UNION TWP. — It’s funny how momentum swings on a rainy Friday night.

After a half-hour lightning delay, Northwest seemed to be dead in the water. The Rangers threw an interception on the first play back, and a Nanticoke touchdown seemed eminent on the goal line.

The Rangers’ defense held their ground for three goal-line plays to swirl the momentum in their favor in a 35-16 victory over Nanticoke.

Trailing 8-7 at the break, Northwest scored 22 unanswered points to move themselves back into contention for the District 2 Class 1A playoff picture.

“It was huge for us. I really thought they that were sort of taking it to us in the second quarter,” Northwest coach Lon Hazlet said. “It’s a pretty good football team. … For us to get that stand really energizes us at halftime. We were able to make some adjustments at halftime and put a few things together.”

Jake Anderson had a monster night for the Rangers. Anderson carried the ball for three touchdowns, rushing 16 times for 221 yards.

David Piestrak started the second half for the Rangers. He ran into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown to take a 15-8 lead.

Anderson’s highlight of the game came on a 52-yard touchdown in the third quarter that put the nail in the Trojans’ coffin. Anderson broke three tackles. On his third touchdown, with 6:29 left in the game, he took a 15-yard carry on fourth down for a score.

Nanticoke’s Darren Boseman caught two touchdown, including a 43-yard catch with his arms outstretched in the first quarter. He received three passes for 78 yards.

The Northwest defense held WVC divisional rushing leader Dawson Hughes to less than 100 yards rushing. Hughes had 23 carries for 97 yards.

Northwest 35, Nanticoke 16

Nanticoke`8`0`0`8`—`16

Northwest`7`0`15`13`—`35

First quarter

NW — Jake Anderson 4 run (Jack Wessler kick), 8:33

NAN —Darren Boseman 43 pass from Matt Wrubel (Dawson Hughes run), :37

Second quarter

No scoring

Third quarter

NW — David Piestrak 3 run (Connor Hazlet pass from Brandon Hardiman), 9:21

NW — Anderson 52 run (Wessler kick), 6:01

Fourth quarter

NW — Anderson 15 run (Wessler kick), 6:29

NAN —Boseman 4 pass from Wrubel (Wrubel run), 5:26

NW — Ezra Judge 54 run (kick blocked), 4:00

Team statistics`NAN`NWT

First downs`15“4

Rushes-yards`52-158`34-315

Passing yards`84`40

Total yards`236`355

Passing`5-14-1`4-9-2

Sacked-yards lost`2-13`1-6

Punts-avg.`3-19.6`2-38

Fumbles-lost`1-1`1-0

Penalties-yards`5-30`11-88

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — NAN, Wrubel 9-3, Eric Jeffries 13-47, Hughes 23-97, Mark Walters 3-32, Ian Novakowski 2-2, Matt Bobeck 3-7. NW, Piestrak 10-27, Anderson 16-221, Judge 2-64, Beau Getz 2-2, Jack Stancavage 2-6, Gavin Davis 1-(minus-3), TEAM 1-(minus-1).

PASSING — NAN, Wrubel 5-14-1-84. NW, Piestrak 4-9-1-40.

RECEIVING — NAN, Boseman 3-78, Matt Piontkowski 1-1, Jeffries 1-5. NW, Connor Hazlet 1-21, Adam Bukavich 1-5, Judge 2-14.

INTERCEPTIONS — NAN, Dylan Szychowski 1-21, Nate Harrison 1-0. NW, Piestrak 1-4.