Niko Carestia, Schuylkill Haven running back.

HOMETOWN – Anyone that plays Schuylkill Haven knows what they are in for.

It is simple: Niko, Niko and Colton.

Three terrific, talented running backs that can bruise you, beat you up and then give you a na na goodbye!

Niko Carestia, Niko Castillo and Colton Reber showcased their talents Friday in a 36-0 win over Marian in a Schuylkill/Colonial Blue Division game at Stan Dakosty Field at Men of Marian Stadium.

The trio is like a Mafia hit team … you are clueless on which one is coming at you first.

Carestia is the heavy, a bolt of lightning, quick, strong and passionate when he puts his paws on the pigskin. He lit up the stadium with 281 yards rushing, racing into the end zone on a 35-yard scoot that capped an eight-play, 98-yard drive that pushed the Hurricanes to a 28-0 halftime lead.

But the payload on this particular night belonged to Castillo. The junior churned out 147 yards on 10 touches, hitting the end zone three times on runs of 22, 57 and 1 yard. Reber scored the game’s first touchdown on a 1-yard run.

“We are very unselfish,” Castillo said when asked about his night. “But it doesn’t happen if our offensive line (fails) to block. It’s all about our line. They give us the holes and we just make it happen.”

Haven’s offense combined for 521 yards rushing as the Hurricanes won their sixth straight game and remained unbeaten (6-0) in Blue Division play.

Of course, at times things didn’t sit well with the chief, Mike Farr.

“We aren’t where we should be on some of our blocking,” Farr said. “You know (our linemen) have played 44 games (career) and we still miss some blocks.”

Could you imagine if they didn’t miss a block?

When asked about the Mafia Hit team, he quickly smiled.

“They compliment each other, they’re so balanced … they have burst,” Farr said.

Haven has had its share of superb runners, but never a triumvirate that can tote the ball and score from any part of the field.

“Nope, nope, nope,” Farr said emphatically. “I’ve had two, never three. (Carestia) has that balance and is still trying to learn that fullback spot.”

Marian (4-3, 3-3 Blue) never got its offense off the ground. Unlike a week ago in a victory over Minersville, the Colts never used its milk-the-clock approach. In fact, they went airborne on their first three plays of their first possession.

“We thought we could hit one down the field early in the game,” Marian head coach Billy O’Gurek said of his team’s approach on offense. “We knew their line was so big and their linebackers (very active) quick, and we knew it was going to be so hard running the ball.”

O’Gurek felt the aggressive approach may have caught Haven off-balance.

“They’re really good, and we wanted to give them a different look,” he said.

The Hurricanes never bit on the passing attack and stifled the Marian offense the entire game. The Colts finished with a paltry 22 net yards rushing and 10 passing yards.

“We changed our defense after the first game,” Castillo said. “I was at linebacker, before switching to the secondary. We’re all settled in with the defense now.”

Haven went bang-bang in the opening quarter, putting together a four-play drive as Reber finished off the 56-yard march. On its second try, Haven jacked the count to 14-0 with Castillo scoring on his 22-yard run before Carestia added the two-point conversion. Carestia set the tables on this drive blowing past Marian’s defense with a 51-yard dash.

Castillo was the gangbuster on the next Haven possession racing 57 yards, juking his way through the defense. Before the half closed, Carestia zipped into the end zone for the fourth Haven touchdown.

Then Haven kicked in the running clock on the first possession of the second half, a six-play march to paydirt, Castillo cracking the goal line from 1 yard out and Reber adding the deuce.

QUOTABLE … “Our guys fought hard, but Castillo, Carestia and Reber are pretty explosive,” O’Gurek said.

BIG AND STRONG … Haven’s defensive front of Adam Malinoski (220), Wyatt Keefer (285), Nate Chamberlain (220) and Chase Williams (335) is a brick wall that stuffs the opposing team’s offensive attack.

Game Summary

Schuylkill Haven 36, Marian 0

Sch. Haven (6-1, 6-0) 14 14 8 0 — 36

Marian (4-3, 3-3) 0 0 0 0 — 0

SH – Reber 1 run (run failed)

SH – Castillo 22 run (Carestia run)

SH – Castillo 57 run (pass fail)

SH – Carestia 35 run (Reber run)

SH – Castillo 1 run (Reber run)

Team Statistics

Schuylkill Haven Marian

First Downs —- 15 3

Rushes-Yards — 44-521  19-22

Passes —- 1-5-1 2-8-0

Passing Yards —- 11  10

Total Yards —- 532  32

Fumbles/Lost —- 3-1 1-0

Penalties — 3-10  4-20

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: Schuylkill Haven — Carestia 19-281, Castillo 10-147, Reber 8-47, Goad 4-30, Krause 2-13, Davis 1-3. Marian — Dixon 12-41, Chase Hower 3-11. Chas Hower 1-4. Rodino 1-(-11), Team 2-(-21).

PASSING: Schuylkill Haven — Fasnacht 1-5-1, 11. Marian — Rodino 2-8-0, 10

RECEIVING: Schuylkill Haven — Carestia 1-11. Marian — Gelatko 1-3, Dixon 1-7.

INTERCEPTIONS: Marian — Johnson