In a game that had 74 points light up the scoreboard, Southern Lehigh was put to task to keep its unblemished record intact against a spirited Jim Thorpe team Friday night.

The Olympians trailed by just six points to the Spartans, ranked number one in the state by some publications, with 2:22 left in third quarter before two late scores sealed the sixth Southern Lehigh victory of the season with a final score of 47-27.

JT quarterback Cole Lazorick, who played an outstanding game, led his team on a 12-play opening scoring drive that took nine minutes off the clock. The senior signal caller completed four passes on the 75-yard march and then bolted over from the one-yard line. After the kick the Olympians were up 7-0.

The Spartans’ high-powered offense wasted little time before they knotted the score, with QB Colton Sams finding Otto Young for a 38-yard pass-and-run play. Southern Lehigh took the lead with four minutes gone in the second. After a big run of 43 yards by Sean Steckert, Sams hooked up with Young again on a 21-yard slant across the middle and the junior wideout put his team ahead 14-7.

The Spartans threatened to gain a huge advantage over Thorpe, which could not stop Steckert all night long. Following a JT punt, the visitors drove 66 yards, with Steckert breaking tackles on his way for the final 23 yards for a 21-7 lead. For the game, Steckert carried 17 times for 173 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 25 yards.

Lazorick and company answered on their next possession. From the Spartan 45, he faked a handoff into the line and kept the ball on a read option for a 55-yard TD run. And just like that, Thorpe trailed by only 21-14 at the intermission.

“We are very proud of our team’s effort tonight,” said JT coach Mark Rosenberger. We stood toe to toe with a number ranked team in the state. Cole was outstanding, making so many key plays, especially when we had long yardage to go.”

A second quarter injury to speedy running back Joshua Louk hurt the Olympians on both sides of the ball, but as Rosenberger mentioned, “we had plenty of guys step up and make plays.”

The Spartans attempted to put away the Olympians when they scored on a third quarter opening drive when Steckert broke tackles again, this time on a 17-yard run to pay dirt. But the no-quit home team answered Southern Lehigh’s score with one of its own. After the Spartans were penalized 30 yards for two unsportsmanlike penalties on the same play, and then a pass interference flag set up Thorpe in the red zone, freshman Bobby Levins caught a pass from Lazorick for an eight-yard TD.

Jim Thorpe (2-4) was still in striking range, down by seven points at 27-20, but their defense couldn’t force a change of possession. On a first-and-10 from the JT 39, Sams hit tight end Jacoby Jacobs in the middle of the field for a 39-yard touchdown and a 33-20 lead with just under six minutes left in the third.

“We didn’t get stops when we needed,” said Rosenberger. “They were much bigger and more physical up front, but we still have to find ways to get key stops to help out our offense.”

The Olympians’ offense took it to the Spartans again and came within six points late in the third. Lazorick ran in the rock from three yards out. For his night, he completed 20 passes, with bullets thrown between defenders and soft-touch throws over rushing linemen. All total, Lazorick threw for 266 yards and one score, and he ran for three more.

“He’s a special athlete,” Rosenberger said of his talented quarterback.

At the end of the quarter, Sams commanded a 75-yard drive, with Steckert carrying for 52 of those yards. His final 15 earned him his third TD of the game. The Spartans added their final points with a six-minute drive in the final quarter that ended with Sams hitting Jacobs with a four-yard TD strike.

FLAGS FLYING … Southern Lehigh was penalized for 112 yards in the game, which helped Jim Thorpe sustain its scoring drives.

ALL HAIL THE KING AND QUEEN … It was homecoming at Jim Thorpe. Elected king was Pierce Gothard. Wearing the queen’s regal crown was Mara Malaska.

UP NEXT … Thorpe travels to Catasauqua next Friday to take on the Rough Riders. Southern Lehigh visits Tamaqua on the same night.

So. Lehigh 47, Jim Thorpe 27

So. Lehigh 7 14 18 8 - 47

Jim Thorpe 7 7 13 0 - 27

JT - Lazorick 1 run (Flyzik kick)

SL - Young 38 pass from Sams (Tantaros kick)

SL - Young 21 pass from Sams (Tantaros kick)

SL - Steckert 23 run (Tantaros kick)

JT - Lazorick 55 run (Flyzik kick)

SL - Steckert 17 run (kick failed)

JT - Levins 8 pass from Lazorick (kick failed)

SL - Jacobs 39 pass from Sams (kick failed)

JT - Lazorick 3 run (Flyzik kick)

SL - Steckert 15 run (pass failed)

SL - Jacoby 4 pass from Sams (Morel pass from Sams)