ASHLAND - Northern Lehigh’s offensive lightning was impressive.

But it couldn’t match North Schuylkill’s thunder and lightning.

Even though the Bulldogs’ big-play attack lit up the scoreboard, it wasn’t enough to take down the Spartans.

In a wild shootout on Friday night, North Schuylkill piled up nearly 700 yards in total offense and outlasted Northern Lehigh, 56-42.

“I told our coaches coming into the game that I thought we needed to score at least 35 points to beat them,” said Northern Lehigh coach Joe Tout. “But even though we ended up surpassing that it wasn’t enough.

“They are so talented and have so many weapons on offense, we just couldn’t get enough stops to take advantage of what we were doing offensively.”

What the Bulldogs were doing was throwing their entire playbook at the Spartans.

It started on the game’s first offensive play when Northern Lehigh used a double pass that featured wide receiver Nick Frame hitting Trevor Amorim with a 74-yard TD pass. During the course of the game, the Bulldogs also attempted two halfback option passes, several reverses and an end around that Amorim took for a 60-yard touchdown.

For the game, the Bulldogs had eight plays of 25 or more yards and three touchdowns that covered at least 60 yards. But all those lightning bolts couldn’t produce a win.

“That’s a very talented team,” North Schuylkill coach Wally Hall said about the Bulldogs. “We knew they were capable of scoring from anywhere on the field and they showed that tonight.

“They execute their offense very well and are extremely explosive.”

But at the end of the day, North Schuylkill was able to match the Bulldogs’ lightning and add it own version of thunder to remain unbeaten on the season.

North Schuylkill’s lightning came from wide receiver Joey Flail (six catches, 153 yards, three TDs) and running back Josh Chowansky (30 carries, 240 yards), who combined for 10 plays that produced double digit yardage.

But it was 6-0, 318-pound nose tackle/fullback Robbie Weist who turned a lot of the Spartans’ big plays into touchdowns. Weist was pure thunder as he rambled for 82 yards on 15 carries and scored four touchdowns.

“We were aware of the power set they use with Weist in the backfield,” said Tout. “But he’s a big guy and can be difficult to bring down.

“Part of the reason that package is effective for them is because they have so many other weapons on the field. Plus, they are just as dangerous or even more dangerous when they are in their spread package. So it’s almost like pick your poison.”

Weist had three of his touchdowns in the first half as the Spartans scored on their first five possessions. But the Bulldogs stayed with them as Amorim caught TD passes of 74 and 72 yards and ran 60 yards for a score - all in the opening half ­- and No. Lehigh trailed just 35-28 at the break.

“There are lots of positives we can take away from this,” said Tout. “North Schuylkill is the No. 1 ranked team the state (in Class 3A) for a reason.

“But I’m proud of how our kids kept coming at them and kept fighting back. They got up a couple of scores a number of times during the game, but kept answering. We showed a lot of resiliency.”

The last time the Bulldogs were within a score was when Brett Misera went up over a couple of Spartan defenders to pull in an eight-yard TD pass late in the third quarter that made it 42-35.

But North Schuylkill (6-0) got Weist’s fourth TD of the game on the opening play of the final quarter and the Bulldogs (3-3) never got any closer.

“We’ve played a meat grinder of a schedule so far,” said Tout about the fact that Northern Lehigh’s three losses (Northwestern, Notre Dame and North Schuylkill) have come against teams that currently have a combined record of 16-0. “That can only benefit us down the line once the postseason begins.

“I don’t think another Class 2A team has face the kind of schedule we have.”

BIG NUMBERS ... Northern Lehigh’s Amorim (182) and Misera (112) both had over 100 yards receiving, while quarterback Dylan Smoyer threw for 255 yards.

BREAKNECK PACE ... North Schuylkill ran a no-huddle, hurry up offense the entire game. Tout said the Bulldogs prepared for the pace all week in practice, but noted that it’s hard for a scout team to replicate the speed and precision with which the Spartans run their offense.

OFFENSIVE PRECISION ... The Bulldogs and Spartans combined to run 130 plays from scrimmage without a fumble or interception by either team.