We just might have a Game of the Year contender in the Times News area this season.

Whenever Jim Thorpe and Lehighton square off for the Route 209 Trophy, emotions run high and both teams leave everything on the field. Friday night’s showdown was no exception.

With both teams playing strong football this season, the rivalry carried added significance. This time, it was Jim Thorpe that came away with a dramatic victory.

Trailing 20-14 with just under six minutes remaining, the Olympians engineered a 71-yard drive, scoring the tying touchdown with 17.9 seconds left before Blaze Flyzik’s extra point lifted them to a thrilling 21-20 victory.

“That win is all about the mentality of these kids. Not giving up, fighting for each other, loving each other; that’s what this group is really all about,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger. “These kids really believe in one another and us as coaches believe in them as well.”

Thorpe came out focused, building a 14-0 lead with 5:37 remaining in the first half.

The Olympians struck first late in the opening quarter when a 49-yard connection from Tyler Hoherchak to Bobby Levins set up Hoherchak’s 15-yard touchdown run.

After forcing Lehighton to come up empty on its first three possessions, Thorpe added to its lead on a seven-play, 80-yard drive highlighted by a 72-yard pass from Hoherchak to Spencer Gothard.

Levins capped the march with a two-yard touchdown run out of the wildcat formation on fourth down, giving the Olympians a two-touchdown advantage.

“Getting out to the 14-0 lead was huge for us in the first half because it took them out of their rhythm a little bit of what they wanted to do, because they were playing from behind,” Rosenberger said.

Lehighton answered quickly when Jack Lucykanish connected with Carl Lingham on a 57-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 14-7 with 4:36 remaining before halftime.

The Indians then took control of the line of scrimmage after the break.

Lehighton opened the second half with a 12-play, 53-yard drive consisting entirely of running plays, draining nearly eight minutes off the clock. Lukas Croizier carried seven times during the march before Lucykanish scored from seven yards out to tie the game at 14.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Indians went right back to work, putting together another methodical possession that lasted 16 plays and nearly eight minutes.

Lucykanish kept the drive alive with a 14-yard completion to Aiden McCarroll on third-and-seven and another clutch throw to Lingham on third-and-18 from the Jim Thorpe 35.

Croizier eventually powered into the end zone from two yards out, giving Lehighton its first lead, 20-14, with 6:02 remaining.

But the Olympians came through with a critical special-teams play, blocking the extra-point attempt to keep the deficit at six.

“There was a lot of things that we think we did well tonight and I thought for the most part we executed, and it’s one of those games, where it’s a rivalry and there’s a lot of emotion, and at the end of the day, they were able to make one more play than we did,” said Lehighton head coach Tommy McCarroll.

The missed opportunity proved costly as Jim Thorpe mounted its winning drive.

Starting at their own 29 with just under six minutes left, the Olympians converted a fourth-and-two on a Hoherchak run to keep the possession alive.

A 12-men-on-the-field penalty later left Thorpe facing first-and-25, but the Olympians recovered and eventually faced fourth-and-seven at the Lehighton 46.

A defensive holding penalty against the Indians extended the drive, and Hoherchak followed with a 27-yard completion to Levins, moving the ball to the 11.

Three plays later, facing fourth-and-two from the 3, Hoherchak rolled left on a bootleg, nearly losing his footing and the football before regaining control and reaching the end zone with 17.9 seconds remaining.

Flyzik converted the extra point to give Thorpe a 21-20 advantage.

Lehighton’s final attempt ended when Gothard intercepted a pass as time expired.

“Tyler is really progressing for us and he showed tremendous poise and leadership tonight,” Rosenberger said. “He did it with his arm and with his legs and made some huge plays and was in total control of our offense.”

For Rosenberger, the victory reflected how far his team has come.

“This is just a huge win for this group. I’m so proud of them,” he said. “But we said, enjoy this win, but on Sunday we need to refocus. We want to continue building off the momentum that we’ve generated these past few weeks.”

POISED ... Hoherchak finished with 200 passing yards and 55 rushing yards, including two touchdowns on the ground. He completed 4 of 5 passes for 47 yards on the winning drive.

HARD RUNNING ... Croizier led Lehighton’s ground attack with 171 yards and a touchdown.

Jim Thorpe 21, Lehighton 20

Jim Thorpe 7 7 0 7 - 21

Lehighton 0 7 7 6 - 20

JT - Hoherchak 15 run (Flyzik kick)

JT - Levins 2 run (Flyzik kick)

L - Lingham 57 pass from Lucykanish (Hoffman kick)

L - Lucykanish 7 run (Hoffman kick)

L - Croizier 2 run (kick failed)

JT - Hoherchak 3 run (Flyzik kick)