SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - The score was close for the first quarter, but Blue Mountain took a 21-0 lead at halftime and dominated the final two quarters to shut out the Olympians, 35-0, in the opening game of the football season for both teams.

Thorpe had its chances in the first half. Quarterback Cole Lazorick fired a deep pass to Justin Yescavage for a 52-yard gain to the Eagles’ 14 yard line near the end of the first quarter, but a fourth-down pass to a wide open receiver was incomplete.

Whether it was opening game jitters or just sloppy play, the Olympians turned the ball over twice on fumbles and twice on interceptions in the first half.

Following a Blue Mountain punt, Thorpe fumbled a snap from center and on the next play, the Eagles recovered another fumble at the Jim Thorpe 40.

The Red Swarm defense held and with just over seven minutes left in the half, Thorpe’s Sal Capria broke free for 23 yards to the Eagles 32, but the senior running back was injured on the play and did not return.

The injury appeared to take the wind out of the sails for the Olympians.

“With the turnovers and injuries to three starters, we had trouble getting any consistency in our offense,” said Jim Thorpe coach Mark Rosenberger.

The Eagles scored twice in the second quarter.

On a first down from their own 23 yard line, quarterback Tyler Miller hooked up with wide receiver Will Jacobson on a 77 yard pass and run play.

With a minute left before halftime, Tyler Stahley went up in double coverage to pull down a 36 yard touchdown pass from Miller.

The Eagles put the game away after halftime.

They began a six-play drive with a 38 yard burst from Payton Fasnacht.

The senior running back carried the ball every play on the drive slicing and dicing before finishing with a 10-yard touchdown run for a 28-0.

The Olympians didn’t threatened to score in the second half.

The Eagles ended the scoring with a 10-play drive on a one yard plunge from Jacobson.

“Obviously, this is not what we wanted,” Rosenberger said. “Give credit to Blue Mountain. They played hard and physical.”

When asked what his team will concentrate on in practice this coming week, Rosenberger said he will emphasize improving the tempo of their offensive game.

“We need to play faster at the line of scrimmage and we have to perform with much more intensity.”

AUGUST FOOTBALL

... Game time temperatures hovered in the low 80s and just before the opening kickoff swarms of gnats got the fans waving their hands over their heads.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME ... The game was played at Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes’ field with Blue Mountain’s new turf field not quite finished.

UP NEXT

... Jim Thorpe will play the Bangor Slaters next Friday at 7 p.m. in their home opener.