MINERSVILLE - Tamaqua's splendid senior running back, Bud Moyer wasn't about to let host Minersville crash his birthday party Friday evening in an Anthracite Football League matchup.

The Blue Raiders weren't going to give the Miners an invite to the party, either. So when Tamaqua reeled off a four-touchdown first half, Moyer was finishing blowing out the candles en route to an impressive 35-0 whitewashing.For Moyer it was perhaps one of his more memorable games, scoring three touchdowns and piling up 163 yards rushing on 12 carries, with only one of those touches coming in the second half."We were coming of a real big win and we wanted to make sure that we carried it over tonight," Moyer allowed. "The offensive line was so good, at times I just needed to get inside and run."Indeed Moyer was running - to daylight! Three touchdowns to start; his first a 22-yard run, then came a blistering 72-yard spurt and a short 2-yard dive to open the second quarter on the way to a 21-0 lead."That run was great, because it really fired us up," Moyer said when asked about the 72-yard jaunt. "There was a great block on the edge and I broke a couple of tackles… the line got me a big hole most of the night. (Tackles) Jake Marcolla and Tyler Andrews they were phenomenal tonight, they really were."As much as the offense poured out a terrific rushing attack, the Raiders defense kept swarming to the ball, and pressuring quarterback Jonathan McBreen who was pressed into service when starter Kei'dre Taylor was out of action."We knew they had some athletes and unfortunately their quarterback was out," Sam Bonner. ""We've been in some games where we made mistakes and it costs us. Tonight we didn't make those mistakes."What turned the defense on came from defensive ends Eddie Titus, Kyle Oliphant and linebacker Matty Weaver. "We forced a lot of plays (inside) and Matty had a heck of a game; he missed a few tackles, and he's going to kick himself, he's so competitive."Moyer jump-started his night on the first offensive series, which produced the first scoring of the night. He had six touches in the nine plays, before ripping off a 22-yard score. On the next offensive series, Moyer lit it up with a 72-yard run on the first play from scrimmage following a Minersville 50-yard punt from McBreen.With 6:37 to play before the half, Moyer was hitting the end zone for a third time after an 11-play drive that started on his own 25. Five times the 190-pound back carried the ball before banging into the end zone from two yards out.On the ensuing Minersville series, Tamaqua's defense broke Minersville's back. Junior defensive back Daylon Barron picked off a pass then proceeded to bob-and-weave his way for a 70-yard touchdown run for a 21-0 lead right before the respite."That play was big because they seemed to be getting some confidence on offense," Bonner suggested. "We go in (at the half) up four scores and that's a big difference."Leading 28-0, Tamaqua finished off the nights scoring on its first offensive thrust to start the second half. Churning out an eight-play methodical drive, senior Dylan Dannenfelser zoomed 25 yards on an inside counter and Devlin's side-wind kick kicked in the running clock.END-TO-TACKLE … No doubt the Tamaqua interior line was dominating. From Matt Belzner, to Tanner Hamm, to Andrews and Marcolla, they, without a doubt, were the difference makers.PLAYMAKERS … Surely Moyer was the night's big play maker, but don't exclude rising frosh running back Nick Briner (8-39) and Barron (3-27). Barron and Mader both with interceptions for the Raiders.MAKING POSSESSIONS COUNT … Tamaqua had 21 offensive plays in the first half, three possessions and three touchdowns. That's making every possession count!