NORTHAMPTON — Thump, thump, thump.

That was the sound of Lehighton’s ground game Thursday evening at Catasauqua against an overmatched Wilson team.

The Indians are on a mission, rolling to a 42-8 Colonial League victory over the Warriors.

Suddenly, memories of the program’s successful past are returning for Lehighton fans. For the first time in nearly a decade, the Indians are off to a 3-0 start, and this team appears to be the real deal.

How real?

Lehighton has a balanced rushing attack, can control the line of scrimmage and is far from one-dimensional.

Just as important, the Indians have the speed to play defense from sideline to sideline.

Senior running back Lukas Croizier needed only one half to pile up 187 rushing yards on 16 carries. He consistently broke through the Warriors’ defense and scored three touchdowns before halftime.

Croizier opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run, capping a seven-play, 61-yard drive on Lehighton’s first possession.

On the next series, the Indians turned to Jose Rodriguez, who also scored from a yard out to make it 14-0.

The momentum continued on Lehighton’s third possession.

Croizier broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 21-0 before Wilson recorded a first down.

“We know that the run game is where we make our money,” Tom McCarroll, the longtime coach of this program, offered right after the victory.

“We punched them in the mouth (early), this isn’t about Wilson, this is about Lehighton.”

And the Indians weren’t finished, as they stretched the lead to 28-0 with 8:44 left in the second quarter.

Croizier capped a four-play, 32-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run after freshman Jayce Hunsberger intercepted a pass, reading the quarterback’s eyes and making the play.

“We know we’ve got to execute what we do, it’s not about the opponent,” Croizier said, echoing his coaches’ sentiments.

Running its NASCAR offense, Croizier said it was all about taking it to the next level.

“We want to be able to run that and (sustain) drives,” he said.

Croizier and his teammates aren’t taking their success for granted.

“I love blocking for Lukas, I’ve been doing it since freshman year,” Marc Macias, the superb two-way lineman said with a satisfactory tone.

“It’s all about chemistry, he knows how I block and I know how he runs.”

That chemistry has paid off.

One of the most impressive plays of the night didn’t come on offense or defense.

After throwing a deflected interception that landed in the hands of a Wilson lineman, quarterback Jack Lucykanish sprinted downfield and chased down the returner at the Lehighton 10-yard line.

“That shows you the kind of pride we have, first off the quarterback (Lucykanish) throws the pick, then busts his rear end to get back and make the play. Then our defense goes flying to the ball, that’s where we are hanging our hats,” McCarroll said.

Before halftime, Lehighton added another touchdown.

Senior running back Payton McLean carried five times on the drive and scored from one yard out. Placekicker Sawyer Hoffman added the extra point for the fifth time.

With the outcome well in hand, McCarroll turned to his reserves.

Sophomore running back Ryder Croizier, Lukas’ younger brother, carried four times for 30 yards and scored on an 8-yard run with 4:06 remaining.

Massive junior lineman Parker Rodgers, listed at 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds, knows success starts up front.

“We had a good week of practice, it starts there,” Rodgers said, calling Croizier a ‘master.’

“He is such a great runner, and it is easy to block for him, he’s really strong and is a great leader.”

Junior lineman Zayden Martinez said the Indians are focused on continuing their strong start.

“We don’t want to get into bad habits, and we need to show up every game ready to play and execute,” Martinez said. “It’s a long season, we’ve played only three games ... there is more football ahead.”

QUOTABLE I ... “We wanted to put some (early) drives together ... we want to establish an identity for ourselves.” — Lehighton coach Tom McCarroll.

QUOTABLE II ... “We’ve got big guys that can go, we put a lot of work in the offseason.” — McCarroll on his team’s NASCAR offense and the athletic linemen who make it work.

IN THE HUNT ... The Indians host Saucon Valley next week, before a key showdown at Southern Lehigh two weeks later.

THEY DID IT ... Wilson avoided the shutout when speedy J’Son Johnson scored on a 10-yard touchdown run. The drive was set up by a 42-yard reception from Ran Bonham.

Lehighton 42, Wilson 8

Lehighton 14 21 7 7 - 42

Wilson 0 0 0 8 - 8

L - L. Croizier 1 run (Hoffman kick)

L - Rodriguez 1 run (Hoffman kick)

L - L. Croizier 56 run (Hoffman kick)

L - L. Croizier 10 run (Hoffman kick)

L - McLean 1 run (Hoffman kick)

W - Johnson 10 run (Johnson run)

L - R. Croizier 8 run (Hoffman kick)