North Schuylkill at Tamaqua

WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.RECORDS: North Schuylkill 5-0 (5-0 Anthracite Football League); Tamaqua 2-3 (2-1 Anthracite Football League)LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: North Schuylkill def. Marian 39-21; Pleasant Valley def. Tamaqua 28-14NORTH SCHUYLKILL'S IMPACT PLAYERS: RB Mike Shinkus (21-200-2 TDs rush), QB Ryan Henning (4-10-17 pass, 8-14-TD rush)TAMAQUA'S IMPACT PLAYERS: RB Jarred Muffley (24-107 rush) RB Dalton Nunemacher (6-103-TD rush), RB Tyler Hope (5-56-TD rush)KEYS TO THE GAME: The Tamaqua defense's main concern in Shinkus. He is more of a strong back than he is quick and elusive. Still, the Raiders expect to see a little more passing out of the Spartans. Henning is being recruited from some D1-AA schools. Tamaqua will have to throw the ball itself if it wants to take North Schuylkill's attention away from the running game. The Raiders will look to get some of their athletes on the outside and into some space.FAST FACTS: North Schuylkill's offense continued to roll last week and is second (Pius X, 49.2) in all of District 11 with 46.4 points-per-game. However, the Spartans' defense did yield 21 points to Marian - the most they have given up this year. Tamaqua's run game worked well again last week as it racked up over 270 yards on the ground. They will be up for a test this week. The Spartans allowed an average of just two yards per carry to Marian last week.QUOTABLE: "This week will be a big one. We are 2-3 and North Schuylkill is an excellent team. We will need to play a full four quarters. We have been playing good football, but we will need to play an entire game against North Schuylkill." Tamaqua's Head Coach Sam BonnerMinersville at Jim ThorpeWHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.RECORDS: Minersville 4-1 (3-1 Anthracite Football League); Jim Thorpe 0-5 (0-4 Anthracite Football League)LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Minersville def. Mahanoy Area 34-21; Shenandoah Valley def. Jim Thorpe 42-16MINERSVILLE'S IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Cole Weachock (23-108-TD rush, 2-7-35-TD pass), RB Billy Powanda (12-51-TD rush), RB Chris Murphy (6-45-TD rush)JIM THORPE'S IMPACT PLAYERS: WR PJ Johnson (5-77-TD rec), QB Pat Duvigneaud (11-21-128-TD pass), WR Khaaliq Lynch (1-10 rec, 2-18 rush)KEYS TO THE GAME: The Olympians have a lot of youth starting this week due to injury (nine freshman) so they will have to grow up fast on the defensove side of the football. The Miners have a good rushing attack and Thorpe will have to be fundamentally sound in the tackling game to limit the success of the Miners' rushers.FAST FACTS: The Miners have averaged 31 points in their four wins. Meanwhile, the Olympians are giving up over 45 points-per-game, which is third-to-last in all of District 11. Jim Thorpe has had Minersville's number as of late, as it has won the last three meetings. Those games has been decided by nine points or less.QUOTABLE: "Our play-makers have to do a better job of making big plays. We had some opportunities last week to make some big plays and we didn't execute at times. We also have to cause some turnovers and try to get our running game going this week. It's important for us not to be one-dimensional on the offensive side of the football." Jim Thorpe Head Coach Mark RosenbergerLehighton at East Stroudsburg SouthWHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.RECORDS: Lehighton 2-3 (0-2 Mountain Valley Conference); East Stroudsburg South 1-4 (1-1 Mountain Valley Conference)LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Pocono Mt. East def. Lehighton 35-28; Stroudsburg def. East Stroudsburg South 59-19LEHIGHTON'S IMPACT PLAYERS: RB Jacen Nalesnik (7-26-TD rush, 11-191-3 TDs rec), QB Josh Agosto (17-29-226-3 TDs pass, 9-55 rush)EAST STROUDSBURG SOUTH'S IMPACT PLAYERS: RB Marquis Harp (80-yd TD rec, 35-yd TD INT), QB Tyler McLaughlin (TD rush)KEYS TO THE GAME: The Indians have to do a better job of stopping big plays this week. Last week Pocono Mtn. East got a big play every time they needed it and that proved to be the demise of the Indians. The Indians defense was playing well up until last week's game and should bounce back this week against the Cavaliers.FAST FACTS: East Stroudsburg South committed four turnovers in its loss last week. Stroudsburg intercepted one and returned for a touchdown, while the other three were fumble recoveries that were later converted into scores. The Cavaliers have given up 49, 28, 48 and 59 points in their four losses this year. Lehighton's three losses have been by a combined total of 13 points, including a one-point loss to Pleasant Valley.QUOTABLE: "Our defense needs to settle down a little this week. We also can't rely on the long ball so much this week with Agosto and Nalesnik. We have to mix it up with the run game and cut down our mistakes." Lehighton Head Coach George EbbertPanther Valley at MarianWHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.RECORDS: Panther Valley 1-4 (1-2 Anthracite Football League); Marian 2-3 (1-2 Anthracite Football League)LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Schuylkill Haven def. Panther Valley 16-6; North Schuylkill def. Marian 39-21PANTHER VALLEY'S IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Mike Weaver (3-6-111-TD pass), QB/WR Nick McArdle (1-53-TD rec, 2-6-24 pass)MARIAN'S IMPACT PLAYERS: RB Paul Martin (17-13-TD rush, 2-3 rec), QB Ryan Karnish (3-12-13-TD pass, 3-8 rush), DB Phil Schron (INT TD)KEYS TO THE GAME: The Panthers need to concern themselves with stopping the Colts' rushing attack. They have struggled with trying to stop teams with good running games so in order for the Panthers to have a chance in this one they have to stop Marian's runners. The Colts need to get back on track after losing three straight games. The Colts are bigger than the Panthers up front ans need to take advantage in the trenches.FAST FACTS: Panther Valley is averaging under eight points-per-game in its four losses this year and are 0-3 at home. Since winning its first two games by a combined score of 60-34, Marian has been outscored by 70 points in its last three games (110-40). Panther Valley has won the last three contests between the two teams, including last season in which it was the Panthers' only win of the year.QUOTABLE: "Bottom-line, we have to be a more physical football team. We have not played well aganist physical football teams this year like Marian, so we need to play a physical brand of football if we want to win the ball-game." Panther Valley Head Coach Lon Hazlet"We showed some positives against North Schuylkill last week. We have shot ourselves in the foot at times this season with some mistakes, and we need to cut down on them. Panther Valley has some talented skill players that we have to key on and we have a ton of respect for PV. This is a big rivalry game in the area and it should provide an exciting atmosphere for everybody involved." Marian Head Coach Stan DakostyPalmerton at NorthwesternWHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.RECORDS: Palmerton 3-2 (3-2 Colonial League); Northwestern 4-1 (4-1 Colonial League)LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Palmerton def. Palisades 7-6; Northwestern def. Notre Dame 19-7PALMERTON'S IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Cody Grohotolski (6-13-160-TD pass, 5-15 rush), WR Monty Szukics (3-66-TD rec), WR Travis Wolfe (2-69 rec), RB Alex Vignone (13-20 rush)NORTHWESTERN'S IMPACT PLAYERS: QB/RB Ty Cunningham (19-182-3 TDs rush), QB Ben Snyder, RB Payton BachmanKEYS TO THE GAME: The Tigers can't afford to look past Palmerton to the brutal schedule that awaits them. Their next four opponents after the Bombers are all currently 5-0. On Friday, they'll look to stop Grohotolski, who has accounted for well over half of the Bombers' 951 total yards this season. The senior signal caller has thrown for 434 yards and run for 169 this season. The Bombers will have their hands full with Northwestern's three offensive weapons in Cunningham, Snyder and Bachman. Palmerton is hoping to limit their big plays and make the Tigers earn their touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Bombers' coaching staff is somewhat concerned with the team's lack of offensive production, but feels they are capable of scoring if they limit their mistakes and finish drives. They will want to control the ball this week in hopes of keeping it away from the Tigers' offense.FAST FACTS: Northwestern has outscored its opponents by nearly 30 points in its four wins this year. On the other side, Palmerton has had some trouble putting points on the board. The Bombers have only scored over 20 points once this year and have scored a combined seven points over the last two weeks. The Tigers have won the last two meetings by a combined total of 82-35.QUOTABLE: "This will be the toughest Palmerton team we've seen in a few years. Their quarterback is the one who runs the show. He finds receivers. He moves in the pocket and he's a threat to run teh ball," Northwestern Head Coach Tom Linette"Northwestern is a very well coached team with a bunch of athletes. They will be a great challenge for us, as well as a measuring stick to see where we stand this season." Palmerton Head Coach Chris WalkowiakPleasant Valley at Pocono Mt. WestWHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.RECORDS: Pleasant Valley 3-2 (1-0 Mountain Valley Conference); Pocono Mt. West 0-5 (0-2 Mountain Valley Conference)LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Pleasant Valley def. Tamaqua 28-14; East Stroudsburg North def. Pocono Mt. West 35-27PLEASANT VALLEY'S IMPACT PLAYERS: RB Rob Getz (23-186-TD rush, 3-20 rec, KR TD), WR Andrew Romeo (4-83-2 TD rec), LB Dakota Everett, LB Matt Scarnulis, DE Marquis BrownPOCONO MT. WEST'S IMPACT PLAYERS: QB Jeff Krisiak (21-35-255-2 TDs pass, 9-41-2 TDs rush), WR Dwayne Vines (7-84 rec),KEYS TO THE GAME: Pocono Mountain West allowed 301 rushing yards last week. That should bode well for Pleasant Valley, who racked up 229 yards on the ground against Tamaqua. Getz had 186 of those yards with most of them coming out of the I-Formation. As they have done for most of the year, look for the Bears to ride Getz offensively. Panthers' quarterback Krisiak presents the biggest danger for the Pleasant Valley defense. He is more than capable of throwing the ball, as he racked up 255 and two scores through the air. He can run as well, so the Bears must keep an eye on him throughout the night.FAST FACTS: The Bears and the Panthers have gone on a string of wins when facing each other. Since the two teams began playing in 2002, the Bears have won five of the nine matchups including last year's contest. Pleasant Valley won the first four meetings (2002-05), before West went on to win the next four (2006-09).QUOTABLE: "Although West doesn't have any wins so far this season, we aren't going to take them lightly. We never take anyone lightly. They have a dangerous quarterback in Krisiak that can go the distance at any moment, so we will have to be on our toes at all times. This is another round in the MVC fight and we will be ready to go." - Pleasant Valley Head Coach Jim Terwilliger