EASTON – Palmerton’s football team had shown flashes throughout the season.

Signs of progress showcasing the strides the Blue Bombers had continued to make.

On Saturday, they put it together with an impressive performance against Wilson, one where quarterback Jameson Trainer shined bright.

Trainer helped Palmerton secure its first victory with a 32-28 triumph over Wilson.

The senior was 15-of-23 passing for 198 yards and three scores. Trainer did damage with his legs, too, rushing for 202 yards on 22 carries and a score.

Trainer ripped off an 85-yard dash to the end zone. He also found the middle of the Warriors’ secondary. Trainer uncorked a pair of touchdown passes to promising junior receiver Vincent Taglieri, the first an 18-yard strike that sent his team up 21-6 in the closing two minutes of the first half.

In the third quarter, that duo hooked up again on a beautifully executed 75-yard touchdown catch and run.

To be sure, Trainer was money on the afternoon.

“We really didn’t hang our heads on the first half of the year,” Trainer said of the team’s 0-5 start. “The coaches have been helping us (get) better each week. We just want to (focus) on the second half of the season.”

If Palmerton can continue its offensive approach, the Bombers just may be a tough out.

The early getaway came about when Palmerton’s defense stuffed Wilson on its first offensive try. Trainer then cranked things up, leading the club on a nine-play march, as the southpaw chucked away. He flung four-straight completions in the drive, the last to junior Alexander Keiper, a 16-yard strike capping off the 63-yard drive before freshman Ben Negley latched onto the deuce for an 8-0 lead.

Palmerton quickly turned to Trainer when he zipped 85 yards to paydirt, and his team was in front 16-0 after Connor Lawless tossed a two-point conversion to Keiper.

But, Wilson reached back and answered right back on a 10-play, 72-yard scoring drive, thanks to a Jeramy Cressman-to-Leonard Davis connection that went for 57 yards, cutting into the deficit, 16-6.

“It was a wet field, but (receivers) know where they’re going so that kind of gives you an advantage,” said Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak. “We have confidence in our guys. We’ve had great, great trust in (Trainer) in what he has done over the past three weeks finding open receivers… trying to open the run game.”

Palmerton’s fireworks were far from over. On the next drive, Trainer hit on four more passes to ignite things before his first incompletion. But that never stopped the 6-1 senior from getting two more pass completions, the last an 18-yard touchdown caught by Taglieri. He then capped off the first-half scoring parade passing to Kieper for his third conversion and a 24-6 lead at the respite.

However, Palmerton’s confidence level never dipped, even when the home team opened the second half with a touchdown.

The Bombers never skipped a beat to increase their lead to 32-12. Trainer and Taglieri combined for a 75-yard score, before Lawless added the two-point conversion with just 13 seconds left in the third quarter.

Wilson wasn’t packing it in, for it found a power surge, knocking out two more touchdowns. It marched 80 yards on six plays. Quarterback Jeramy Cressman snapped off a 32-yard pass to sophomore Christian Samayoa with 9:45 to play making it 32-20.

On its next try, Wilson had a short field to work with, when a Palmerton punt came up short at its 29, and quickly hit the end zone on its first play, with Davis catching his second touchdown from Cressman, then created more angst converting a two-point run by Cressman with 78 seconds to play.

Palmerton recovered the ensuing onside kick to end the threat and secure the win.

TWO STUDS … Palmerton tacklers had a workout. Logan Anthony and Luis Santiago both kept chasing down Warriors’ quarterback Cressman most of the afternoon. Anthony at 6-4, 320, is getting big-time college looks.

COUNTING IT UP … The Blue Bombers ran a total of 41 offensive plays, not counting punts. Trainer’s top target was sophomore Cale Young, who had eight catches for 67 yards. Taglieri had 118 yards on four catches.

TRYING TO STOP … Wilson has now lost 27 straight games over the past two-and-a-half-seasons.

QUOTABLE … “Hey, it’s great for these kids, we’ve been talking about the second half of the season. The first half is gone, there’s nothing you can do about that. We want a 1-0 mentality. We’ve got to be fundamentally sound and avoid mistakes,” said Walkowiak.

Palmerton 32, Wilson 28

Palmerton 8 16 8 0 - 32

Wilson 0 6 6 16 - 28

P - Keiper 16 pass from Trainer (Negley pass)

P - Trainer 85 run (Keiper pass)

W - Davis 57 pass from Cressman (run failed)

P - Taglieri 18 pass from Trainer (Keiper pass)

W - Z. Johnson 55 run (run failed)

P - Taglieri 75 pass from Trainer (Lawless pass)

W - Samayoa 80 pass from Cressman (Cressman run)

W - Davis 29 pass from Cressman (Cressman run)