FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — If one thinks about life in the fast lane, just look at a speedy, explosive North Schuylkill football team.

The Spartans are dynamite.

They can bury you with one single play. They can run over you in a New York City minute and before a breath of fresh air, they’ll put you on your proverbial fanny.

Such was the case Friday evening here on Gosh Orthodontics Field. This 2025 version of Spartans roughed up Tamaqua in a hurry, scoring what seemed to be at will in roaring to an impressive 50-7 victory.

It wasn’t the final score that catches one’s fancy, but the way this team is so quick, so strong and very athletic, as well.

By halftime North Schuylkill had carved out 390 yards of offense, led 42-7 and had the running clock in tune to open the second half.

“Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but speed does kill,” Sam Bonner, the veteran Tamaqua coach, said praising the opposition with a chuckle.

Indeed a frank statement and no truer words have been muttered.

The popcorn was still popping when quarterback Caden Mengel laid up a beauty of a 65-yard catch and run touchdown pass to Landon Smith, who blazed past the Tamaqua secondary unscathed.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that can run and we’re going to use them,” Wally Hall, the North Schuylkill, coach said. “Each week it might be a little different. There are a lot of guys that can make a lot of different kind of plays.”

Play two from the line of scrimmage for North Schuylkill resulted in touchdown two.

This time track sprinter Luke Miller raced 51 yards in a flash. The Spartans were off and flying 14-0.

Their third possession one took a few more plays.

North Schuylkill drove 70 yards on six snaps and Miller cashed in for his second of a three-touchdown evening. He also scored on a blistering 82-yard jaunt to the end zone to balloon the margin, 28-0.

The beat kept going on, and on, as Smith caught another well-thrown pass by Mengel; this one accounting for a 41-yard score.

Trailing 34-0, the Blue Raiders gamely pulled themselves off the carpet and knocked home their only touchdown of the evening.

CJ Walker, a junior, caught a nifty 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chase Searfass. The drive also featured sophomore Terrence McDowell, who had his best rushing performance in his career. The sophomore darted his way for a 104 yards on 21 carriers.

“He’s a sophomore, making plays for us, I thought (Searfass) and Ace Schickram did some nice things,” Bonner pointed out. “We’re young.”

Though the Raiders cut the deficit, it didn’t last long.

North Schuylkill pealed off a quick eight more points just seconds before the half with its sixth touchdown of the evening. It came when Julian Nelson snagged a 10-yard pass thrown by Mengel to go in front 42-7 at the half.

“We’re a real multiple offense,” Hall said. “We can line up in heavy sets. We can run the football in those. We can run iso and get the matchups we want… last week (against Mount Carmel) we ran the ball real heavy. This week we came out with a shot.”

The Spartan defense can also score.

North Schuylkill blocked a punt and freshman Brock Holmes picked up the ball. He raced 43 yards to the end zone to crunch the final numbers.

QUOTABLE … “We’ve got some growing pains going on. We’ve got to get better every week. Like I said, North Schuylkill is (the real deal),” Bonner said.

BRIGHT LIGHTS … The Raiders are in struggling mode. There are positives for sure, including Brady McCabe, the lanky 6-2 receiver who had three catches for 40 yards. Ditto for freshman running back Ryder Holmberg, who had 42 yards on 7 touches, along with Walker.

REAL DEAL … North Schuylkill ,has balance all over the field. Hall was a tad upset with his defense, saying it missed assignments at times. How good is this team? It gets a stern test at Notre Dame of Green Pond (to be played at Lafayette University) Friday. Week 4 NS hosts Southern Lehigh before meeting up with defending state champs Northwestern Lehigh on the road Sept. 26.

BY THE NUMBERS … Tamaqua finished with 152 rushing yards and 58 passing. North Schuylkill was led by Miller’s 166 rushing yards on 6 carries and Mengle with 42 on 8 carries. Smith had 130 receiving yards. The Spartans had 210 rushing and 210 passing yards.

N. Schuylkill 50, Tamaqua 7

Tamaqua 0 7 0 0 - 7

N. Schuylkill 20 22 7 0 - 50

NS - Smith 65 pass from Mengel (Miller run)

NS - Miller 51 run (pass failed)

NS - Miller 21 run (pass failed)

NS - Miller 82 run (Mengel run)

NS - Smith 42 pass (pass failed)

T - Walker 8 pass from Searfass (McCabe kick)

NS - Nelson 10 pass from Mengel (Miller run)

NS - Holmberg 43 punt block return (Miller run)