Article Courtesy of Sports Information Intern, Vin Rinella
WASHINGTON, DC — The University of Scranton field hockey team advanced to the Landmark Conference Championship after a 4-0 victory against Catholic University in Wednesday night’s Landmark Semifinal contest at Cardinal Stadium.
The Royals will return to the championship for the second consecutive year, facing Susquehanna in a rematch of the 2023 Landmark Conference Championship.
How it Happened
The Royals jumped on the board with 4:16 to go in the first quarter when graduate student Elle Collins sent a perfect pass through the Cardinals’ defense to graduate student Katie Redding who flicked it past goalie Ella Bowman to give the Royals an early 1-0 advantage.
Scranton added to their lead in the second quarter, converting on their fourth penalty corner attempt of the game with 11:38 to go in the half. Junior Maggie Keys received the insertion from senior Lauren Franco and shot it toward the cage, and it was Franco who was there to redirect Keys’ shot past Bowman to give the Royals a 2-0 lead.
Catholic threatened with a penalty corner attempt two minutes into the fourth quarter, but junior Kiera Lamb made a brilliant defensive save, keeping the Cardinals off the board.
Redding struck again with 9:29 left in the fourth quarter. Junior Annie Shaw carried the ball to the corner of the circle, pulling Bowman out of the cage, before connecting with Redding who poked it in for her second goal of the night.
The Royals added one more goal in the final two minutes of the contest as senior Reagan Dolan fired a shot on a penalty stroke attempt into the top right corner of the cage to make it 4-0 Scranton.
Senior goalie Gianna Travia and the Royals’ defensive unit limited Catholic to just five shots in the game, and they defended all ten of Catholic’s penalty corner attempts to perfection. This shutout was the eighth of the year for Scranton.
Top Performers
Redding led the team with her two goals in the first multi-goal playoff game of her career.
Franco has now scored one goal in both playoff games in 2024.
Inside the Box Score
Scranton held a 13-6 advantage in shots and a 6-1 edge in shots on goal.
Catholic held the 10-8 edge in penalty corner attempts.
Up Next
The field hockey team will head to top seeded Susquehanna for the Landmark Championship on Saturday at 2:00 PM in Selinsgrove, Pa.
Week 6 is on the horizon for the Florida High School Athletic Association football season, and that means one thing for a majority of teams: district play begins, and the playoff picture starts to become more and more clear.
On the eve of district play, several teams found success last weekend. Some of those teams continued hot streaks – including Jay and Tate, both remaining undefeated; and Booker T. Washington, now on a three-game win streak – while others got a rebound win, including Pensacola Catholic and Navarre.
Pensacola Catholic stays on top as the area’s best team in the poll, following a shutout of Pine Forest. Jay jumped up in the ranking, while a couple notable teams dropped – that’s always expected as the season gets going.
Here’s the latest PNJ Power Poll heading into Week 6 of the Florida high school football season.
1. Pensacola Catholic (3-1)
Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Week 5 result: 23-0 win vs. Pine Forest
Week 6 game: 7:30 p.m. on Friday vs. Freeport
Coming off a tough loss to Montgomery Catholic (Ala.), the Crusaders got a big win over Pine Forest. The defense was flying all over the field, allowing less than 50 yards of total offense and recording a pair of interceptions. The Crusaders showed why they continue to be a top team in the area, and will look to continue that against a Freeport team that’s taken some bigger losses this season. Expect the run game to be in full force against the Bulldogs, who have allowed over 1,000 yards rushing this season.
2. Tate (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: No. 2
Week 5 result: 42-7 win at West Florida
Week 6 game: 7 p.m. on Thursday vs. Navarre
The Aggies got back to another dominating win over the Jaguars, continuing to show off the high-powered offense that Tate boasted over the first couple weeks of the season. It was another well-balanced attack against West Florida, and Tate’s offense should be effective against the Raiders’ defense. Plus a strong Aggie defense against the run game might plague Navarre.
3. Pace (3-1)
Last week’s ranking: No. 3
Week 5 result: 42-13 win at Andalusia (Ala.)
Week 6 game: 7 p.m. on Friday at Crestview
Pace continues to pile on the points after suffering a tough loss against Pensacola Catholic. The Patriots have posted 97 points in two games, with Ben Tyner finding his groove at quarterback last week, throwing for 171 yards. Makael Williams also had a strong performance with 145 yards rushing. The duo combined for all six touchdowns. The Patriots kick off their district schedule against Crestview, which is coming off back-to-back losses against Choctaw and Niceville.
4. Jay (5-0)
Last week’s ranking: No. 5
Week 5 result: 23-13 win vs. Chipley
Week 6 game: 7 p.m. on Friday at Flomaton (Ala.)
It’s surely a winning feeling in Jay. Head coach Brian Watson said the team’s shutout over Baker was for the community in the War on Highway 4. But the win over Chipley was to prove that the Royals aren’t to be taken lightly. Hayden Morris proved his value as a dual-threat quarterback, throwing for 68 yards and rushing for 84 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The run game has been working against most opponents. The defense surrendered more than one touchdown for the first time this season. Jay crosses the border to face a struggling Flomaton squad that hasn’t won since the end of August.
5. Escambia (2-2)
Last week’s ranking: No. 4
Week 5 result: 38-13 loss at Mosley
Week 6 game: 7 p.m. on Friday at Booker T. Washington
Escambia has gone up and down all season long so far, and if you just look at the Gators’ schedule, it’s relatively easy to understand why. Escambia topped a struggling West Florida team and overcame some self-inflicted wounds against Bay in Weeks 1 and 3. But had a tough time against undefeated powers in Niceville and Mosley. Now, the Gators start district play and will look to air it out against a younger Booker T. Washington squad in the secondary. Nino Freeman had 140 yards in the air with a touchdown, and will look to continue the strong play.
6. Pensacola (2-2)
Last week’s ranking: No. 7
Week 5 result: Bye
Week6 game: 7 p.m. on Friday vs. Bay
Fresh off a bye week, it’s been a season to remember so far for Pensacola, winning a pair of games for the first time since 2018. AG Floyd has found his way through a couple defenses. Now the Tigers will go against their first district foe that has had a tough couple games, including an overtime loss to Escambia. Bay allowed 300-plus yards rushing last week against Madison County. Can Floyd, among others, exploit that same defense?
7. Pine Forest (2-3)
Last week’s ranking: No. 6
Week 5 result: 23-0 loss at Pensacola Catholic
Week 6 game: Bye
Pine Forest is taking its bye week during Week 6 after a tough outing at Pensacola Catholic, where the Eagles were shut out for the first time since Nov. 6, 2020, when they lost to West Florida. For the most part, it wasn’t Pine Forest’s defense that was the problem, able to limit a strong pass game from Pensacola Catholic. The young offense just couldn’t get anything going, resulting in some long-down situations against a Crusader defense that made the Eagles pay. Week 6 looks like it might be a good reset for Pine Forest.
8. Navarre (1-3)
Last week’s ranking: No. 9
Week 5 result: 15-13 win vs. Milton
Week 6 game: 7 p.m. on Thursday at Tate
Navarre picked up its first win Oct. 27, 2023, when the Raiders beat Gulf Breeze in overtime during the Beach Bowl. It’s a much different Navarre roster this year, however, and the defense pulled out a big win over Milton when Andre Spence forced a fumble at the Raider 1-yard line to prevent the Panthers from scoring. Navarre will need an equally strong defense to go up against Tate’s offense, which has been able to exploit defenses both in the air and on the ground, especially between Demorion Clay Jr. and Carson Secchiari.
9. Booker T. Washington (3-2)
Last week’s ranking: No. 10
Week 5 result: 16-6 win at Gulf Breeze
Week 6 game: 7 p.m. on Friday vs. Escambia
Booker T. Washington has won three consecutive games for the first time since 2019, when the Wildcats won eight consecutive games to start that year. Booker T. has a younger team that’s battled through the gauntlet the last few games, and the schedule only gets tougher with a home game against Escambia. The Booker T. defense will need to stand strong against the Gators’ run game, while trying to drain plenty of clock in the Wildcats’ own run game.
10. Gulf Breeze (1-3)
Last week’s ranking: No. 8
Week 5 result: 16-6 loss vs. Booker T. Washington
Week 6 game: 7 p.m. on Friday at Niceville
Facing the injury bug, the Dolphins have had a tough go at it since their dramatic Week 1 victory against South Walton. Finally snapping a scoreless streak against Booker T. Washington, Gulf Breeze now faces its toughest team yet: Niceville, which is undefeated and one of the top teams in the state. The Gulf Breeze defense is going to have to block a by-committee run offense that the Eagles boast, and it might just be too much to handle for a young Dolphin squad.
11. Northview (2-3)
Last week’s ranking: No. 11
Week 5 result: 34-27 loss at Holmes County
Week 6 game: 7 p.m. on Friday vs. Escambia County (Ala.)
Similar to Escambia, Northview has had an up and down handful of weeks as a newer roster tries to work through the 2024 season against some tough opponents. Most recently, Holmes County, ranked ninth in the rural classification, was on the docket. But Northview was right there, going toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the Panhandle. The Chiefs host Escambia County (Ala.), which has had a few tough losses the last three weeks. The Blue Devils gave up over 340 yards of offense. Can Northview crack the code this week?
12. West Florida (1-4)
Last week’s ranking: No. 12
Week 5 result: 42-7 loss vs. Tate
Week 6 game: Bye
Now on a three game losing streak, West Florida enters Week 6 with a week to reset on a bye. The Jaguars have given up 40-plus points in their last two losses with their younger defense. West Florida has a week now to work on its primary run game, the option run, to go against Gulf Breeze in Week 7 that has a pretty strong run-game defense up front between players like Kade Rollins, Anthony Lee and Noah Perez.
13. Milton (0-5)
Last week’s ranking: No. 13
Week 5 result: 15-13 loss at Navarre
Week 6 game: 7:30 p.m. on Friday vs. Mosley
So close, yet so far. Milton came within striking distance to take a late lead over Navarre, but a fumble prevented the Panthers from finding the win column over the Raiders. Now, it’s an even tougher test going against undefeated Mosley this week for a district contest. None of the Dolphins’ games have been all that close, averaging 43 points a game. The Panthers have played in a handful of close defensive battles, and need their defense to step up to have a chance.
14. Central (0-3)
Last week’s ranking: No. 14
Week 5 result: Bye
Week 6 game: 6 p.m. on Saturday at Rocky Bayou Christian
The newest team to Santa Rosa County is coming off an originally unplanned bye week, with the Jaguars initially slated to play Graceville before the latter canceled its season. Now Central has a weekend affair on Saturday at Rocky Bayou Christian, which has lost its last two games. This could be a tight contest on Saturday if Central can keep up on offense.
Nolan Kruse teamed up with Alex’s Lemonade Stand to raise money for the foundation’s mission through field goals he makes this football season.
YORK COUNTY, Pa. — When Delone Catholic senior kicker Nolan Kruse attended a kicking camp this summer in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, he was introduced to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a foundation fighting to end childhood cancer.
At the organization’s stand at the camp, he saw a sign-up form with only one name on the list and knew instantly he had to make it two.
“I just hate seeing kids that don’t have these opportunities. They don’t get the opportunity to even go outside and play an athletic activity,” said Kruse. “It sucks to see. I want to be able to do something for those kids.”
Kruse has teamed up with the organization to raise money for the foundation’s mission through the thing he loves to do most: kicking. On top of donations, family members, teammates and other community members are pledging to support the cause for every kick Kruse makes this season. With a fundraiser goal of $2,500 by Nov. 8, Kruse has already raised more than $1,300 as of late September.
“It makes it a little extra special. It’s like an extra extra point,” said Kruse. “I got to do this for these kids. After I make [each kick], I’m like, ‘There’s another dollar. I did my job.’”
However, there was another reason much closer to home that pushed Kruse to write his name down on that signup form in Tennessee. Delone Catholic Special Teams Coach Mark Leonard was diagnosed with cancer in his jaw last October. Kruse’s bond with Leonard has grown over the years, and when his mentor was faced with something he never thought would happen, he knew he had to give back to the coach that gave so much to him.
“It’s just an extra drive and extra motivation [that gives] another reason besides these kids that don’t get these opportunities,” said Kruse. “It’s just a closer connection to you.”
A gesture between player and mentor, that meant the world.
“It means a lot. I didn’t have a clue he was going to do that,” said Leonard. “It’s very meaningful, it’s very special, and it’s heartfelt. Nolan’s a good kid. He is very nice. He gets along with everybody, and he comes out and does his job and does it well. So that doesn’t surprise me one bit that he’s doing that.”
An easy decision for Kruse to turn his gameday job into something that will impact a much bigger team.
“If you see the opportunity, and you just don’t like to see people who are in these bad opportunities, these struggling times, and you have the opportunity, I say take it,” said Kruse.
For more information or to help support Nolan Kruse’s cause and make a contribution to his “Kicking Childhood Cancer” campaign, head to his Alex’s Lemonade Stand page.
