KINTNERSVILLE – Ethan Recker couldn’t remember having a game like the one at Palisades Friday night.

His teammates also haven’t had one like that in a while.

Recker intercepted three passes – one for a touchdown – and scored a rushing touchdown to lead Palmerton to a 47-6 dismantling of Palisades at Walter T. Rohrer Stadium.

“I have never had a game like this ­ — even when I was little,” said Recker. “This is awesome. The whole team came together and we all stepped in and did our jobs.

“We were all hungry. We had a bad taste in our mouth from Northern Lehigh last year (a season-ending loss). We wanted to start off on a good note, and we did.”

Initially, it looked like another long ride home from Upper Bucks County for the Bombers when Palisades’ Mason Smeland scooted around left tackle for a 74-yard touchdown gallop on the game’s first play from scrimmage.

“I am really proud of our kids,” said Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak. “They executed our game plan and they were resilient especially after the first play of the game.

“It could have went either way, but they bounced back and kept on playing.”

Palmerton quickly answered with a four-play, 88-yard drive highlighted by Andrew Sabo’s 78-yard burst that led to Recker’s three-yard dash up the middle. Jordan Nelson added the extra point and the Blue Bombers were ahead to stay at 7-6 with 10:44 left in the opening quarter.

With the Blue Bombers holding a 14-6 lead late in the first half, Recker ended what could have been a momentum-changing drive by Palisades when he snared an interception on a fourth down play at the Palmerton 24.

“Ethan Recker had a heckava game,” said Walkowiak. “He is a resilient kid and he made plays and stepped up. He is a hard-nosed, blue-collar kid. I just love what he does for us.”

Palisades first-year head coach Ramie Moussa saw the game turn on Recker’s pick.

“If score there, it could have been a different ball game,” said Moussa. “But Palmerton took the game to us. They came after us and we couldn’t get in sync.”

From there, it was all Palmerton. The Blue Bombers’ defense adjusted well all night and had a steady read on all three Palisades’ quarterbacks, limiting them to only four completions out of 18 attempts while intercepting four passes.

One of those picks turned into a TD when Nelson tipped a pass in the air and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Offensively, the Blue Bombers received strong efforts from sophomore Lucas Heydt and freshman Cole Serfass. Heydt scored on a 5-yard plow and a 19-yard burst, and Serfass ran for most of his 45 yards after halftime.

Sabo was the Blue Bombers’ leading rusher with 100 yards.

“Lucas Heydt did a great job managing the game, and Cole Serfass had a good game and he ran well,” said Walkowiak. “We have had some miserable rides home from this place, but we are going to enjoy it tonight.”

A LONG TIME ... With their convincing win, Palmerton beat Palisades for the first time since 2010.

A FULL NELSON ... The versatile Nelson spent his time at running back, quarterback and receiver on offense as well as kicking extra points. His play apparently did cause a wrinkle in the Palisades’ game plans as the Pirates coaches expected to see him at quarterback. “Jordan is such a great athlete than can play all over the place,” said Walkowiak. “That’s going to be part of our ammunition all year with him and some other players.”