Tamaqua Extends Win Streak to Four by Defeating Northern Lehigh Thursday Night.

TAMAQUA- In a key Colonial/Schuylkill League Red Division Football game Thursday night, the Tamaqua Blue Raiders used a late first half touchdown to propel themselves to a 23-13 win over Northern Lehigh Bulldogs on Senior night and keep themselves in the mix for spot in the District XI 3A playoff race.

Northern Lehigh accepted to opening kickoff, but it looked like the drive would end in a punt, but roughing the kicker call would give the Bulldogs a first down near midfield. The drive would eventually stall and Tamaqua would take over. The would be forced to punt near their own goal line, where the Bulldogs would partially block the punt and take over at the Blue Raiders 28. RB Grady Newhard would cap off the drive with a 3 yard score on 4th and goal for a 7-0 lead with 2:26 to play in the opening quarter.

3yd Grady Newhard Touchdown @AthleticsNlsd 2:26 left 1st quarter 7-0 @PaFootballNews @BoJyeaa @WilliePAFN @jaredsamuelpfn

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— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) October 12, 2023

On the next Blue Raiders possession and drove to Bulldogs 20, where on the first play of the second quarter quarterback Luke Kane lofted a pass down the sidelines to a streaking Tyler Koch, who hauled in the pass to pull within one at 7-6 with 11:54 left in the half. The point-after was wide left.

20yd TD pass Luke Kane to Tyler Koch @TASDAthletics1 11:53 till half 7-6 PAT no good @PaFootballNews @ArtisticMayhem1 @WilliePAFN @PFNDan570FB @BoJyeaa

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— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) October 12, 2023

That score would hold up until the very last play of the half and Tamaqua had the ball at the Northern Lehigh 34. Luke Cane scrambled and bought some time as time expired he tossed a “Hail Mary” pass towards the back of the end zone, where TE Declan Coleman out-jumped the Bulldog defender to come down with the ball to take a 14-7 lead into the locker room after converting the two-point conversion.

34yd "Hail Mary" at the end of the first half @TASDAthletics1 Luke Kane to Declan Coleman 2pt conversion good 14-7 Tamaqua over @AthleticsNlsd @PaFootballNews @ArtisticMayhem1 @WilliePAFN @PFNDan570FB @jaredsamuelpfn @BoJyeaa

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— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) October 13, 2023

Tamaqua got the ball to start the second half and drove all the way inside the Northern Lehigh five, but a fumble would give the Bulldogs the ball at their own one, an offside call pushed it back half the distance. On two consecutive plays, they barely made out of the end zone, but on third down Bradley Whalen wrapped up Garrett Smoyer for the safety and a 16-7 lead with 7:03 left in the third quarter.

SAFETY–Bradley Whalen of @TASDAthletics1 sacks QB with 7:03 left 3rd quarter 16-7 Tamaqua lead @PaFootballNews

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— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) October 13, 2023

Tamaqua would then get a gift touchdown as a Garrett Smoyer screen pass went off the intended receiver’s hand and was picked off for a three yard score making it 23-7.

Northern Lehigh would close out the scoring with a four yard score again on 4th down as Smoyer connected with Bailey Smith with 35 seconds left in the third quarter to make it 23-13.

4yd TD pass @AthleticsNlsd :35 left 3rd quarter Garrett Smoyer to Bailey Smith 23-13 Tamaqua lead 2pt conversion no good @PaFootballNews

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— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) October 13, 2023

Tamaqua (4-4) will now be on the road next Friday against Palmerton (7-0) the Blue Bombers will face 6-1 North Schuykill Friday night. Northern Lehigh drops to 3-5 and will be at home in Slatington to face the Jim Thorpe Olympians next Friday. Jim Thorpe will play Notre Dame Green Pond Friday night.

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