If it isn’t broke then don’t fix it.

That was Tamaqua’s motto on Friday when after its first offensive possession of the game against Schuylkill League opponent Pine Grove, it realized that the Cardinals didn’t have an answer for its rushing attack.

The term ground and pound doesn’t even do Tamaqua justice in this one as it dominated the line of scrimmage, rushing for 418 yards and controlling the clock on the way to a 38-26 victory.

As Pine Grove has done throughout the season, it used the big play by its dynamic athletes to stay in the game in the first half. A 91-yard run by quarterback Josh Leininger on the Cardinals’ opening possession and a 50-yard touchdown run on a fake punt by Shea Morgan were responsible for their 14 first half points.

But the Raiders established their physicality early with a 55-yard touchdown scamper by power back Nate Curvey on their first offensive possession, followed by a 15-play, 7:24 clock grinding drive that ended with an eight-yard Curvey plunge. Tamaqua also put together another 15-play drive later in the quarter, but it resulted in a turnover on downs as they led 16-14 at the half.

Tamaqua ran 34 plays compared to Pine Grove’s 18 in the first half.

“Obviously, we’re a different offensive football team this year, but we’re tough and we have tough runners,” said Tamaqua coach Sam Bonner. “I had to think to myself after the game if we even called one pass play tonight, because we were able to get five, six, seven yards every play.

“When you’re running the ball like that, there’s no reason to go away from it. We got some big backs and they loved it tonight, with the muddy conditions, it was a great job by our backs and our guys up front.”

The Raiders once again set the tone in third quarter with a nine-play 65-yard drive that ended with a nifty Nate Wickersham 17-yard score that made it 24-14 at the 7:42 mark. Tamaqua’s grinding drives not only put points on the scoreboard, but kept the explosive Pine Grove offense off the field.

“They have a scary offense and some athletes that can make some big plays,” said Bonner. “Fortunately, with the way we ran the football tonight, we were able to put together long drives that ended with scores and at the same time kept them off the field offensively.”

The Cardinals once again would try and stick around, getting back to within four after a 25-yard hookup between Leininger and Morgan around the five minute mark in the third.

But in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals just didn’t have an answer for the Raiders’ rushing attack. Tamaqua tacked on two more touchdowns - both by Wickersham - to close out the win.

FIVE STRAIGHT... With the win, the Raiders are headed to the postseason for the fifth consecutive season.

MOVING THE STICKS ... Tamaqua amassed 25 first downs on night, compared to just 10 for Pine Grove.

GROUND AND POUND ... The Raiders rushed 67 times for 418 yards, with Curvey leading the way with 173 yards and two scores and Wickersham not far behind, rushing for 165 yards and three touchdowns.