As the football season starts winding down, teams are starting to jockey for position in their respective classes before playoffs begin.

This week, the seventh of the year, sees some highly-anticipated matchups of area teams like Northwestern facing Lehighton, and Jim Thorpe battling Northern Lehigh.

Marian hopes to build off its impressive win last week, while Tamaqua, Pleasant Valley and Panther Valley all look to bounce back after losses.

Northwestern (6-0) at Lehighton (5-1)

When: Friday, October 9 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Northwestern led a feisty Jim Thorpe team 28-14 last week heading into the fourth quarter, where the Tigers were then able to pull away for a 49-14 win. The Tigers Chase Sukanick continues to pile up big rushing numbers. Sukanick rushed for a career high 332 rushing yards on 37 carries with five rushing touchdowns. He is second in the Times News area in rushing yards with 901, at 8.83 yards per carry. Over the past two weeks, he’s rushed for 544 yards and nine touchdowns. Northwestern sophomore QB Trey Snyder continues to lead the Times News area in passing yards with 1,095 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions. The Tigers’ defense did give up two passing plays of over 70 yards for scores against JT, but continues to be stubborn against the run game, allowing just 41.8 rushing yards per game.

Lehighton came through with a 42-9 bounce-back win over Bangor after a lopsided loss to Southern Lehigh in Week Five. Junior QB Jack Lucykanish had a big game, throwing for 251 yards and five touchdowns, with three of them going to wide receiver Carl Lingham. Bell cow back Lukas Croizier also had a solid night for the Tribe, rushing for 118 yards on 14 carries and a rushing score. Croizier ranks fourth in the Times News area with 674 rushing yards at 7.66 yards per carry, and third in total touchdowns with 12. The Indians’ defense has also been fairly stout this season and they were again last week, coming through with 12 tackles for loss against the Slaters.

Storyline of the Game

This one will be won up front in the trenches. Both of these squads are run-first offenses, and the team that is able to run the ball effectively throughout the game, taking pressure off the quarterback will most likely walk away with the victory.

Coach’s Corner

“Our goal is to play our very best game every week, and we feel like in the last two weeks, we haven’t done that. So, we’ve been working hard to clean that up and be more consistent. There have been stretches where we make a lot of plays, but then there are stretches where we don’t, and that has hurt us. Whether that’s not coming off the line hard enough, a couple missed tackles, that kind of stuff. Teams will make you pay. Overall, we have still played well at times and executed well, but we just need to be more consistent on both sides of the ball and give extreme effort. But we’re excited for the opportunity this week against a good team with a good record. It’s a great matchup to have this time of year. The key matchup will be up front. It’s a strength for both of us. I’m excited to see how our guys hold up against their size. But both of us are running football teams, so whoever is able to stop the run in this game will probably have the advantage.” - Northwestern head coach Josh Snyder.

“We’ve been building toward becoming a more versatile offense. We’ve always felt good about our run game and that’s what we hang our hat on, but it was good to see Lucykanish put together a big game like that. You need to be more balanced in the bigger games, and gaining that confidence in the passing game is key. We have challenged our guys to come out and match Northwestern’s physicality. We need to rise to the occasion. If you want to be considered one of the better teams, you need to perform in the big games, because that’s where you’re judged. Stopping the run is going to be a top priority for both teams in this matchup. On their side, Sukanick is probably the best back we’re going to see all year. He is making a name for himself, he breaks a ton of tackles, and he is tough. So, it has to start with him, but they have so many athletes on the field, it’s not like you can just stack the box. So, you have to be disciplined and tackle well and get off the field when the opportunity presents itself.” - Lehighton head coach Tom McCarroll.

Jim Thorpe (3-3) at Northern Lehigh (5-1)

When: Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Northern Lehigh rallied in the second half to register a 22-8 win over Catasauqua last week, its fourth straight victory. The Bulldogs opened the second half with a methodical 13-play, 59-yard drive that pushed them ahead for good. Chris Frame rushed for 70 yards with a score, and Mason Rothrock ran for 60 yards with two touchdowns. Bill Slattery notched a team-high 12 tackles. Quarterback Garrett Smoyer has completed 52 of 91 passes for 579 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. Smoyer has run for 363 yards with four touchdowns, and Rothrock has 267 yards with three touchdowns. Ryan Zambo has 15 receptions for 130 yards with one touchdown, and Colin Karetsky has 13 catches for 212 yards with three touchdowns. Slattery has 56 tackles with eight sacks, and Paul Porobenski has 49 stops. This is the first meeting between the two teams since 2023, when Jim Thorpe posted a 29-6 victory. Northern Lehigh won the prior two meetings in 2022 (14-13) and 2021 (27-21).

Jim Thorpe is coming off a 49-14 loss to Northwestern last week, snapping a two-game winning streak. Northwestern running back Chase Sukanick ran for 335 yards and scored five touchdowns. Jim Thorpe quarterback Tyler Hoherchak threw for 205 with a pair of scores, with Anthony Kiehl catching three balls for 107 with a 71-yard touchdown. The Olympians’ offense has revolved around Hoherchak, Kiehl and Bobby Levins. For the season, Hoherchak has completed 43 of 79 attempts for 646 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Kiehl has rushed for 204 yards with four touchdowns, and caught 11 passes for 268 yards with two scores, while Levins has rushed for 375 yards with four touchdowns and has 13 catches for 200 yards with a score. Kaden Hess and Nicholas Faust each have a team-high 47 tackles. Dominic Kiehl has 43 tackles and seven sacks.

Storyline of the Game

This should be a black-and-blue Colonial League battle, as it can dictate the teams’ direction toward the rest of their seasons. Both teams also will look to their running game. Northern Lehigh will certainly be more focused after their sluggish start last week, and can possibly clinch a playoff spot. Jim Thorpe is looking to get things aligned again after last week.

Coach’s Corner

“We felt as if we came out slow in our last two games, and we felt like we got off to a sluggish start against Catty last week. Offensively, we had a really nice drive to start but didn’t do much for the rest of the half. Defensively, that is the most a team has moved the ball on us since Northwestern. Catty had some nice adjustments, and they came out playing for their playoff lives. We didn’t have that sense of urgency, and that is why it was tied 8-8 at half. I thought our defense played much better in the second half of the game. Our secondary — Ryan Zambo, Colin Karetsky, Chris Frame and Garrett Smoyer — had an excellent game and tackled well.”

“As far as Jim Thorpe is concerned, I’m sure they feel battle tested having played Blue Mountain, Southern Lehigh and Northwestern. They kept the NW game close until the mid-fourth quarter. We have to be able to focus on their run game. They have a nice 1-2 punch at quarterback and running back. They will throw the ball, and they run a ton of reverses and counters to slow your defense down. We have to make them drive the ball this week, and we have to limit big plays. Offensively, we need to get our passing game going. We haven’t had much of an attack the last two weeks, and we always strive to be balanced. We are going to focus on being balanced with our offense this week. Our special teams will also be critical. It’s our homecoming, so we need to limit distractions and focus on the game. We feel like a win this week should secure a playoff spot for us. That is the next big step we want to take.” - Northern Lehigh head coach Joe Tout.

“I loved our effort, intensity and physicality last week. However, we need to limit mistakes, turnovers and missed tackles in big games. Northern Lehigh is another outstanding team led by some exceptional athletes. They are a well-coached team that doesn’t make mistakes. They are physical on the front lines, and are very aggressive with their blitzing style of defense.

We need to play our best game in order to be successful. Offensively, they have numerous weapons that we are very concerned about slowing down.” - Jim Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger

Tamaqua (2-4) at North Schuylkill (2-4)

When: Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Tamaqua’s 22-0 loss at Pottsville last Thursday was more competitive than the final score suggests. The teams were scoreless at halftime, and the Blue Raiders’ defense held up through the first two-and-a-half quarters before giveaways and penalties helped the Crimson Tide pull away.

Tamaqua committed five turnovers, but head coach Sam Bonner’s concerns extended beyond ball security. The Raiders had 40+ yards of second-half penalties. An early seven-minute possession also came up empty, leaving Tamaqua without points after a drive that established some offensive rhythm and controlled the clock.

One encouraging development was the increased workload for Terrence McDowell, who continued his return from injury with 103 yards on 18 carries. McDowell now has 600 rushing yards and seven touchdowns this season, averaging 6.2 yards per attempt. Ace Schickram has added 302 rushing yards, while CJ Walker has 291.

Storyline of the Game

Matching 2-4 records do not tell the whole story heading into Friday. North Schuylkill has momentum after consecutive victories, while Tamaqua is trying to turn competitive stretches into a complete performance and stop a three-game slide.

For the Raiders, that starts with finishing possessions and eliminating mistakes that undo productive work. Tamaqua has rushed for 1,319 yards this season, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, but last week showed that moving the ball and controlling the clock mean little without points. Avoiding short fields and protecting the punt unit will be particularly important against a team that has recently capitalized on special-teams opportunities.

Getting healthier could help Tamaqua in several areas. McDowell’s expanded role against Pottsville was a positive step, and Bonner hopes to have him contributing on both sides of the ball. The Raiders are also hoping to regain Chance Makovec, who provides help at receiver and linebacker.

Coach’s Corner

There is still a postseason opportunity to pursue for the Raiders. Tamaqua sits eighth in District 11 Class 3A ratings, one spot ahead of fellow 2-4 Pen Argyl. With eight teams qualifying, the Raiders remain in the hunt, but have little cushion as they work toward a stronger finish.

“They’ve won their last two, so I’m sure they’ve built up some confidence over the last couple weeks. They have a couple quick running backs who can make big plays. We’ve got to make sure we play a well-rounded game in all three aspects. If we gel and do what we’re supposed to do, and definitely clean up some of the stuff we’re capable of cleaning up, we can make a good run at the end of the year and get the opportunity to play a postseason game or maybe more. But that’s something we’ve got to take control of.” - Tamaqua head coach Sam Bonner

ES North (0-6) at Pleasant Valley (2-4)

When: Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Pleasant Valley suffered another tough loss last week, falling 14-7 to Northampton. The Bears had a 60-yard Sean Cobb touchdown run erased by a holding penalty and later lost a fumble at the 1-yard line, while an apparent defensive touchdown was wiped out by an inadvertent whistle. Chris Ward rushed for 147 yards on 18 carries and scored PV’s lone touchdown. It was the Bears’ fourth straight loss, but their third during that stretch by seven points or fewer.

East Stroudsburg North remained winless with a 49-0 loss to Freedom last week. The Timberwolves fell to 0-6, and were shut out for the fourth time this season. North has scored just 27 points through six games, with 20 coming in a loss to Pocono Mountain West two weeks ago.

Storyline of the Game

Pleasant Valley will look to turn its recent close calls into a win, and continue leaning on a rushing attack that has produced 1,726 yards through six games. Ward leads the way with 824 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Cobb has added 436 yards and three scores. The Bears have lost three games by seven points or fewer during their four-game skid, while East Stroudsburg North enters still searching for its first victory.

Coach’s Corner

“North runs a difficult offense to prepare for. A variety of formations, and they do a good job of creating positive angles for their blocks. We need to win the turnover battle and create explosive plays on offense. We need to finish in the fourth quarter. We have had an opportunity to win in the fourth in all four losses, and we need to finish stronger. I have taught at ES North for 24 years and coached here for 14, so it is always a special game to me.” — Pleasant Valley head coach Blaec Saeger.

Nativity (1-5) at Marian (3-3)

When: Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Marian pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the season last week, knocking off Tri-Valley 24-21 on the road. Tyler Price carried 26 times for 170 yards and scored twice, including an 11-yard touchdown that gave the Colts a 24-14 lead with 5:22 remaining. Greg Tirpak completed 6-of-10 passes for 132 yards, while Rocco Griguoli caught three passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.

Nativity dropped its fourth straight game last week, falling to Mahanoy Area 37-6. The Green Wave fell to 1-5, and have scored just 19 points during their current four-game skid. Junior Cooper Felty leads Nativity with 398 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and has also been its top tackler defensively with 71 stops.

Storyline of the Game

Marian will look to carry the momentum from last week’s upset of Tri-Valley and keep feeding Price. The junior has rushed for 1,031 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Tirpak and Griguoli have given the Colts another big-play threat through the air. Nativity’s defense is led by Felty, while the Green Wave have recorded nine sacks this season.

Coach’s Corner

“They’re athletic. We got to do what we’re doing. We gotta break the streak, right? We’re loss, win, loss, win, loss, win. I felt last week we sort of took a next step when we found how to win a close game, ’cause we struggled to do that earlier in the season. Hopefully now our kids know what we’re capable of, and it’s a big, big second half of the season, so we got to start off on a strong suit here and then get ready for the rest of the way.” — Marian head coach Billy O’Gurek

Pottsville (3-3) at Panther Valley (3-3)

When: Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Panther Valley suffered a 60-0 defeat to Blue Mountain last week. The Panthers were held to 61 yards of total offense, while the Eagles scored on nine of their 10 offensive possessions and took advantage of three turnovers. It was the first meeting between the two clubs since 1997. Panther Valley quarterback Cy Maynard has completed 40 of 70 attempts for 564 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also is the team’s leading rusher with 323 yards and six touchdowns. Chase McArdle leads all receivers with 26 catches for 363 yards and three scores. Defensively, Brody Vermillion has 58 tackles, Carlos Maldonado has 45 tackles and two sacks, and Jerry Harrison has 28 tackles and three sacks. The Panthers have allowed 56 of their 164 points in the first quarter, and have scored 40 of their 108 in the fourth quarter this season.

Pottsville is coming off a 22-0 shutout of Tamaqua for its second straight victory. Shay Strencosky caught five passes for 188 yards, three of them for touchdowns. Max Crews ran for 103 yards on eight carries, and quarterback Tommy Smith was 7-of-13 for 103 yards with three scores. Strencosky has been a prime target with 15 catches for 306 yards with six scores, and has also rushed for 178 yards with two touchdowns. Crews has rushed for 355 yards with a touchdown, while Donovann Durham has gained 372 yards with five scores. Defensively, Strencosky also has a team-high 56 tackles, while Crews has 52 tackles, two sacks, and one interception. The two teams last met in 1983 in Pottsville, and the Crimson Tide won 40-7. Their last meeting at Panther Valley was in 1982, and Pottsville won, 28-12.

Storyline of the Week

Panther Valley needs to get back on track after having two impressive wins and balanced offensive efforts against Greater Nanticoke and Tunkhannock. It never recovered after Blue Mountain recovered a fumble in the end zone to start the onslaught. Pottsville was thumped by Blue Mountain, 44-14, three weeks ago, but the Crimson Tide is starting to put it together with consecutive victories.

Coach’s Corner

“There were really no positives from the Blue Mountain game. We got pushed on both sides of the ball, and were sloppy on special teams.

“Pottsville is very solid with three really good backs that run hard and are physical. We need to tackle well and contain their backs and not give up any big plays in the passing game to be successful.” - Panther Valley head coach Mark Lavine