For the first time in 17 years, Nanticoke Area qualified for the District 2 playoffs.

With all but six players returning, head coach Ron Bruza is hoping the experience of that playoff run will pay dividends this year.

It gave the program a taste of what postseason football is all about. The extra week of practice certainly helped, and just being able to play a football game in Week 11 for the third time since 1999, has the Trojans wanting more.

Finish what you start:
In 2016, the Trojans won five games for the second time under Bruza.But the Trojans did have a problem. In two of the games Nanticoke Area lost last year, Trojans were up 14-0 at one point. Another game the Trojans lost by a point.Bruza is looking for an emphasis on keeping their foot on the gas. He wants the Trojans to take those 14-0 leads and add on. Had that been the case last year, a 5-5 regular season would have been 7-3.

The schedule:
The Trojans have the opportunity to be competitive in every game this season.Pittston Area, Tunkhannock and Crestwood were newcomers to the slate a year ago.But they are all teams fans who follow the Trojans know a little something about. That helped generate interest in the community, and Bruza no longer had to answer questions about where certain teams are from.The Trojans get to start the season with two games at home.

Player to watch:
Being a double-wing team, the Trojans make it no secret they like to run the football.Having 5-foot-8, 200-pound senior Dawson Hughes back gives the offense some experience. Hughes rushed for 1,181 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Coupled with Eric Jeffries, who rushed for 906 yards and six scores, Hughes could be poised for an even bigger season after carrying the ball 202 times out of 523 total team rushing attempts.