HELLERTOWN - Anthony Brinkley wanted to send his seniors out with a night to remember.

Saucon Valley’s first-year head coach was also desperate to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Panthers did both in dramatic fashion, holding off Lehighton for a 14-13 victory Friday.

“I’m really proud of the guys. This was senior night, so I’m proud of the fact that they were able to rally together and get a gutsy win,” said Brinkley. “Especially after the last three weeks haven’t been going our way. And our message this whole year has been staying connected and staying together, and it’s kudos to our leadership of our seniors and some of our juniors that have stepped up to take that leadership role and I’m really proud of them to pull out a win like this.”

One of those juniors was clutch as the Indians were driving for the go-ahead score. Jack Robertson came up with an interception in the shadow of his own end zone at the six-yard line with four seconds remaining when he hit the ground to seal the win for Saucon Valley (4-5).

Lehighton (2-7) rallied for 13 points in the fourth quarter.

The run started when the Tribe got a stop on fourth down and took over at the Panthers’ 44-yard line, a drive that ended with Dylan Moyer’s 13-yard TD to make it 14-7 with 10:05 left to play.

Lehighton forced a punt on Saucon’s next series, but started the ensuing drive at its own seven-yard line.

A pair of completions from Brady O’Donnell to Blake Roberts and Joe Roth (six catches, 42 yards) resulted in a first down. O’Donnell hit Roth on a second down play for another first down, and the Panthers’ were called for roughing.

Moyer ripped off a 54-yard run on the next play, and O’Donnell (16-of-27, 141 yards) hit Roberts (six catches, 65 yards) for a seven-yard score four plays later to make it 14-13 with 3:24 after the extra point was unsuccessful.

The Indians forced a three-and-out on the Panthers’ next possession and took over at their own 47-yard line with 2:09 left. They moved the ball to the Saucon 22-yard line.

Facing third and eight with 11 seconds left on the clock, Robertson jumped high as the ball came down toward the middle of the field to make the game-saving interception.

“I thought momentum was on our side when we kind of initiated and did what we wanted to do,” said Lehighton head coach Tom McCarroll. “We liked, schematically, what we had on the play. Tonight is not an effort thing at all. Our kids battled. It was a scrappy, gritty performance, in that second half especially and we were in a position (to win the game). What more could you ask for? It’s not a Hail Mary that you’re waiting for. We liked it, we liked the play and it was kind of something that we had been setting up.”

The Indians controlled the second half, holding Saucon to two first downs and outgaining the Panthers 181-40 in total offense.

Saucon cashed in on its first drive, which started near midfield - and was aided by a pass interference call on third and 10 from the Lehighton 49-yard line - when junior Jared Rohn went in from four yards out on fourth down to make it 7-0.

After being stopped at the Panthers’ 30-yard line on their first series, the Indians’ defense responded with a three and out. But a muffed punt put Saucon at the Lehighton 36-yard line, and Rohn scored his second TD, this one from a yard out, to make it 14-0 in the second quarter.

Lehighton drove to the Saucon 19-yard line on their next series, but a holding call and a sack on the next play bogged down the series, which ultimately ended with a punt that pinned the Panthers’ at their own seven-yard line. Another defensive stop onn Saucon’s next drive led to another punt attempt for the Panthers, but the return attempt was muffed and the Panthers recovered.

“This is a hard one to swallow, because if you look at the way this game went, we had two possessions in the first half,” said McCarroll. “And when we did, we moved the ball with some success. But we shot ourselves in the foot.”

RUNNING MAN

... Moyer finished with 17 carries for 104 yards and a score for Lehighton.

TALE OF TWO HALVES

... Saucon gained 114 of its 154 total yards in the first half. Rohn had 54 yards on 14 carries in the first two quarters and finished with 66 yards on 21 attempts.

UP NEXT

... Lehighton closes out its season with a rivalry game at Jim Thorpe, while Saucon, which has clinched a spot in the District 11 Class 3A playoffs, will try to finish the regular season at .500 against Palisades.