UPDATED w/ Photo Gallery: Minersville victorious over Catasauqua 43 to 27, Jared Graeff breaks school receptions record in the process ! @CoachFrantzJ @MinersFB

Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News

Daniel Reed | October 9, 2021

Minersville victorious over Catasauqua 43 to 27, Jared Graeff breaks school receptions record in the process !

Cool, damp, and gloomy… this was the look Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Minersville. Rough, tough and lots of aerial stuff… that was the type of game played on the field. Catasauqua would start the game by kicking off to Minersville, the Miners would start at their own 25 yard line. Miners QB-Adams would connect on a pair of passes to Jason Cullen, getting down to the Rough Riders 25 before turning the ball over on downs at the Catasauqua 19. The Miners would get the ball back shortly after when the Rough Riders would fumble and turn the ball over back to Minersville at the Catasauqua 24. Adams wouldn’t miss this time, and capitalize on the turnover when he would connect with Jared Graeff for an 11 yard pass play to the Rough Riders 14. Adams would score the games first touchdown when he would take the ball himself and scamper right, leaping the defender at the goal-line for the score to put the Miners up 7 to 0 with about 7 minutes to go in the first quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Catasauqua would have good field position when they would start the drive in Minersville territory at the 46. Few minutes clicked off the clock before we would have our second score of the evening when Catty RB-Anthonie Hunsicker would take the handoff and run 34 yards to the endzone, extra point was good to tie the game at 7 with just about 3 minutes to go in the quarter. The quarter would end 7 to 7 with Minersville driving to start the second quarter, with possession at the Rough Riders 27 yard line.

BANG…. the Miners would score to open the second quarter when Adam would throw a strike to Jason Cullen for the score putting Minersville back on top 14 to 7. Catty would have a few long plays before they would turn the ball over once again, when Ron Beach would recover the fumble and the Miners would take over at their own 41 yard line. Just a minute later, Adams would once again connect with Cullen, this one for 46 yards and another score to make the score, Minersville 21, Catasauqua 7 with just under 9 minutes to go until halftime. Catasauqua QB-Christian Fye, and RB-Elijah Soler would lead the charge on the Rough Riders next possession setting up another score when Soler would take the ball 1 yard into the endzone, a 2 point conversion attempt would fail, making the score 21 to 13 Minersville with about 2 minutes to play. Minersville would get the ball back at their 35 yard line following the kickoff. On the next play, Adams would throw his third touchdown of the first half when he hit #7-Logan Hutsko who would race down the sideline for 65 yards to paydirt putting the Battlin’ Miners up 28 to 13, which would be the score at the half.

Catasauqua would start the second half and take up over 7 minutes on the drive before eventually scoring when Elijah Soler would cap the drive off with a 9 yard touchdown run to close the gap to 28 to 21 after the two point conversion attempt was good. Once again, it was the Adams, Cullen show when the Minersville QB would hit his main target on the night for a 71 yard touchdown throw and catch to put the Miners back up by 15, 36 to 21 when a bobbled extra point turned into a converted two point conversion as kicker Soler would scoop up the ball, scramble right, and connect with Jared Graeff in the endzone. On the ensuing drive for the Rough Riders, Brock Polinsky would intercept the Christian Fye pass deep in Miners territory, only to fumble the ball on the return, with Catasauqua recovering. A few plays later, Fye would throw yet another interception, this time by Adams and the Miners would have the ball back once again, at their own 32. The third quarter would end with the Miners leading 36 to 21.

In the fourth quarter, John Adams would record his 5th touchdown of the game when he would connect with Graeff for 68 yards and the score, putting the Miners up 43 to 21 with 11 minutes to play in the game. Earlier in the game, Graeff became the schools all time leading receptions leader when he broke the record set by Gabe Davis last season at 102, Jared now has over 104+. With about 4 minutes to play, Fye would connect with Jordan Bradshaw for a long gain setting up a score from 17 yards out when Fye would call his own number and race to the endzone for the final score of the game. Minersville would win the game 43 to 27 after the Rough Riders two-point conversion failed. Minersville’s offense has been rolling as of late, lead by QB-John Adams, WR-Jared Graeff, WR-Jason Cullen and the offensive line. Coach Frantz said “Adams and Graeff have been on the field for four years, they’re natural leaders.” Coach also said Johnny ” had that look in his eyes that he had when they played Williams Valley, he was just dialed in, making the right reads, audibling at the line, I can’t say enough about these kids, they are awesome.”

With the win, Minersville moves to 5-2 on the season with an away game at Rotary Field against 2-4 Schuylkill Haven.

In the loss, Catasauqua falls to 5-2 on the season with a home game up next against 1-6 Pine Grove.

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Photo Gallery will be posted tomorrow !

Please enjoy last night game highlights by clicking the link below…