FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - When a high school football team gains 405 yards in a game, one would expect to see a good number of points scored.

That was the total number Jim Thorpe finished with last night in a 41-6 loss to North Schuylkill.

In the first half, the Olympians put up 199 yards and had no points at the intermission. In fact, after holding North to a three and out, the Olympians drove deep into Spartan territory and threatened to take an early lead, but a lost fumble ended the drive.

Thorpe had both big running and passing plays, but five turnovers kept the Olympians from keeping pace with the high-scoring Spartans.

The two teams combined for 489 yards in total offense in the first half, but the Spartans finished their drives, first on a long scoring possession of 14 plays for 96 yards capped by Joey Flail’s one yard run for a first quarter 7-0 lead.

With three minutes gone by in the second quarter, Ricky Halford scampered 28 yards for another Spartan score. The home team added two more touchdowns in the quarter on short runs by quarterback Caden Mengel for a 28-0 lead at the break.

Jim Thorpe’s offense moved up and down the field, but couldn’t cross the goal line. Olympian quarterback Cole Lazorick ran for 118 yards and passed for another 165, but Jim Thorpe’s only score came on his 55 yard run with 8:18 to play in the third quarter.

“We have to be able to finish drives,” said Jim Thorpe coach Mark Rosenberger. “We did a lot of nice things offensively, but we need to eliminate the turnovers.”

The Spartans ran and passed the ball effectively, racking up 432 yards of offense, many coming after the catch and after a running back seemed to be stopped for a short gain.

“We missed too many tackles,” said Rosenberger. “Right now, we’re not playing physical enough on defense.”

With Lazorick’s TD, the Olympians took a step to get back in the game, trailing at 28-6 going into the final quarter, but the Spartans ended any hope of that. Mengel culminated a 9-play, 91-yard drive for a 35-6 advantage with eight minutes left in the game.

Rosenberger said earlier in the week his team needed to establish a better running game and be more balanced on offense.

Other than Lazorick going over 100 yards, only 22 more yards were gained from other runners. Playing behind, he went to the air and his receivers, Joshua Louk and Justin Yescavage put up big numbers.

AIR BALLS ... Between the two of them, Louk and Yescavage caught 15 balls for 251 yards.

NO MATTER ... North Schuylkill was missing star running back Jax Chowansky, but his replacement, Ricky Halford gained 112 yards on 12 carries with one touchdown.

ANOTHER TOUGH ONE ... The schedule doesn’t get easier for Jim Thorpe. Next week, the Olympians host Notre Dame-Green Pond.