Improvement in a team’s performance does not always calculate into the final score of the game.

In Friday night’s 50-7 North Schuylkill win over Jim Thorpe, the Olympians still managed 15 first downs, 189 passing yards and an 80-yard drive for a touchdown just seconds before the end of the first half.

That said, the Spartans controlled the line of scrimmage from the opening kickoff. On their first drive, quarterback Caden Mengel completed 5-of-5 passes with big plays to tight end Kevin Jones in marching his team 80 Yards in six plays. Luke Miller’s two-yard run and Gavin Mentzer’s extra point gave the Spartan’s a 7-0 lead with two minutes gone by.

Thorpe’s offense sputtered some of the night, but quarterback Cole Lazorick and wide receiver Justin Yescavage teamed up for some big pass and run plays. Yescavage finished the game with 10 catches for 111 yards. Though the Olympians crossed midfield several times, costly penalties and bad snaps stifled what might have been more scoring drives.

On North Schuylkill’s second possession. Mengel used the whole field in finding open receivers for a 71-yard drive, culminating in a 20-yard pass and run play to Cooper Carl.

The Spartan defense harried Lazorick all night and sacked him for big losses as he tried to escape the rush. Other than his designed runs, and yards he made running on coverage plays, Thorpe could not muster a running game against the physically much larger Spartan defensive line.

In the second quarter. North Schuylkill hit pay dirt again in four plays, with Miller’s seven yard burst off left guard. And in their subsequent possession, the Spartans scored again in 47 seconds when Mengel connected with a 37-yard pass and run play to Landen Smith.

Down 28-0, that’s when Lazorick led JT (1-4) 80 yards with passes to Yescavage, Joshua Louk and Aaron Curran. Lazorick used his arm and his legs on the drive, with 23 yards gained on the ground that finished with his one-yard bolt into the end zone.

Olympian coach Mark Rosenberger commented on the drive after the game: “We did some really good things on offense, especially on that drive and we were hoping to grab some momentum after the break with getting the ball first. But we just didn’t get it done.”

The opening third quarter drive by Jim Thorpe ended when a fourth and six pass play fell incomplete, giving the ball to North Schuylkill on the JT 34 yard line. Four plays later, Smith grabbed a pass and scored from 11 yards out.

The Spartans added two more touchdowns, on runs by Miller and Angel Ortiz, for their third win of the season.

“We had a better effort tonight after the last two games,” said Rosenberger. “We had a good week of practice and our offense was led by two special players in Lazorick and Yescavage, and our line pass blocked better, too. We’re still a distance away from where we want to be, but I think we’re heading in the right direction. We fought harder and our attitude was good.”

BLACKOUT … For a few seconds early in the third quarter, the power went off, leaving the field and stands in total darkness. On came the cellphone flashlights and the stands lit up with a late summer night firefly effect on both sides of the field.

AIR ATTACK … Mengel completed 14-of-15 passes in the game for 213 yards. Lazorick, his counterpart, was 17-of-27. Neither quarterback threw an interception.

UP NEXT … Jim Thorpe will attempt to get back on the winning track next week when they visit Southern Lehigh.

N. Schuylkill 50, Jim Thorpe 7

North Schuylkill 14 14 16 6 50

Jim Thorpe 0 7 0 0 7

Scoring Summary

NS - Miller 2 run (Mentzer kick)

NS - Carl 20 pass from Mengel (Mentzer kick)

NS - Miller 7 run (Mentzer kick)

NS - Smith 37 pass from Mengel (Mentzer kick)

JT - Lazorick 1 run (Geiser kick)

NS - Smith 11 pass from Mentzel (Mentzer kick)

NS - Safety, punter tackled in end zone

NS - Miller 4 run (Mentzer kick)

NS - Ortiz 10 run (no attempt)