It’s been since 2020 that Lehighton has started the season with an opening‑night victory. A week one Tribe win had been a long time coming, and on Friday night against Tamaqua, they finally were able to break through.

Fueled by a few early explosive plays, the Indians jumped out to a three‑score lead in the first half, setting the tone for a convincing 44–20 opening‑night victory.

“I thought our guys just did a really good job moving the ball early,” said Lehighton head coach Tom McCarroll. “Tamaqua is always a physical team, but I thought we matched up well up front. We have some big boys up there. We wanted to impose our will early up front. We were sloppy at times though in the first half with some turnovers. We need to be better there for sure, but overall proud of our guys and we’re happy with the start.”

Senior running back Lukas Croizier, who rushed for over 1,100 yards last season, wasted no time getting off to a fast start, bouncing his first carry to the outside, then cutting back to the middle of the field for a 55-yard rush setting the Tribe up deep in Tamaqua territory at the 20-yard line. A few plays later, Croizier scored from nine yards out.

Then it was time for the Indians’ passing game to come up with an explosive play of its own. First-year starter at quarterback for Lehighton in Jack Lucykanish connected with his big target in 6-3 185-pound wide receiver Carl Lingham for a 42-yard pitch and catch across the middle to make it a 14-0 Indians lead with 3:35 to go in the first quarter. Lingham and Lucykanish connected on an 18-yard play earlier in the drive to setup the deep score.

A Lucykanish and Ty Nansteel 10-yard hookup and a safety from a high snap on a Tamaqua punt that sailed out of the back of the end zone kept Lehighton firmly in control with three minutes to play in the half.

“Lingham’s big play ability is no surprise to us,” said McCarroll. “And he’s just not a one man show. Croizier is the guy for us and then we have a bunch of other athletes around those guys that are gonna make some big plays for us this season.”

Tamaqua finally broke through late in the second quarter, getting on the scoreboard board with just under 20 seconds remaining in the half when quarterback Ace Schickram hit Ryder Holmberg on a 16-yard touchdown pass.

A miscommunication on a Lehighton handoff during its previous possession had set Tamaqua up with good field position at the Lehighton 23-yard line to make it a 23-8 game at the intermission.

Tamaqua was forced to punt on its opening drive of the third quarter, but once again the snap sailed over the punter’s head, giving Lehighton possession at the Raiders 13-yard line. On the very next play, Croizier took a direct snap and cruised into the end zone, extending the Indians’ lead to 30–8.

“Bad snaps and some big dropped passes early on are the kind of mistakes that you can’t make against a team the caliber of Lehighton,” said Tamaqua head coach Sam Bonner. “All that stuff adds up and then all of a sudden you’re not in the game I thought our young guys did a good job of making some plays late in the game, but again we just made too many mistakes. We would recover a fumble and then on the next play we’d have a bad snap and that stuff can’t happen.”

Lucykanish added a 24-yard rushing score to his stat line midway through the third to make it 37-8 and then in the fourth, Tamaqua was able to get some things going on offense.

Freshman quarterback Jaxon Faneck threw two passing touchdowns in the fourth - a 21-yard strike to Chance Makovec and a 53-yard deep shot to Ayden Kovalchick - to close the deficit to 37-20.

But once again enter Lingham who after the Kovalchick score took the ensuing kickoff 85 yards down the left sideline to the house for the 44-20 final.

“In the past when we had these moments in these marquee games we haven’t always put a complete game together,” said McCaroll. “We need to cleanup the mistakes if we want to be a better team, but again I’m proud of our guys, especially with the job we did on Terrence McDowell and their rushing attack throughout the game.”

IN THE TRENCHES… The Indians won the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The Tribe held the shifty McDowell to just 3.5 yards per carry, while Croizier rushed for 127 yards at 14.1 yards per carry.

MISCUES ... Lehighton will need to clean up the turnovers. The Indians had four lost fumbles in the first half.

BIG DEBUT... Lingham burst onto the scene in this one with a 42-yard touchdown catch and an 85-yard kickoff return score.

Lehighton 44, Tamaqua 20

Lehighton 14 9 14 7 - 44

Tamaqua 0 8 0 12 - 20

L - Croizier 9 run (Hoffman kick).

L - Lingham 42 pass from Lucykanish (Hoffman kick).

L - Nansteel 10 pass from Lucykanish (Hoffman kick) L - Safety T - Holmberg 16 pass from Schickram (McDowell run).

L - Croizier 13 run (Hoffman kick)

L - Lucykanish 24 run (Hoffman kick)

T - Makovec 21 pass from Faneck (pass failed).

T - Kovalchick 53 pass from Faneck (pass failed).

L - Lingham 85 kickoff return (Hoffman kick).