:34
Third quarter
LL — Robert Gregor 1 run (Palka kick) 11:13
LL — Yetter 30 run (Aiden Gallagher kick) 6:52
Team statistics`NA`LL
First downs`11`9
Rushes-yards`29-170`29-336
Passing yards`21 `21
Total yards`191`357
Passing`3-9-2`2-5-0
Sacked-yards lost`2-17`0-0
Punts-avg.`3-25.6`0-0
Fumbles-lost`2-1`1-1
Penalties-yards`10-58`3-25
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Nanticoke Area, Elaiph Denson 7-100, Ian Walsh 10-42, Max Leonard 3-16, Jonah Guzman 8-13, Reagan Jackson 1-(minus-1). Lake-Lehman, Skipalis 10-163, Yetter 4-81, Coldyn Harris 6-45, Smith 3-42, Damon Bond 2-3, Gregor 2-2, Anthony Magnotta 1-1, Rennen Smith 1-0, Jesse Strenfel 1-(minus-1).
PASSING — Nanticoke Area, Walsh 3-9-2-21. Lake-Lehman Magnotta 1-4-0-14, Strenfel 1-1-07.
RECEIVING — Nanticoke Area, Justin Johnson 1-23, Denson 1-5, Guzman 1-(minus-7). Lake Lehman, Jake Evans 1-14, Dylan Heinrich 1-7.
INTERCEPTIONS — Lake-Lehman, Heinrich 1-15, Joseph Lech 1-0.
MISSED FGs — none.
