FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - Like a blur, North Schuylkill’s football team can bury an opponent.

The Spartans just keep coming and coming - no let up, no breath of fresh air.

And don’t forget about their outstanding defense.

The Spartans defeated Lehighton 54-7 Friday evening at Gosh Orthodontics Field in the first round of the District 11, Class 3A playoffs.

The defending champs host Palmerton in the semifinals Friday evening.

North Schuylkill put a quick seven on the board when tight end Jack Dean and quarterback Trevor Minalda hooked up with a 6-yard touchdown, and sophomore Gavin Mentzer kicked the first of his seven extra points.

It stayed that way until speedy Joey Flail, the all-time school receiving leader, burned the Indians’ secondary with a 61-yard touchdown.

Lehighton got a breath of fresh air when standout Wyatt Sherer picked off a Minalda pass. Trailing 14-0, it was the type of break the Indians needed.

But North Schuylkill forced a fumble and scored four touchdowns to go for a 42-0 lead.

There was Flail speeding to the end zone as Minalda hit him in stride for a 69-yard touchdown.

Dean picked up a fumble and returned it 12 yards.

Next up was Jared Tinari capping off a 55-yard march into the end zone to make it 35-0.

With seconds winding down in the half, Flail turned ball hawk, stole the ball out of the hands of Lehighton’s Ethan Buchert and raced uncontested 12 yards.

“Yeah, we started slow (on offense) but a lot of that has to do with reading our keys to see what will work for us,” North Schuylkill coach Wally Hall said.

North Schuylkill reserve sophomore Kolton Joyce scored on a 3-yard run before Lehighton got the board for the first time.

Lehighton scored when Ian Rarick sped past the North Schuylkill secondary and freshman quarterback Jayce Lawrence lofted a perfect 44-yard touchdown for a touchdown.

North Schuylkill finished the scoring when quarterback Caden Mengel darted into the end zone from 3 yards out.

“They’re a great team, and that’s where we want to be down the road,” Lehighton coach Tom McCarroll said. “We want to be at the top of the mountain, they’re there now.”

DEFENSE AND DEFENSE … That’s the storyline in any sport. Play it tough, and you keep yourself in games. These Spartans do it very well. They’re a physical bunch up front led by Steve Davis and Jaxon Chowansky,

LAST DANCE … The Indians graduate 8 seniors - Rarick, Buchert, Luke Blauch, Christian Salerno, AJ Light, Zane Smith, Dough Endy and Owen Kovach.

GOOD NEWS ... These Indians could rise to the top come 2023. There are 8 starters on offense and 9 defenders back. McCarroll says the offseason is critical.

RUN, RUN, RUN … Talk about sprinters. Flail is one of those exceptional athletes who creates separation once he gets into the second level.

QUOTEABLE … “They’re the measuring stick, we still have a ways to go. I’m so proud of these kids. They fought and they have heart,” McCarroll said.