Did Tamaqua shock the local high school football world last week with its win over perennial power North Schuylkill?

Or is it that the Raiders knew all along they were going to be a force to be reckoned with this season?

It was a little bit of both as Tamaqua (2-0) looks to create even more momentum heading up to Veterans Memorial Stadium in Pottsville to take on the Crimson Tide (1-1).

The Week 3 matchup is this week’s Times News Game of the Week.

The writing was on the wall for Tamaqua to have a solid start to the 2024 season after the Raiders finished 2023 so strongly. Tamaqua started 0-4 last season, as it needed to battle through some injuries. But the Blue Raiders fought back once they got healthier to win five of their last six games to finish the regular season at 5-5.

A lot of the players that turned the season around for Tamaqua last fall returned for 2024 in Luke Kane, Bradley Whalen, Tyler Koch, Victor Schlosser, Brady McCabe and Declan Coleman.

“We had a good group of skill kids coming back. You pair that with a three-year starter at quarterback in Luke Kane, who is experienced and a big and physical kid, and we knew we were going to have a team that was going to go out there and be able to compete for wins,” said Tamaqua head coach Sam Bonner. “It was an ugly start to the season last year, but once we got some guys back like Whalen and Coleman, we were able to turn it around. They showed maturity. They didn’t pack it in. And that mentality has translated over to this season as well.”

Tamaqua took down a physical Pen Argyl team 38-7 in Week 1, and then last week put the rest of the Colonial/Schuylkill League Red Division on notice with its no-doubt-about-it, 35-17 win over the Spartans. The Raiders showed their rushing attack was for real against a big North Schuylkill defensive front. Whalen rushed for 192 yards on 21 carries, while fullback Tyler Koch came through with two rushing touchdowns.

Do-it-all offensive weapon Victor Schlosser has made an impact in both of Tamaqua’s games this season. He had two receiving scores against North Schuylkill, has eight catches for 132 yards and has rushed 13 times for 170 yards and a touchdown on the season.

It was an impressive offensive performance for the Raiders, especially up front where the Spartans held a significant size advantage.

“We don’t have a real big offensive line. But those guys are tough and they’re quick. So, it’s all about getting good angles and getting what we want out of our counter and reverse stuff in the run game,” said Bonner. “Our line just did a great job of that. They did a great job getting to the second level. That will once again be the goal this week for that group.”

This week Tamaqua will go back on the road to take on Pottsville, who is coming off a big, 48-7 win over Jim Thorpe at home.

The Crimson Tide got their run game going against the Olympians with running back Juleon Bainbridge, who rushed for 129 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Tsirell Curry also had a nice night for the Tide with 134 receiving yards, including a 63-yard touchdown catch.

“Pottsville likes to spread you out and then spread the ball around to their different athletes. They’re very balanced. They run and pass it 50-50,” said Bonner. “They have a very athletic quarterback and length on the outside for him to be able to throw the ball out there for them to make plays. The running back is also a talented player. He runs hard and is physical.

“On the defensive side of the ball, it’s the same thing, they have athletes out there and they’re going to try to fly to the football. We’re just going to look to go up there and try to execute. Make sure we continue to play physical and tackle well and keep them from getting chunk plays. Again, look to play fast on the offensive end and get the angles we need to be successful.”