North Schuylkill's Caden Mengel drops back to pass during the Spartans' win over Mount Carmel on Aug. 22 at the Silver Bowl (Photo by Justin Reed / Skook News).

EASTON — The stage was set for another North Schuylkill walk-off victory over Notre Dame-Green Pond on Friday night at Lafayette College’s Fisher Field.

The Spartans came up about a yard short.

Notre Dame-Green Pond captured a 21-20 victory over North Schuylkill in a clash of two state-ranked Class 3A teams when the Spartans couldn’t convert a two-point conversion run in the game’s final minute.

Last season, North Schuylkill defeated Notre Dame-Green Pond twice, once in the regular season and again in the District 11 Class 3A semifinals, with touchdowns on the game’s final play.

Friday, the teams clashed again, both entering the fray ranked in the top six of the state with 2-0 records. The game was originally scheduled to be at Notre Dame-Green Pond’s home field but was moved to Lafayette College due to construction on the NDGP campus.

Like those two contests last year, Friday’s game went back and forth.

Notre Dame-Green Pond scored first on a 2-yard run by Jonathan Striba in the first quarter. Mark Perone’s conversion kick made it 7-0.

The Spartans answered with a 2-yard run by Cadyn McGraw in the second quarter but couldn’t convert the two-point conversion. North Schuylkill hasn’t attempted a conversion kick all season, going 11-for-15 on two-point tries through its first two games.

The Crusaders led 7-6 at intermission.

In the second quarter, the teams traded scores. Aaron Gordon hauled in an 18-yard pass from Matt Bodnar, while Caden Mengel reached the end zone on an 11-yard run. This time North Schuylkill was successful going for two as Mengel completed a pass to Luke Miller to tie the score 14-14.

Notre Dame-Green Pond regained the lead in the fourth quarter on a 26-yard pass from Bodnar to Drew Boyd. Clemente Cintron’s kick made it 21-14.

Trailing by a touchdown with 9:45 remaining, North Schuylkill put together an impressive 20-play, 80-yard drive in the fourth-quarter drive. Mengel ran for 21 yards on the march, which featured several key third- and fourth-down conversions.

With 58 seconds left, Mengel hit Miller on a 26-yard TD pass. Miller, who rushed for 113 yards, lined up in the backfield and managed to slip through the Notre Dame defense uncovered for the score.

The Spartans went for two points and the win. McGraw plunged into the line but was ruled down short of the end zone. North Schuylkill tried an onside kick but Notre Dame recovered and ran out the clock.

Game Summary

Notre Dame-Green Pond 21, North Schuylkill 20

At Lafayette College

NS (2-1, 1-1)               0          6          8          6  —    20

NDGP (3-0, 2-0)        7          0          7          7  —    21

NDGP — Striba 2 run (Perone kick)

NS — McGraw 2 run (2-point conversion failed)

NDGP — Gordon 18 pass from Bodnar (Perone kick)

NS — Mengel 11 run (Miller pass from Mengel)

NDGP — Boyd 26 pass from Bodnar (Cintron kick)

NS — Miller 26 pass from Mengel (run failed)

Team Statistics

                                          NS             NDGP

First Downs                      14              11

Rushes-Yards                    57-224       11-22

Passes                                6-13-0       15-26-0

Passing Yards                   81              229

Total Yards                       305            251

Fumbles/Lost                    0-0             1-1

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: North Schuylkill — Miller 24-113, Ortiz 16-43, Mengel 13-63, McGraw 2-5.

PASSING: North Schuylkill —- Mengel 6-13-0, 81. Notre Dame-Green Pond —- Bodnar 15-26-0, 229.

RECEIVING: North Schuylkill — Nelson 2-29, Miller 1-26, Smith 1-14, McNally 1-12, Ortiz 1-1. Notre Dame-Green Pond — Diaz 3-95, Boyd 3-53, Gordon 4-48, Striba 4-35, Clark 1-(-2).

INTERCEPTIONS: None.