Preparation has always been key for Palmerton’s Matt Machalik.

Machalik’s commitment is contagious, and one that is matched by a dedicated group of teammates determined to turn this fall into one the Blue Bombers won’t soon forget.

They’re certainly off to a good start.

Machalik ran for 209 yards and five touchdowns, threw for 184 yards and a score, and returned an interception for a TD against Lehighton last week in a 54-30 victory.

It was a performance that earned Machalik Times News Football Player of the Week honors, and highlighted the work the squad put in well before kickoff on Friday night.

“During the offseason, we just work on things like routes and stuff like that. Lifting, just getting prepared for the season,” said Machalik. “We lost a bunch of guys like Daniel Lucykanish, Kendall Robinson, Dalton Drake. And other guys had to step up and fill in for those really key roles, and I think they did a good job coming out in Week 1 and it showed. That’s just all the offseason work that we had, and guys like Ty Sander, Bryce Marino (who hauled in a 36-yard TD pass), Emilio Gonzalez, Alex Keiper and a number of other guys, they just had a great offseason, and just the chemistry between us; we’ve been playing since eighth grade, and it showed in Week 1.”

Machalik - the reigning Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Football Player of the Year - has flashed game-breaking ability throughout his career.

The senior’s dynamic ability to make plays all over the field was on full display in the season-opening win.

“That’s one thing that I really just focused on and prepared on, the mental aspect of it,” said Machalik. “Just watching more film and things like that. And just always getting better on footwork and stuff like that, which, it’s a little thing, but you always have to improve on that, and that’s just something I’ve been working on and I feel like it’s been paying off, just all the work I put in in the offseason.”

Machalik, who completed 14-of-17 passes Friday night, owned the Bombers’ single season passing yardage and touchdown records as well as the school’s career touchdown passes, rushing yards and touchdowns scored records entering last week’s game.

The Lehigh University commit established a new mark for career passing yards in the first half of the win, and now sits at 4,710 yards passing for his career.

The Bombers came out and executed against Lehighton, with Stephen Jones returning the opening kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown, setting the tone for rest of the night.

“That definitely does speak volumes for Matt and the senior class, that leadership that we have,” said Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak, whose team led 40-14 at halftime. “We have 11, 12 seniors, and they’ve been around. It helps to have that veteran leadership to steer the other guys in the right direction, especially at one point in the game, we had a bunch of people out due to cramping issues, and the younger guys are able to step up and play, so that’s a huge thing.

“We talk about leadership throughout the offseason. You may not be a captain necessarily, but you can be a leader, and leaders make people better around them, and that’s what we’re asking for.”

Just as leadership shows itself in different ways, so too does Machalik’s playmaking ability.

“When he comes off of the field, he recognizes defenses, and what they’re doing, and is able to give feedback to us as coaches,” said Walkowiak. “Which is huge, it’s like having another coach on the field. What sets him apart are just his instincts. His vision and his instincts are off the charts. He just sees things happening down the line, where that next guy is going to be, and it’s like he’s playing the game of chess in his head and he’s moving all those pieces throughout (the game).

“The other thing that makes him really good is that he’s not only got the speed, but he’s got the power. He knows when he’s going to lower his shoulder and run through you, or try running by you. But at the same time, he’s trying to disperse the ball and get everybody else involved. It’s just great to have in the program.”

Machalik can flip the field from his safety position on defense, too.

“The interception that he made, the instincts to read it, and he was up there taking it,” Walkowiak said of the 35-yard pick-six. “It was a game-changer. Total game-changing ability. And one of his other plays, he covered from one hash all the way over to the other hash on the same play, covered 40-some yards and made it look effortless.”

The effort, ability and execution from Machalik and the Bombers resulted in a special performance in Week 1.

And it likely won’t be their last.