Tamaqua is a team that has been noticeably improving as the football season progresses.

That melioration was obvious last night, especially when the Raiders broke loose for 16 points in just 55 seconds and went on to defeat Panther Valley 38-7.

The Raiders had only a 6-0 lead late into the first half.

They scored with just 45 seconds showing on the clock thanks to a four-yard scurry by Terrence McDowell, his first of three touchdowns on the night. McDowell then ran for the two-point conversion, expanding the lead to 14-0.

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, quarterback Ace Schickram, a 6-1 junior in his first year in that position, made an impressive 70-yard touchdown run, with McDowell providing the two points after to make it 22-0. During that run, Schickram shook off tackles, broke to his left at the Panther 30, busted another tackled and strutted alone into the end zone.

To punctuate the ill turn of events for the Panthers, a fumble on the ensuing kickoff was recovered by the Tam’s Quinn Coleman.

“That’s our goal,” said Tamaqua head coach Sam Bonner regarding his team improving. “We have the opportunity to possibly make districts and possibly get a home game.”

Both teams came into the game with 3-3 records. It looked for most of the first half that it was going to be a game that’s decided late; it was two closely matched teams.

And then came the scoring eruption by Tamaqua.

“I thought we had a great game running the ball,” Bonner said.

That running game was a three-prong attack by Schickram, McDowell and CJ Walker who combined for 338 yards rushing - 206 of them coming in the first half. McDowell and Schickram combined for all five Raider touchdowns.

Bonner said that the long run by Schickram turned the momentum of the game.

“He’s one of those guys who has been pretty consistent running the football for us,” Bonner said. “He’s dangerous in the open field. This is his first year as quarterback. He played flanker last year for us, and he’s growing and getting better.”

Although the defense of PV allowed only six Tamaqua points for the first 23 minutes of the game, its offense just couldn’t move the ball.

While Tamaqua had 76 first-quarter rushing yards, PV had a net total of seven on four carries. The Panthers were 0-for-2 in passing in that opening quarter.

“We had control of the ball,” said Bonner. “I thought we moved the ball well.”

The Raiders came into the game with momentum after last week’s win over North Schuylkill.

“They found a way to move the sticks,” said Panther Valley head coach Mark Lavine. “It’s a nice one-two punch they have [with McDowell and Schickram].”

Lavine liked his team’s effort despite the loss.

“I was super proud of them,” he said. “They came out and they fought, trailing only 6-0 with 40 seconds left in the first half.”

He said the difference was his team gave up some big plays while manufacturing of big drives.

“They came out and they fought,” he said of his players, giving special praise to defensive line Brody Vermillion “who had a lot of tackles for us.”

Tamaqua’s took a 6-0 lead with 3:11 left in the first quarter on a protracted drive that took 12 plays and ate up about eight minutes of the clock. It began at the PV 37. McDowell carried seven times in a row, advancing to the PV 31. Walker and Schickram carried on the next four plays before McDowell scored on a five-yard carry.

Not much happened until late in the second quarter. Then Tamaqua got a punt at the 50 and nudged it ahead on seven plays to the four. McDowell scored his second of his three touchdowns.

Midway through the third quarter, Schickram got his second TD on a 23-yard jaunt, which capped a 33-yard drive on five plays.

COMING ATTRACTIONS ... Next week, Panther Valley will host Pine Grove in the Panthers’ senior night game. Pine Grove has a 2-6 record, losing last night to Pottsville 62-14. Tamaqua has a long journey next week, traveling to Selinsgrove in Northumberland County.

MAYNARD SCORES FOR PV ... The only touchdown for PV came with 6:56 left in the fourth quarter when quarterback Cy Maynard ran for 17 yards through left tackle to the end zone. It began with a great kickoff return. On the kickoff, Corrigan Crampsie caught the ball on the 19 and handed it off to Chase McArdle, who hauled it to the 43 before being stopped. Five plays later, Maynard scored. Maynard was the top rusher for PV with 59 total yards for the night.

WONDERFUL POST-GAME SHOW ... The award-winning Tamaqua High School band put on a show after the game with well over half of the home spectators staying to enjoy it.

Tamaqua 38, Panther Vy. 7

Panther Vy 0 0 0 7 - 7

Tamaqua 6 8 16 8 - 38

T - McDowell, 5 run (run failed)

T - McDowell, 4 run (McDowell run)

T - Schickram, 70 run (McDowell run)

T - Schickram, 23 run (McDowell run)

T - McDowell, 30 run (Walker run)

PV - Maynard, 17 run (Gjoca kick)