It hasn’t been the season that Jim Thorpe had hoped for, with the Olympians starting off the 2024 campaign with a big win over Palmerton to start the year.

Thorpe (3-7) has battled inexperience and injuries throughout the season, and was able to secure just enough victories to qualify for the No. 8 spot in the District 11 4A playoffs.

The Olympians will head to Center Valley tonight to take on top-seeded Southern Lehigh (8-2).

When Thorpe has been able to get its passing game going early in games, that’s when it has been able to be most competitive. It all starts with junior quarterback Cole Lazorick, who was banged up mid-season, but looks to be back to 100 percent. Lazorick has passed for 1,670 yards, with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Lazorick also leads the team in rushing with 346 yards and eight rushing touchdowns.

His top target has once again been Justin Yescavage, who owns both the all-time receiving yards and receptions mark for the Olympians’ program, and has put together a solid season, hauling in 52 catches for 735 yards and four touchdowns. Josh Louk has been a do-it-all type player for JT on both offense and defense. On the offensive side, Louk has rushed for 343 yards and three scores, while also tallying 379 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

“We have been able to move the ball a little better. Cole is making some good decisions, and the passing game has improved over the past few weeks. Taking care of the football is always key to getting your offense going as well,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger.

“Yescavage has again been good for us. He made some great catches last week, and other guys like Curran and Louk have been making some plays as well.”

Taking care of the football against the Spartans will be key, but Thorpe will need to put together its best defensive performance of the season by far tonight. Southern Lehigh has been playing good football since an early-season loss to Blue Mountain. The Spartans gave undefeated Northwestern Lehigh its toughest challenge of the season last week in a 23-17 contest.

Southern Lehigh is big, powerful and athletic up front and has been led this season by its sophomore quarterback Colton Sams, junior running back Sean Steckert, and four-star heralded tight end recruit Andrew Olesh. Sams has put together a very nice campaign, throwing for almost 2,000 yards with 21 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Steckert leads the team with 1,026 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns, and Olesh has 41 catches for 709 yards and four TDs.

Stopping the Southern Lehigh rushing game will be the primary focus for JT, as it gave up over 400 yards rushing last week to Lehighton.

“In the trenches up front will be key, and also players playing assignment football. We have to come out and play sound fundamental defense. Southern Lehigh is a big and physical football team with playmakers all over the field. We have to figure out a way to slow down their run game. Last week, I thought we played tremendous defense in the first half, but then we fell apart and gave up way too many big plays in the run game. That can’t happen this week,” said Rosenberger.

“We need 100 percent effort from everybody on the field this week. Our effort needs to be better and needs to be consistent. We have some guys giving it their all, but if all 11 guys aren’t giving you their maximum effort, that’s when the breakdowns happen.”