BY ANGELO SULLA

Times-Shamrock Writer

Nanticoke’s defense forced three Susquehanna turnovers Friday night en route to a 10-0 victory.

“We bent, but did not break tonight,” coach Ron Bruza said.

The teams traded punts through the first quarter and a half until Pat Hempel stepped in front of a pass from Saber quarterback Austin White pass to give the Trojans the ball on the Susquehanna 30.

Hempel then burst through the Susquehanna defense for 23 yards to set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Brandon Meck at staked the Trojans (2-1) to a 7-0 halftime lead.

The second half did not start out well for either team.

Nanticoke’s Tyler Myers intercepted a pass on the Sabers’ first possession, only to have the Cole Mallery of Susquehanna pilfer a T.J. Levandowski pass.

Both defense continued their stellar play, forcing teams to trade punts.

With the Sabers mounting a drive late in the third period,Nanticoke’s Brandon Meck recovered a Susquehanna fumble to thwart the rally.

Midway through the fourth, Hempel returned a punt 25 yards to give the Trojans the ball on the Susquehanna 33.

The Trojans ran the ball for eight straight plays, only to have the drive stall at the 7.

Alec Norton converted a 25-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.

Susquehanna            0   0   0  0 – 0

Nanticoke        0   7   0  3 – 10

SUS         NA

First Downs    8             8

Rushes-yards           34-67    42-134

Comp-Att-Int           5-12-2    2-9-1

Passing          93           24

Total yards    160        158

Fumbles-Lost             2-1        1-0

Penalties-Yds            6-45      6-35

Rushing:SUS– C. Mallery 12-70; B. Hepler 4-12; J. Murnock 3-6; A. White 15-(-21). NA – P. Hempel 14-79; B. Balderrama 3-15; M. Colatosti 7-14; M. Wood 4-11; B. Meck 2-9, 1TD; T. Levandowski 9-6; N. Seise 3-0.

Passing:SUS– A. White, 5-12-2, 93. NA – T. Levandowski 2-9-1, 24.

Receiving:SUS– C. Mallery 3-64; Vanson 1-16. NA – P. Hempel.