Last-Second Field Goal Lifts Hazleton Area Past Crestwood in 17-14 Thriller
By: Matt Flanagan | SportzWire | September 19, 2026 | Photo courtesy Bob Gaetano
HAZLETON, Pa. — For three quarters Friday night, Hazleton Area couldn’t find the end zone.
Then everything changed.
A furious fourth-quarter comeback, an 82-yard kickoff return and one final drive gave the Cougars an opportunity to win. Junior kicker Derek Radzwich finished the job, drilling a 23-yard field goal as time expired to lift Hazleton Area to a dramatic 17–14 victory over Crestwood at Harman-Geist Memorial Field.
The win was Hazleton Area’s first of the season, improving the Cougars to 1–3. Crestwood also moved to 1–3.
For Radzwich, the winning kick provided redemption after he had missed an extra point earlier in the fourth quarter.
But before the late fireworks, Crestwood controlled much of the night.
The Comets struck on their opening possession when quarterback Jack Rodgers connected with Braylon Murray for a 21-yard touchdown. Nathan Ciocco converted the extra point, and Crestwood carried its 7–0 advantage all the way into the fourth quarter.
Hazleton Area’s defense deserves much of the credit for keeping the Cougars within striking distance.
Crestwood moved the football throughout the night and finished with 314 total yards, including 282 on the ground, but the Comets repeatedly came away empty-handed in Hazleton Area territory. The Cougars forced multiple turnovers on downs, intercepted a pass in the end zone and watched a Crestwood field-goal attempt miss before halftime.
Those missed opportunities eventually proved costly.
With 6:56 remaining, Hazleton Area quarterback JJ Lantigua finally broke through, taking a fourth-down quarterback draw 17 yards for a touchdown.
The extra point missed, leaving Crestwood in front 7–6.
The Comets responded immediately.
Teddy Taylor broke free for a 27-yard touchdown run less than two minutes later, and Ciocco’s extra point pushed Crestwood’s advantage to 14–6 with 5:06 remaining.
It looked like the answer Crestwood needed.
Hazleton Area needed just seconds to respond.
On the ensuing kickoff, junior Wilmington Fabre scooped up the ball and exploded through the coverage for an 82-yard kickoff return touchdown, instantly bringing the Cougars back within two.
Lantigua then connected with Jose Lopez for the two-point conversion.
Just like that, it was 14–14.
Crestwood still had an opportunity to regain control and drove into Hazleton Area territory. But on fourth down, Nolan Heller came up with one of the biggest defensive plays of the night, sacking the quarterback and giving the Cougars possession at their own 42-yard line with 1:23 remaining.
Lantigua took over from there.
The Hazleton Area quarterback ripped off three runs for 44 yards, moving the Cougars into field-goal range and setting the stage for Radzwich.
Crestwood called timeout in an attempt to ice the junior kicker.
It didn’t work.
Radzwich sent the 23-yard attempt through the uprights as the clock hit zero, setting off a celebration and completing a remarkable fourth quarter in which Hazleton Area scored all 17 of its points.
Lantigua was the engine of the Cougars’ offense, rushing 12 times for 127 yards while accounting for the team’s offensive touchdown and throwing the game-tying two-point conversion.
Crestwood’s rushing attack was productive despite the loss. Jake Jeckell carried 18 times for 122 yards, Rodgers rushed nine times for 93 and Taylor added 74 yards on 13 attempts.
The Comets finished with a 314–235 advantage in total offense and held a 16–11 edge in first downs, but Hazleton Area made the plays that mattered most when the game reached its decisive moments.
And after three quarters without a point, the Cougars produced 17 in the final seven minutes.
A fourth-down touchdown.
An 82-yard kickoff return.
A game-saving defensive stop.
A final drive.
And, with no time remaining, one kick.
For a Hazleton Area team searching for its first victory of 2026, it was worth the wait.
The Cougars remain home next Friday to face Pittston Area, while Crestwood returns home to take on Honesdale.
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