Momentum has a lot to do with who wins a high school football game.

Notre Dame’s 49-21 victory over Jim Thorpe on Monday was proof of that.

The teams took turns trading momentum during the first half. But turnovers and penalties eventually turned things in Notre Dame’s favor.

The game began as if the undefeated Crusaders were going to send the Olympians back to their bus early. Two quick scores on their first two possessions, and a third touchdown when quarterback Collin Quintano threw a 41-yard strike to Tarif Muhmmad on a wheel rout had Notre Dame ahead 21-0 with just under four minutes played in the second quarter.

Jim Thorpe, however, was not ready to go home yet. With a five-minute, 14-play drive culminating in a four-yard burst off the right side by Cameron Tinajero, the Olympians closed the gap to 21-7 with 3:35 left in the half.

Then on the Crusader’s next possession, JT’s David Fiorito jumped a sideline pass and raced 45 yards for a touchdown to put his team down by just seven at the half.

Thorpe (2-3) took the second-half kickoff with all the momentum in their back pockets, but a fumble on their own 28-yard line gave the ball and the momentum back to ND. Logan Castellano scored from five yards out, and the Crusaders increased their margin to 14 points with nine minutes to go in the third.

The Olympians fumbled four times, losing three to Notre Dame.

“You can’t turn the ball over against good teams and expect to win,” said Olympian coach Mark Rosenberger. “Especially after we had rallied back and had possession, and the momentum.”

Give Jim Thorpe credit for not folding up its tents after the devastating turnover. Once again, the Olympians made it a one-score game when Tinajero blasted through the middle for a five-yard TD with 7:30 to go in the third. The senior running back put his team on his shoulders after an early injury to Sal Capria, JT’s other feature ball carrier. Tinajero had his best game of the season, gaining 120 yards rushing and 12 yards receiving, to go along with his two touchdowns.

“Cameron is a tough kid, and he had an outstanding game for us tonight,” said Rosenberger.

Leading 28-21, the Crusaders showed the crowd why they are a top ten ranked team in the state.

Quintano - who threw for 536 yards and six touchdowns as part of a tremendous Notre Dame air assault - led his team on a 77-yard scoring drive that ended with a 12-yard TD throw to Ryan Frinzi, one of five different receivers who caught touchdown passes.

At the start of the fourth quarter, a Jim Thorpe punt set Notre Dame up with a first down on its own 40 yard line. Quintano found Muhammad down the sideline on a 60-yard pass and run play to make it 42-21.

The Crusaders, averaging 45 points a game, would tack on one more score with eight minutes left in the game.

“We played right to the end with great effort,” said Rosenberger. “We certainly need to clean up our mistakes and not turn the ball over, and cut down on the penalties that had an impact on the outcome.”

PITCH AND HITCH ... In the first quarter, JT quarterback Brett Balliet threw five short sideline hitch route passes on one drive to Derryl Fisher, who caught 11 balls for 71 yards.

WHERE’S THE FLAG? ... Although the officials called 20 penalties for over 200 yards in the game, they didn’t catch the Crusaders’ offensive line for holding. “It was obvious to us that the reason why their quarterback had so much time to throw the ball is because his linemen were constantly holding our defensive line,” said Rosenberger. “If what we saw wasn’t holding, then I don’t know what it is anymore.”

UP NEXT ... The Olympians have just four days to prepare for their next game as they host the Green Knights from Pen Argyl this Friday night at 7 p.m.