Northern Lehigh-Northwestern

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.RECORDS: Northern Lehigh (5-3, 5-3 CL); Northwestern (7-1, 7-1 CL)LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Southern Lehigh def. Northern Lehigh, 40-7; Northwestern def. Palmerton, 50-21.IMPACT PLAYERS: Northern Lehigh - Bulldogs are looking at two offensive linemen, Cameron Kates and Ethan Caldwell, to help open some holes for the Bulldog running game. Tout said that the Bulldogs aren't going to back down from any team's best player. Northwestern - Senior Jason Pechacek has made himself into one of the stronger centers in the Colonial League. After moving over from the defensive side of the ball to fill a hole on the O-line that was created by multiple graduations, Pechacek has taken to the new role. After adding strength and weight during the off-season, Pechacek may have lost a step and doesn't play defensively, but is garnering attention for his play offensively. Pechacek's ability allows the Tigers to use him to pull on some running plays, opening up holes for the likes of Frank Dangello and Harry Hall to run through. Most teams don't have a center athletic enough to handle that responsibility.FAST FACTS: The rivalry game will benefit the Bo Tkach "Under the Helmet" Foundation and the Tackle ALS/Brett Snyder Medical Fund. After a hiatus during the 2013 campaign, the Northwestern Athletic Department, with the help of Jim Tkach and Ron Kuntz, has re-energized its efforts in raising awareness for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and other mental health issues students are faced with, as well as the fight against ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Both schools are proud to announce that the 2014 version of the Northwestern vs. Northern Lehigh varsity football game will now and forever be known as "Bo and Brett's Mountain Road Rumble," because Mountain Road serves as the main thoroughfare between Slatington and New Tripoli ... The Bulldogs strength has been their run defense, while the Tigers strength has been their run offense so something has to give ... With Saucon Valley and Southern Lehigh both winning last week, there are still three teams at 7-1 in the Colonial League standings. The league recognizes any teams finishing with the top record in the league as co-champions … Northwestern stands second in the District 11 AA Rankings, behind North Schuylkill, who are ranked fifth in the state. Palisades currently stands third, followed by Northern Lehigh and Palisades … Last year's win over Northern Lehigh was the Tigers first win over the Bulldogs since a playoff win in 2002 and was their first regular season win over Northern Lehigh since 2001.QUOTABLE: "It's real fundamental. We just have to play good solid football to have an opportunity to win this game. You have to limit the turnovers. You've watched what they've done and they've been explosive." - Northern Lehigh head coach Joe Tout."He's (Nate Farber) a hard-nosed, tough runner and the defense has to read their keys and swarm to the football. You don't want to try to tackle him one-on-one, you look to gang tackle him and hope to contain him as much as you can." - Northwestern head coach Josh Snyder.Blue Mountain-Jim ThorpeWHEN: Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.RECORDS: Blue Mountain (6-2, 5-2 AFL); Jim Thorpe (7-1, 6-1 AFL)LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Blue Mountain def. Tamaqua, 14-6; North Schuylkill def. Jim Thorpe, 43-0.IMPACT PLAYERS: Blue Mountain - Wide receiver Adam Hull caught two touchdown passes from Sean Greenawalt last week. Hull finished with two grabs for 76 yards. The senior leads the team with 172 yards on just six receptions an average of 28.7 yards per catch this season to go along with four scores. Jim Thorpe - Wide receiver Ryan Carroll sparked the Olympians' offense in an unconventional way last week, completing a 44-yard pass to quarterback Shane Snisky on a flea flicker early in the first quarter. Carroll also carried the ball seven times for 39 yards.FAST FACTS: The Eagles held the Raiders to just 90 yards on the ground. Bud Moyer, who came in with over 900 yards rushing, was held to just 59 yards on 22 carries. Tamaqua's defense held the Eagles to 226 yards of offense, including 28 in the first half. Blue Mountain did much better in the second half, led by Christian Gosch, who had 61 of his 67 yards over the final 24 minutes ... Jim Thorpe allowed just 61 points in seven outings just below nine points per game to start the season. But the Olympians were gashed for over 450 yards while surrendering 43 points in last Friday's loss to undefeated North Schuylkill ... Blue Mountain won last year's game 49-19. The Eagles lead the series 2-0 after also winning the 2012 contest (47-20), which was the first ever meeting between the two schools ... Jim Thorpe's final two games of the season will be at home, where the Olympians are 3-0 this season ... Those final two contests will come against schools Blue Mountain and Lehighton that sport combined records of 12-4. The Eagles and Indians are also strong on the road, with the two teams coming in with combined marks of 7-0 away from home.QUOTABLE: "We just have to get better everywhere. After last week, there was a lot for us to work on. We know that these next two weeks are critical when it comes to where we'll be heading into into the postseason." - Jim Thorpe Head coach Mark Rosenberger.Marian-Shenandoah ValleyWHEN: Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.RECORDS: Marian (5-3, 4-3 AFL); Shenandoah Valley (0-8, 0-8 AFL)LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Marian def. Mahanoy Area, 21-14; Lehighton def. Shenandoah Valley, 45-7.IMPACT PLAYERS: Marian - Joe Damiano (Linebacker) stepped up and helped the Colts shut down the Golden Bears in the second half of last week's victory. Damiano posted 14 tackles and one for a loss at a critical moment late in the game. Shenandoah Valley - Junior tailback Jeremy Urbanavage carried the ball 22 times for 136 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season last week against Lehighton. Urbanavage has racked up 221 yards on 48 carries so far this year, and has also shown his value on defense, recording 44 tackles (19 solo) in addition to causing and recovering one fumble.FAST FACTS: The Colts hold the 9-7 all-time series lead over the Blue Devils … Marian has put up a combined 61 points during its last two victories after being shut out by Lehighton three weeks ago … Shenandoah Valley is looking to get on the board this season, the Blue Devils have scored just 14 points in their last four contests … Shenandoah has allowed 297 points this year which is last in the AFL ...This is a huge game for Marian, who is currently in second place in the District 11 Class A standings ... Last week against Lehighton, Shenandoah had just 18 players dressed for the game. The Blue Devils had 33 players on the roster at the start of the season, but a combination of injuries and some players leaving the program has that number down to 18.QUOTABLE: "Last week we initially fell behind and didn't play well defensively. At halftime we made some adjustments and had a great effort in the second half. Our seniors displayed great leadership on the field. We are taking it one day at a time and our total focus is now on Shenandoah Valley." - Marian head coach Stan Dakosty.Panther Valley-MinersvilleWHEN: Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.RECORDS: Panther Valley (1-7, 1-6 AFL); Minersville (1-7, 1-7 AFL)LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Hanover Area def. Panther Valley, 34-0; Schuylkill Haven def. Minersville, 48-14.IMPACT PLAYERS - Panther Valley - Tristian Blasko made his first career start behind center as a freshman during last week's loss at Hanover Area. Blasko is a big, athletic young athlete who one could expect to see time under center again this week. Minersville - Storm Fekette is one of the more athletic receivers on the Minersville roster. Last week against Schuylkill Haven, Fekette recorded two grabs for 85 yards which included a 76-yard touchdown.FAST FACTS - Minersville is 11-9 against Panther Valley since 1984. The Panthers rolled to a 36-8 victory last season but the Miners captured the three games prior to that … Last week against Hanover Area, the Panthers were limited to just three first downs and 17 yards of total offense. However, the Panthers played much better in the second half as they limited the Hawkeyes to just six total points and recorded two interceptions … Minersville has a host of players who can throw the ball. Johanthan McBreen, Kei'dre Taylor, and Dylan Stephen have all thrown passes this season … Despite the loss last week, Minersville produced 12 first downs and 160 yards on the ground.QUOTABLE: "We told our kids that you can throw the records and everything else out the window. It comes down to who wants win number two more. We're sticking with the guys on the field who we can trust and that we know can do their job. We need to avoid big plays and make Minersville put together some drives. If we do that, I think we will be in a good position at the end of the game." - Panther Valley head coach Matt Davis.Pleasant Valley-PM EastWHEN: Saturday, Oct. 25 at 11 a.m.RECORDS: Pleasant Valley (5-3, 5-3 EPC); Pocono Mountain East (1-7, 1-7)LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Pleasant Valley def. East Stroudsburg North, 17-7; Emmaus def. Pocono Mountain East, 28-7.IMPACT PLAYERS: Pleasant Valley - Junior two-way lineman Matthew Burke quietly had a good game last week against East Stroudsburg North. It was Burke's pressure on ES North quarterback Thomas Melchiorre on fourth down late in the game that clinched the victory for the Bears. But Burke also had a solid game offensively, getting a nice block downfield on a third-and-10 pass to Eric Marbury that went for 22 yards. The block allowed Marbury to spring loose and set up a 35-yard field goal by Dean Krcic. Pocono Mountain East - Tailback Jaylin Barmer scored the Cardinals' only touchdown during last week's game against Emmaus. Barmer is also a two-way player, and sets the tone for the defense as the middle linebacker. Barmer notched a season-high 14 tackles in a loss to East Stroudsburg North in Week 4.FAST FACTS: Pleasant Valley won last year's meeting 28-22 and have won five straight and 13 of the last 15 in the series. The Cardinals' two wins during that span came in 2007-08, when they posted shutout victories of 14-0 and 7-0 ... After rushing for 227 yards in Pleasant Valley's 41-34 win over Dieruff, the Bears were without standout junior tailback Austyn Borre last week, who was out with an injury. Eric Marbury filled the void nicely, rushing for over 100 yards in the victory. Over half of Marbury's yards came in the second half, when Pleasant Valley outscored ES North 7-0 on the strength of Brandon Kuehner's second touchdown pass of the game, this time to Kevin Cruz with just over one minute to play ... The Bears are the only TN area team to have more passing yards than rushing yards. They also have three players with over 200 yards receiving.QUOTABLE: "You never know what opportunity you are going to have later in life to play football down the road. We are only guaranteed two more games. The postseason is not guaranteed, so I want them to sacrifice for one another and play the game." - Pleasant Valley head coach Dave Pacchioni.Salisbury-PalmertonWHEN: Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.RECORDS: Salisbury (4-4, 4-4 CL); Palmerton (5-3, 5-3 CL)LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Salisbury def. Catasauqua, 49-14; Northwestern def. Palmerton, 50-21.IMPACT PLAYERS: Salisbury - Mason Donaldson caught two more touchdown passes in last week's win over Catasauqua. Through eight games, Donaldson has caught seven scores from QB Tevon Weber. Donaldson had a total of just nine receptions last season. Donaldson caught five balls for 65 yards last Friday. Palmerton - The Bombers need to start out with better field position than they did last week against Northwestern. Mike Stasko (on kickoffs) and Nick Sander (on punts), who continue to also have good games defensively, will look to do their job in the return department.FAST FACTS: After rushing for 104 yards in the first half last week against Cataasauqua, the Falcons' ground game carried the offense to scoring drives on four of five possessions in the final two quarters. Alex Kubinec ran for 108 of the Falcons' 342 yards. Nick Sikora totaled 84 on the ground, and Teddy Denver rushed for 65 and a score ... Donaldson's kicking game has also been a key to the Falcons' success. On Friday, he forced the Rough Riders to start at their own 20-yard line with five touchbacks. That brought his total to eight on the season. Donaldson has averaged close to 40 yards per punt through eight games, too, including a 41.5 average against Catasauqua ... Palmerton sophomore QB Garrett Perschy is closing in on the 1,000-yard mark passing entering the final two regular season games. He has completed 65 of 111 passes for 948 yards and 10 TDs.QUOTABLE: "We are in a position to control our own destiny as the season comes to an end. However, we are totally focused on Salisbury and the task at hand. We need to be consistent in all three phases of the games in terms of our fundamentals, execution and mental approach." - Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak.