If Lehighton quarterback Chris Whiteman needs a big play, he turns to Zach Crum.

And for good reason.

The Tribes’ two playmakers came up clutch in many situations during a 20-13 Schuylkill League Football Division 1 victory against Blue Mountain on Friday.

“Blue Mountain did a bunch of different things to try to take him (Crum) out of the game,” said Lehighton head coach Tom McCaroll. “Credit to them, that’s what they should do, but also credit to our guys. As much as they tried to take him out of the game, he (Crum) made some big plays when we needed it. Hats off to our kids all the way across the board.”

Crum had six catches for 77 yards during the big win for the reigning league champs. In fact, four of his catches came on critical third downs, two of which were third-and-13 or longer. Crum’s biggest reception was his fifth of the night, on a fourth-and-4 on the Blue Mountain 6-yard line when Whiteman hit him on a beautiful play in the back of the end zone. The timely connection gave Lehighton a 14-13 advantage in the fourth quarter.

“That was a designed play, it was supposed to be for him,” said Whiteman. “I have to credit my line too, they did a fantastic job. Zach ran an awesome route, and we have that good chemistry. I knew when he was going to turn and I threw it.”

Blue Mountain picked up nearly 30 percent of its total offense on the first drive of the game. The Eagles capped off a 16-play, seven-minute drive on Hunter Luckenbill’s 3-yard tally for an early lead.

But the Indians (4-2) answered the call in the second quarter with an 11-play drive of their own. JJ McDowell was an instrumental part of the sequence, and he punched in a 4-yard score at the 4:06 mark of the frame. He finished with a career-high 112 yards on the ground.

“We’ve seen him get better every single week,” McCarroll said. “He’s worked so hard in the offseason and every single week. He has a great attitude and you knew a game like this was just waiting for him.”

McCarroll noted that this was the best performance by his line on both sides of the ball this season.

“Our o-line, for the first time this year, controlled the line of scrimmage,” McCarroll said. “We were waiting for that. We knew they had that capability.”

The Tribe made some gigantic plays in the second half. Trailing 13-7 early in the third frame, Crum came around the end to block a Blue Mountain field goal attempt and the Indians gained some serious momentum.

“I just saw the lineman put his hand down, saw the ball go, and just busted in there to get the block,” Crum said. “I felt the energy right when we came out and broke through that banner before the game. I knew we were hyped up to get a W.”

Crum capped off the ensuing 16-play drive with the previously mentioned 6-yard pass from Whiteman to take the lead.

On the very next Blue Mountain drive, the Eagles fumbled and the Tribe scooped it up around midfield. Whiteman scored on a 5-yard scamper.

The Eagles had one more chance to even things up with 2:19 left to play, but the Indians’ defense came up big again. On third-and-long, Ben Schatz batted down a pass at the line. On fourth down, Luckenbill’s pass sailed incomplete. The Indians then ran out the clock.

“This is one of the most satisfying wins because of the way we won,” said McCarroll. “We were up against a very physical team, but I think we answered every punch they threw at us, and that’s what I’m most proud of.”

MORE ON SCHATZ … “Ben Schatz is on the verge of being a really great player,” McCarroll said. “He can block on the edge, he wraps up inside for us, and he catches the ball. He does a lot of great things for us, and made some big plays on defense for us.”

WAY BACK … “We’ve been playing football since booster club and he’s been my quarterback forever,” said Crum. “Whenever I run a route, he (Whiteman) knows when I’m breaking or cutting. He just throws it in my hands.”

HOMECOMING … Jacob Hauser was named Lehighton’s homecoming king and Isabella Baka was voted the queen.