HS Football: Throw out the records when Eagles, Tide meet for Clash of 61 Trophy

Pottsville's football team huddles with coach Mike Brennan during a timeout against Lehighton (Photo by Eli Doyle).

The players know. The coaches know. The schools know. The communities know.

Depending upon your point of view, it’s Blue Mountain Week. Or … it’s Pottsville Week.

And that means everything, to both the Eagles and the Crimson Tide.

The two largest schools in Schuylkill County will renew their rivalry this evening when Blue Mountain travels to Veterans Memorial Stadium to take on Pottsville in a Schuylkill-Colonial Red Division contest for the Clash of 61 Trophy. It’s also Pottsville’s Homecoming; the alumni band and cheerleaders will return; and the Tide’s state runner-up team of 2005 will be honored for the 20th anniversary of that historic season.

(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.)

Just eight miles and one stretch of road separate the Pottsville and Blue Mountain school districts. Family and friends have ties in both areas, and these players have competed on every field and court you can think of.

The series history dates back to 1960. Aside from a hiatus from 1996-99, the teams have played every season. Pottsville leads the overall series 46-15. Since the Clash of 61 series began in 2012, Pottsville holds a 7-6 edge.

They’ve met.

“It means a lot to both communities,” Blue Mountain coach Chuck Kutz said. “The aura of the game … I was fortunate to be involved in this game as a player and a coach. It has a lot of history. It’s meaningful. There’s the (connections) of families from Pottsville and Blue Mountain. Players know each other in many ways.”

Pottsville coach Mike Brennan noticed his team had an extra focus and spring in their step, from weight training to conditioning drills, as they began preparations for tonight’s game.

“Everything we did was heightened, no doubt about it,” Brennan said. “It’s meant a lot for a number of years. I’ve had experience on both sides. … It means a lot to both programs. It’s always a competitive contest no matter what sport it is.”

That’s one thing that Kutz is paying attention to this week. On paper, Blue Mountain (4-4, 3-3 Red) has the superior football team, especially with the serious injuries that have depleted Pottsville (3-5, 2-4 Red). Games, however, aren’t played on paper.  They’re played with emotion, drive and a burning hunger to make your season by beating your rival.

“It does not matter what your record is,” Kutz said. “Pottsville will be prepared. It’s always that emotional atmosphere. They will be hyped to play their best football, and we have to be in that same mindset and execute.”

This is a big game for both teams as they try to build some momentum and improve their seeding for the District 11 Class 4A playoffs.

“It’s an important time for our program,” Brennan said. “We’re trying to take that next step. We’re fighting through the adversity that we’ve had, and they’re the next obstacle.”

That obstacle has size and speed and a variety of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Sophomore quarterback Cohen Kirby runs the Blue Mountain offense. He has completed 69-of-123 passes for 1,028 yards with 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

The Eagles use a stable of running backs, including junior Carter Smith (70-621, 5 TDs), sophomore Brody Foose (73-524, 5 TDs) and senior Reese Miller (18-149, 7 TDs). Out wide, junior Chase Guers (21-334, 5 TDs) and senior Josh Hoover (13-268, 4 TDs) have big-play potential catching passes and returning kicks. Miller sparks the defense with 68 tackles and three sacks.

“Everybody’s bigger than us, and they’re no exception,” Brennan said. “They have a really good combination of inside physicality and size and outside speed.”

With the injury to senior running back JuJu Bainbridge, Pottsville has turned to battering ram Max Clews as its main ball carrier. The junior 215-pounder has rushed 44 times for 275 yards after starting the season as an H-back/tight end. Clews gained 113 yards on the ground on just 11 carries in last week’s 35-0 victory over Wilson Area. Clews also has caught 21 passes for 197 yards and three TDs this season.

Junior quarterback Andrew Allen returned to the lineup after being injured in the Northwestern Lehigh game. Allen has completed 81-of-147 passes for 912 yards with nine TDs and just two interceptions. Senior Christian Alvarez (16-173, 2 TDs), junior Nick Huda (18-193, 1 TD) and junior Shay Strencosky (2-75 last week) are Allen’s main targets.

That will be the challenge for Kutz’s players, who will walk into Veterans Memorial Stadium past the monuments that honor the sacrifice of so many for America’s freedom.

“For me, there’s a lot. I wasn’t fortunate to win as a player but as a coach I was,” Kutz said. “And 9-11, we were the first game after 9-11. When I go to Veterans Memorial Stadium, that emotion always shows up for me. Both communities came together after that. … You certainly want to play your best football when you go there.”