Dominant defense can help a team overcome almost anything. On Friday night against Saucon Valley, Palmerton’s physical defensive effort against the run helped it to overcome four turnovers and defeat the Panthers, 19-6.

The Bombers turned it over three times in the first quarter — two interceptions and a fumble — but they still were able to hang in there, with key stop after stop to only trail 6-0 at the end of one.

Saucon Valley was able to take advantage of one of Palmerton’s turnovers — a fumble at the SV 11 when the Bombers were driving after forcing a fumble of their own. Braden Rohn rolled out and found Isaiah McNally down the right sideline wide open behind the Bombers’ defense for an 89-yard pitch and catch.

“The defense kept us in the game tonight. And our guys’ resiliency and the way they handled adversity was awesome to watch,” said Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak. “We turned it over three times in the first quarter and we could’ve packed it in. But our kids kept fighting. We had the one defensive breakdown where we didn’t communicate in the secondary, but we got that cleaned up. And from that point on, we played disciplined defense.”

After the Palmerton defensive front showed its teeth early on, the Bombers offensive front then went to work as well. Palmerton was able to get its first score across at the 7:33 mark of the second after a 12-play, 79-yard drive. A 17-yard T.K. Gursky quarterback run tied the game at 6-6. A roughing the punter call earlier in the drive against Saucon Valley at the Palmerton 19 gave the Bombers life and they took advantage. Vincent Taglieri served as the workhorse back on the drive carrying the ball six times for 44 yards.

The Bombers defense continued to play tough football in the second frame as the Panthers ran just six plays in the quarter, punting on both possessions.

Palmerton would then cash in again with just over 40 seconds to go in the half. Again, it was a clock-eating drive spurred by the run game that went 12 plays and 60 yards. On a fourth-and-goal from the SV 4, Gursky went up top to sophomore wideout Ben Negley, who went up and got the ball for the score to give the Bombers a 12-6 lead at the half.

Neither team would score in the third, but it was Palmerton that would come up with a huge play to extend its lead to 19-6 with 3:39 remaining in the game. On a fourth-and-5 from the Panthers’ 32, Gursky rolled right and threw a perfect strike over the top of the Saucon Valley defense to a streaking Alex Keiper for six.

The Panthers would then do their best to race down the field and put one in, but they fell a yard short on a fourth-and-goal from the Palmerton 18 with 34 seconds left to play. Saucon Valley did have a fourth-and-goal play from the three, but an unsportsmanlike penalty moved them back to the 18 yard line.

“Tonight we were able to get off the field defensively on third and fourth down, and offensively we had two huge fourth down conversions,” said Walkowiak. “The pass plays to Negley and Keiper were huge. Gursky came in at quarterback tonight and made some big plays and good reads. And Taglieri ran hard tonight. He’s built for the ground and pound.

“Overall, I’m just so proud of all of our guys. We talked about earning a win and finishing a win coming into this game. And that’s what our guys did tonight.”

VINCENT VISCOUS … Taglieri was tough to bring down all night long. He finished the game with 22 carries for 121 yards.

IN THE TRENCHES … Palmerton dominated the line of scrimmage against a tough running Saucon Valley team. The Bombers surrendered just six yards rushing to the Panthers.

MOVING THE STICKS … Palmerton moved the ball consistently, tallying 18 first downs. Saucon Valley had just six first downs in the game.

Palmerton 19, Saucon 6

Palmerton 0 12 0 7 - 19

Saucon Valley 6 0 0 0 - 6

SV - McNally 89 pass from Rohn (kick failed).

P - Gursky 17 run (kick failed).

P - Negley 4 pass from Gursky (run failed).

P - Keiper 32 pass from Gursky (Moyzan kick)