One play was the difference-maker in Lehighton’s 21-13 loss to Pottsville Friday night.

Just after Indian’s quarterback Chris Whiteman led his team on a nine play, four minute scoring drive where he threaded the needle on a key third down pass to Zach Crum and fired a touchdown pass through traffic to Ben Schatz to bring the score to within a point, the ensuing kickoff changed the climate of the game in a matter of seconds.

Pottsville’s Addison Mullins caught the ball on his own 20-yard line, wove through tacklers through the middle of the field and then turned to the sideline where he outraced Lehighton’s pursuit for an 80 yard kick off TD return to put the Crimson Tide up by the margin that would become the final score.

“We had grabbed some momentum with our touchdown drive,” said Lehighton coach, Tom McCarroll, but I think that return took some of the steam out of us and we never did recover.”

The Tribe’s game opening drive was impressive as Whiteman and running back JJ McDowell covered 52 yards in 14 plays with designated fullback, No. 51, Brett Gasker, blasting over from the one to give his team a 7-0 early lead, Key plays on the drive were a third down slant pass from Whiteman to Crum that went for 11 yards that gained a first down at the Tide nine, and a shovel pass to Schatz, who carried to the three.

Crum, who continues his season as Lehighton’s go-to receiver, caught six passes on the night for 84 yards.

With the score knotted at seven, Pottsville (5 -2) turned to a successful power running game in the second half that resulted in a scoring drive and ate up a majority of the time of possession for the final two quarters.

“What we couldn’t do in the first half we did in the second,” said Pottsville coach Tom McGeoy. “We were able to get the edge with the toss and we kept them off balance with inside runs from (Kevin) DiCello, who did a real nice job of punching through the gaps our O-line was able to make.”

The Tide scored first in the third quarter on several DiCello runs and a five-yard quick strike into the end zone to Corey Holobetz.

After Lehighton (4-3) matched touchdowns that were followed by the kick return TD, Pottsville tried to run out the fourth quarter clock. But not until after The Tide had first down at the Indian’s 26-yard line, when running back Bobby Walschak fumbled the ball over at the Tribe three yard line.

But Lehighton went three and out and punted from their own seven and with six minutes to go, the Tide would run out the clock to end the game.

“Give Pottsville credit,” said McCarroll. “They answered the bell and made second half adjustments that I failed to correct. That’s on me. I have to do a better job. We came up short in all three phases of the game tonight and we knew we had to match their physicality and we didn’t do that either, especially in the second half.”

A PROBLEM WITH PICKS

... Two interceptions were key drive killers for the Tribe; one was a tipped pass near the Tide goal line with just under a minute to play in the first half.

PENALTIES LEFT IN POCKETS

... In a high school football season seemingly mired by plenty of penalty flags, officials only threw two during the game and none were called against Lehighton.