Jim Thorpe dominates Tamaqua on Homecoming Night 42 to 6

Tagged under: District 11, Game Photos, Gameday Hub, News

Daniel Reed | October 1, 2022

Jim Thorpe’s Junior DT/T, Noah Rosahac with the Homecoming Queen after the game !

In what I thought was going to be a much closer battle, turned out to be not even close. You could almost smell the intensity from the Olympians sideline and crowd before the game, and especially during the pregame entry for the home team as we got a nice little light show and fireworks before kickoff. If that’s the way Jim Thorpe enters their home turf on a weekly basis, I have to say, I am very impressed. This was my first trip to Jim Thorpe to witness a football game, of course I’ve been to the city many times for train rides and stuff. Now, let’s get to the game….

To start it off, the Blue Raiders would receive the games opening kickoff and return it to the 16. It was very quick to notice, the Jim Thorpe defense came ready to play, and hit hard, holding the Blue Raiders to a 3 and out on their opening possession. A short punt of just 15 yards would give the Olympians great field position to start their opening drive, starting at the Tamaqua 31. Two plays later, senior wide receiver David Fiorito would take the handoff, and break loose for 31 yards for the games first score, Jim Thorpe leading 7 to 0. The Olympians defense would force two more punts by the Blue Raiders setting up the games next score, another by Jim Thorpe, this time a 37 yards touchdown reception by Fiorito from senior QB-Brett Balliet giving the home team an early 14 to 0 lead with 2:29 still to go in the first quarter. Fiorito would finish the game with 36 yards on the ground, 1 touchdown and 65 yards receiving and a touchdown. With 1:23 to go still in the first quarter, Jim Thorpe’s Joshua James would intercept the Luke Kane pass, returning it to the 39, giving the Olympians good field position once again.

In the second quarter, Jim Thorpe would add to their lead, when Salvatore Capria, the junior running back would race 43 yards to the endzone, making it 21 to 0 with 11:51 still to play in the first half. Noah Rosahac(DT), and the rest of the Jim Thorpe defense would set the tone for the rest of the second quarter holding the Blue Raiders to just 5 yards the rest of the half. Rosahac would record 2 sacks along the way. Tamaqua would keep the Olympians at bay for the rest of the half as well for a 21 to 0 halftime score, Jim Thorpe leading.

Jim Thorpe would start the second half, with decent field position at their 37 yard line. Few plays later however, the Blue Raiders would cause a turnover when DB-Victor Schlosser intercepted the Brett Balliet pass giving Tamaqua some life. Unfortunately that would short lived as 3 plays later, the big man, Noah Rosahac would pick off the Kane pass and return it about 35 yards for the pick-6, giving the Olympians a lead of 28 to 0 with 9:37 to go in the third. A 3 and out by the Blue Raiders would give the ball back to Jim Thorpe riding the momentum, quickly scoring again when Justin Yescavage would haul in the Balliet pass for 18 yards and the score, putting Jim Thorpe up now 35 to 0, and triggering the mercy clock with 7:10 still left in the third. Tamaqua almost got a break on a 4th and 8 when the punter fumbled the snap, but was able to connect on the pass for the first down, only to have it called back due to an ineligible man downfield on the play.

In the fourth quarter, we would get the pleasure of witnessing another pick-6 by the Olympians defense, this one coming from Cole Lazorick, a freshman cornerback, snagged the pass, and darted about 11 yards for the score. Leading 42 to 0 with 11:52 to play in the game, the substitutes began to get in. Tamaqua did get on the board finally when the Blue Raiders would post their best drive of the evening, going 80 yards on 6 plays, finished off by sophomore running back Jacob Hehn would burst 11 yards to pay dirt, a failed PAT would have the score 42 to 6, Jim Thorpe leading with 8:27 to go. With the Mercy Clock running, the Olympians were able to run down the time with 9 plays totaling 55 yards, down to the Tamaqua 19 before backup QB-Nikolas Schwartz would run a couple plays before taking a knee to end the game with the final score of 42 to 6, Olympians winning and improving to 3-3 on the season, dropping the Blue Raiders to 2-4. With the victory, Jim Thorpe keeps their playoff chances alive, with 8 teams qualifying for the Class 3A District XI playoffs.

Up Next for the Olympians, a home game vs (4-2)-North Schuylkill Spartans, who lost last night to NDGP(5-1), 36 to 24.

Up Next for the Blue Raiders, a home game vs (1-5)-Pine Grove Cardinals, who fell to Palmerton(4-2) last night 53 to 28.

STAT-LINE:*not official*
Tamaqua:
PASSING:
Luke Kane- 7-21-3 = 78 yards

RUSHING: 19 carries, 36 yards
Conner Dillon – 5 carries, 18 yards
Jacob Hehn – 5 carries, 12 yards(1TD)
Luke Kane – 5 carries, 7 yards
2 others – 4 carries, (-1) yards

RECEIVING: 7 receptions, 78 yards
Conner Dillon – 6 catches, 68 yards
John Klein – 1 catch, 10 yards

DEFENSE: Interceptions
Victor Schlosser(1)
__________________________________
Jim Thorpe:
PASSING:
Brett Balliet- 7-18-1 = 138 yards(2TD)

RUSHING: 23 carries, 150 yards
David Fiorito – 2 carries, 36 yards(1TD)
Salvatore Capria – 9 carries, 52 yards(1TD)
Andrew Coolbaugh – 4 carries, 27 yards
Conner Miller – 1 carry, 18 yards
Joshua Louk – 2 carries, 17 yards
Brett Balliet – 4 carries, 6 yards
Jave Butler – 1 carry, 5 yards

RECEIVING:
David Fiorito – 3 catches, 65 yards(1TD)
Justin Yescavage – 2 catches, 46 yards(1TD)
Bryson Heydt – 1 catch, 23 yards
Joshua Louk – 1 catch, 4 yards

DEFENSE: Interceptions
Noah Rosahac(1) returned for TD(35 yards)
Joshua James(1)
Cole Lazorick(1) returned for TD(?? yards)

DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW www.pafootballnews.com FOR ALL YOUR PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE. You can also follow on TWITTER at: @PaFootballNews ! Submit your stats to 570football@gmail.com so we can add and share your awesomeness to everyone.

BE SURE TO CHECK BACK LATER FOR THE PHOTO GALLERY, and VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS !

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews