HS Football: Miller, Spartans dominate early in statement win
North Schuylkill coach Wally Hall speaks to the Spartans after a 48-8 win over Pottsville (Photo by Eli Doyle).
POTTSVILLE — Luke Miller set the tone early with one explosive run after another as North Schuylkill controlled the game from the opening whistle.
North Schuylkill erupted for 42 first-half points and never looked back, overwhelming Pottsville 48-8 on Friday in a Schuylkill-Colonial Red Division matchup at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“We continue to do what we’ve been doing very well,” North Schuylkill coach Wally Hall said. “A lot of different guys are contributing, so that’s a great thing at this time of year.”
Miller, a senior running back, powered the Spartans (7-3, 6-2 Red) with a dominant performance, rushing for 259 yards and four touchdowns — including scoring runs of 65, 4, 4 and 37 yards — all before halftime.
North Schuylkill opened the scoring just two minutes in when Miller broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown. He added two more short scoring runs on back-to-back possessions to make it 21-0 after the first quarter.
“Everybody knows Luke Miller’s skill set and how he can run the football,” Hall said. “It’s not just his speed, but his other attributes that make him so good. His vision, he’s patient finding his holes, and of course his speed has a huge factor in his explosive runs, but you have to give it to the guys up front. They’re definitely creating the holes and, more importantly, they understand their assignments.”
The Spartans’ defense joined the scoring in the second quarter. Defensive back Caden Mengel jumped a route and returned an interception 72 yards to the end zone to make it 28-0. Miller followed with his fourth touchdown of the half — a 37-yard sprint — before Daniel Brake scooped up a Pottsville fumble and returned it 33 yards for another score, pushing the lead to 42-0 at halftime.
“As you can see with Mengel’s interception return, he’s playing defense now,” Hall said. “We always knew he could play defense, but earlier on in the season your quarterback has to be a little protected. Maybe you bring him out in certain situations. But now it’s that time of year where we’re going to use him and a lot of different guys in different places.”
Pottsville (3-7, 2-6) got on the board late in the third quarter when Brody Eroh punched in a 3-yard run. Shay Strencosky added the 2-point conversion reception from Andrew Allen.
North Schuylkill capped its scoring early in the third quarter when quarterback Brock Holmes connected with Jaxon Parker for a 79-yard touchdown.
The Spartans finished with 405 total yards — 300 of them on the ground — while holding Pottsville to just four first downs and 164 total yards. North Schuylkill’s defense forced three turnovers, including interceptions by Mengel and Cole Meskunas.
Both teams struggled with discipline at times, combining for 17 penalties in the game. North Schuylkill was flagged nine times for 90 yards, often stalling drives or negating big gains, while Pottsville was hit with eight penalties for 62 yards. Despite the whistles, the Spartans’ explosive playmaking frequently overcame the setbacks, while the Crimson Tide’s infractions only added to their difficulty sustaining offensive rhythm.
Both teams now turn their attention to the District 11 playoffs next week. North Schuylkill will compete in the Class 3A bracket and is scheduled to play on Thursday, while Pottsville will open postseason play the same night in the Class 4A field. Check back this weekend for the full District 11 playoff schedule and matchups.
“This is everything we’ve worked for,” Hall said of the upcoming playoff game. “It’s part of our goals. We’re going into our second season and we’ll continue to grow. The big thing is, we’ll be in the weight room on Sunday and make sure that is definitely a factor as we move on through the weeks.”
