Nanticoke, PA — BY MITCH RUPERT CORRESPONDENT NANTICOKE — Mason Avery's been dealing with a sickness for the better part of eight weeks now. It's more annoying than a hindrance to his performance and, frankly, he's gotten used to it. So, when the Honesdale senior vomited before the opening kickoff Friday night, it didn't faze him. Avery took the kick, which deflected off an upback, and returned it for a 72-yard touchdown. It was the first of his four scores and he eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the third consecutive season by posting 142 yards on nine carries in Honesdale's 56-7 nonleague win over Nanticoke Area. “It's so annoying,” Avery said of getting sick. “I've been doing it so long that I'm used to it. So I throw up and then I'm good to go.” Avery and the Honesdale offense operated with incredible efficiency as it put its foot on the gas from the opening kickoff, and didn't let up until the game was in the mercy rule. The Hornets (4-4) scored 49 points in the first half and 11 of their 21 offensive snaps gained a first down. Of the 10 plays that didn't produce first downs, five came in goal-to-go situations. There was also a 9-yard gain on first-and-10, and a 4-yard gain on first-and-5. Honesdale had 246 yards on 21 snaps, good for nearly 12 yards per play by halftime. It was a much-needed performance by Honesdale, which snapped a four-game losing streak in a one-point win over Lakeland last week and is fighting for one of four District 2 Class 4A playoff berths. The Hornets are currently fifth in the power-ranking standings. “I told the kids we have to treat every week like it's a playoff week because we're still trying to get in,” Honesdale coach Paul Russick said. “We'll do whatever we have to do to get there." Honesdale executed Friday. The offensive line of Anthony Passero, Wyatt Rutherford, Evan Funk, Bobby MacDowell and Charlie Propst paved the way to 259 yards rushing at more than 10 yards a clip. Avery posted his sixth 100-yard game of the season with seven of his nine carries going for 10 yards or more. His best run came on an 11-yard run on third-and-goal from the Nanticoke 11 where the Hornets called a Statue of Liberty play and Avery won a race to the pylon. “I love these guys up front,” Avery said. “When you're running the ball and you see nothing but the hole and then the end zone, it doesn't get better than that.” The Honesdale defense wasn't going to let the offense steal all the spotlight, though. Leading, 35-0, after the Avery 11-yard scoring run, Nanticoke's James Bush returned the ensuing kickoff to the Honesdale 1. The Hornets dug in and didn't let Nanticoke break the goal line, stopping Nanticoke's Treston Allen for 1-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 1. The Hornets needed just six plays to cover 98 yards, capped by a Gabe Duda 50-yard scoring run. It was one of three touchdowns for Duda. “It's cliché, but every play matters,” Russick said. “Our theme the last two weeks is to believe in one another and play for your teammates. “And to make a big stop there was huge for us and showed a lot about our kids.”