Nativity’s stable of swift, adroit and athletic football players were too much for Panther Valley here Friday on homecoming night.

Right from the get-go, the Green Wave felt like a tsunami engulfing the Panthers, who tried ever which way to stay afloat.

They lost their starting quarterback Broady Breiner (injured) and were forced to call upon Brennan Kunkel, who was gimpy as well.

But it was all to no avail in the 60-0 loss in the small school division of the Schuylkill County Football League.

The Pottsville-based Catholic school scored a pair of first quarter touchdowns, both on the legs of senior Michael Stank. Stank teamed with fellow senior quarterback Ben Kreitzer for the first score, a 56-yard catch and run. It took just one offensive play from scrimmage and Stank booted the PAT for a 7-0 lead with just 10 seconds off the clock.

Nativity’s defense stifled the Panthers into a quick three-and-out, then went back to Stank, who zoomed 49 yards to the end zone. And before the sweat was off the brow of the Panthers, the home team was down 13-0.

Panther Valley just couldn’t hit the throttle enough on the offensive side, and by halftime the visitors had cranked out three more touchdowns for a commanding 34-0 lead. Sam Walborn and Kreitzer hooked up for an 11-yard reception on a well-executed fourth down screen play with 7:04 to go before intermission. Stout running back Sam Spolski was getting his share of the scoring numbers in the books, too. Spolski zigzagged his way into the end zone on a nifty 44-yard run. Then moments before the half came to a close, Nativity milked nearly 3 minutes and 4 seconds off the clock, with Spolski and Kreitzer going airborne for a 20-yard touchdown.

“You can’t be perfect all the time, but I thought our kids were not in (sync) in that first half,” Pat Mason, the Nativity head coach, said, but not rubbing salt into the wounds. “We came off two incredible, emotional games — Williams Valley loss, Tri-Valley win — so it was important for us to play better. It’s tough getting up after the (stretch) we’ve had.”

The Green Wave (4-1) kicked into high gear the way Mason was looking for in the third quarter.

Panther Valley got off on the wrong foot, fumbling in the second half, Nativity recovered at the PV 32, then in a jiffy hit the end zone on the very next play. Walburn kicked up his heels, took off for a touchdown run and it was 41-0. A second fumble afforded Nativity yet another short field, from the Panther Valley 34. Spolski hit pay dirt for his third touchdown of the night, bouncing into the end zone from two yards out.

When reserve tailback Nick Wagner got his hands on the ball just before the close of the third quarter, he sprinted 59 yards for a touchdown, then midway through the running clock of the fourth quarter, Wagner was prancing down the sidelines on a 50-yard dash to set the final score at 60-0.

“To me, it’s all about execution,” Mason said. “I don’t care what play is called, execution is all I want.”

Mason and his club got it, and with the back end of the season starting next Friday, there is a good bet this team will be the odds-on favorites to win the District 11 Class A championship.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY … Nativity has great balance. It doesn’t rely on anyone individual, even though the team has Division I signee Noah Dolbin, who is headed to West Point. What they do have is sprinter speed up and down the lineup, which makes this team a threat to score from anywhere on the field.

BY THE NUMBERS … The Green Wave had a total of 345 yards rushing, with Wagner at the head of the class at 109. Nativity passed for 178 yards for a total of 523 yards. The Panthers struggled with only 33 total yards.

TOUGH NUT … PV didn’t fold its tent. The Panthers called on promising frosh running back Troy Nunez. Keep an eye on him. Senior two-way player Logan Fisher is an impact player.

Nativity 60, Panther Vy. 0

Nativity 13 21 20 6 - 60

Panther Valley 0 0 0 0 - 0

Scoring Summary

N - Stank 56 pass from Kreitzer (Stank kick)

N - Stank 49 run (kick failed)

N - Walborn 11 pass from Kreitzer (Doblin pass)

N - Spolski 44 run (Stank kick)

N - Spolski 20 pass from Kreitzer (pass failed)

N - Walborn 32 run (Stank kick)

N - Spolski 2 run (kick failed)

N - Wagner 59 run (Stank kick)

N - Wagner 50 run (no attempt)