Tamaqua will travel to Northern Lehigh this week in a battle of two area teams.

Tamaqua at No. Lehigh

When: Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Storyline of the Week

: Northern Lehigh, Tamaqua both coming off big wins.

Northern Lehigh delivered a statement last week with a big 40-33 win over Notre Dame Green Pond to move to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Red Division of the Colonial-Schuylkill League. North Schuylkill, which owns a win over the Bulldogs, and NDGP are both 4-1 in the division, while Palmerton also sits at 3-1. “That was big. That was,” said Northern Lehigh head coach Joe Tout. “We were kind of blessed this year to kind of have the Northwestern (a 34-27 win) and Notre Dame (games), both of them were similar in that it came right down to the end. I think as far as being a big one, it’s one of the bigger ones we’ve had as a regular season win, just because of that. Just because now you’re playing up (in Class 3A) and Northwestern and Notre Dame, they’ve been top of our league the last couple of years, top of the district the last couple of years. Both of those games were just big ones. I thought we got over that hump from last year. I think North Schuylkill last year (a 56-42 loss in Week 6) was kind of our turning point.” After losing to the Spartans, the Bulldogs went on a winning streak that lasted until the state semifinals. “I think our kids got a ton of confidence, and then we came in this year and we won that Northwestern game, and we had just found ways to lose to them the last couple of years. And then last year, in a similar manner, I think we may have been up two scores against Notre Dame at halftime and found a way to lose that one. I just think, hopefully we’re kind of over that hump with the elite teams in the Colonial League. We’re just hoping that carries on.” The Bulldogs put together a 10-play, 63-yard drive that started with 4:22 on the clock, ended with 0:18 left in the game, and Alexander Jimenez-Wittong in the end zone for the third time in the game to snap a tie game before Chase Moffitt buried the extra point to make it 40-33 last week. Northern Lehigh rushed 67 times for 344 yards, with Nick Frame, the Times News Player of the Week, carrying 24 times for 204 yards, while Jimenez-Wittong finished with 70 yards on 18 carries. Tamaqua is coming off a 19-7 win over Pine Grove, which moved the Raiders to 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the Red Division. Damon Sell returned the second-half kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, added a 45-yard kickoff return to set up Tamaqua’s next TD, and capped off his big night with an interception midway through the final quarter to help seal the victory. “It’s nice to have a good bounce-back week,” Tamaqua head coach Sam Bonner said of the win. “I thought we played well at times, I thought we were a little inconsistent, which is something we need to get better at over these next couple of weeks with the way we move the ball. Defensively, I was really happy with the way we played. I thought Pine Grove has a pretty good quarterback and some pretty good skill kids. To give up just one score, I thought that was definitely a plus. I think our defense is starting to get a little bit more comfortable with what we’re running. Offensively, I wish we were a little bit more consistent, but I think Damon Sell had a nice kickoff return, and he’s someone we’re trying to get a little bit more involved on the offensive side of the ball. This week he’s going to start seeing more touches, and we have to get him a little bit more involved. Coming off a loss (to Jim Thorpe) and getting a win at home is big. We definitely want to build off the positives from it, but obviously we have a huge test in front of us with a very, very good Northern Lehigh team.”

Players to Watch:

Isaac Curvey, Tamaqua

Curvey paved the way for the Tamaqua offense with four pancake blocks against Pine Grove, while also adding 19 rushing yards and two tackles.

Bradley Whalen, Tamaqua

The sophomore had eight total tackles - including a sack - last week against the Cardinals.

Grady Newhard, Northern Lehigh

The freshman tied for the team lead with five total tackles, and also had a big kickoff return to set up a fourth-quarter touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 33-27 lead. Tout is looking for Newhard, as well as sophomore Ayden Oswald - who recovered an onside kick last week - to be keys for the offense against Tamaqua.

Landon Moll, Northern Lehigh

Moll tied for the team lead with five total tackles, and also added a sack in last week’s win over the Crusaders.

Palmerton at No. Schuylkill

When: Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Storyline of the Week

: Can the Bombers overcome their road struggles, and put enough points on the board against a tough North Schuylkill defense?

Palmerton (5-2) will take the long trek to Fountain Springs this week to take on North Schuylkill (5-2) in a matchup that will have a significant impact on the Schuylkill/Colonial Red Division and District 11 3A standings. Both teams sit at 5-2, with the winner almost guaranteeing itself a top three spot in the 3A playoffs. Fountain Springs may sound like a resort or spa, but it is notoriously known as one of the toughest places to win for visitors. The road has also been unkind to the Bombers this season, with both of their losses coming away from home at Palisades and at Notre Dame Green Pond. Palmerton’s defense struggled in both of those losses, giving up 47 and 55 points. Which defense can force turnovers and keep the other’s explosive offense in check? That will be one of the vital keys in this one, and the favorite to do that has to be the Spartans. The North Schuylkill defense has three shutouts on the season, including blanking a very good Northern Lehigh team a few weeks ago. But forcing turnovers has been a strength of the Bombers defense. Palmerton has forced 10 turnovers, and the Spartans have struggled with turning the ball over as of late. North Schuylkill had four turnovers in a 36-24 loss to Notre Dame two weeks ago, and turned the ball over twice last week against Jim Thorpe. The Spartans are currently the No. 2 seed in 3A, and the Bombers are slotted in at the No. 4 spot. “We have to be able to put points on the board, and we have to be able to go shot for shot with them,” said Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak. “Limiting our mistakes as well will be a huge key, whether that’s protecting the football or limiting their big plays. We just have to do what we do and what works for us, which is to play complementary football. That has been when we’ve been at our best all season long.”

Players to Watch:

Daniel Lucykanish, Palmerton

Lucykanish is one of the many Bombers who have showcased their versatility this season. He is dangerous in the running and passing game, having rushed for 271 yards and three scores, and has caught 25 balls for 496 yards and eight touchdowns.

Joey Flail, North Schuylkill

Flail is one of the most dynamic offensive players in all of District 11 with the ball in his hands. Flail had two big touchdowns last week, a 37-yard reception, and a 68-yard rush to help the Spartans defeat Jim Thorpe 31-14.

Freedom at Pleasant Valley

When: Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Storyline of the Week

: Another tough week for the Bears with Freedom up next at home.

Pleasant Valley began the season 5-0 before facing powerhouses in Parkland and undefeated Northampton. The Trojans took care of the Bears 38-7 to hand PV its first loss of the season. Northampton kept the undefeated season alive with a 46-7 victory over Pleasant Valley. “It did not go as we anticipated or as we had hoped, but looking back, very good Lehigh Valley team, much bigger and stronger than us and every available resource you can ask for they have,” Pleasant Valley head coach Blaec Saeger said about the Northampton game. “I still expected a little more. I thought we’d be a little more prepared to play, and that falls on me to make sure that we are. I failed, and we failed, and there’s no point on dwelling on it. Moving forward, learning from our experiences, we’ll get together and learn from them and continue to work and have another extremely difficult one next week, but I think we’ll give them a fight and do everything we can.” The next test for the Bears will be a home game against Freedom (5-2). The Patriots prevailed 33-14 over Whitehall in Week 7. “Mirror image, it’s the same school three weeks in a row as far as I’m concerned,” Saeger said about Freedom. “They have everything you want in a program. Coach (Jason) Roeder does an amazing job. They’ve been one of the best schools down there in competing for a 6A district title year in and year out, and this year’s no different. It’s going to be a monumental task. We can only relish it, and we like playing these Lehigh Valley teams because we can kind of measure where we’re at. We’re 0-2, and hopefully we’ll have a better shot at them this week.” Pleasant Valley ends the regular season with games against Eastern Pennsylvania Conference rivals Pocono Mountain West and Stroudsburg.

Players to Watch:

Valentino Byers-Robinson, Pleasant Valley

Byers-Robinson has been responsible for Pleasant Valley’s last two touchdowns in games against Parkland and Northampton. The junior is 5-2 as the PV starting quarterback, taking over for a graduated Robert Papaleo, and looking for another trip to districts this year. Byers-Robinson will have to find a way to get past the Freedom defense Friday night to produce more points for the Pleasant Valley offense

Jalen Fletcher, Freedom

Fletcher had a monster game against Whitehall in Week 7 with 267 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The senior also had 958 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns through seven games, and can eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark Friday night against Pleasant Valley.

Ethan Neidig, Freedom

The senior quarterback is good on the ground for the Patriots, rushing for 437 yards and seven touchdowns so far this year. The senior can also throw the ball, and has four passing touchdowns to go along with four interceptions. The Bears secondary will have to keep an eye on Neidig’s targets throughout the contest.

Bangor at Northwestern

When: Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Storyline of the Week

: Can the Tigers get off to another fast start against the Slaters?

The Tigers fell into the category of a slow-starting team in their first few games this season, but in recent weeks, they have reversed the trend and have come out firing to put early points on the board. Against Bangor in 2021, Northwestern jumped out to a big early lead and went on to down the Slaters 53-24. The game plan remains much the same this time around when the Tigers host Bangor Friday night for their first home game in four weeks. “They’re a pretty good team,” said Northwestern head coach Josh Snyder about this week’s opponent. “Their only losses were to Pottsville and Southern Lehigh, two pretty good teams. Getting off to a quick start will be important for us, and we have to keep building on that throughout the game like we did last season.” Part of the reason for Northwestern’s fast starts in games has been running back Dalton Clymer, who has really begun to open up his game over the past few games. Clymer exited last week’s contest against Pottsville with an injury and did not play in the second half, but Snyder hopes to have him in the lineup to battle the Slaters. Bangor’s offense really is a lot like the one that Northwestern puts on the field week after week. They like to run the ball and mix in some passes for big plays when the occasion arises, and will put an occasional gadget play out there. What separates the two offenses is that the Slaters don’t have quite the big-play capability that the Tigers possess with quarterback Cade Christopher and running back Dalton Clymer, to go along with a developing group of young receivers.

Players to Watch:

Eric Striba, Bangor

The senior quarterback has thrown for over 600 yards this season and helped the Bangor offense with his legs by rushing for 99 yards per game. Striba also holds down the middle linebacker position for Bangor, and can disrupt an opponent’s offense. “He is as tough as they come,” said Snyder about Striba. “He always seems to be running downhill, and he can also throw the ball. Actually, he’s the type of kid who would fit in well with our offense because he has the same abilities that we look for in our quarterbacks.”

Ben Walters, Northwestern

Walters had five tackles and three assisted tackles last week for Northwestern, including a big play on a tackle for an 11-yard loss. On the season, the junior lineman has 20 tackles as part of the suffocating Tigers defense. With Bangor having Striba and fellow senior Ashton Kluska (61.7 yards per game) coming out of the backfield, the line will need to have another big week. On the offensive line, Walters will have slightly smaller but more athletic linemen to deal with this week than he did last week against Pottsville.

Mason Bollinger, Northwestern

Northwestern had Seth Kern as its punter coming into the season, but an early injury has kept him out of the lineup, and he has not been able to return. Dalton Clymer took over the punting duties but when he was banged up last week, Bollinger stepped in to handle the punting chores and had two punts for 65 yards. With Clymer’s status unknown and Northwestern putting a big emphasis on special teams, Bollinger could play an important part. Bollinger also backs up Christopher, who went out with an injury two weeks ago. Bollinger’s normal spot is at wide receiver, where he has pulled in four catches for 93 yards.

Jim Thorpe at Notre Dame GP

When: Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Storyline of the Week

: Can Thorpe’s Red Swarm defense hold down the high-scoring Crusaders?

At 5-2, the fewest amount of points scored by the Crusaders so far this season has been four touchdowns in a losing effort to Southern Lehigh. Coach Mark Rosenberger’s Red, White, and Blue went toe to toe against North Schuylkill last week and trailed by just three points in the fourth quarter until two late scores iced the game for the Spartans. JT’s offense was led by senior wideout Daviid Fiorito, who continued his excellent season. He’s scored nine total touchdowns, rushing and receiving, and is averaging 15 yards per catch and 11 yards per carry on the ground. Thorpe defeated Notre Dame in the district playoffs last season, and Rosenberger hopes that success can carry some momentum into tomorrow night’s game. The game plan will be similar. “We want to run the ball and control the clock,” said Rosenberger. “Keeping their offense off the field will be key.” Look for the Olympians to give the ball to Fiorito and Sal Capria, the junior back who has run for 677 yards and seven scores this season. In the air, Brett Balliet will target Fiorito and tight end Bryson Heydt as his go-to receivers. The Crusaders are led by all-purpose quarterback Danny Darno, who threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns last week against Northern Lehigh. On the ground, he added another 107 yards and two more TDs. “He’s very good,” said Rosenberger. “He can run and when he throws, he spreads the ball around to several different receivers. We’ll have to be disciplined and play assignment football on defense.” The Red Swarm has recently been very effective at getting after opponents’ quarterbacks. “Our pass rush has been a big part of our success, and this week we’ll have to be able to contain their quarterback and not allow him to break out from the line of scrimmage.”

Players to Watch:

Bryson Heydt, Jim Thorpe

The 6-5 senior tight end caught three passes for 46 yards last week and has taken an increasing role in recent weeks for JT’s offensive attack.

Paul Rutledge, Jim Thorpe

The senior two-way player has been consistent all season long, according to Rosenberger. “He has a high football IQ, and as a lineman he makes no splash with his play, but you can see how effective he is when we review game videos.”

Pass catchers, NDGP

Five receivers caught the ball from Darno in the Northern Lehigh game. If he has a go-to deep threat, it might be AJ Lozano, who caught two long throws for 89 yards and two TDs against the Bulldogs.

Lehighton at So. Lehigh

When: Friday Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Storyline of the Week

: The Tribe need to find ways to score more points.

After scoring three or more touchdowns in their first three games this season, the Maroon and White have put up 40 total points in their last four outings for an average of 10 points per game. “It seems like it’s something different each week why we are not more effective moving the ball,” said coach Tom McCarroll. “We’ve had moments when we get in the red zone, but the drive stalls or we drop a touchdown pass.” Missing All Star receiver Ian Rarick due to injury last week was another reason for their lack of offense. The offensive line, said McCarroll, has struggled of late, and yet because of solid defensive play, the Indians trailed by only two scores last week against a very good Bangor team. “We certainly have to shore things up,” he added. This week, the Tribe visits Southern Lehigh, a team McCarroll says is “the best team on our schedule without any noticeable weaknesses.” The Spartans are 6-1, and are multidimensional with a proficient rushing and passing attack. “Their quarterback is as good carrying the ball as he is at slinging it,” he said. “We will need to sustain drives and move the chains like we did against Northwestern when the score was tied 14-14 at the half.” For the Tribe to have a chance to win, they will have to control the line of scrimmage and execute on both sides of the ball.

Players to Watch:

Dylan Moyer, Lehighton

The junior running back/linebacker has really stepped up his game of late, according to McCarroll. “He can run and catch. He’s a very unselfish player who leaves it all on the field.”

Deven Armbruster, Lehighton

The sophomore is “coming into his own” and brings toughness to his game. “He plays physical, and is not afraid to stick his nose in there,” said McCarroll.

Avery Koser, Southern Lehigh

The 6-2 senior QB has commanded the Spartan offense that is scoring nearly six touchdowns per game, and will be the focal point of the Tribe’s defense tomorrow night.

Catasauqua at Panther Vy.

When: Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Storyline of the Week

: The Panthers will have to solidify the defensive side of the ball against the Rough Riders.

In last week’s loss to Schuylkill Haven, PV coach Mark Lavine was not happy with the effort and performance of his defense, and he didn’t hold back in letting everyone know. “It was very disheartening,” he said. “We were out of position too often, and we didn’t tackle well.” Lavine especially made reference to a series near the end of the first half when the Panthers had the ball with a first-and-goal at the six-yard line and gave up the ball after a missed field goal. Then with five seconds to go before the half, Haven broke off an 85-yard touchdown run, and instead of being tied, the Panthers trailed 21-14 at the intermission. “That turn of events took the wind out of our sails,” said Lavine. “We knew what was coming with their Wing-T offense, but we were too passive and missed tackles.” The Black and Gold did put up 27 points in the game, as quarterback Michael Pascoe threw for 113 yards and could break the 1,000-yard rushing milestone this week. He has nearly 1,500 yards running and throwing combined, with three games still left in the regular season. This week, the Panthers host Catasauqua, which comes in at 4-3 and having won four straight. “They will show us a spread formation, but will run power football with very good backs who also have good speed,” said Lavine. The coach is spending this week at practice stressing the importance of fundamental tackling and defensive pursuit in preparation for Catty, which has outscored opponents 126-32 during its winning streak.

Players to Watch:

Jeremy Phelps, Panther Valley

The sophomore transfer two-way lineman continues to improve on both sides of the ball. “He’s really bought into our program and what we want to do here,” said Lavine.

Riley Hoben, Panther Valley

The senior offensive tackle also plays defensive end. “He’s been our game captain,” said Lavine, who praises his player’s leadership and coachability in the weight room both and on and off the field.

Anthonie Hunsicker, Catasauqua

The 203-pound senior running back ran for 132 yards on 14 carries last week against Minersville.