PEN ARGYL - The last time Tamaqua qualified for the District 11 football playoffs, this year's senior class was still in middle school.

Although each of the last three seasons produced a .500 or better record, it wasn't enough to get the Raiders back into the postseason.That changed this season as Tamaqua earned a spot in the Class 3A quarterfinals.The results weren't what the Raiders were hoping for, however, as they dropped a 31-13 setback to the Pen Argyl."We came close to making the playoffs the last few years only to come up a little short," Tamaqua head coach Sam Bonner said. "It was just great to see the guys get a chance to get this program back in this kind of playoff atmosphere."It was a great opportunity coming up here and getting our program back into districts."Tamaqua hung close to the Green Knights early and trailed just 10-7 at halftime.But Pen Argyl reeled off 21 unaswered points in the third quarter to take control.The Green Knights' Logan Ruppert broke free for a 43-yard run before being brough down just short of the end zone. He then finished it off with a two-yard TD run.The big plays continued for Pen Argyl as Ruppert raced 64 yards for a score and Logan Sterner went 50 yards for a TD to extend the lead to 31-7."I thought we had guys in position to make the plays, but they ended up breaking some of our tackles," Bonner said. "Give credit to Pen Argyl.They ran hard and turned plays that could have been tackles for losses into big gains."Trailing 31-7 entering the final period, Tamaqua didn't go down without a fight.Quarterback Thad Zuber hit Eddie Titus for a 12-yard touchdown reception with 3:14 left in the game. And, with 33.7 seconds remaining, Nick Breiner capped a seven play, 69-yard drive with a seven-yard TD run."I have been proud of them all year for carrying that never give-up attitude," Bonner said. "Our kids played tough all year. We played some tough teams - like Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven - and we played with them right to the fourth quarter."We just don't give up and today we showed it again."FRESHMAN PHENOM ... Nate Boyle made the most of his first District 11 playoff appearance. After only having 28 yards on six carries in the first half, the Blue Raiders' freshman shook off the nerves and went off to finish with 107 yards on 14 carries.SENIOR MOMENT ... Seniors Zeke Wassell, Chance Szabo, Matt Weaver and Eddie Titus represented the Raiders as captains for the coin toss. Josh Derrick, Joshua Gordon, Jordan Georgis and Adam Klatka are also part of the Blue Raiders' senior class.FINAL FOUR SET ... The District 11 Class 3A semifinals are scheduled for next weekend as Pen Argyl will take on Palisades and North Schuylkill will face Notre Dame of Green Pond.