Momentum is key in football.

Momentum can transform what was once a close ball game into a rout in the blink of an eye.For North Schuylkill, a momentum change right before the end of the first half enabled the Spartans to walk out of Men of Marian Stadium with a 26-7 Anthracite League Football League victory.The crucial Spartans play came with just 17 seconds left in the second quarter. North Schuylkill (2-2) trailed the Colts (3-1) 7-6, but were driving having reached Marian's 32-yard line. Enter the unknown and rarely mentioned Jonathan Smith. Smith and quarterback Bobby Grigas hooked up for a huge 32-yard pitch and catch, giving the Spartans a 12-7 lead, heading into intermission.The big play between Smith and Grigas gave the Spartans a momentum advantage that would inevitably win North Schuylkill the ball game. After that play, the Spartans scored two more unanswered touchdowns to seal the deal."The difference was that play right before the half where we gave them a touchdown," said Marian Coach Stan Dakosty. "We just couldn't get anything going after that. Give credit to North Schuylkill, that's a good football team."The North Schuylkill defense, which has shown flashes of good defensive play this season turned in a complete effort, allowing just seven points and 225 yards of offense. The Spartans also put pressure on Marian quarterback Ethan Kuczynski throughout the night, sacking him five times.It was the kind-of performance Spartans head coach Wally Hall knew his team was capable of."We've shown at times this season that we can be a pretty good defensive ball club, but have yet to put together a full game," said Hall."Tonight was a big step forward for us on defense and we played tough against a very talented football team. I'm real proud of the way our guys played and it's something we can build off."Another big reason for the Spartans' success on Friday was the improved health of quarterback Bobby Grigas. Grigas has been hamperedby an ankle injury since week one that occurred in the Tamaqua game, but looked to be back at full strength against the Colts. The senior signal caller constantly extended plays for North Schuylkill and threw for 142 yards and three touchdowns."We really wanted this win and needed this win tonight," said Grigas. "Whether it was an extra block or an extra tackle or an extra catch, everyone really stepped up tonight. We knew we had to get it done. We're a team you can never count out."For Marian, the road to an Anthracite Football League title doesn't get any easier with both Lehighton and Blue Mountain still left on the schedule."This is a disappointing loss for us tonight, there's no doubt about it," said Dakosty."It doesn't get any easier the rest of the way either, so we have to get back to work and get better."WONDERFUL WAGNER. ... Junior Bobby Wagner stepped up to the plate on both offense and defense on Friday, having to take more of a pivotal role in the Spartans offense due to some North Schuylkill injuries, Wagner came through with a huge 30-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter to put the Spartans up 20-7. Wagner also came through with a game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter.ONE WIN AWAY. ... Marian coach Stan Dakosty and the Colts weren't able to come away with the vaunted coach's 300th win on Friday. Dakosty and the Colts will try to pick up the monumental win next week against Blue Mountain.INJURY BUG. ... Even though the Spartans won the battle on Friday they very well could've lost the war, losing both starting running back Pat Gownley and receiver Jordan Marlow to leg injuries for the game. The severity of their injuries were not confirmed after the game, but it didn't look good as both were on crutches after the ball game.