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FOURTH TIME IS THE CHARM FOR NORTH SCHUYLKILL BEHIND STINGY DEFENSE AND POTENT GROUND GAME

Tagged under: District 11, News

| November 11, 2018

LEHIGHTON- So what they had to wait an extra day for redemption? So what they had to face a potent offense coming in averaging over 450 yards per a game and 41 points? So what they have have been on the short end on the scoreboard to Colonial League power Notre Dame Green Pond thre consecutive years? None of that mattered on a sunny but wind-swept Saturday afternoon at Lehighton Area High School as the Spartans dominated both sides of the ball in a dominating 36-0 victory in the PIAA District XI 3A Championship game that was postponed Friday do due inclement weather

The Spartan running attack was the special of the day as they racked up 305 yards on 60 carries and five scores as North Schuylkill did not attempt a pass in the entire contest, The defense was the icing on the cake holding the Crusaders to just totaled 53 yards while sacking all-area quarterback Cole DeFranco four times and keeping the Notre Dame running game to a negative four yards. DeFranco game in with over 3,300 yards passing, was held to 9/28 passing for a mere 57 yards.

Behind a Tyler Elsdon 2 yard run and a Mitchell Wagner 15 yard scamper, the number one seeded Spartans took a 14-0 lead into the locker room. The second score was setup by a blocked punt giving the Tri-Champs of the Schuylkill League the ball at the Crusaders 16.

Not only was DeFranco facing an aggressive pass rush, but the passes he did get off was either sailing over the heads of the receivers on the short throws or the ball just fluttered and fell short of his targets on the deep balls.

In the second half it was much of the same behind Elsdon, Wagner and QB Jaden Leiby, they kept DeFranco on the sidelines while scores of one yard by Elsdon, a 36 yard jaunt by Wagner, finally a bruising battering Jake Green from six yards out gave the final margin of victory and the Spartans first cahmpionship since 2009.

“The wind was not much as a factor as was their defensive pressure on us. We have not faced that kind of pressure all year.” Crusader coach Phil Stambaugh stated. “They(North Schuylkill) wanted it more, the wind and conditions did not seem to effect them at all.” He concluded.

Spartan coach Wally Hall said after the game, “We stress being physical, that’s our game. We just want to be a more physical team than our opponents.”

They will need to keep that philosophy as they continue that road towards state gold in Hershey as they will face Conwell-Egan Catholic, out of the formidable Philadelphia Catholic League next Friday, tentatively scheduled for Lehighton at 7pm. Conwell-Egan comes in unbeaten at 12-0.

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