Minersville's football team takes the field for a District 11 Class AA playoff clash against Executive Education on Saturday, Nov. 2. The Raptors defeated the Battlin Miners 26-6 (Photo by Jon Curvey).

MINERSVILLE — It was tough sledding for the Battlin’ Miners.

Minersville could not contain the high-powered Executive Education offense as the Battlin Miners fell to the Raptors 26-6 in a District 11 Class AA quarterfinal football game Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Caz Richardson caught 10 passes for 162 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Executive Education (6-4-1), while Sylis Styles added 157 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

“I don’t want this team, or senior class especially, thinking their legacy was tonight. Because it wasn’t,” Battlin Miners coach Justin Frantz said. “I mean, what these kids did for Minersville football has never been done. They won a district championship, went to four district playoff appearances, had four straight winning seasons. This is a special group of kids, who fought through so much over their careers and just kept going.

“My biggest thing for tonight is I don’t want them to remember tonight instead of everything else they’ve done for us.”

Penalties were costly from the beginning as Minersville (7-4) jumped offsides on a fourth-and-three hard count by Raptors quarterback Zion Brake that resulted in a first down.

Executive had a touchdown negated on the opening drive of the game due to a holding penalty, but Styles was able to muscle his in from two yards out to get the Raptors on the board first.

Dante Carr, Easton Schultz and Paiten LaPoint each carried the ball on the ground for the Miners during their first drive with the football. A holding call on Minersville knocked a passing TD by Carr to Logan Hutsko off the board. A few plays Carr threw a screen-pass that was tipped at the line and intercepted.

Minersville defense held strong between the first and second quarter. Hutsko had a tackle for a loss to cap the first quarter and Matt Dubé and LaPoint combined for a pass deflection on fourth-and-15 to. Force a turnover on downs.

The Battlin Miners couldn’t get the offense going and Executive capitalized on its next offensive possession. Richardson nabbed a 63-yard catch-and-run TD pass from Brake to push the Raptors lead to 14-0 following a two-point conversion run by Styles.

Minersville found offensive success right before half. After scooping up an onside kick attempt from Executive, the Miners marched down the field on four plays and scored on a six-yard run by Carr. Minersville conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

The second half was an offensive struggle for both squads.

The Miners opened the second half with a ground attack that stalled after reaching the 50-yard line.  Following a punt by Minersville’s Jordan Bowers, the Raptors offense began to stall as well.

Logan Rizzardi had a sack resulting in a loss of eight yards, A.J. Halford and Owen Fortna combined for a tackle for a loss, and LaPoint added another key pass breakup for the Miners.

Executive added a late TD in the fourth quarter as Styles scampered in from 11 yards away to cap the scoring for the Raptors, who took home a 26-6 D-11 playoff win.

At quarterback for Executive, Brake completed 17-of-20 passing and threw for 228 yards.

“I think we (Executive’s) athleticism coming into tonight, but we did kind of underestimate the speed,” Frantz said. “Its hard to see on film, but they have athletes all over the place.

“(Executive) can move, their line can move, their receivers are fast, their quarterback can sling the ball, and he just kept running around. I guess that is on me as the coach, maybe we underestimated their speed, but (Executive) is a good football team.”

The Raptors will square off against Schuylkill Haven (10-1) Saturday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. at Rotary Field in Schuylkill Haven.

GAME SUMMARY
Executive Education 26, Minersville 6

EE (6-4-1)     6       14          0          6      —       26
Min (7-4)       0       6           0          0      —        6

EE — Styles 8 run (conversion failed)
EE — Richardson 63 pass from Brake (Styles run)
Min — Carr 6 run (conversion failed)
EE — Richardson 26 pass from Brake (conversion failed)
EE — Styles 11 run (conversion failed)

Team Statistics
                                       EE                 Min
First Downs                 19                      15
Rushes-Yards           30-151             22-129
Passing                    17-20-0             8-25-3
Passing Yards            228                    75
Total Yards                 379                    204
Fumbles/Lost          1-0                       2-0
Penalties                   12-125               8-75

Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Executive Education — Styles 21-157, Mirza 3-3, Navarro 1-2, Brake 5-(-11). Minersville — Carr 11-60, Schultz 6-41, LaPoint 2-14, Rizzardi 3-14.
PASSING: Executive Education — Brake 17-20-0, 228. Minersville — Carr 8-25-3, 75.
RECEIVING: Executive Education — Richardson 10-162, Styles 2-24, Kohler 1-22, Edmondson 2-19, Perez 1-4, Connor 1-(-3). Minersville — LaPoint 3-44, Kavanaugh 2-23, Hutsko 2-6, Schultz 1-2.
INTERCEPTIONS: Executive Education — Richardson 2, Rodriguez.