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Spartans run over Blue Raiders
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FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — The North Schuylkill football team couldn’t wait to take some of its misery out on an opponent.
A week ago it left Spartan Stadium disgusted, dejected and defeated. Marian had laced a number up on the Spartans; a week later it was the Spartans doing a number of their own.
Looking like it had fresh legs, new attitude and a will to win, North Schuylkill (4-2) resurfaced, this time atoning for two straight losses to hang a 35-20 number on fellow Anthracite Football League rivals Tamaqua (4-2, 2-2).
“This feels a whole lot better,” said a smiling running back Zach Cress.
No wonder, the kid was nothing short of sensational. He rushed for a season and career high 177 yards, carried the ball 35 times, ducked into the end zone four times, much to the dismay of the Tamaqua defense.
The difference from a week ago?
Energy. That’s the word Rick Geist, the North Schuylkill coach used when asked about the turnaround.
“We had a lot more energy tonight. We looked like a football team. We blocked, but our defense has to get better. I’m disappointed in the points we gave up. We can’t do that.”
Coaches are always looking for perfection. Cress was nearly perfect, thanks to a surge off the line, and a backfield that kept knocking the edge off the Tamaqua defense to allow Cress to churn his small, but quick feet.
“My line and my backs really came to play tonight,” continued Cress. “I really can’t say enough about the way they blocked for me.”
That blocking allowed North Schuylkill to rush for 366 yards, and more importantly controlled the time eating up clock.
“We hardly had the ball all night,” said Tamaqua’s second-year coach Sam Bonner. “I was disappointed in our defensive play, but hey, they blocked us, they kept control of the ball and they kept our offense off the field.”
Tamaqua had five rushing plays, and five passing plays from the line of scrimmage in the first half. And the Blue Raiders were playing catch up it seemed forever.
North Schuylkill built momentum early when it racked up an opening drive that went for 70 yards on 12 plays. Cress cashed it in from 12 yards out, and it was 6-0 at the 5:51 mark.
The next time the Spartans scored came on an eight-play drive, Cress going in from five yards out. His strapping big fullbacks Eddy Pavalko and Jared Whitecavage kept clearing the way for the runner.
Pavalko would tack on 100 yards on the night on 13 carries, had a big 14-yard run in the drive to keep the Tamaqua defense honest.
“We’d sneak him in there every once in awhile,” said Geist of Pavalko. “Teams start to key on (Cress) so you have to run a quick-hitter with the fullback. He’s strong.”
Tamaqua didn’t allow North Schuylkill to get too comfortable. It reeled off a quick drive to cap the end of the first half as time expired. After Caleb Shilko picked off an errant Garrett Kelly pass, that ruined a potential third touchdown drive, the Blue Raiders marched quickly in 1:24 to hit the end zone.
Palsgrove raced 18 yards to start the drive, before cranking up his arm and passing to Shilko on two straight sideline routes good for 15 and 11 yards to the North Schuylkill 33.
After two incompletions, Palsgrove ran for another 18 yards then connected with Shilko on a 15-yard touchdown strike to end the half down 14-7.
North Schuylkill quickly answered to open the second half thanks to a fumble recovery by Tyler Dean at the 19, three plays later Cress zipped 15 yards for the score and Charlie Hutnick booted the first of his three conversions.
As quickly as the Spartans rebounded, so too did the Raiders, on the ensuing kickoff. Wayde Williams raced 85 yards and Lance Williams kicked the PAT making it 21-14.
And Tamaqua kept coming. North Schuylkill punted for its only time in the game, and the Raiders seized the momentum, putting together their best drive going 66 yards on three plays. Grif Griffiths rumbled 30 yards to paydirt to cap the drive, but the tying extra-point failed with 6:08 on the third quarter clock.
Cress then started to ice the cake. Using a 9-play drive that found Pavalko rumbling 18 yards on a nifty counter trap, which set the tables for Cress to bolt the final five yards in this 59-yard march.
Then Kelly added the coup de grace, plunging in from a yard out with 6:31 to play as the Spartans gobbled up 54 yards in the drive.
A week ago it left Spartan Stadium disgusted, dejected and defeated. Marian had laced a number up on the Spartans; a week later it was the Spartans doing a number of their own.
Looking like it had fresh legs, new attitude and a will to win, North Schuylkill (4-2) resurfaced, this time atoning for two straight losses to hang a 35-20 number on fellow Anthracite Football League rivals Tamaqua (4-2, 2-2).
“This feels a whole lot better,” said a smiling running back Zach Cress.
No wonder, the kid was nothing short of sensational. He rushed for a season and career high 177 yards, carried the ball 35 times, ducked into the end zone four times, much to the dismay of the Tamaqua defense.
The difference from a week ago?
Energy. That’s the word Rick Geist, the North Schuylkill coach used when asked about the turnaround.
“We had a lot more energy tonight. We looked like a football team. We blocked, but our defense has to get better. I’m disappointed in the points we gave up. We can’t do that.”
Coaches are always looking for perfection. Cress was nearly perfect, thanks to a surge off the line, and a backfield that kept knocking the edge off the Tamaqua defense to allow Cress to churn his small, but quick feet.
“My line and my backs really came to play tonight,” continued Cress. “I really can’t say enough about the way they blocked for me.”
That blocking allowed North Schuylkill to rush for 366 yards, and more importantly controlled the time eating up clock.
“We hardly had the ball all night,” said Tamaqua’s second-year coach Sam Bonner. “I was disappointed in our defensive play, but hey, they blocked us, they kept control of the ball and they kept our offense off the field.”
Tamaqua had five rushing plays, and five passing plays from the line of scrimmage in the first half. And the Blue Raiders were playing catch up it seemed forever.
North Schuylkill built momentum early when it racked up an opening drive that went for 70 yards on 12 plays. Cress cashed it in from 12 yards out, and it was 6-0 at the 5:51 mark.
The next time the Spartans scored came on an eight-play drive, Cress going in from five yards out. His strapping big fullbacks Eddy Pavalko and Jared Whitecavage kept clearing the way for the runner.
Pavalko would tack on 100 yards on the night on 13 carries, had a big 14-yard run in the drive to keep the Tamaqua defense honest.
“We’d sneak him in there every once in awhile,” said Geist of Pavalko. “Teams start to key on (Cress) so you have to run a quick-hitter with the fullback. He’s strong.”
Tamaqua didn’t allow North Schuylkill to get too comfortable. It reeled off a quick drive to cap the end of the first half as time expired. After Caleb Shilko picked off an errant Garrett Kelly pass, that ruined a potential third touchdown drive, the Blue Raiders marched quickly in 1:24 to hit the end zone.
Palsgrove raced 18 yards to start the drive, before cranking up his arm and passing to Shilko on two straight sideline routes good for 15 and 11 yards to the North Schuylkill 33.
After two incompletions, Palsgrove ran for another 18 yards then connected with Shilko on a 15-yard touchdown strike to end the half down 14-7.
North Schuylkill quickly answered to open the second half thanks to a fumble recovery by Tyler Dean at the 19, three plays later Cress zipped 15 yards for the score and Charlie Hutnick booted the first of his three conversions.
As quickly as the Spartans rebounded, so too did the Raiders, on the ensuing kickoff. Wayde Williams raced 85 yards and Lance Williams kicked the PAT making it 21-14.
And Tamaqua kept coming. North Schuylkill punted for its only time in the game, and the Raiders seized the momentum, putting together their best drive going 66 yards on three plays. Grif Griffiths rumbled 30 yards to paydirt to cap the drive, but the tying extra-point failed with 6:08 on the third quarter clock.
Cress then started to ice the cake. Using a 9-play drive that found Pavalko rumbling 18 yards on a nifty counter trap, which set the tables for Cress to bolt the final five yards in this 59-yard march.
Then Kelly added the coup de grace, plunging in from a yard out with 6:31 to play as the Spartans gobbled up 54 yards in the drive.
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