In a game where big plays of 10 yards or more scored all of the points until the last minute of play, the one touchdown that mattered the most was earned from less than one foot away from the goal line.

With 52 seconds left, Palmerton quarterback Matt Machalik powered his way into the end zone on fourth down and a foot to complete a 32-24 sensational comeback win for the unbeaten Bombers over North Schuylkill in a District 11 3A semifinal game.

Palmerton (12-0) will play Northwestern (12-0) for the district title next weekend. Northwestern beat Notre Dame of Green Pond 43-21 in the other semifinal game.

Trailing 24-16 after three quarters, the Bombers scored on a 29-yard pass from Machalik to Ty Sander with 3:41 left in the game to cut the deficit to 24-22. Machalik then found Jameson Trainer in the left corner of the end zone to tie the score.

On first and 10 from their own 30 yard line, the Spartans threw a center screen pass and a big hit by a swarm of Bomber tacklers jarred the ball loose and Bryce Marino jumped on it at the Spartan 29.

On first and 10, Machalik bolted off left tackle for 11 yards to the 18. He ran off right tackle for nine yards for a first and a goal at the 9 yard line. He picked up five on the next play, but on second and five from the five yard line, the Spartans’ defense ran him out of bounds for a one-yard loss.

On a third a six run, the Michalik crashed through the right side and the ball was placed inside the one.

It was no surprise that he carried the ball again, giving Palmerton its first lead since earlyh in the second quarter.

North Schuylkill had 44 seconds left to score the eight points that would tie the game. The Spartans moved the ball from their own 41 yard line to Palmerton’s 38 when Brayden Hosier stepped in front of a Spartan receiver for an interception and a return of 40 yards to close out the victory for the Bombers.

“There’s no doubt that our offense makes plays when we need them to be made,” said Palmerton Coach Chris Walkowiak. “At halftime, we really didn’t make any adjustments. All I said was we need to hold our blocks longer. I put the challenge in front of them to go out and win the game and I looked in their eyes and I just felt that’s what we were going to do.”

Palmerton was fortunate to be down only 10-8 at the half. On North Schuylkill’s first two drives after they forced Palmerton punts, they began drives at the Palmerton 32 and 38 yard lines, but came away with only three points on a 42-yard field goal by Gavin Mentzer.

“Our defense played great all night, but especially on their first two drives when they had early possessions deep in our territory,” said Walkowiak, “and in the fourth quarter, we got two big stops to get the ball back to our offense.”

Down 3-0 in the first quarter and Machalik being dropped behind the line of scrimmage on his first five carries, Sander ran up the middle for a 57 yard touchdown to finish a six-play drive for a 8-3 lead for the Bombers.

Collin Stenakis and Joey Flail caught scoring passes from Trevor Minalda and the Spartans jumped out to 17-8 lead in the third until Machalik ran 65 yards with 9:07 left in the quarter.

If the mark of a good team is how they play in the final 12 minutes, 10 FOR 10 ...

In the two games that the teams have met this year, Palmerton has tried for two point conversions 10 times and has been successful on all 10.

HAIL FLAIL

... Schuylkill’s senior wide receiver Joey Flail had four catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

MONSTER MATCH-UP

... Palmerton will now play Northwestern, a big winner over Notre Dame next week in a battle of the unbeatens for the district title.