Lehighton and Palmerton will renew their rivalry when the two meet Friday night.

Both teams are seeking a victory, with the winner reaching the .500 mark.

In other action, Northwestern battles Blue Mountain hoping to keep its record perfect, while Northern Lehigh makes the long trek to Kintnersville to take on undefeated Palisades.

Lehighton (1-2) at

Palmerton (1-2)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Lehighton enters its rivalry game confident after a narrow 21-20 loss to defending District 11 4A champ Southern Lehigh. The Indians matched the Spartans — who had outscored their first two opponents 63-14 — and nearly pulled off the upset.

Lukas Croizier carried 24 times for 137 yards and a touchdown. QB Jayse Lawrence went 11-for-19 for 104 yards and added 52 on the ground, while Blake Roberts and Austin Green both scored short runs. A 16-play, eight-minute third-quarter drive ended with a stop at the 1-yard line, and a late TD was followed by a failed two-point try that would have given Lehighton the lead.

Croizier has 440 rushing yards and three TDs this year. Lawrence has 428 passing yards and four scores, while Ty Nansteel has six catches for 141 yards and three TDs.

Palmerton picked up its first win with a 19-6 victory over Saucon Valley. The Bombers overcame three first-quarter turnovers, and four overall, by controlling both lines of scrimmage. They held the Panthers to six rushing yards and six first downs, while generating 18 first downs of their own.

Vincent Taglieri ran 22 times for 121 yards. QB T.K. Gursky provided a spark, running for a 17-yard TD and throwing fourth-down scoring passes to Ben Negley (4 yards) and Alex Keiper (32). Defensively, Dillon Anthony had 10 tackles, two for loss, and a fumble recovery.

Storyline of the Week

Lehighton averages 357.7 yards and 28.0 points, fueled by Croizier’s 7.6 yards per carry and Nansteel’s big-play ability. Palmerton averages 219 yards, but has allowed just 265.3. The Indians have thrived in the second quarter (50-14), while the Bombers have been outscored 22-0 in the third. Adjustments after halftime could prove decisive.

Coach’s Corner

“I’m not really in the business of moral victories; a loss is a loss,” Lehighton coach Tom McCarroll said. “But I couldn’t be more proud of the effort against a really good team. This team just had so much fight. Even in a loss, opponents will walk away knowing they were in a battle.”

Palmerton coach Chris Walkowiak said, “We started out very slow last week. We had three turnovers and a blown coverage, and we were down 6-0 in the first five minutes. I thought we responded very well … T.K. Gursky came off the bench and gave us a boost at quarterback.”

Blue Mountain (1-2) at

Northwestern (3-0)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Northwestern looked every bit like the defending PIAA 3A state champ in a 54-14 win over Bangor, scoring on every first-half possession to lead 54-0 at halftime.

QB Shane Leh was 7-for-8 for 153 yards and three TDs. Braxton Lakatosh and Chase Sukanick each scored twice, while Brady Zimmerman hauled in a 56-yard TD catch. Leh is 21-for-30 for 390 yards and four scores this season. Lakatosh has 236 yards and four TDs on just 13 carries, while Sukanick has five rushing TDs and is among the area leaders in scoring.

The Tigers have now outscored their opponents 140-28 through three games. Their defense has been equally impressive, holding foes to just 144.7 yards per game, with the starters yielding little after the first quarter.

Blue Mountain earned its first win with a 47-0 shutout of Jim Thorpe. Reese Miller ran for four TDs, Brody Foose rushed for 107 yards, and QB Cohen Kirby was 7-for-8 for 81 yards and a score. Special teams also chipped in with Josh Hoover’s 83-yard punt return TD, and Chase Guers’ 69-yard kickoff return.

Storyline of the Week

Blue Mountain showed its potential against Jim Thorpe, but facing Northwestern is a different challenge. The Tigers’ offensive balance — Leh’s accuracy, Lakatosh’s explosiveness and Zimmerman’s big-play ability — makes them difficult to defend, while their defense has been one of the stingiest in the area. For the Eagles, this game is a measuring stick against a program that has shown no signs of slowing down after last season’s state championship run.

No. Lehigh (2-1) at

Palisades (3-0)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Northern Lehigh bounced back from its Week 2 loss to Northwestern with a 42-19 win over previously unbeaten Pen Argyl. The Bulldogs led 14-13 after one quarter, then outscored the Green Knights 21-0 in the middle two periods to pull away.

Chris Frame ran for 143 yards and two TDs, caught two passes for 52 yards and another score, and added an interception. QB Garrett Smoyer threw for 140 yards and two TDs, while senior RB Grady Newhard topped 100 yards rushing.

Palisades stayed unbeaten with a 42-14 win over Catasauqua. QB Jack Trickel threw for 357 yards and four TDs, with junior WR Lincoln Cook catching nine passes for 269 yards and three scores.

Storyline of the Week

Northern Lehigh will need a fast start on the road against a senior-led Palisades squad. Containing Trickel and Cook — who have already emerged as one of the area’s top passing duos — is critical.

Coach’s Corner

“We didn’t play great to start last week, but we settled in and played pretty well,” Bulldogs coach Joe Tout said. “Garrett has been doing a good job spreading the ball around. We had guys like Ryan Zambo and Keith Lectora score their first TDs, and it’s been a breakout year for Colin Karetsky.

“This week we’re going to be challenged by a good Palisades team. I think we mirror each other in that we both have athletes and speed, but we also like to play physical. Our guys enjoy the mental part of the game — studying film, figuring out tendencies. It’s been impressive, and it’s made a difference.”

Pleasant Valley (1-2) at

Parkland (3-0)

When: Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Pleasant Valley traveled to Berks County last Friday to face Exeter Township, who reached the District 3 Class 5A championship game a year ago. What the Bears ran into was an Eagles squad just as strong as a year ago. Exeter used a potent ground attack, and an impressive showing to gain a 42-0 victory. PV couldn’t stop senior Leomar Brown, who carried 11 times for 139 yards and four touchdowns. Brown opened the scoring in the first quarter when he broke free for a 51-yard touchdown run. The 5-9, 175-pounder then reached the end zone three more times in the second quarter to help the Eagles build a 27-0 halftime lead. While Brown helped his team rush for 230 yards — on just 17 attempts — in the contest, the Exeter defense was doing the job against Pleasant Valley’s attack. The Bears, who were coming off a win against Dieruff, managed just 41 rushing yards on 31 attempts, an average of just 1.32 yards per carry.

Meanwhile, Parkland ran its record to 3-0 a week ago when it fought off a tough Northampton squad for a 38-27 victory. Junior quarterback Finn Coen threw for 155 yards and three touchdowns, and also ran for 88 yards on nine carries. Coen’s top target was Nassim Adams, who snared four passes for 103 yards and two of the scores.

Storyline of the Week

Pleasant Valley is a huge underdog against one of the top-ranked teams in the state. Parkland has talent, strength, speed and plenty of depth. Year in and year out, the Trojans are not only in the mix for a district title, but also a contender to make state runs. Led by multiple returning linemen on offense, Parkland can move the ball downfield at will, and an experienced defense not only makes it tough on opponents, but is quick to give the ball back to its offense — usually in good field position. For the Bears to stay close, they will have to move the football, gaining some first downs, and also can’t turn the ball over and commit penalties.

Coach’s Corner

“I was very pleased with our overall effort, our fight, our competitiveness (against Exeter). We were down big, and never stopped playing. There was no quit in our kids. Our execution, on the other hand, just wasn’t where it needed to be. We played a very quality opponent, and unfortunately we picked that night to play our worst game of the year so far. So, if you put that together, that’s the result you’re going to get. They’re good at everything, and they most likely will be the District 3 5A champs ... they’re a powerhouse. They can run, they can throw, they play defense. They’re just a really good football team. Nothing, though, can prepare you for playing Parkland. Parkland, Exeter and later on, Nazareth, they are preparing us for what we hope is a run toward a potential (EPC) North title or a district run. We have some very good teams coming up in our division, and playing these monsters will definitely help to prepare for them. The gameplan doesn’t change whether it’s Parkland or whoever. We need to play a clean football game and win the turnover battle. We need to tackle well and execute, whatever the task at hand is on that particular play. Playing a team like Parkland, all those things become more challenging ... It’s a daunting task, but I have no doubt my kids are going to come to play, they’re not going to back down and if they show up and fight, and scratch and claw, and give everything they have and that just isn’t enough, than so be it. That’s part of life. But I just want to make sure they go there for a purpose, and that’s to play the game. We’re not going there to roll over just because they’re Parkland.” - Pleasant Valley head coach Blaec Saeger.

Shenandoah Valley (0-3) at Marian (3-0)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Marian beat Panther Valley 39-12. RB Rory Dixon was held to 36 yards on 19 carries, but returned an interception 64 yards for a TD. Jake Tom added kickoff returns of 40 and 80 yards. The Colts average 32.7 points per game, and have allowed 16.7. They held Panther Valley to minus-1 yard rushing.

Shenandoah Valley fell to Schuylkill Haven 54-5. Running back Mike Elchisak has 269 rushing yards and three TDs, while QB Ethan Bench has 209 passing yards with three interceptions. The Blue Devils have lost 35 of their last 41 games, with their last win over Marian in 2021.

Storyline of the Week

Marian is 3-0 for the first time since 2015, and aiming for its first 4-0 start since 2012. Dixon looks to get back on track, while the Colts’ defense tries to contain Elchisak.

Coach’s Corner

“We got exactly what we expected from Panther Valley, a tough, physical coal-region game,” Colts coach Billy O’Gurek said. “I was proud of how we manufactured points from defense and special teams. Going forward, we need to clean up our run game and keep touches for guys like Tom, Price and Griguoli. Shenandoah will be another great test. Their quarterback is a big, strong kid who can sling it, so we need to pressure him and not let him sit in the pocket.”

Panther Valley (0-3) at

Pine Grove (0-3)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Instant Replay

Panther Valley lost 39-13 to Marian. Quarterback Brody Breiner has completed 42 of 67 passes for 414 yards and two TDs, and is also the team’s leading rusher with 80 yards. Gavin Yuricheck has 17 catches for 188 yards, and Chase McArdle has 14 for 122.

Pine Grove fell 24-0 to Tri-Valley, finishing with just 57 total yards. Logan Troup leads the Cardinals with 188 rushing yards and one TD.

Storyline of the Week

Both teams are winless. The difference could be who establishes the run, with Breiner’s passing also a potential factor.

Coach’s Corner

“We did some nice things versus Marian, especially defensively. On offense, we threw the ball well and contained Dixon,” Panthers coach Mark Lavine said. “But we made too many mistakes — two pick-sixes, a kick return for a TD and a roughing the punter. We need to cut those out. Pine Grove is big up front and likes to run the ball, so that will be our focus. We need to re-establish our own run game.”