Haven Runs Wild in Barnburner At Minersville

	1	2	3	4	T
Schuylkill Haven(4-1)	20	22	14	16	72
Minersville(3-2)	35	10	7	0	52

You can take your pick on the biggest play in this game, but in a game full of offense, it was a defensive play made by Niko Castillo that helped swing momentum in the first half. Trailing 42-34, and with Minersville driving on Haven’s side of the field, Castillo picked off Dante Carr over the middle, looking like the intended target. He then raced down the sideline, covering 46 yards, setting his team up on the Minersville 20. Three plays later, Niko Carestia scored his fifth touchdown of the night and went in for two to tie the game at 42.

The Miners led by as many as 16 prior to consecutive second quarter scores by the Hurricanes. After the opening kickoff was muffed by Schuylkill Haven, Matt Dube fell on the ball and put Minersville in plus territory at the Hurricanes 34. Dante Carr’s pass to Easton Schultz appeared to result in the first score of the game, but Schultz was ruled down on the 1-yard line. Carr took it from there to put his team up 7-0 with 10:32 to play. The Miners then went to the onside kick and got the bounce they needed, taking over on the Schuylkill Haven 40. This time, it was Jake Kavanaugh who came up with the ball. After a holding penalty moved the offense back to midfield, Carr threw deep over the middle to a wide open Logan Hutsko who ran it the last ten yards for a 50 yard touchdown reception. Just 1:45 into the game, Minersville was up 13-0.

Fortunately for the Hurricanes, they recovered the next onside kick at their own 35, finally getting the ball on offense. Colton Reber took one for 28 yards to move the ball to the Miners 27. Three plays later, Niko Carestia scored his first of seven touchdowns on the night, going untouched off the right side from 23 yards out. His keeper on a two-point conversion made the score 13-8 with 8:00 to play in the opening quarter.

Minersville coughed up the ball on their next possession, as Paiten LaPoint fumbled going around the left side on a reverse. With the ball back and on the Minersville 17, it would only be one play before the Hurricanes were in the end zone again. This time it was Niko Castillo going 17 yards around the left side unimpeded for the score and a Haven 14-13 lead, still with 6:51 left in the opening stanza.

The Hurricanes nearly pulled off another defensive stop on the ensuing possession, but Carr converted on 3rd & 10, finding Jake Kavanaugh for a gain of 13. He then fired long to Hutsko for a pickup of 48 before taking it in from a yard out. Easton Schultz added the two-point conversion and Minersville was back on top 21-14.

Minersville again went to the well with another onside kick. This one bounced around and was recovered by kicker Jordan Bowers at the Hurricanes 47. In this track meet affair, it took just one play for Carr to find LaPoint on a go route all alone for the touchdown.

One player later, on the ensuing drive, Niko Carestia took it to the house 52 yards around the right edge. The first quarter scoring was completed by a 70 yard hookup between Carr and LaPoint for 70 yards. Most of that came as LaPoint ran the last 55 yards, accelerating down the left sideline.

Trailing 35-20 after one, Schuylkill Haven needed another spark. Carestia provided a nifty 13 yard run, tiptoeing the sideline to set up his 27 yard touchdown, exploding through the middle of the line to pay dirt. However, Minersville remained resilient and unrelenting. Carr completed a 43 yard pass to move the ball into Hurricane territory once again. He then took off on a 17 yard scramble to his right, dodging a would-be tackler and finding the end zone, giving his team a 42-26 lead with 8:43 still to play in the half.

Colton Reber went for 28 yards on the next drive and Carestia bounced off a tackler for a seven yard touchdown gallop. He took it in again on the two-point play. Then, it was Niko Castillo providing that key interception and long return to the Hurricanes 20. Carestia tied the game on a ten yard score, again rolling through the right side of the line and also adding a two point conversion run. Carr’s 55 yard scramble set up Minersville to end the half on a 42 yard field goal make by Jordan Bowers. The halftime score was 45-42 in favor of Haven.

The second half saw Schuylkill Haven impose a bit of defense. Minersville’s open drive of the third quarter resulted in the only punt attempt of the evening. The snap went awry and Minersville just fell on the ball in the backfield, giving Haven excellent field position on the Miners 11. You guessed it–just two plays later and Niko Carestia scored again from ten yards out, shaking off a tackler with ease. He ran the two point conversion in to put Haven up 50-45.

Minersville then put together the second longest drive of the night, an 11-play 78 yard scording drive, culminating with a Carr 10 yard score, his third of the night. Along the way, he also picked up 12 on a key 4th & 5. However, it only took two more plays before Niko Carestia was untouched on a 58 yard touchdown jaunt.

On the ensuing drive, things went south for Minersville in a tough way. Dante Carr took a tough hit on a five yard run to his left. He exited the game holding his shoulder and did not return on the night. His backup, Derek Derenzo twisted his ankle running from the sidelines to the huddle just a few plays later, completely changing the tenor of a 56-52 ballgame late in the third quarter. Despite a defensive pass interference call that put Haven on the 6, the Battlin’ Miners turned it over on downs. Niko Castillo rumbled down the near sideline 91 yards for a touchdown to put this one out of reach at 64-52 following another successful two point conversion by Carestia.

The Hurricanes added the finishing touches with a stop on downs at their own 29 and subsequent 32 yard touchdown run by Colton Reber.

Over the final three quarters, Schuylkill Haven outscored Minersville 52-17, behind the impressive blocking from their offensive line and relentless run attack. The Hurricanes totaled 553 yards on 37 carries. Carestia ran the ball 22 times for 287 yards and seven touchdowns. He also scored on seven two point plays. Castillo added 138 yards and two scores on just six rushes. Colton Reber added 124 yards and a score on eight runs. Quarterback Brayden Fausnacht did not attempt a pass on the night, but executed every handoff flawlessly.

In defeat, Dante Carr was 19/27 through the air for 406 yards and three scores. He also ran for 145 yards and four more touchdowns. Paiten LaPoint led all receivers with seven catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Logan Hutsko was 7-142 and a trip to the end zone.

Schuylkill Haven will host Williams Valley next Friday night in what promises to be another top-tier game in Schuylkill County. Minersville will also be tested once again when they host Marian Catholic.