Boyer’s Bulletin: Week 9 slate features small-school showdowns
Photo by Kelly Wiley
The 13th annual Clash of 61 rivalry game between Blue Mountain and Pottsville headlines Week 9 of the local high school football schedule.
The trophy battle between the Eagles and Crimson Tide isn’t the only intriguing matchup on the slate, however.
A pair of Schuylkill/Colonial Blue Division showdowns — Nativity at Schuylkill Haven and Minersville at Tri-Valley — also rise to the forefront as teams try to build momentum and secure their place in the postseason.
The Minersville at Tri-Valley clash is this week’s T-102 Game of the Week and can be heard live on 101.9 FM. A link to the live broadcast can be found online at www.T102SportsNow.com in the upper right-hand corner. Pre-game begins at 6:30 p.m., with kickoff at 7 p.m.
The No. 1 team in the SportsNow Super 7 poll, Schuylkill Haven (7-1, 7-0 Blue) has won seven straight games since a season-opening loss to Blue Mountain, most of them by lopsided scores.
Tonight, the Hurricanes can clinch the Blue Division title when they host the Green Wave (6-2, 5-2 Blue) at 7 p.m. at Rotary Field.
Led by the rushing trio of Niko Carestia, Colton Reber and Niko Castillo and a mammoth offensive line, Schuylkill Haven has averaged 60 points per game during the winning streak, outscoring its seven opponents 420-96 while pitching three shutouts.
Carestia leads the area in rushing yards (1,793), touchdowns (25) and points scored (180). Reber (49-753, 12 TDs) is on pace to reach 1,000 yards as well, while Castillo (40-518, 9 TDs) is the third part of a rushing attack that averages 430.6 yards per game and has scored 50 touchdowns.
Nativity, meanwhile, saw its four-game win streak snapped last Friday with a surprising 49-28 loss at Minersville. The Green Wave had allowed just 62 total points (8.9 ppg) in the seven games prior to facing the Miners, with their only loss coming in the final seconds to Williams Valley in Week 3.
An injury to senior running back/linebacker Sam Spolski suffered two weeks ago has hampered Nativity on both sides of the ball. His status for tonight’s game is uncertain.
The loss to Minersville dropped Nativity to third in the District 2/11 Class A subregional race, behind Lackawanna Trail and Tri-Valley. While the Green Wave appear a safe bet to make the four-team field, a loss to Schuylkill Haven and a loss next Friday to Marian could put that playoff position in jeopardy.
Minersville (5-3, 4-3 Blue) and Tri-Valley (6-2, 5-2 Blue) have played some high-scoring barnburners over the past several years, last year’s 38-34 win by the Miners serving as a prime example.
This week’s Fanelli, Evans & Patel Athlete of the Week, Minersville QB Dante Carr, ran for 207 yards and five touchdowns and threw for 171 yards and two more scores in last week’s win over Nativity.
For the season, Carr has passed for 1,360 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 978 yards and 18 more scores. When Carr is healthy and playing to his capabilities, the Miners are extremely tough to beat.
Tri-Valley, meanwhile, excelled in all facets of the game in last Friday’s 28-14 win at Mahanoy Area. The Dawgs have won three in a row since back-to-back losses to Nativity and Williams Valley in Weeks 4-5 and are in second place in the District 2/11 Class A subregional rankings.
Quarterback Blake Schwartz threw for three touchdowns against the Golden Bears, while running backs Cole Gemberling (16-57) and Parker Hatter (5-37) provided good offensive balance. Linebacker Ryan Colahan paced a defense was solid in the second half against Mahanoy Area but will need a similar effort against the Miners.
The Week 9 schedule got a head start Thursday when Mahanoy Area improved to 3-6 with a 35-0 victory over Panther Valley.
Here’s a look at the rest of the Week 9 slate. For a preview of the Clash of 61 between the Eagles and Tide, visit https://www.t102sportsnow.com/2024/10/18/pottsville-visits-blue-mountain-for-clash-of-61/
Friday’s games
Lehighton (3-5) at North Schuylkill (5-3) — A battle of two teams that pulled off surprising victories in Week 7. The Indians stunned Tamaqua 34-14, while the Spartans forced six turnovers in a 38-14 bashing of Blue Mountain.
QB Jayse Lawrence (973 yards, 11 TDs) needs 27 yards to go over 1,000 yards for the season. Lukas Croizier has been the Indians’ main ballcarrier, gaining 508 yards with three TDs.
Luke Miller has been the star for North Schuylkill, leading the Spartans in rushing (157-946), receiving (30-430) and touchdowns (21). QB Caden Mengel (1,007) went over 1,000 yards passing for the season with his 8-of-11, 161-yard, two-TD effort against the Eagles.
Northwestern Lehigh (8-0) at Tamaqua (6-2) — After a 6-0 start, the Blue Raiders have lost two in a row and fallen out of District 11 Class 3A playoff qualifying position. Things don’t get any easier this week as unbeaten Northwestern Lehigh, the No. 1-ranked Class 3A team in the state, comes to town.
Senior QB Luke Kane (934, 8 TDs) is closing in on 1,000 yards passing while rushing for 620 yards and 10 TDs. Senior Bradley Whalen (99-636, 4 TDs) is the Raiders’ leading rusher, while Victor Schlosser (43-542, 6 TDs) is the top receiver.
This game will start at 7:10 p.m. and be televised live on both Blue Ridge Cable TV-13 and the Pennsylvania Cable Network as the PCN Game of the Week. It can also be heard live on WMGH 105.5 FM and PennSportsRadio.com
Pine Grove (1-7) at Marian (4-4) — The Colts need a win to keep their District 2/11 Class A subregional playoff hopes alive. They’ll be favored to get one against a Cardinals squad that has lost three straight.
Both teams struggle to score points — Marian hasn’t scored in two weeks and averages 17 points per game. Pine Grove is averaging 11.25 points per game.
Colts’ RB Rory Dixon (174-946, 10 TDs) needs 54 yards to reach 1,000 for the season.
