FOUNTAIN SPRINGS – Talk about the undercurrent and you can talk about Lehighton’s football team.

The Indians can’t seem to get their footing, sort of like being in a rough ocean with the undertow just pulling them down and under.

Friday night in Spartan Stadium, Lehighton fell once again. This one was a 42-7 blitzing from North Schuylkill, one of the top Class 3A teams in District 11.

The victory for the Spartans (8-1, 3-1) keeps alive their hopes of claiming the Schuylkill League Division 1 trophy that was Lehighton’s a year ago.

After Jim Thorpe’s 21-14 victory over Tamaqua last night, things are still in a tizzy in Division 1.

North Schuylkill warded off the Indians in the second half breaking free of a 10-7 halftime lead by scoring 32 unanswered points. The speedy Spartan defense was a killer for the Indians as they intercepted three passes turning those into 24 points. They also had a safety in the game to account for 26 of their points.

“They are so relentless on defense. They create big problems,” said Lehighton’s coach Tom McCarroll. “First off, they are a dynamic football team, and they have all that speed. We played a heck of a first half. We competed with a very good football team. We matched their physicality.”

Where it began was favorable and within reach for the Indians. After North Schuylkill marched 59 yards and scored on a 2-yard touchdown run by Mitch Wagner, who also ran in for the PAT, Lehighton (4-5, 1-3 SFL D-I) answered quickly.

A big-strike pass from quarterback Chris Whiteman to speedy Zack Crum produced a 78-yard pass and catch to draw the Indians within 8-7.

The scored stayed that way until late in the half when the Spartans got a safety to make it 10-7.

“They have great athletes, especially (Jaden) Leiby, and they’ve got some tough kids (to run) inside,” Said McCarroll. “We did compete, especially early on. But we need to play a complete game, not just one half.”

Therein lies the tale of the tape.

North Schuylkill got a quick pick from freshman Jake Hall at the Lehighton 21 to start the second half. Six plays later,Tyler Elsdon strong armed his way from nine yards out for an 18-7 lead.

The roof then collapsed on Lehighton in the final quarter.

First, North Schuylkill made it 26-7 on an eight-play, 35-yard drive after Lehighton shanked an 11-yard punt. Elsdon rumbled two yards for the score.

The Spartans then picked off two more passes and capitalized on them for a pair of scores to blow it open. Having a short field to traverse, the Spartans needed six plays to go 20 yards with Leiby (23-179) zipping the final 12. Green then capped another short drive with a five-yard run.

CHOAS AT THE TOP ... Tamaqua is currently finished its league schedule with a 4-1 record. North Schuylkill can claim a piece of the crown but it must defeat Pottsville Friday on the road. Jim Thorpe must travel to Lehighton that same night and win there if they want a share of the crown in a potential three-way tie. A two-way tie between North Schuylkill and Tamaqua will give the title to Tamaqua based on head-to-head results. A two-way tie between Jim Thorpe and Tamaqua gives the championship to the Olympians based on their win last night.

NO ANSWER … Jaden Leiby’s footspeed was far superior then anyone the Indians had to try and contain him. Leiby is quick, heady and tough. He darts outside, and takes on a defender going full bore.

STANDOUTS … Even though the Indians were struggling in the second half they got some great effort from Ben Schatz, Jacob Hauser, Dakota Heister and Zack Hunsicker.