Sometimes all it takes is one play to completely change the momentum of a game.

With Jim Thorpe and Tamaqua deadlocked at 21-21 with 4:26 remaining in the third quarter, a towering 42-yard punt by Bobby Levins was muffed by the Raiders and recovered by the Olympians at the Tamaqua 11-yard line.

Thorpe capitalized on the turnover just a few plays later, sparking a 27-6 run over the remainder of the game.

The Olympians seized control from there and pulled away for a 48-27 victory over the Raiders, advancing to the District 11 Class 3A semifinals.

“Our kids came out in the second half and they executed,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger. “We got back into our stack defense, because what we were trying against their run game in the first half wasn’t working and I thought that made a difference. But I’m just proud of the way our kids responded.

“They were able to force some big turnovers, and the fumbled punt that we were able to turn into a score was huge. Again, the execution on the players end in the second half was the difference.”

Neither defense could come up with a stop in the first half as Jim Thorpe and Tamaqua battled to a 21-21 tie at the break. The Olympians had no answer for the Raiders’ powerful ground game, while Tamaqua struggled to contain Thorpe’s aerial attack.

Terrence McDowell helped the Raiders jump out to a quick 7-0 lead when he showcased his speed on a 68-yard touchdown run at the 10:56 mark of the opening quarter. McDowell, who has battled injuries, looked as healthy as he has all year. He was a force throughout the first half, rushing for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

The Olympians answered back with an impressive 10-play drive. Facing a fourth-and-four, Tyler Hoherchak connected with Spencer Gothard on a 16-yard pass, making it 7-7.

Tamaqua’s running game continued to churn as McDowell and Ace Schickram combined for 61 rushing yards on an 11-play scoring drive. The Raiders regained the lead at 13-7, though a mishandled snap on the extra-point attempt left a point off the board.

Thorpe stayed neck and neck with Tamaqua, answering again with a long drive finished off by an Anthony Kiehl 11-yard burst to put the Olympians up 14-13 with 7:56 to play in the half.

It looked like Tamaqua was poised to take a lead into the locker room after reclaiming the advantage, 21-14, thanks to a drive highlighted by several clutch conversions.

The biggest play of the possession came when Schickram found Ryder Holmberg along the right sideline, with Holmberg racing to the 2-yard line. From there, McDowell powered into the end zone with just over two minutes remaining in the half.

The Raiders version of the “Philly Special” on their two-point attempt worked to perfection to make up for the botched point after earlier in the game.

The Olympians continued to stay even with the Raiders by scoring in just five plays. From the Tamaqua 41, Hoherchak found his favorite target in Gothard open on the right sideline for six.

“I thought our kids gave it everything they had,” said Tamaqua head coach Sam Bonner. “I thought they played exceptionally well. And we put together a great drive right before the end of the first half. We made some big completions and we made some big plays on that drive. Throughout the game we had a lot of different guys making plays for us.

“You never want to give up a quick score like that before the half. They had a few touchdowns in the game where they scored in less than a minute or so and you can’t give up those type of plays and continue to stay in the game. We still had some opportunities even with that, but that’s where they can hurt you. They’re a big-play type of team because of their team speed.”

Both teams came up empty on their opening possessions of the second half, but the Tamaqua miscue on the punt proved costly. Taking over deep in Raiders territory, JT capitalized and grabbed a 28-21 lead when Hoherchak scored on a 4-yard draw with 1:33 remaining in the third.

The TD swung the momentum in Thorpe’s favor, but Tamaqua responded with another clutch conversion to keep itself within striking distance. Facing a fourth-and-three from its own 34-yard line, Bonner rolled the dice and dialed up a halfback pass, with McDowell finding Schickram for a 45-yard gain to the Thorpe 25.

Two plays later, McDowell scored from seven-yards out, but a problem on the PAT attempt left the Olympians in the lead 28-27.

From there Thorpe pulled away, fueled by another Hoherchak to Gothard connection — this time a 62-yard bomb — to put the Olympians back on top 35-27.

“I had a drop early in the game and I was in my head a little bit,” said Gothard. “But I calmed down and then I started to make some plays. And Tyler and I, we’re best friends. We talk all the time and I just feel like we have a good connection out there.

“We were able to get that huge score before the half and then we came out in the second half and made some big plays. It was a total team effort. Every unit played great and did their part.”

Jim Thorpe’s defense turned up the pressure in the fourth quarter, coming up with multiple stops. The Olympians also forced two turnovers as both Kiehl and Paxton Novak came away with interceptions.

The offense put the finishing touches on the victory as Bobby Levins broke loose for touchdown runs of 26 and 80 yards.

“Overall, it was just a great team effort,” said Rosenberger. “Our kids persevered. We talk all the time about playing 48 minutes of high-standard football.

“I thought our Red Swarm defense did a great job in the second half, holding them to just seven points and then creating turnovers down the stretch that gave our offense a bunch of opportunities.”

THROUGH THE AIR ... Hoherchak finished with 193 yards passing and three touchdown passes. He also added 73 yards rushing and a score. Gothard had a big night with four catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns.

RUNNING HARD ... McDowell finished with 164 rushing yards and two TDs and Schickram added 80 yards and a score. Levins’ big runs helped him tally 138 yards and two TDs.

NEXT UP ... JT will now head to Notre Dame Green Pond next Friday night at 7 p.m in the 3A semis.

Jim Thorpe 48, Tamaqua 27

Tamaqua 13 8 6 0 - 27

Jim Thorpe 7 14 7 20 - 48

T - McDowell 68 run (Godinez kick)

JT - Gothard 16 pass from Hoherchak (Flyzik kick)

T - Schickram 1 run (run failed)

JT - Kiehl 2 run (Flyzik kick)

T - McDowell 2 run (Makovec pass from Faneck)

JT - Gothard 41 pass from Hoherchak (Flyzik kick)

JT - Hoherchak 4 run (Flyzik kick)

T - McDowell 7 run (run failed)

JT - Gothard 62 pass from Hoherchak (Flyzik kick)

JT - Levins 26 run (Flyzik kick)

JT - Levins 80 run (kick failed)