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Palmerton Blue Bombers Make a Statement in Enormous Win Over North Schuylkill.

Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| October 14, 2023

Palmerton Improves to 8-0 a Record they have not matched since 1951.

PALMERTON- North Schuylkill scored on a 34 yard pass from Caden Mengel to Joey Flail early in the third quarter to cut the Palmerton lead to 32-24 at the nine minute mark. The Spartans attempted on onside kick where after a scrum ensued for the loose ball, and the officials deemed the Blue Bombers recovered near their own 40. After a penalty pushed the ball back five yards. Quarterback Matt Machalik ripped off 66 yard scoring run and after converting their fifth straight two-point conversion giving the Bombers a 40-24 lead and the Spartans could not get any closer as Palmerton closed out a 48-24 win Friday night in a key Colonial/Schuylkill League Red Division game Friday night.

Palmerton notched their eighth consecutive win to start the season, the first time they have been 8-0 since 1951. The Bombers scored on their initial possession of the ball and scored on a six yard Machalik run after a a brilliant 30 yard jaunt set the Bombers up first-and goal. Palmerton led 8-0 as they converted all six two-point conversions in the game at the 7:47 mark of the opening quarter.

The Blue Bombers forced a North Schuylkill punt on the Spartans first possession. Machalik would give the home team a 16-0 on a nifty 29 yard scoring run down the sidelines, avoiding several tackles near the five before crossing the goal line at the 2:41 mark of the quarter.

The Spartans would only need about a minute to score the next time they had the ball as QB Caden Mengel connected with Collin McGee for a 14 yard score at the 1:47 mark making it 16-7.

North Schuylkill forced a Blue Bombers punt on the next time they had the ball. The Mengel hit Collin McGee fora 78 yard score to cut the deficit to 16-14 at the 8:53 mark before half.

Palmerton would use a flea flicker to score their next touchdown as Machalik handed the ball off and then got the return pitch and to find Emillio Gonzalez streaking down the sidelines to haul in a 51 yard touchdown pass 8:03 till have and a 24-14 lead.

Placekicker Gavin Mentzer then nailed a 37 yard field goal to make it 24-17 lead with 6:30 left in the half.

The Blue Bombers went back to their bag of tricks once again as Machalek threw a lateral to Ty Sander, who then in turn tossed a 28 yard pass to a wide open Braydon Hosier for a 32-17 lead with 1:26 left before halftime.

North Schuylkill would score on the first possession of the second half on a 34 yard Mengel to Flail pass at the 9:00 mark of the quarter making the score 32-24.

Machalik, who rushed for 270 yards on 17 carries and three touchdowns, would the rip off that 66 yard run after the onside kick attempt by the Spartans with 8:13 left in the third quarterthat made the score 40-24.

North Schuylkill drove deep into Palmerton territory but a pass interception ended that drive at the Bombers five. From there they went on a long time consuming drive of their own that culminated in a 25 yard touchdown pass from Machalik to Ty Sander, who made a juggling catch in the corner to make it 48-24 with 10:47 left in the contest. Machalik finished the evening passing for 160 yards on 11-18 passing 2 scores and one interception.

“We had a great week of practice and these kids worked hard all week in preparation for this game.” Palmerton coach Chris Walkowiak stated stated after the win. “We knew they had athletes all over the field and they are as talented as they come. We had to be disciplined and these kids love the game and they are not selfish, they play for each other.” He concluded.

Palmerton (8-0) will host Tamaqua 4-4) next week.The Blue Raiders have won four in row themselves after taking down Northern Lehigh Thursday night 23-13. North Schuylkill (6-2) will also be home next Friday against Salisbury (0-8) were shutout by Pine Grove 31-0 Friday.

Here is what quarterback Matt Machalik had to say after Friday’s win.

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