This week’s Overtime column will lead off with a unit that has grown accustomed to receiving accolades in recent years — the Jim Thorpe defense.

In addition, we’ll have some interesting information on safeties, Mercy Rule games, and area receivers, among other topics.

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We’re only two weeks into the season, but there is a familiar name sitting atop the defensive leaderboard in the Times News area.

Despite heavy graduation losses, Jim Thorpe once again leads all area teams in total defense and scoring defense — a position it occupied all of last season.

There is still a lot of football left to play, but early indications are that the Olympians’ vaunted “Red Swarm” defense is a force to be reckoned with once again.

Last year’s Jim Thorpe defense was one for the ages, allowing just 6.1 points and 114.8 yards per game. The Olympians also posted five shutouts on their way to a 9-2 season.

But coach Mark Rosenberger’s squad lost seven starters from that unit, including the teams’ top six tacklers. Among the graduates were two-time All-State selection Dylan Dailey, and four other All-League or All-County selections in Ethan Mourdant, Colin Jacobs, Austin Williams and Nate Rosahac.

“Last year’s defense was a once-in -a-lifetime group,” said Rosenberger. “They put up numbers that no other team has done in my 21 years here as head coach.

“They set a standard that will be almost impossible to duplicate. But we aren’t going to be comparing this year’s defense to that group. We want these kids to establish their own identity — not try and duplicate last year’s.”

Through two games, that new identity has been impressive, as Jim Thorpe has allowed just 3.5 points and 71.0 yards per game.

“We had a nice nucleus of returning players, so that gave us a great starting point,” explained Rosenberger about why Jim Thorpe’s defense has seemed to reload and not rebuild this season. “Dom Madera, Kendall Herron, Noah Snisky and TJ Garritano are all kids that played key roles for us last season, and have also been really good through our scrimmage and first two games this season.

“We also have been getting great play from Derek Hunter, AJ Bailor, Gabe Herschman, and a number of other people. We preach team defense and everyone doing their job, and so far that’s what we’ve been getting from this group.”

Jim Thorpe opened the season with a 10-7 victory over Schuylkill Haven, limiting the Hurricanes’ two-time All-State halfback Kobe Brish to just 86 yards on the ground. The Olympians followed that by blanking Marian this past Friday, holding the Colts to just 10 yards of total offense.

While this year’s defense might not match the 2018 defense in size, talent or experience, Rosenberger hasn’t been surprised by its play.

“We are doing a nice job of playing fundamentally-sound defense,” Rosenberger said. “Our kids have really excelled at things like reading their keys, being alignment sound, flying to the football, and being good tacklers. That has produced nice results so far.

“But we also know that we have a lot of work to do yet. We have to continue to improve every time we go out on the field. This defense is by no means a finished product.”

As good as Jim Thorpe has been through the first two games, that could be a scary thought for opposing teams down the road.

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FOUR SCORE FOR RODDA ... Northwestern’s Justin Rodda had a memorable night in the Tigers’ 38-17 victory over Salisbury last Thursday.

The junior wide receiver tied a school record with four touchdown catches in a single game.

Over the past 25 years, Rodda is just one of four Times News area players to have four TD receptions in one contest. The others include Northwestern’s Cam Richardson (Oct. 3, 2014), Pleasant Valley’s Justin Richardson (Oct. 14, 2016) and Lehighton’s Anthony Farole (Oct. 22, 2010).

How much has the passing game developed at Northwestern? During Thursday’s home contest, the school honored the 1995 Colonial League and District 11 championship team. That squad had only one touchdown pass the entire season.

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MATT ATTACK ... Tamaqua’s Matt Kistler set a school record in the first week of the season when he finished with 192 receiving yards. Last Friday, in the second week, the senior followed his career night with three catches for 102 yards.

The last time the Blue Raiders had a player record back-to-back 100-yard receiving games to open the season was in 1992, when Bill Angst totaled 116 against Mount Carmel in Week 1 and finished with 133 the next week against Minersville.

Over the past 30 years, there are only three other Tamaqua players to have notched back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. They include Nate Boyle (Oct. 5 and Oct. 12, 2018), Caleb Shilko (Oct. 20 and Oct. 29, 2007) and Noel Powell (Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, 1997).

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SAFETY FIRST ... Northern Lehigh jumped out to a 2-0 lead last Thursday when the Bulldogs were credited with a safety after a Catasauqua snap went out of the end zone.

The last time the Bulldogs opened a game’s scoring with two points was Oct. 26, 2007 (127 games ago) during a 30-0 victory over — you guessed it — Catasauqua. Ironically, the safety in that game also occurred the same way — as a Rough Rider snap sailed out of the end zone.

Northwestern also registered a safety in its victory over Salisbury. While the Tigers have now had 16 safeties since 1987, none have come as the game’s first points.

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MERCY ME ... Jim Thorpe raced to a 35-0 halftime lead in its game against Marian last Friday.

The 35-point margin allowed the Olympians to play the entire second half with the Mercy Rule.

Since the Mercy Rule entered PIAA games in 1998, Thorpe has built a 35-or-more-point lead at the break 15 different times. Among Times News area teams, that ranks second behind Northern Lehigh’s 19.

The other area schools and their Mercy Rule leads at halftime are Northwestern (10), Tamaqua (9), Marian (8), Lehighton (7), Palmerton (7), Pleasant Valley (7) and Panther Valley (2).