FOUNTAIN SPRINGS – Hard luck Tamaqua found Dame Fortune unfriendly once again at Spartan Stadium.

After a 5-0 start to the season, the Raiders dropped their fourth straight — all in Schuylkill League Division I play — including Friday night’s 27-14 loss to North Schuylkill.

For the Spartans, things have gotten brighter as they’ve come off the floor and now are 7-2.

Tamaqua started last night’s game the way it started the season, flashing a lot of promise.

The Raiders went out in front 7-0 when quarterback Brayden Knoblauch rifled a 41-yard touchdown pass to Matt Kistler and Mitchell Kurek’s PAT produce the first lead.

“We did a lot of nice things on (offense) in the first half, but then we started to unravel somewhat,” said Tamaqua coach Sam Bonner.

North Schuylkill was able to answer to open the second quarter, using a seven-play drive of 46 yards that quarterback Doug Weist capped with a 9-yard scoring strike to speedy Scotty Grigas. Mitch Lavelle’s kick tied it at 7-7 with 9:17 left in the first half.

But back came the Raiders with a picture perfect 85-yard march using all of eight plays to hit the end zone for the second time. Again Knoblauch was threading the needle completing four passes in the drive. Knoblauch found rangy Casey Rother for a 26-yard strike, then drilled a 48-yard gain to Kistler at the 11. Two plays later, the duo of Knoblauch to Kistler polished off the drive on a 10-yard strike.

But the Spartans got even right before intermission, getting a huge 54-yard pass play from Weist to Grigas.

“That’s happened to us the past couple of weeks,” said Bonner thinking back to a time-expiring touchdown pass against Jim Thorpe.

It wasn’t an end of the game pass this week, but the bomb right before intermission still hurt.

Grigas, who had eight catches for 166 yards caught another long ball from Weist for a 41-yard touchdown pass to close the third quarter. Grigas managed to get free in the middle of the field, running a short 15-yard route, Weist spotted Grigas waving, flung a strike and Grigas turned up field and outraced the Tamaqua secondary.

Tamaqua failed to answer as North Schuylkill defensive back Brandon Rockwell found himself in the right spot off a deflected pass, as made the interception and raced down to the five-yard line. Justyn DeAngelo then punched in the game’s final six points.

“That’s one of those things that just went against us,” said Bonner. “The ball gets thrown a little behind our receiver and they made the big play.”

That’s known as having no luck. Tamaqua needs to find a lucky charm soon.

“We’ve got to keep hanging in there,” said Bonner. “But we’ve got to start making plays on our own, too. We have to find a way to make our own breaks.”

DECIVING STATS

... Tamaqua had the better yardage (362-199) but failed to make plays on defense to curb Grigas.

TOUGH CALLS

... Tamaqua had a pair of pass plays called back when the man in motion cut up the field too quickly.

TOP DOGS

... Nate Boyle continues to shine on defense. The sophomore had a big sack and at least half-dozen solo tackles. Also earning defensive kudos were Pierce Demetriades, Logan Hess, Nate Curvey, Jake Barron, Nick Breiner, Thad Zuber and Knoblauch.

BREAKOUT GAME

... Kistler had a huge night catching the ball. The sophomore had three catches for 102 yards and two scores.

POSTSEASON ... Both Tamaqua and North Schuylkill have already locked up District 11 Class 3A playoff berths.