HS Football: Schuylkill stifles Colonial in all-star game
The Schuylkill League all-stars celebrate their 24-9 victory over the Colonial League in Sunday's annual all-star game at Northern Lehigh's Bulldog Stadium (Photo by Brook-Koch Guers).
SLATINGTON — Coal Region football is known for its hard-hitting, aggressive defense.
The Schuylkill League all-star squad proved that point Sunday in the fourth annual meeting with the Colonial League stars at Northern Lehigh’s Bulldog Stadium.
Schuylkill Haven’s Leyden Hertz picked off a pair of passes and earned team MVP honors as the Schuylkill stars captured a 24-9 victory.
Blue Mountain’s Gaige Guers and Tyler Stahley and Nativity’s Sam Walborn scored touchdowns and North Schuylkill’s Gavin Mentzer booted a 34-yard field goal as the Schuylkill stars dominated from start to finish.
Schuylkill’s tough defensive effort kept the Colonial League squad out of the end zone until the final play of the game. The victory tied the all-star series at 2-2 and ended the Colonial League’s two-game win streak.
On five of the Colonial League’s 12 possessions, it was unable to record a first down. On three other drives, the Schuylkill League allowed just one first down before forcing a punt or turnover.
Hertz’s first interception set up Schuylkill’s first scoring drive, a 49-yard march to the Colonial 17.
The IUP-bound Mentzer, who booted five kickoffs for touchbacks, made a 34-yard field goal to put his team ahead 3-0 with 11:46 left in the first half.
A blocked punt on the next possession set Schuylkill up near midfield and the visitors made the most of the opportunity. A 26-yard pass from Tri-Valley’s Blake Schwartz to Blue Mountain’s Guers started the drive. After an offensive pass interference penalty, Schwartz connected with Guers again for a 47-yard TD and a 10-0 lead with 5:08 left in the first half.
Guers caught four passes for 89 yards.
The Schuylkill League stretched its lead to 17-0 when Stahley broke free for a 14-yard run to paydirt late in the third quarter.
The Colonial stars were finally able to crack the Schuylkill defense late in the final minute of the third quarter when Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Mark Talpas booted a 37-yard field goal to make it 17-3.
The Colonial League had two more possessions that reached Schuylkill territory, but each time the Schuylkill defense answered the challenge, getting a turnover on downs and an interception.
Schuylkill went up 24-3 on Walborn’s 29-yard run with two minutes left.
The Colonial League finally got to the end zone when Jim Thorpe’s Justin Yescavage caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Wilson’s Jeramy Cressman as time expired.
Hertz was named Schuylkill team MVP, while Salisbury’s Jason St. Leger was named Colonial MVP. North Schuylkill’s Sander Stokes and Pen Argyl’s Nuallan King were selected as Linemen of the Game.
Game Summary
Schuylkill 24, Colonial 9
Scoring
SL — FG Mentzer 34
SL — Guers 42 pass from Schwartz (Mentzer kick)
SL — Stahley 14 run (Mentzer kick)
CL — FG Talpas 37
SL — Walborn 29 run (Mentzer kick)
CL — Yescavage 24 pass from Cressman (no attempt)
Times-News sports writer Mike Haines contributed to this story
