Holy Redeemer opened the season without Justice Shoats.
With Shoats in the lineup, the Royals found the edge they needed to reverse that Opening Day result, avenging a loss to Holy Cross by winning the Friday night rematch, 49-30, in a non-league game played at Northwest.
Holy Cross and Holy Redeemer, the only two District 2 football teams to play each other twice during the regular season this year, wound up with a split.
Holy Redeemer broke a four-game losing streak to improve to 2-7. Holy Cross dropped its fifth straight to fall to 3-6.
Shoats turned 4 carries into 131 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the 86-yarder in the second quarter to put Holy Redeemer ahead to stay. He was also one of three Royals with at least three catches.
Holy Redeemer quarterback Jacob Winter and Holy Cross running back Logan Tierney matched 250-yard efforts as the teams took different approaches to gaining more than 400 yards each.
The rematch produced even more scoring than the wild, 34-28 win by Holy Cross on its home field to start the season.
The Crusaders took an 8-0 lead in the first quarter and built it to 16-7 before Holy Redeemer scored 21 straight points in the last seven minutes of the half.
Cameron Moczulski’s 8-yard run and Tierney’s two-point conversion began the scoring.
Hunter ran 12 yards to pull Holy Redeemer within 8-7 a little more than a minute later.
Holy Cross added to its lead when Nate Cobley scored from the 1, then hit Jonathan Jones with the two-point pass.
Shoats scored on touchdowns of 16 and 86 yards less than 2½ minutes apart to put Holy Redeemer ahead.
Zach Perta ran 7 yards for a touchdown 59 seconds before halftime and Hunter added the two-pointer.
Perta’s second 7-yard run 1:38 into the second half extended the lead to 35-16.
Cobley added 8 more points for Holy Cross on a 10-yard run and two-point run, but Holy Redeemer opened the lead to 25 in the fourth quarter.
Josh Wesneski ran for a score and Hunter found Louis Lussi with a touchdown pass.
Sean Herbert from Holy Cross ran 3 yards for the last touchdown with 1:50 left.
MORE FRIDAY FOOTBALL COVERAGE
Abington Heights-West Scranton: https://nepasportsnation.com/marzolino-defense-lead-ah-to-win/.
Carbondale-Montrose: https://nepasportsnation.com/carbondale-moves-above-500-mark/.
Dallas-Berwick: https://nepasportsnation.com/wydra-delgaudio-lead-dallas-win/.
Delaware Valley-Wallenpaupack: https://nepasportsnation.com/weinrich-machado-lead-dv-victory/.
Hazleton Area-Wyoming Valley West: https://nepasportsnation.com/hazleton-area-passes-latest-test/.
Honesdale-Nanticoke: https://nepasportsnation.com/hornets-rally-past-trojans-12-7/.
Lakeland-Riverside: https://nepasportsnation.com/shutout-allows-chiefs-to-clinch-tie/.
North Pocono-Scranton: https://nepasportsnation.com/north-pocono-blanks-scranton-21-0/.
Pittston Area-Crestwood: https://nepasportsnation.com/lockett-catches-lift-patriots-28-21/.
Tunkhannock-Towanda: https://nepasportsnation.com/konen-leads-tunkhannock-victory/.
Wyoming Area-Dunmore: https://nepasportsnation.com/pizano-paces-wyoming-area-rout/.
Canton-Hanover Area: https://nepasportsnation.com/canton-pounds-hanover-area-60-7/.
Scoreboard: https://nepasportsnation.com/fridays-football-scoreboard-5/.
