Matt Kosciolek’s phone started to buzz.

Phone calls.

Text messages.

Tweets.

Kosciolek was bombarded with an overwhelming amount of support after Pleasant Valley’s 21-18 win over East Stroudsburg North last Friday, his first as a head coach.

It was a moment Kosciolek was able to share with the people around him that have supported his passion for the sport he has grown up around.

“It’s awesome,” said the Bears’ first-year mentor. “One of the reasons for me, and the guys that I coach with, one of the reasons that we do this is because of the relationships that you build. So, not just the support from my family, but the text messages, and the Twitter inbox, all former players, people that I have coached, saying, ‘Coach, awesome.’ ‘Keep doing what you’re doing.’ ‘Keep grinding.’

“All the positive support that I get from players that I’ve coached in the past, and people that I’ve coached with in the past, that’s the most exciting part. Kids that I’ve coached they got what I was trying to get out of them. They get me, they get my coaching style, they get the things I’m trying to accomplish as a coach, and some of the things I’m trying to instill in them. Family, and that whole atmosphere.”

And Kosciolek would know.

Football is something he has known since he was little, with has dad, Cazzie, coaching while he grew up.

“My dad for sure,” Kosciolek said when asked his greatest influence. “I grew up on the sidelines. He was a coach, he was an assistant coach for a long time, he was a head coach for a little bit at a couple different places. When I look at my past, and my influences, he’s definitely the biggest one.

“You see those relationships that he built. When we would go out somewhere, players would see him, and talk to him. Even when he passed in 2001, the procession line for his funeral was just littered with former players from the 70s and 80s, people who just didn’t forget what he did for them, and what he tried to do for them. And seeing that, that lifelong relationship, lifelong development that you have with people, you don’t realize how many people you touch, and affect, and influence as you go along through this crazy journey of life.”

And it’s something Kosciolek doesn’t take for granted.

“Especially in the coaching world, you have a chance to influence kids, and that’s what I’m trying to do,” said Kosciolek. “One of the best parts of that win the other night was the outpouring of support from former players and family.”

Kosciolek, who graduated from Marian and played college football at Shippensburg University, has instilled a toughness in his players.

Growing up, Kosciolek marveled at the way Bobby Knight, Mike Krzyzewski and Bill Parcells ran their programs.

The passion. The desire.

It’s something he’s taken with him to the sideline.

“Growing up, and seeing the fire (they had), you always wanted to be a part of that. Have some part in something that’s team oriented, and just guys fighting to win every week,” said Kosciolek. “Because that’s the kind of stuff you want these kids to take with them for the rest of their lives.

“Life’s tough, so you got to fight and scrap for everything you’re going to get. And as long as you are staying focused on your goals, and you’re working hard, you’re going to accomplish that. Hard work is undefeated. If you’re working hard, you’re going to be successful. If you work hard enough, you’re going to get it.”

After finally breaking through last week, Kosciolek and Pleasant Valley are just getting started.

“It’s obviously huge,” he said. “You want to win, but especially the first one, it’s something you’ll always remember; the game, and everything about it. It’s your first one. It’s definitely a thrilling experience, and something I hope to continue doing.”

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COLT ON THE RUN ... Marians’ Matt Doherty had an outstanding game last Friday against Panther Valley, carrying 33 times for 227 yards and a couple of touchdowns.

In the past 30 years, which includes 356 games, that total is the fifth highest in a single game by a Colt player.

The other four are K.J. Snerr (266 on Oct. 10, 2014), Dylan Quirk (247 on Oct. 28, 2011), Paul Martin (245 on Sept. 2, 2011) and Justin Barrasso (233 on Nov. 27, 1998).

In addition to his yardage, Doherty was a workhorse with his 33 carries. The last time a Marian player ran the ball that many times in a single game was Nov. 2, 2007 (123 games ago), when Matt Rizzo also had 33.

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FIELD GOAL FURY ... Besides Doherty’s accomplishments, teammate Lucca Stroia also excelled in last week’s win.

The kicker continued his outstanding season with three field goals against PV, one of which covered 37 yards.

In the past 30 years, there have only been four other area players to kick three field goals in a game — Pleasant Valley’s Dean Krcic (Oct. 9, 2015) and Ryan Habick (Sept. 25, 200 (0, Northwestern’s Chris Horn (Sept. 8, 2006) and Jim Thorpe’s Tyler O’Shura (Sept. 30, 2005).

Marian, thanks to Stroia, now has six field goals on the season. Over those 30 years, this is just the seventh time an area team has had that many three-pointers in a season. Pleasant Valley had eight in 2000, Northwestern had seven in 2015, and four times there were teams with six (Northwestern in 2017 and 2003, Pleasant Valley in 2009, and Northern Lehigh in 2002).

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KICKOFF COVERAGE ... Lehighton gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown in last Friday’s loss to Pottsville.

All teams give up and register a long return every now and then, but the team that has gone the longest without a team taking one to the house is Jim Thorpe.

The Olympians have now played 29 straight games without allowing a kickoff return for a score. Since that score, they’ve kicked off about 167 times.

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COMEBACK TIMES THREE ... Pleasant Valley’s Matt Kosciolek earned his first win as a head coach when the Bears rallied past East Stroudsburg North last Friday.

In fact, PV trailed on three different occasions (6-0, 12-7, and 18-14) before a fourth-quarter touchdown by Nasai Moon proved to be the game-winner.

The last time the Bears rallied from three different deficits to post a victory was Oct. 22, 2010 against East Stroudsburg South. In that contest, PV came back when trailing 14-0, 21-14, and 35-28.