HS Football: Week 4 preview, Raiders, Olympians kick off 3-day weekend tonight
Jim Thorpe's quarterback gets set to take the snap during the Olympians' Week 2 game against Pottsville (Photo by Eli Doyle).
Everyone loves a three-day weekend.
Schuylkill County football fans get one starting tonight.
Week 4 of the local high school football schedule begins with a Thursday night special when Tamaqua visits Jim Thorpe tonight in a Schuylkill-Colonial Red Division tilt at Olympian Stadium. The game, televised by Blue Ridge Cable, starts at 7:10 p.m.
The Blue Raiders and Olympians open a weekend that also includes eight local games Friday night and the annual Homecoming contest Saturday night at Pine Grove. This year, the Cardinals welcome Panther Valley in a Schuylkill-Colonial Blue Division matchup at 7 p.m. You can listen live on T-102 (101.9 FM).
On the docket Friday night: Bangor at Pottsville (WPPA), Williams Valley at Minersville (T-102), Blue Mountain at Northwestern Lehigh, Southern Lehigh at North Schuylkill, Tri-Valley at Nativity, Mahanoy Area at Schuylkill Haven, Shenandoah Valley at Marian Catholic and Lehighton at Palmerton.
Here’s a capsule look at the games involving area teams this weekend:
Thursday’s game
Tamaqua (1-2) at Jim Thorpe (1-2)
Last week: Tamaqua edged Pottsville 21-19; Jim Thorpe lost to Blue Mountain 47-0
TV/Radio: Blue Ridge Cable TV-13
Live Updates: Follow T102 Sports Now content editor Leroy Boyer on X @pubsportsboss
Last year: Tamaqua 48-7
Game Notes: Contest pits one team coming in off an emotional victory and the other trying to rebound from a demoralizing defeat. The Blue Raiders earned their first victory of the season Friday when they stopped a potential game-tying two-point conversion try with 1:08 remaining to beat Pottsville for the second straight year. Sophomore Terrence McDowell had a breakout game for Tamaqua, rushing 31 times for 137 yards and three touchdowns. As a team, the Blue Raiders rushed for 191 yards. …. After a tough loss to Pottsville in Week 2, things fell apart quickly for Jim Thorpe in last Friday’s loss at Blue Mountain. The Olympians couldn’t match the speed and physicality of the Eagles, quickly falling behind 13-0 and trailing 34-0 at intermission. The Olympians yielded 204 yards rushing while gaining just 33 yards on the ground. To end their two-game slide, Jim Thorpe will need a better performance offensively against Tamaqua. QB Cole Lazorick leads the area in passing with 430 yards.
Friday’s games
Bangor (0-3) at Pottsville (1-2)
Last week: Pottsville lost 21-19 at Tamaqua; Bangor fell 54-14 to Northwestern Lehigh
Last year: Pottsville 38-7
TV/Radio: WPPA 1360 AM / 105.9 FM
Live Updates: Follow Bob Lipsky on X @BobLipskyRH
Game Notes: The Tide will look to rebound after a frustrating loss at Tamaqua. Pottsville failed to capitalize on several scoring chances in the first half and was stuffed on a fourth-and-1 play at the goal line. The Tide have struggled to run the football consistently; top tailback JuJu Bainbridge held to just 48 yards on 17 carries in the loss to Tamaqua. A struggling Bangor club provides the perfect opportunity for the Crimson Tide to fix their problems. The Slaters have been outscored 134-42 in losses to Saucon Valley, Lehighton and Northwestern Lehigh. Pottsville must figure things out quickly as a tough three-game stretch against Southern Lehigh, Lehighton and Northwestern Lehigh follows.
Williams Valley (3-0) at Minersville (3-0)
Last week: Williams Valley blanked Nativity 49-0; Minersville decked Mahanoy Area 42-6
Last year: Williams Valley 42-36
TV/Radio: WAVT 101.9 FM
Live Updates: Follow Eli Doyle on X @iamelidoyle
Game Notes: The Vikings and Miners clash in a Blue Division battle of 3-0 clubs that haven’t been fully tested in any of their games so far. Williams Valley’s defense has been dominant, shutting out Upper Dauphin, Mahanoy Area and Nativity by a combined 145-0 score. QB Brady Shomper (397 passing yards, 7 TDs) and RB Fletcher Thompson (29-353, 5 TDs) have led an offense that has also gotten strong efforts by receivers Evan Achenbach (9-136, 2 TDs), Blazer Lords (6-102, TD) and Colin Crisswell (5-66, 2 TDs). … The Miners have been equally impressive, outscoring Halifax, Shenandoah Valley and Mahanoy Area by a combined 126-18. Central Florida commit Dante Carr has rushed for 256 yards and three TDs and thrown for 379 yards and an area-best nine TDs. Top target Paiten LaPoint (13-200, 4 TDs) is second in the area in receiving, while Ty Atkinson (5-82, 4 TDs) is having a breakout campaign. …. This game has come down to the final play the past two seasons; don’t be surprised if this one is another barnburner.
Blue Mountain (1-2) at Northwestern Lehigh (3-0)
Last week: Blue Mountain routed Jim Thorpe 47-0; Northwestern Lehigh decked Bangor 54-14
Last year: Northwestern Lehigh 30-8
TV/Radio: PennSportsRadio.com
Game Notes: After tough losses to state-ranked Schuylkill Haven (#1, AA) and Southern Lehigh (#2, 4A) in their first two games, the Eagles broke out in a big way last Friday against Jim Thorpe. The Birds rushed for 204 yards, got big plays on defense and special teams and gave head coach Chuck Kutz his first win in his second tenure at Blue Mountain. Senior fullback/linebacker Reese Miller had four TDs against Jim Thorpe and leads the defense with 28 tackles. The Eagles will have to play with the same speed, intensity and physicality against Northwestern Lehigh, which hasn’t lost since the 2023 PIAA Class 3A state championship game. The defending 3A state champions have won 19 straight games and are 56-5 since the start of the 2021 season. QB Shane Leh, FB/LB Shane Hulmes, WR Mason Bollinger and RB Brady Zimmerman lead a talented and veteran group that has blasted Wilson (42-14), Northern Lehigh (56-13) and Bangor (54-14) so far.
Southern Lehigh (3-0) at North Schuylkill (2-1)
Last week: North Schuylkill lost to Notre Dame-Green Pond 21-20; Southern Lehigh edged Lehighton 21-20
Last year: Southern Lehigh 36-14
Live Updates: Follow T102 Sports Now content editor Leroy Boyer on X @pubsportsboss
Game Notes: It’s Hall of Fame Night at North Schuylkill, where this year’s class is one of the best in the hall’s 49-year history. This year’s induction class includes 2020 graduates Tyler Elsdon, Jake Green, Jesse White, Zach Chowansky and Jaden Leiby, who guided the Spartans to the 2018 District 11 Class 3A title and 36 wins in their four-year careers. They will be honored at halftime. …. On the field, North Schuylkill will look to rebound from last week’s loss at Notre Dame-Green Pond, a game in which the Spartans were stopped on a potential game-winning two-point conversion with 58 seconds left. RB Luke Miller (50-520, 6 TDs) leads the area in rushing and scoring, while WR Landen Smith (8-219, 3 TDs) is the area’s top receiver. QB Caden Mengel has thrown for 406 yards and six TDs while rushing for 125 yards and another score. …. Southern Lehigh had to hold off a late Lehighton charge after opening the season with convincing wins over Quakertown (35-14) and Blue Mountain (28-0). QB Colton Sams and RB Sean Steckert lead Southern Lehigh’s attack.
Tri-Valley (2-1) at Nativity (2-1)
Last week: Tri-Valley blanked Pine Grove 24-0; Nativity was shut out by Williams Vallely 49-0
Last year: Nativity 34-13
Game Notes: An interesting Blue Division clash featuring two Class A teams that are 2-1 overall and 1-1 in league play. The Dawgs bounced back from a Week 2 loss by blanking winless Pine Grove. Nativity, meanwhile, suffered its first loss in a 49-0 defeat to unbeaten Williams Valley. …. Tri-Valley found its running game against Pine Grove as Parker Hatter rushed for 159 yards and the Dawgs compiled 243 yards of total offense. Defensively, Tri-Valley held Pine Grove to three first downs and 50 total yards. …. Nativity’s offense never got moving against Williams Valley, mustering just 5 total yards and one first down, which came via a penalty. For the Green Wave to repeat their victory of a year ago, they will have to be able to run the football. This game will be won/lost in the trenches.
Mahanoy Area (0-3) at Schuylkill Haven (3-0)
Last week: Schuylkill Haven routed Shenandoah Valley 54-6; Mahanoy Area lost to Minersville 42-6
Last year: Schuylkill Haven 59-8
Game Notes: The top-ranked Class AA team in the state by PennLive.com, the Hurricanes have put up 54 points in back-to-back weeks and have outscored their three opponents 142-33. Running backs Colton Reber (19-307, 3 TDs), Niko Carestia (31-256, 2 TDs) and Niko Castillo (12-141, 4 TDs) pace a potent ground attack while QB Max Heim is 14-for-24 for 308 yards and five TDs so far. …. The young Golden Bears had some positives in last week’s loss to Minersville, reaching the end zone for the first time this season on a late Quintin Rucker TD run. Mahanoy Area must continue to take baby steps with the goal of getting better and better each week.
Shenandoah Valley (0-3) at Marian (3-0)
Last week: Marian topped Panther Valley 39-12; Shenandoah Valley lost to Schuylkill Haven 54-6
Last year: Marian 47-23
Game Notes: Another Blue Division matchup between an unbeaten team and a winless club as the Blue Devils visit Hometown to take on the Colts. Marian’s defense has been strong so far, with Jah Bushati, Dominick Rodino, Damian Rodino and Tyler Price leading the way. The Colts have forced 12 turnovers so far, including eight interceptions, and have scored five defensive touchdowns. …. Shenandoah Valley has gotten a strong effort from RB Mike Elchisak, who has run for 269 yards and three scores. The Blue Devils have been outscored 103-12 the past two weeks.
Lehighton (1-2) at Palmerton (1-2)
Last week: Lehighton lost 21-20 to Southern Lehigh; Palmerton defeated Saucon Valley 19-6
Last year: Lehighton 61-17
Game Notes: The Indians nearly pulled off a major upset last week, taking Southern Lehigh to the limit before falling by one point. Tom McCarroll’s club played with great intensity and physicality, something it needs every week to be competitive. The Indians need a solid effort from its offensive leaders — RB Lukas Croizier (58-440, 3 TDs), QB Jayse Lawrence (428 yards, 4 TDs), WR Caden Meek (8-156, TD), WR Blake Roberts (8-70) and TE Ty Nansteel (6-141, 3 TDs) to even their record with a win over the Blue Bombers. …. Palmerton notched its first win of the season with a White Division victory over Saucon Valley last week. Sophomore QB T.J. Gursky was the hero, throwing for two TDs and running for another as the Bombers overcame an early 6-0 deficit. RB Vincent Taglieri (28-158, TD) leads a ground attack that averages 123.3 yards per game.
