Source: Jay Monahan | For Times Leader
David Piestrak scores game-winning touchdown for Northwest.
Northwest running back Jake Anderson stiff arms Hanover linebacker Sterling Wade as Brandon Chafin moves in to help make the stop during Friday’s game.
Hanover Area’s Justin Masur gets wraped up by Northwest defenders Colton Babcock and Brandon Hardiman in the second quarter of play Friday.
Northwest defensive back Ezra Judge pushes back Hanover Area running back Justin Masur, but he had already crossed the goal line for a touchdown in the first half.
Northwest fullback Jack Stancavage gets up ended by Hanover Area’s Josh Jopling.
Hanover linebacker Kyle Baranosky grabs the shoulders of Northwest quarterback David Piestrak as he run up field Friday.
UNION TWP. — A defensive-minded game turned into an offensive slugfest in the final four minutes. Luckily enough for Northwest coach Lon Hazlet, a decision not to kick a short-yardage field goal in the third quarter did not make a difference in the game.
The Rangers made the best of their last chance when David Piestrak scored the game-winning touchdown on a quarterback sneak with 10 seconds remaining as Northwest prevailed for a 28-22 victory over Hanover Area Friday in a game with playoff implications for both squads.
With just 20 points scored in the first three quarters, Northwest (4-3) and Hanover Area (4-3) traded touchdowns on back-to-back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter.
Hanover Area’s Tyheim Taylor scored a pair of touchdowns in the final frame. Exactly one minute after Northwest reclaimed the lead, he put the Hawkeyes ahead 22-20 with 2:32 left in the game.
Northwest put the game on running back Jake Anderson’s shoulders in the fourth quarter. He had most of the team’s carries down the stretch, scoring a 7-yard rushing touchdown. He finished with 146 yards.
“He is a horse,” Hazlet said. “For lack of a better term, we call him the bell cow. There were 3,000 people here, and there was not anyone that thought he was not carrying the ball.”
Tyler Stevens had a 27-yard interception return to give the Rangers a lead heading into halftime.
Penalties were a thorn in the Hawkeyes’ side. Hanover Area had 30 yard of penalties in the Rangers’ penultimate possession that led to a touchdown.
On the game-winning play, Hanover Area coach Michael McCree was upset that the near-side official called the quarterback sneak dead and blew his whistle before it was called a touchdown.
Northwest 28, Hanover Area 22
Hanover Area`0`6`0`16`—`22
Northwest`7`7`0`14`—`28
First quarter
NW — Jake Stancavage 6 run (Jack Wessler kick), 5:16
Second quarter
NW — Tyler Stevens 27 interception return (Wessler kick), 9:34
HAN — Josh Jopling 5 run (kick failed), 1:14
Fourth quarter
HAN — Tyheim Taylor 2 run (Taylor run), 7:40
NW — Jake Anderson 7 run (kick failed), 3:34
HAN — Taylor 8 run (Taylor run ), 2:32
NW — David Piestrak 1 run (Piestrak run), :10
Team statistics`HAN`NW
First downs`13`16
Rushes-yards`33-155`51-231
Passing yards`120`28
Total yards`275`259
Passing`8-15-1`3-5-0
Sacked-yards lost`0-0`1-10
Punts-avg.`2-38.5`3-43
Fumbles-lost`1-0 `1-0
Penalties-yards`11-100`5-34
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — HAN, Jopling 10-38, Brandon Chafin 12-74, Sean Coleman 1-9, Taylor 10-34. NW, Ezra Judge 2-11, Anderson 27-146, Piestrak 1-(minus-1), Jake Stancavage 12-76, Beau Getz 1-(minus-1).
PASSING — HAN, Chafin 8-14-1-120, Aaron Hummer 0-1-0-0. NW, Piestrak 2-4-0-19, Stevens 1-1-0-9
RECEIVING —HAN, Brandon Brueckner 1-16, Zakee Nettles 1-3, Taylor 1-17, Cameron Holeman 1-18, Christian Percy 3-52, TEAM 1—14. NW, Stevens 1-4, Dylan Womelsdorf 1-7, Connor Hazlet 1-8, Austin Ford 1-9
INTERCEPTIONS — NW, Stevens.
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