Momentum can swing in the blink of an eye during the course of a game. It can be something as big as an explosive play or something as small as a penalty that can extend a drive.

On Friday night, it seemed to be just something small in the rivalry match-up between Lehighton and Palmerton, but it turned out to be game-changing.

With the Indians trailing 14-13 late in the first quarter after a botched extra point, Palmerton committed a personal foul on the play, giving the Tribe an opportunity to go for a two-point conversion. Lucas Crozier took it in to convert the attempt, giving Lehighton a 15-14 lead, and most importantly the momentum, which would propel it to a 61-17 victory over Palmerton.

“We felt good coming in,” said Lehighton head coach Tom McCarroll. “We thought we had a good game plan. We got off to a bit of a slow start, but the kids stuck with it, and they kept playing hard. The flow of the game changed after that play and we were able get going a little bit. A lot of different kids made big plays for us tonight, and I’m really proud of that. We know where we want to be and we know what we have to do to get to there. We’ve had some good stretches this season. We just have to try and put it all together.”

In the second quarter, the Indians (2-2) were able to put it all together, scoring 21 points. Jayse Lawrence and the Lehighton passing attack took flight in the second. A 34-yard hookup from Lawrence to Logan Kent on the Tribe’s first possession of the second would set up a two-yard Crozier scoring rush to make it 21-14.

Later in the frame, Lawrence worked the ball down the field again starting from the Bombers 46-yard line. A 21-yard strike to Caden Meek and a 14-yard completion to Blake Roberts setup a seven-yard connection to Kent to extend the lead to 28-14.

A Palmerton fumble on a kickoff return with just 44 seconds to go in the half gave the Indians another opportunity to cash in before the intermission. Lehighton took advantage, scoring in just two plays capped off by a 19-yard pitch and catch from Lawrence to Joe Roth to give Lehighton a commanding 35-14 edge at the half.

Lawrence and Roth worked well together all night long, connecting for three scores, including a 56-yard dart in the first quarter on a slant route that Roth took the distance. Lawrence finished the first half going 12-for-14 for 204 yards and three touchdowns.

“We knew their athleticism and height on the outside posed some match-up problems for us,” said Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak. “The receivers they put out there, all of them are taller than our defensive backs. If you don’t get pressure on Lawrence, who throws a very nice ball, there is going to be match-up issues. But you also have to pick your poison as well, because Lawrence can run it. If you bring pressure and he gets out of it, he can pick up big yardage and then you’re also in one-one-situations on the outside.

“But I’m proud of the way our kids battled. Jameson Trainer ran the ball hard for us tonight. I was also happy with their attitude and effort. We’re a young team right now that just needs to continue to work.”

The Indians came out of the half and continued to be explosive in the passing game. A 50-yard bomb from Lawrence to Roth made it a 27-point advantage and then two more scores both on big runs of 80 yards and 38 yards from Jacob Ferguson would put the game into the mercy rule.

“Jayse was on tonight,” said McCarroll. “We have some playmakers out there and Jayse was able to get the ball out to those guys and they came through with big plays for us. This was just an overall great team win. A lot of guys made plays for us and that’s a really good thing for us moving forward.”

JAYSE’S DINER … Lawrence was cooking all night long for the Indians. He finished the night throwing for 254 yards and four touchdowns.

TOP TARGET … Roth dominated on the outside. He hauled in five catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns.

RUNNING TOUGH … Bombers’ quarterback Jameson Trainer ran hard, rushing for 143 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown scamper that gave Palmerton a 14-7 lead in the first quarter.

Lehighton 15 21 19 7 - 61

Palmerton 14 0 3 0 - 17

Scoring Summary

P - Walkowiak 20 pass from Trainer (Anthony kick)

L - Crozier 5 run (Ebbert kick)

P - Trainer 71 run (Anthony kick)

L - Roth 57 pass from Lawrence (Crozier run)

L - Crozier 2 run (Ebbert kick)

L - Kent 7 pass from Lawrence (Ebbert kick)

L - Roth 19 pass from Lawrence (Ebbert kick)

L - Roth 50 pass from Lawrence (kick failed)

P - Anthony 31 field goal

L - Ferguson 80 run (Ebbert kick)

L - Ferguson 38 run (kick failed)

L - Green 8 run (Ebbert kick)