PINE GROVE – Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons once belted out the top hit “Oh, What A Night.”

JayVan McDowell wasn’t even born when the song hit the top of the charts. But here was a good chance his parents were listening to it.

After helping to lead Lehighton to a blockbuster 28-20 victory over host Pine Grove Friday evening, you can bet McDowell’s night will be a hit for decades to come.

Using his gift to run past and over would-be tacklers, McDowell set a career high in rushing with 253 yards on 25 carries, and found the end zone three times as the Indians found their first Schuylkill League Division I victory of the COVID-19 Era.

“The coaches had an amazing game plan,” McDowell said brimming from ear-to-ear. “Shout out to the O-line. Honestly, we came in sick and tired (of losing). We had a good week of practice.”

The Indians struggled out of the gate and found themselves on downside of the score after Pine Grove laced up an impressive first-quarter drive marching 54 yards before Brody Robinson scored on a 1-yard plunge.

Undaunted, Lehighton buckled up the chin strap and proceeded to answer the bell. McDowell started his engine and never left off the throttle. He scored his first touchdown on 9-yard dash to the end zone. AJ Light kicked the first of his four PATs for a 7-6 Lehighton lead.

Just when it looked as if the Indians were going to crack the end zone for another touchdown, there was a reversal of fortune. Pine Grove’s Nick Wolff snared an interception at the 1-yard line. Then in a flash, running back Ayden Ney went on a scintillating 99-yard touchdown run. He hit the middle of the line and just sped through the second level.

Then it was McDowell’s turn to flash his speed again. It only took one play for the elusive McDowell to find the end zone ripping off a thrilling 63-yard scamper. Light’s PAT put the Indians up 14-13.

“One of the things we haven’t been able to put together is a run game,” Lehighton head coach Tom McCarroll said. “The basis of any successful football team is the run game ... then you can pass off of it.”

Indeed, the Indians opened things up and senior quarterback Richard Fronheiser started to click. Fronheiser’s precision throws found him hitting little slants time and again keeping the Cardinals secondary at bay. He finished 11-for-18 for 127 yards.

Fronheiser’s solid passing help loosen things up even more for McDowell.

“McDowell was a workhorse for ,” said McCarroll. “When you got a hot hand, you’ve got to ride it.”

Pine Grove seemed to be in the driver’s seat when it seized a 20-14 lead just before intermission. Robinson sped eight yards for a touchdown with 98 seconds to play in the opening half.

The Indians came close to getting one back just before the half ended, but a pass interception in the end zone foiled the attempt.

But the Indians rebounded and took charge in the second half.

First, Brandon Kocher picked off a pass - one of three the Lehighton defense forced. That gave his team a short field to work with, and it took just four cracks at the line to cover 16 yards, all of those by McDowell as the Indians took a 21-20 lead.

When Zach Hunsicker pilfered a second straight interception for the Indians, they put together perhaps the best drive of the season marching 84 yards to the end zone. Fronheiser was coming up big tossing five completions in the drive, the last of which was an 18-yarder to Kocher to put the It took four cracks from there, but Hunter Crum eventually punched it in.

HIGHS AND LOWS … The high points for the Indians was the way the defense kept forcing the Cardinals into third and long situations.

THREE PICKS … The Indians defense forced three pass interceptions. Hunsicker had a pair.

ON THE HORRIZON … Lehighton gets a huge test at North Schuylkill Friday evening. Spartans haven’t played in two weeks since a COVID case was found.