Nanticoke closed the football season on a winning note Friday night, claiming the Eastern Conference Class 3A championship with a 21-14 victory over visiting Schuylkill Valley.
The Trojans (5-6) won five of their final seven games, with both losses coming against Class 4A opponents, after starting 0-4.
Nanticoke declined participation in the District 2 playoffs where it would have been the eighth seed and would have faced unbeaten Scranton Prep. The one-game Eastern Conference championships are for teams that do not qualify for or participate in district playoffs that advance teams toward the state tournament.
The Trojans followed the same formula that produced their improved late-season results, a steady reliance on the ground game.
Zach Fox ran for well over 100 yards while scoring 2 touchdowns.
Payton Kepp opened the second quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run and Fox added a touchdown in the final minute of the quarter for a 13-0 halftime lead.
Schuylkill Valley (2-9) closed within 13-7 early in the third quarter but Fox scored again and added the two-point run to make it 21-7 going into the fourth quarter.
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Berwick-Wallenpaupack: https://nepasportsnation.com/berwick-rolls-over-wallenpaupack/.
Dallas-Pittston Area: https://nepasportsnation.com/wydra-bolesta-lead-dallas-victory/.
Delaware Valley-Scranton: https://nepasportsnation.com/weinrich-helps-dv-advances-to-final/.
Dunmore-Susquehanna Photo Gallery: https://nepasportsnation.com/dunmore-susquehanna-football-photo-gallery/.
Hazleton Area/Wilkes-Barre Area: https://nepasportsnation.com/hazleton-area-reaches-6a-final/.
Wyoming Area-Carbondale: https://nepasportsnation.com/sciandra-keys-outburst-by-warriors/.
Scoreboard: https://nepasportsnation.com/fridays-district-2-football-scoreboard/.
