It has almost been one year since the Jim Thorpe football team has played a home game on its own field - the most recent one being an Eastern Conference championship win over Salisbury on Nov. 1, 2019.

A project involving a new playing surface, with a switch from natural grass to turf will be completed this week, allowing Thorpe to host its first true home game of the season.

Thus far this year, the Olympians have been playing their home games at Panther Valley Stadium.

The opening of Thorpe’s new field, paired with a matchup against one of the hottest teams in the Schuylkill League in Pottsville, cements this contest as the Game of the Week.

The Olympians’ (5-1, 4-1) new field, which was a project that was a long time coming, will significantly improve the playing surface that over the years during inclement weather became almost unplayable due to drainage issues.

“It’s really exciting, and the field is just beautiful and it has come out really nice,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger. “It will be a great night for our players and fans to see the new field and we’re excited to utilize it, especially when it comes to practice. A part of me will miss the mud, because at heart I’m still a lineman and I started out coaching the line, but this field is great and it will be used by many sports here at Jim Thorpe.”

The Crimson Tide (4-1, 3-0), started off the season with an unthinkable upset loss to cross town rival and Class 1A school Nativity, but since then have won four straight and certainly do not look like the same football team that dropped the opener to the Green Wave.

For Pottsville, a switch to turf at Jim Thorpe couldn’t have come at a better time as the Crimson Tide possess a bevy of athletes with speed.

Pottsville’s speed starts with quarterback Jazce Carabello-Snowell, who has been making plays with both his arm and feet this season. Carabello-Snowell has thrown for 546 yards and three scores, while rushing for 356 yards (8.5 yards per carry) and four touchdowns. The Tide’s rushing attack has been solid as well, with Bobby Walchak and Travontai Davis combining for 871 yards and four touchdowns.

Additionally, speedster Raef Dicello will need to have the attention of the Thorpe secondary, as he’s been Carabello-Snowell’s top target this season with 16 catches for 290 yards and two scores.

“Going into the last few weeks, we knew what the opposing team’s offense was going to try and establish throughout the game,” added Rosenberger. “Pottsville presents a challenge because it’s a balanced football team, so you have to be ready to defend both the run and the pass. You have to be disciplined, and you have to play fundamental football on every play.”

As for the Olympians’ defense, it’s a near guarantee it will play well week-in and week-out with the reputation it’s built over the years.

But the offense, which has been inconsistent at times this season, looks to be hitting its stride. Over the past two weeks, the Thorpe offense has averaged 32 points per game to go along with 308 total yards per game.

The offense’s big-play ability, led by running back Brandon Fasolino, has come alive of late, with the Olympians having five scores of 20 yards or more in their last two games with Fasolino rushing for 220 yards and five touchdowns.

“Our kids on offense are gaining experience and confidence each week. You can see that especially in our running game where our running backs are being a bit more patient, seeing the hole and then exploding through the hole,” said Rosenberger. “Fasolino has been great for us during this two-game stretch as well as the offensive line play. Fasolino has been able to find the holes, and then his speed and size make him a tough player to bring down.”