This week’s football games mark the halfway point of the regular season.

And for the first time in many years, all area teams are either at .500 or own a winning record.

Palmerton (4-0) at Pen Argyl (1-3)

When: Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m.

Instant Replay

Palmerton got off to a slow start against Catasauqua and did just enough to defeat the Rough Riders, 24-14. The Bombers were uncharacteristically sloppy against Catty, with three false start penalties in its first six plays on offense, and two penalties on defense that led to a Roughies score on their opening drive. But the Bombers passing game got going with T.K. Gursky throwing for 188 yards and two touchdowns, and Cale Young had five catches and 108 total yards to help Palmerton pull away late. Two key interceptions by Gaven Meixsell also helped seal the win.

Pen Argyl ran into the Notre Dame buzz saw, being defeated 55-7 by the Crusaders. The Green Knights started off the season with a 28-21 win over Old Forge, but since then have lost three in a row, giving up 47 points per game. The Green Knights are always going to look to run the football. They’re led by senior running back James Accatino,, who has rushed for 193 yards and four touchdowns. QB Keegan Hettel has thrown for 354 yards with two TDs and five picks and has also rushed for 148 yards and a score.

Storyline of the Week

When the Bombers have struggled this season, it’s been when they have gotten out to slow starts. Being locked in early on will be the key for Palmerton in this one.

Coach’s Corner

“We did not accomplish our goals of focus, fundamental and fury last week. We need to be locked in at the onset of every game. There’s no doubt we played sloppy, we shot ourselves in the foot a bunch of times and we didn’t convert on manageable down and distances. We just made uncharacteristic mistakes from how we have been playing, and we need to clean that up. Against Pen Argyl, we need to refocus and come out and establish the run. We didn’t do a good a job of running the football last week. We did enough to win, and we will always take the win but we need to be better. Pen Argyl is always going to play tough. They have a dual threat QB that is dangerous, so we need to be able to keep him in check. Again, it’s all about getting back to work and working on fundamentals and focus. We have to go into every single game focused and ready to play football.” - Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak.

Saucon Valley (2-2) at Northwestern (4-0)

When: Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Northwestern rolled again with a 69-7 win over Salisbury, setting the tone with an 84-yard kick return TD by Chase Sukanick. Per usual, the Tigers’ offense was explosive, scoring five touchdowns on just seven plays in the first quarter. Sophomore QB Trey Snyder, who leads the area in passing, put together another solid outing, throwing for 170 yards and three TDs. Michael Lagowy led all NW receivers with two catches for 91 yards. The Tigers led 55-0 at the half.

Saucon Valley is coming off a lopsided 41-0 loss to Lehighton in Week 3, where it had less that 100 yards of offense, and gave up a bunch of rushing yards. The Panthers go as the Rohn brothers go. Senior Braden Rohn is a tough dual/threat QB, who’s rushed for 151 yards and three scores, while throwing for 219 yards. Sophomore Taylor Rohn leads the Panthers in rushing with 196 yards and two touchdowns.

Storyline of the Week

The Tigers are once again heavily favored to get the win. The matchup to watch in this one is the NW front vs. Rohn. Offensively, the Tigers run game figures to have a ton of success against a SV defense that struggled to stop the run against Lehighton last week.

Coach’s Corner

“They have a true dual-threat guy at quarterback, so being disciplined in rushing lanes will be key. Fritz Scheirer and Nick Whitney have done a good job of that all season long on the edge for us. The Offensive line has really been coming along for us. The O-line is always a work in progress in my opinion. And we’ve been trying to gain some depth there, mixing and matching guys. Even in doing that, that group has yet to give up a sack, which is really impressive. Trey has done a nice job of being aware and maneuvering in the pocket as well. It was good to see some long runs and splash runs last week, so we want to continue to build off that. We know we have some physical teams coming up here for us later in the season, so the goal is to keep working hard in practice, and to keep getting better.” - Northwestern head coach Josh Snyder.

Wilson (1-3) at Jim Thorpe (2-2)

When: Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Jim Thorpe bounced back from a loss to Southern Lehigh with a 27-6 victory over Bangor last week. Tyler Hoherchak threw touchdown passes of 45 yards to Anthony Kiehl, and 46 yards to Spencer Gothard, and added a 1-yard touchdown run. Kiehl also scored on a 23-yard run, while Bobby Levins broke a 34-yard run that helped set up Gothard’s touchdown with 38 seconds remaining in the first half.

The Olympians were also strong defensively, repeatedly turning away Bangor threats. Nicholas Faust recorded a key third-down sack late in the first half, and Jim Thorpe stopped the Slaters on fourth-and-goal from the 6 in the closing minutes. Bangor’s only score came on a 21-yard Lucas Hurd touchdown run late in the third quarter.

Wilson’s offense has produced 830 yards through four games, averaging 207.5 per contest, with 461 yards rushing and 369 passing. Junior quarterback Connor Patterson has accounted for much of that production, completing 20 of 41 passes for 327 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing 45 times for 243 yards and two scores.

Senior Jayden Rapoli has been Wilson’s top receiving threat with 10 catches for 195 yards and three TDs, averaging 19.5 yards per reception.

Wilson struggled to establish its running game against Southern Lehigh, finishing with 42 net rushing yards. Patterson was held to 15 yards on nine carries, while Evan Grube led the Warriors with 24 yards on 10 attempts. Patterson and freshman Matthew Piparato combined for 100 passing yards with two interceptions.

Storyline of the Week

Jim Thorpe will look to build on one of its most complete performances of the season as it tries to move above .500. The Olympians emphasized physicality and execution in their win over Bangor, and were able to establish the run before creating explosive plays through the passing game.

Containing Patterson figures to be an important part of duplicating that success. The Wilson quarterback leads the Warriors in both passing and rushing, and has accounted for five of their seven offensive touchdowns. Rapoli gives Patterson a big-play target on the outside, and has accounted for all three of Wilson’s touchdown receptions this season.

The Olympians will look to clean up the penalties that concerned head coach Mark Rosenberger following the Bangor victory. A win would give JT consecutive victories, and its first winning record of the season.

Coach’s Corner

“We talked about reestablishing the standard that we expect to play at Jim Thorpe, and one of the keys was execution. I thought we did a great job. We talked about the physicality being needed, and I thought we were a very physical football team. We were able to mix the pass and the run and be balanced offensively, and I thought our defensive guys did a tremendous job getting that swarm-pack mentality defensively back.

“The one thing I’m a little disappointed about is we were a little undisciplined with some of the penalties. That’s something we have to correct. We’ve got to be a little bit smarter and avoid those, because next week those things could be the difference in a football game. I think the progression we’ve gone through over the last four weeks of the season is huge, and I think we’re for sure going in the right direction. It’s just a matter of watching our film, getting better and preparing for Wilson.” - Jim Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger

Salisbury (1-3) at Northern Lehigh (3-1)

When: Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Northern Lehigh put together the complete performance it had been chasing last week, rolling past Palisades 38-7 to improve to 3-1. Garrett Smoyer completed 11 of 15 passes for 162 yards as the Bulldogs scored on their first three possessions and controlled the game from the outset. The defense did its part, limiting Palisades to fewer than 150 total yards.

Northern Lehigh has now won two straight after its 46-6 victory over Pen Argyl two weeks ago. Salisbury comes in at 1-3 after a 69-7 loss to Northwestern last week. The Falcons also fell to Notre Dame, 48-7, after opening the season with a win over South Philadelphia.

Storyline of the Week

Northern Lehigh has found its stride since its loss at Northwestern, and the Bulldogs enter Friday with an offense that can pressure defenses in several ways.

Smoyer has completed 38 of 67 passes for 502 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception, while also leading the team with 220 rushing yards. Colin Karetsky has become his most productive target, catching 11 passes for 194 yards and three TDs. Karetsky also leads Northern Lehigh with five total touchdowns.

Kaiden Smith gives the Bulldogs another versatile option, with 121 rushing yards, 76 receiving yards and three receiving TDs. Nolehi has totaled 1,345 offensive yards through four games, including 833 on the ground.

The Bulldogs have supplied the bulk of their scoring early, putting up 37 first-quarter points and 28 more in the second. After jumping out on Palisadesk, Northern Lehigh will look to repeat that formula against a Salisbury team trying to regroup after two lopsided losses.

Coach’s Corner

“We are really happy with our O-line and D-line. They have improved the most since Week 1. Offensively, we have two sophomores, Aiden Reinik and Rielly Shimko, two juniors, Dawson Newhard and Bill Kennedy, and two seniors, Landon Klimek and Chase Gall. They have really become a close-knit group.

“They (Salisbury) seem to be battling a lot of injuries. So at the high school level, you don’t have a great idea of who will be back this week and who won’t. So there are a lot of unknowns with their personnel. Their QB does a great job of scrambling and keeping passing plays alive. So we have been practicing our scramble drill a lot this week. They also have three trick plays they seem to like each week. So we need to be disciplined this week as well.” - Northern Lehigh head coach Joe Tout

Blue Mountain (3-1) at Tamaqua (2-2)

When: Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Tamaqua had its chances last week, but Executive Education Academy escaped with a 32-30 victory.

Without Terrence McDowell, the Raiders leaned on both Ace Schickram and CJ Walker. Schickram ran for 160 yards, and Walker added 138 as the two combined for 51 carries. Tamaqua had a chance to take control late in the third quarter, but came up empty after reaching the 3-yard line. The Raiders recovered an onside kick with eight minutes left and again got inside the 10, only to lose a fumble. The loss stopped a two-game winning streak that included a 40-27 shootout against Schuylkill Haven, and a 12-10 win over Marian.

Blue Mountain brings a 3-1 record to Tamaqua after beating Pottsville by 30 points last week. The Eagles also beat Schuylkill Haven by 30, and blanked Jim Thorpe 48-0 in Week 1. Their only loss was a nine-point setback at Southern Lehigh.

Storyline of the Week

The status of McDowell is the burning question for Tamaqua. McDowell missed last week, and the Raiders felt it on both sides of the ball, according to coach Sam Bonner. McDowell remains Tamaqua’s leading rusher with 499 yards and seven touchdowns, and his 46 points account for nearly half the team’s scoring total. However, the Raiders showed they can move the ball without him. Schickram has rushed for 267 yards and two scores, while Walker has 220 yards and two touchdowns. Tamaqua has piled up 1,020 rushing yards in four games, and averaged 5.9 yards per attempt.

Blue Mountain has handled most of its early schedule with room to spare. Tamaqua will need to turn those late drives into points, protect the football, and find a way to slow an Eagles team that has already put 30-point margins on both Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven.

Coach’s Corner

“They’ve got that Chase Guers and Kole Luckenbill, they’ve got some kids that are going to be tough to match up with. Hopefully, again, we have a couple more guys step up and make plays for us. Guers and Luckenbill, they’re both pretty even statistically. Both kids are burners. Everybody knows Guers. He’s an athletic kid. Obviously, he’s going to be a challenge.”

“They still have two good running backs. They’re smaller. They probably don’t have the height that the receivers do, but they have good balance. Blue Mountain is right about that 50-50 as far as run-pass goes.”

“We gave up some big plays this past week. We’ve got to limit those. We can’t put 14-, 15-play drives together on our side and then give up a three- or four-play drive where another team’s already down on the five.” - Tamaqua head coach Sam Bonner

Panther Valley (2-2) at Tunkhannock (0-4)

When: Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Panther Valley pitched a 35-0 shutout over Greater Nanticoke Area in an independent battle on its homecoming night last week. It was their first shutout since they blanked Mahanoy Area, 20-0, last October. The Panthers also have started the season with a 2-2 record for the first time since 2023. However, they finished that year with six straight losses. Quarterback Cy Maynard ran for two touchdowns, and threw for another. Maynard has thrown for 347 yards on the season with two touchdowns and an interception, and has run for 348 yards. Running back Troy Nunez rambled for 114 yards with a TD, and has 247 for the season.

Chase McArdle has 16 receptions for 191 yards, and has 18 tackles on defense. Against Nanticoke, Brody Vermillion and Carlos Maldanado finished with 12 and 13 tackles, respectively. Aside from McArdle, Lyric Ingrassia leads the team in tackles with 24. PV outgained Nanticoke, 191-63, on the ground, and held it to 112 yards of total offense.

Tunkhannock suffered a 36-6 defeat to Old Forge and remained winless. Two weeks ago, Nanticoke edged the Tigers, 14-12. The Tigers have scored 31 points, and allowed 120 in four games. QB Tye Cokely has thrown for 329 yards with two TDs and three picks. Lucas Ciprich is their leading ballcarrier with 148 yards and a score, while Carter O’Neill has been their prime target with 10 catches for 90 yards with a touchdown.

Storyline of the Week

PV’s offensive line eventually took control of the game last week, and grinded out their victory. The Panthers coupled that with a solid defensive effort. Panther Valley will need to follow the same format against a Tunkhannock team that is searching to find itself.

The Panthers need to take control of the game early and not give Tunkhannock any momentum. Panther Valley will look to go 3-2 for the first time since 2012.

Coach’s Corner

“We were happy to return to playing physical football on both sides of the football, getting our run game going consistently and not giving up any big plays on defense. We also played with an energy we haven’t had since Week One. Troy Nunez did a great job for us with over 100 yards rushing. Chase McArdle was strong on both sides with a touchdown catch, and an interception, two pass break-ups and some nice punt returns. Carlos Maldanado and Brody Vermillion had big defensive efforts.” - Panther Valley head coach Mark Lavine

Shenandoah Valley (3-1) at Marian (2-2)

When: Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Marian took control of a tight game with Minersville and scored 42 unanswered points on its way to a 49-14 victory last week. Quarterback Greg Tirpak had his best game of the season, connecting on 13 of 21 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns. On the year, Tirpak has completed 34 of 61 passes for 657 yards with seven touchdowns and zero interruptions. Rocco Griguoli also had a big game with seven catches for 165 yards with two touchdowns, and also returned an interception for a score. Griguoli has 17 catches for 355 yards with four touchdowns. Tyler Price had 156 yards on the ground, with two touchdowns on the ground and one through the air last week. Price has 652 yards with eight touchdowns for the season, and has caught 12 passes for 206 yards with two touchdowns. The Colts amassed 450 yards of total offense. Defensively, the Colts triggered six turnovers, four interceptions and two recovered fumbles. Price leads the team with 38 tackles, while Griguoli has 28 stops and two sacks. Marian has won the last four meetings by a 147-29 advantage, with Shenandoah Valley having last won in 2021 by a 26-9 margin. Marian has scored 51 points overall in the third quarter this season.

Shenandoah Valley was thumped by Tri-Valley, 49-10, last week for its first defeat of the season. The Blue Devils outscored their first three opponents by a 143-25 margin. Quarterback Ethan Bench completed five of 16 passes and had two interceptions, while Mike Elchisak ran for 88 yards and a score. For the season, Bench has completed 28 of 59 attempts for 623 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Elchisak has 230 yards rushing with five touchdowns. Defensively, David Burrous has 50 tackles, while Dylan Getz has 39 tackles and two sacks. Elchisak also has two sacks, and Gene Sinkus has two interceptions.

Storyline of the Week

The Colts’ defense registered their first turnover last week, and it came at an opportune time. Their defense will need to rise again, as Marian can take over the game with its rushing attack, and it needs to keep Shenandoah Valley off the field. Playing at home should be a big advantage.

Coach’s Corner

“We went into the week without having generated a turnover yet in the season. It had been a point of emphasis the last few weeks, and couldn’t have been happier to see our guys come away with six in one game. Tyler Rebarchak, Dante Tate, Loegan Joseph, and Rocco Griguoli all had interceptions while Tyler Price and Jason Ashfield forced fumbles.”

“Offensively, we were excited to see Tyler Rebarchak emerge as a passing game threat with a few catches plus a TD. We were able to spread the ball around and manufacture explosive plays. We will need to do so again this week to match Shenandoah’s big play offense. They like to take deep shots down the field so our secondary will be tested again. - Marian head coach Billy O’Gurek

ES South (1-3) at Pleasant Vy. (2-2)

When: Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Pleasant Valley came agonizingly close to knocking off Whitehall last week, falling 36-33 in a back-and-forth battle. The Bears built a 21-3 first-half lead, and went back in front three times after Whitehall rallied before the Zephyrs scored the deciding touchdown late. Quarterback Brandt Wines threw TD passes to both Sean Cobb and William Breuer and added a 16-yard scoring run, while Chris Ward scored twice on the ground. That performance continued a strong start offensively for PV, which ranks third among Times News area teams with 1,582 total yards, and is averaging 395.5 yards per game. Ward ranks second in the area with 560 rushing yards on 47 carries.

East Stroudsburg South was shut out 42-0 by Central Catholic last week for its third straight loss. The Cavaliers opened the season with a 50-32 victory over Pittston Area, but have scored just 23 points over their last three games in losses to Wallenpaupack, Delaware Valley and Central Catholic. South came closest to snapping the skid two weeks ago, falling 13-10 to Delaware Valley. The Cavaliers enter Friday’s matchup looking for their first victory since the season opener.

Storyline of the Week

Pleasant Valley has been separated from a 4-0 start by just four points. The Bears followed a 20-19 loss to Pottsville with last week’s three-point setback against Whitehall, but showed they can go toe-to-toe with a quality opponent. After two narrow losses, the challenge for PV is carrying that level of play into Friday night and turning it into a win.

Coach’s Corner

“This is my proudest moment, not my happiest because it’s a loss, but it’s my No. 1 proudest moment as coach of this team in eight years. To not only compete, but to be better in spots, and to be that close and that competitive with a team that good. They’re fantastic, and we were right there with them. It wasn’t a fluke. It’s not like they had seven turnovers. We were physically right there with them. If we can play like that, we’re going to be all right the rest of the year. We lost to an awesome team. No shame. I love my kids for the fight they had.” — Pleasant Valley head coach Blaec Saeger, following last week’s loss to Whitehall.