Northern Lehigh throttles Minersville 43 to 14 to advance to the District XI Class 2A Championship ! @MinersFB @AthleticsNlsd @CoachJFrantz

Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News

Daniel Reed | November 12, 2021

Northern Lehigh throttles Minersville 43 to 14 to advance to the District XI Class 2A Championship Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium !

Before the game, Minersville HC said ” We got to play our game, get the ball in our receivers and running backs hands, and let QB Johnny Adams do what he does.” On the Miners opening drive after receiving the kickoff, Minersville would do something they normally don’t do, they ran the ball 12 straight plays and took about 8 minutes off the clock in the first quarter and reached the Bulldog 22 yard line before the drive would stall, and the Miners would turn the ball over on downs. The Bulldogs would take full advantage on their first drive scoring to end the first quarter, leading 6 to 0 after the point after attempt would fail.

The second quarter would be much the same for the Bulldogs, as the Miners would have some positive plays but would once again turn the ball over on downs at their own 43 this time giving the Bulldogs great field position. With about six minutes to go in the half, the Bulldogs would add to their lead when a long pass to Trevor Amorim from Smoyer and a long run by Matt Frame would set up a touchdown from two yards out by Frame to give Northern Lehigh a 14 to 0 lead after the 2 point conversion was converted. Minersville would show some grit late in the second quarter when Johnny Adams would lead his team down the field by completing a few long passes to Jason Cullen and Logan Hutsko before having to leave the game with a high angle sprain, stated by the head coach at halftime. Minersville would score just before halftime when backup QB Lorenzo Yourey would call his own number and take it in from a yard out to close the gap to 14 to 7 Bulldogs leading with just under 2 minutes to play in the first half. Northern Lehigh didn’t let up as Nick and Matt Frame would rush for big plays setting up another touchdown for the Bulldogs just before halftime when Trevor Amorim would take the handoff and scamper 4 yards to the endzone, the Bulldogs would go for two and convert, and the score at the half would be 22 to 7 Northern Lehigh leading.

The second half of the game would be all Bulldogs. After receiving the second half kickoff, it wouldn’t take long for them to add to their lead when Izaiah Ramos and Nick Frame would both have big runs to set up their next score, this time it was Amorim with a touchdown reception from Smoyer to put the Bulldogs up 29 to 7 with 10 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter. Minersville would punt on their next series, and the Bulldogs would have control at midfield. Quarterback Dylan Smoyer would connect on two big pass, eventually hitting Trevor Amorim for his second touchdown of the game, this time from 17 yards out to put Northern Lehigh in front by 29, 36 to 7 with 5 minutes to go in the quarter. Minersville would get in a few plays before having to punt once again, and the Bulldogs would start their next drive in Miners territory. Shortly after, Matt Frame would bust one for 37 yards for the score, Bulldogs now leading 43 to 7 with under a minute to go in the 3rd quarter.

Now with the “mercy rule” in play, Minersville would get the ball but again, had to punt with 10 minutes to go in the game. For the first time in the game, the Bulldogs would turn the ball over, a lost fumble would give the ball to the Miners with 8 minutes to play at the Bulldogs 43 yard line. Minersville backup quarterback, Lorenzo Yourey would capitalize and connect with Jason Cullen for 38 yards and the score with just under six minutes to play. On the Bulldogs next possession, they would run time off the clock, eventually punting to the Miners with about 2 minutes to play. The Miners couldn’t get much done and the game would end with the score 43 to 14 Northern Lehigh winning.

After the game, Minersville HC said, “We knew they’re high powered, we knew what they wanted to do, so we wanted to slow the game down, our kids did exactly what we wanted on the first drive, our kids played great, and we have most of them back next year.”

Game Stats:
Northern Lehigh QB finished 11 of 12 for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns
Johnny Adams finished 3 of 5 for 63 yards before the injury
Lorenzo Yourey finished 6 of 8 for 54 yards and 2 total touchdowns(1 passing, 1 rushing)
Matt Frame of Northern Lehigh finished the game with 9 carries for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns

Up Next for the Bulldogs, now (8-3), is the District XI Championship vs Palmerton Blue Bombers(9-2) who defeated Catasauqua in a rout 47 to 7. The game will be played at Lehighton’s Multi-Purpose Stadium Saturday November 13th at 12:00pm. This will be a rematch from a couple weeks ago in which Palmerton lost to Northern Lehigh 43 to 14.

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