Olympians move to 3-0 with win over Pine Grove

Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News

Brian O'Donnell | September 26, 2020

The Jim Thorpe Olympians took their 2-0 record to Pine Grove on Friday night to take on the Cardinals. They came away 3-0 with a 16-9 win.

The Cardinals received the opening kick off. After a few stops, they were faced with a 4th and 7. A pass to Shea Morgan from Josh Leininger kept the drive alive. Pine Grove was able to get their first score of the game on a Leininger keeper from 3 yards out capping off an 83 yard drive. After a missed extra point, the Cardinals led 6-0.

Thorpe responded with a drive of their own. Running back Cam Tinajero shouldered the bulk of the weight on the drive. After converting on a 4th down of their own, the Olympians rewarded Tinajero with the score. Thorpe took a 7-6 lead on Chris Condly’s extra point.

On Pine Grove’s next drive, a pass tipped at the line was picked off by Jason Bowen. The Olympian’s drive stalled. As has been the case in the previous 2 weeks, Thorpe’s special teams came up with a huge play. Punter Trevor Benson got off a nice kick that looked like it was bound to roll into the end zone. A great hustle play by Bryan Bowen turned a would be touchback into a bad situation for the Cardinals at the 1 yard line. The Red Swarm defense got the push up front and forced the safety to take a 9-6 lead which they took into the half.

Midway through the 3rd, Thorpe quarterback Davier Calcano connected with his favorite target, Derryl Fisher, for the score to give the Olympians a 16-6 lead. A lead which they took into the final frame.

Pine Grove didn’t go away quietly. Putting together a nice drive, the Cardinals took a field goal to make it a one score game. Late in the 4th, it was Pine Grove’s defense that was forced to come up big, stuffing the Olympians on a 4th and 1. Starting their final drive, down 7 with 1:10 remaining in the game, Leininger hooked up with receiver Dalton Geesey for a huge gain. The Olympians proved why their defense is about the best in the league. The Red Swarm turned up the pressure on Leininger, forcing a 4th and 11 with 30 seconds left. A host of Olympians stopped the drive just short of a conversion, taking the ball back on downs. For the second week in a row, Thorpe ended the game in the Victory Formation.

Jim Thorpe will face their toughest test of the season next week in fellow undefeated North Schuylkill. Both teams will travel to Panther Valley to play while the Olympians receive a field upgrade. The battle for top spot in the Schuylkill League will be live streamed on Thorpe’s YouTube channel, “Olympian Way”.

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