HS Football: Crestwood is clicking on all cylinders after rout of North Pocono

WRIGHT TWP. — Crestwood did what Crestwood does — controlled the ball.

The Comets held on for 46 runs in a 47-0 victory over North Pocono on Friday night to clinch first place in the District 2, Class 4A playoffs.

The Comets’ blitz is becoming a common occurrence as the running back has scored at least five touchdowns in eight straight games entering Friday.

“We embrace what we do and what we do is unique,” Crestwood coach Ryan Arcangeli said.

Crestwood was once again led by star running back Noah Schultz, who rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns in the second half as the Comets began to pull away.

Schultz finished the regular season with over 1,600 yards rushing and 24 scores, leading his team to a 9-1 regular season finish.

The Comets set the pace early with an 11-play (all rushing), 78-yard drive capped by quarterback Jayden Shedlock’s 2-yard run for the game’s first score.

Crestwood almost came up empty, but an untimely North Pocono penalty on fourth-and-4 kept the drive going.

The Trojans’ defense briefly stymied the Crestwood offense, forcing the Comets to punt on their next two possessions. But North Pocono’s offense would not capitalize, unable to advance the ball into the midfield.

As the Comets’ offense began to slow down and get out of bounds after three possessions, special teams and the defense made big plays.

A well-placed punt by Logan Rawls would return the Trojans (4-6) to their 1-yard line. Two plays later, the Comets forced a North Pocono fumble to give the offense back just two yards from the end zone.

Shedlock doubled his team’s lead on the next play, scoring his second touchdown of the night.

The freshman set the tone for his team as the Comets wouldn’t need to hit the rest of the way.

“They’re a tough team,” Shedlock said. “It started as a battle, but we do what we do and we pulled it off.”

In the contest, Shadlock ran for 96 yards and completed two passes, finishing the season just under 800 yards at a 56% completion rate.

Crestwood would end the half by punting the ball a dozen times for 90 yards, with Robert Knight eventually picking up a score with 15 seconds left in the half for an 18-0 halftime lead.

Penalties and mental mistakes nearly cost the Comets a scoring chance, as two flags would have moved the ball from the 7-yard line back to the 31.

“We shot ourselves in the foot offensively,” Arcangeli said, “but we stuck to the plan and our offense did a great job.”

On the other side of the ball, Creswood’s defense was up to the test, keeping the Trojans on their side of the field throughout the first half.

North Pocono would not have a game on Crestwood territory until late in the third quarter after Michael Blaine took a screen pass and his team moved to the Comets’ 46-yard line. But the defense fought back when Magnus Bibla picked up a sack that gave the Trojans a 12-yard gain.

“Our defense got nasty when we needed it to,” Arcangeli said.

Crestwood would continue to control the clock with drives of 11 and 7 plays, both of which ended with Schultz finding the end zone.

The Comets would not have time to work on their next possession, scoring with just 15 seconds left. Brandon Dennis went 43 yards on the first carry only to be picked off at the 1-yard line. Dennis was sure to score on the next play, gaining the last yard for a score.

In an effort to take the goose egg off the scoreboard, the Trojans retreated to find some rhythm in their attack. Blaine found open space and gained 28 yards, putting his team within 30 yards of the end zone.

The drive ultimately fell short when Matthew Sklarosky intercepted a fourth-down pass and returned it 86 yards to the end zone.

“I thought our kids played tonight — hats off to (Crestwood),” North Pocono coach Greg Dolhon said. “They are a good football team. They make broken plays go 20 yards.”