When a coach at any level of football preaches special teams after a game or in preparation for a game most on-lookers usually shake it off. Let's face it, most of the glory in football is on offense and whatever is left goes to the defense, but apparently this year's Jim Thorpe football team has taken a different approach.

With the Olympians clinging to a one-point lead with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter it was almost certain that Schuylkill Haven kicker Jason Trumbo was going to successfully kick an extra point attempt to knot things up at 14-14. The Haven score came on a 27-yard pitch and catch on fourth down between 'Canes quarterback Danny Lozada and tight end Kevin King. However, speedster Antonio Madera came flying around the left side of the Schuylkill Haven line, blocking Trumbo's attempt and keeping the Olympians in the lead. It was the second time this season that Thorpe has won a game by blocking the oppositions extra point. The first occurrence was in week three when they defeated Tamaqua 7-6.Madera's big special team play was enough to help Jim Thorpe stay undefeated as they edged the Hurricanes 14-13 for its 11th victory in its last 12 Anthracite Football League games."Every time I try and get out of special teams at practice to work on our offensive and defensive stuff coach (Craig) Zurn tells me that we need more reps or that he didn't get enough time," said Jim Thorpe coach Mark Rosenberger. "Give him credit because our kids work hard at it, we practice it a lot, and it has certainly paid off for us this season."From the start, Jim Thorpe staked its claim in the trenches going on a 15-play 85 yard scoring drive on its opening possession. The drive was capped off by a two-yard touchdown run, giving JT a 6-0 lead.The Jim Thorpe defense then took over from there keeping skilled Schuylkill Haven rushers Will Casella and Ryan Fink in check throughout the night. The "Red Swarm" "D" held Casella to just 33 yards and Fink to 78. They held the always potent Haven rushing attack to a very stingy 106 yards on the ground."We knew coming in it was going to be a battle to slow (Will) Casella and (Ryan) Fink down and I think our defense did a great job," said Rosenberger. "To hold those guys to those type of numbers isn't easy and I think it speaks volumes of how strong we are as a unit. Simply put, we're playing really passionate defense right now. We have a lot of kids who love to play defense and love being a part of our defense and that's why we're having so much success."Jim Thorpe tacked on another touchdown in the second quarter to extend its lead after a Shane Snisky one-yard plunge. Snisky ran Jim Thorpe's shotgun pistol offense to perfection throughout the night, rushing for 158 yards on 16 carries. He also did a good job of reading the Schuylkill Haven "D," orchestrating long clock-chewing drives, keeping the 'Canes offense off the field. Thorpe's Robbie Heller also continued his strong season running the football, rushing for 116 yards on 22 carries."Some of it is designed and some of it is reading the defense," said Snisky. "I was just seeing the holes really well tonight when we were bringing our running backs in motion and our line did a great job. They play their hearts out on every single play. They have my back and I have their back. Those guys play with a lot of heart."Haven made things real interesting in the second half with two big pass plays. The first came in the third quarter when Lozada found Zavier Webb for a 69-yard touchdown pass. Then came the 27-yard hookup between Lozada and King late in the fourth. With the loss, the 'Canes are now 2-3, but coach Mike Farr isn't writing his team off just yet."We're not going to panic, we have the athletes on this team to be a good football team, we just have to get stronger mentally," said Farr. "We're just in a funk right now, but we'll get out of it."