ALLENTOWN — It took a few minutes for Central Catholic’s offense to get rolling.

When it did, the Vikings (6-5) scored seven times over the middle two quarters on their way to a 52-21 win over Jim Thorpe in a District 11 Class 4A quarterfinal game.

“We had opportunities in the first half,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger. “We moved the ball. We just couldn’t finalize some scores and some penalties and negative plays hurt us.

“We just didn’t do a strong job defensively. Our biggest thing that’s been an issue is defensively and tackling, and it’s something we have to get better at.”

Central Catholic quarterback Patrick Cahill passed for 444 yards with five touchdown passes. The junior threw the ball 19 times, and completed 13 passes while handing the ball off just four times before exiting late with a large lead.

Speedy Central Catholic receivers got behind the defense for several big plays. Luis Martinez led the way with four catches for 169 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Tahir Edmondson also caught two passes for 72 yards and a score.

Four of the Vikings’ touchdowns came on drives of four plays or less, with three of them using two plays or less.

“We knew all year we had pretty good athletes compared to everyone else,” said first-year Central Catholic head coach Jake Reichard.

“Any coach will tell you to get your best players the ball and good things are going to happen. I’m glad that worked out for us tonight.”

The Olympian defense came up with a stop on the Vikings’ first possession, which started at the JT 42-yard line after an interception two plays into the game.

After a turnover on downs, the Olympians (4-7) drove to the Central Catholic 22-yard line before another interception ended their drive.

Two plays later Martinez caught a 78-yard touchdown pass to start the scoring.

After another long Olympian drive that stalled in the red zone, the quick-strike Vikes got to work.

Greg Tillman caught a 76-yard touchdown pass on the first play of their next drive to make it 14-0 early in the second quarter.

Less than three minutes later, Edmondson caught a 72-yard touchdown pass on the second play of his team’s ensuing possession.

Thorpe got on the board when Cole Lazorick ran in for a three-yard touchdown with 4:39 left in the first half.

Just over a minute later, Cahill found Harry Restino with a 40-yard touchdown strike on the fourth play of a drive. A Bryson Baker field goal with time running out made it 31-7 at halftime.

Central’s first play of the second half was a 69-yard score from Cahill to Martinez.

The Viking’s Di’Quiawn Leak blocked a punt and caught the ball before it hit the ground. He then raced 22 yards to the end zone to put the game into the mercy rule, 45-7 with 10:35 left in the third quarter.

Jim Thorpe scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns on a 1-yard Paxton Novack run, and an 11-yard touchdown pass from Lazorick to Conner Zuwara.

NEXT ROUND... The Vikings advance to take on No. 2 seed Bethlehem Catholic in next week’s district semifinals. The Golden Hawks beat Pottsville 28-14 Thursday. That game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. next Thursday at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.

FAREWELL TO FOUR...The Olympians had just four seniors on this year’s team. They are Lazorick, Zuwara, Gavin Strohl and Josh Louk, who suffered a midseason injury but remained a leader off the field. “Four seniors gave us everything they had and showed tremendous leadership,” said Rosenberger. “They helped guide these young guys in the right direction for the future. Great kids. I can’t say enough about them and the leadership they showed the young guys.”

Central Cath. 52, Jim Thorpe 21

Jim Thorpe 0 7 0 14 - 21

Central Cath. 7 24 14 7 - 52

CC - Martinez 78 pass from Cahill (Baker kick)

CC - Tillman 76 pass from Cahill (Edmondson run)

CC - Edmondson 72 pass from Cahill (kick failed)

JT - Lazorick 3 run (Flyzik kick)

CC - Restino 40 pass from Cahill (Baker kick)

CC - Baker 30 field goal

CC - Martinez 69 pass from Cahill (Baker kick)

CC - Leak 22 blocked punt return (Baker kick)

CC - Torres Johnson 15 run (Baker kick)

JT - Novack 1 run (Flyzik kick)

JT - Zurawa 11 pass from Lazorick (Flyzik kick)