HS Football: Pottsville hosts North Schuylkill in regular-season finale

North Schuylkill's Luke Miller heads toward the end zone for one of his four touchdowns as Blue Mountain's Lucas Pritiskutch gives chase during an Oct. 9 game in Fountain Springs (Photo by Brook Koch-Guers).

POTTSVILLE — Two teams having vastly different seasons will clash tonight to wrap up the regular season when North Schuylkill visits Pottsville in a Schuylkill-Colonial Red Division matchup.

North Schuylkill (6-3, 5-2 Red) stumbled a bit at midseason against the powerhouses on its schedule, but the Spartans have righted the ship and are playing lights-out football as the District 11 Class 3A playoffs loom.

Meanwhile, Pottsville (3-6, 2-5 Red) has had its troubles from the start, with inconsistency and injuries playing major roles in a trying season. The Crimson Tide will compete in the District 11 Class 4A playoffs in Week 11, but they’re coming off a 49-14 defeat at the hands of rival Blue Mountain.

(The game will air live on WPPA 1360 AM and A-106/105.9 FM, beginning with pregame at 6:45 p.m. and kickoff at 7 p.m.)

“Keep pushing forward. That’s what we’ve got to do,” Pottsville coach Mike Brennan said. “It’s the way it is. We have another rival. We’re going to be playing in Week 11, so it’s two more opportunities for us to play and to come together. It’s very difficult, when you play your rival, and it’s been as difficult a year as it’s been, when you come up on the short end again. But there’s only one thing to do, and that’s to pick up the pieces and move forward. That’s what we’ve done throughout the course of the week, and that’s what we’ll do Friday night.”

After falling to Northwestern Lehigh in Week 6, North Schuylkill blasted Bangor (52-22), Blue Mountain (42-21) and Lehighton (36-14) down the stretch. Senior running back Luke Miller, running behind a powerful offensive line, has been putting up video-game-type numbers. In just nine games, Miller has carried 179 times for 2,009 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s also caught 13 passes for 165 yards and one TD. In the last two weeks on the ground, he racked up 383 yards against Blue Mountain and 286 against Lehighton.

“The season is about growth,” North Schuylkill coach Wally Hall said. “Each week you work to make progress in all three phases. Our run game has been productive, which indicates how well our offensive line has been playing. Luke has played a significant role in our ground game. Much does factor in when building your run game besides the quarterback handing off the ball. Much needs to be worked at that, including offensive line execution, running backs tempo and quarterback/running back becoming one.

“However, Luke possesses many attributes that allow him to have much success,” Hall added. “First, he has a great work ethic and competes every day at practice. Luke, since Day 1, has been a great team member and will do what’s needed to make any contributions to the team.  Physically, he has speed, quickness, vision and great instincts.”

North Schuylkill is more than just Miller. Much more.

Quarterback Caden Mengel has completed 56-of-97 passes for 1,046 yards with 11 TDs and three interceptions. Mengel has rushed 54 times for 346 yards and six TDs. Landen Smith (20-507, 5 TDs) and Julian Nelson (13-172, 3 TDs) are the top receivers.

Defensively, Seth Hubler has 74 tackles, including seven for loss. Nelson Berger has four sacks, and Bryce Kile has seven tackles for loss and three sacks.

For the season, the Spartans average 36.7 points per game while allowing 22.4. The last three weeks, North Schuylkill is outscoring its opponents 43.3-19.0.

“The odds may be stacked against us again, but we’ve got to go out and play four quarters of football,” Brennan said. “It’s very difficult, first of all, because of their sheer size compared to us. There’s no comparison. They’re very good up front.

“Luke Miller, it’s not every year where you have the fastest guy in District 11 in the Schuylkill League,” Brennan added. “That’s exactly what he is, and he’s an outstanding football player. So trying to slow him down is a tall, tall order with as good as they are up front, with the ability of (quarterback) Caden Mengel running the ball, their ability to throw it over your head. They play a physical brand of football. It’s certainly stacked against us. They’re playing really well right now.”

For Pottsville, quarterback Andrew Allen runs the show. Allen has completed 91-of-159 passes for 1,063 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions.

In the wake of JuJu Bainbridge’s injury, Max Clews has become the focal point of the offense. A converted H-back/tight end, Clews has rushed 61 times for 348 yards. He’s also caught 22 passes for 200 yards and three TDs. Clews had 93 yards on 18 carries last week against Blue Mountain.

Nick Huda (22-226, 2 TDs), Christian Alvarez (19-218, 2 TDs) and Shay Strencosky (13-212, 3 TDs) also factor into the passing game.

“Our preparation throughout the week stays consistent,” Hall said. “As for Pottsville, they are well-coached and that shows through their execution. Offensively, they have been running two different running backs that have been productive. Their quarterback has experience and plays his position very well. He makes good decisions with the football. Defensively, Postville is sound with alignments, coverages and execution. Pottsville’s special teams are solid, and they kick well.”

Entering Week 10 action, Pottsville sits in seventh place in the District 11 Class 4A ratings and would be slated to visit No. 2 Bethlehem Catholic in the Week 11 quarterfinals. North Schuylkill ranks third in the District 11 Class 3A ratings and would host No. 6 Palmerton in next week’s quarterfinals. Rating points will change depending upon the outcome of the Week 10 games. District 11 administrators will finalize the matchups, sites and times following Saturday’s games.

“We have a chance to extend our season and develop our kids one more week, and they have a chance to make a run in the District 11 3A tournament,” Brennan said. “It’s a chance for our kids to play a home game, it’s Senior Night, and we have to prepare our best this week to put our best foot forward.”