Game breaking speed. That’s what North Schuylkill running back Luke Miller has and that’s what he put on display on Friday night against Lehighton. Miller had a big night on the ground en route to a 36-14 Colonial-Schuylkill Red Division victory for the Spartans over the Indians.

This one was tight going into the half. North Schuylkill was able to jump out to a 14-0 advantage after the first fueled by Miller and the run game. The senior rushed for 91 yards in the first half on just 11 carries and broke away for a 22-yard scamper at the 9:24 mark of the first to give the Spartans a 6-0 lead.

Lehighton looked like it might answer the Spartans first score after Lukas Croizier returned the ensuing kickoff 55 yards to the North Schuylkill 32. But the Spartans’ defense would come through with a huge stop, forcing a turnover on downs and taking over at the 27.

The Spartans would go back to Miller who would methodically take the North Schuylkill offense to the Lehighton 41 after a few nice runs. Quarterback Caden Mengel would then get the North Schuylkill passing game going with a 38-yard connection over the middle all the way down to the three to Landen Smith. Cadyn McGraw then punched it in a play later to extend the Spartans lead to 14.

“We moved the ball well. We only had 26 plays in the first half and only four possessions in the first half,” said North Schuylkill head coach Wally Hall. “But as it does every week, it starts up front on both sides of the ball. I was really pleased with the way our offensive line played tonight. That’s an experienced group. Really both sides of the ball up front played well tonight. And if you get Miller the ball he’s going to make things happens. Teams load the box up on him and if he’s able to break through, he makes explosive plays happen.”

Lehighton made it a one score game right before the end of the half by putting together a 16 play 60-yard drive that took up a majority of the second quarter. The Indians converted three fourth downs on the drive with quarterback Jayse Lawrence finding Kyden Hauser on a slant play over the middle for a 12-yard touchdown to cut the Spartans lead lead to seven with 18 seconds to go in the first half. Lawrence had a solid night throwing the ball, passing for 146 yards and two touchdowns both to Hauser, who had a productive night as well, hauling in 10 catches for 99 yards.

However, the third quarter proved to be the difference in the game, with North Schuylkill taking control. The Indians started the third with a promising drive driven by the run game with Croizier and Aiden McCarroll chunking a few runs to take the Tribe up to their 42. Lawrence would then find Hauser on a drop it in a bucket type toss down the right sideline for 31 yards with Hauser making a great grab to take the ball down to North Schuylkill 27. But again, the Indians drive would stall out as they turned it over on downs at the 25.

Miller and North Schuylkill’s big boys up front would then make the Indians pay. A 36-yard Miller run and then one play later a 64-yard Miller speed burst for six would make it a 20-7 game with 6:41 left in the third. Lehighton would go three-and-out on its next possession and an errant snap would sail over the punter Blake Roberts’ head and into the end zone for a safety after Roberts jumped on the ball, upping the Spartans lead to 22-7. Layer in the third it was Miller time yet again, this time from 40 yards out to make it 29-7 North Schuylkill lead heading into the fourth.

“I thought we made some good plays and did some good things. We just weren’t consistent enough in some big spots. We have the big kickoff return and we don’t capitalize there and then we have the nice drive to start the third and we don’t convert there either,” said Lehighton head coach Tom McCarroll. “But our kids played really hard. I thought they battled all night. That’s a really good football team and a veteran football team. And you know Miller is going to get his. He had some big plays for them. But I’m proud of our kids. Of course we would’ve liked a different result, but we’ll get some things fixed and cleaned up and get back to work to get better.”

MILLER TIME… Miller rushed 22 times for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Miller cemented himself in the Spartans’ record books by become the program’s all time leading rusher after his performance against the Indians. He surpassed Josh Chowansky to claim the record. Miller now has 3,292 career rushing yards.

IN THE TRENCHES… The Spartans offensive and defensive linemen had a dominating night. North Schuylkill rushed for 294 yards at 11.7 yards per carry. And on the defensive end they held the Lehighton rushing attack to 130 yards at 3.8 yards per carry.

THE RECORDS… North Schuylkill has won three in a row and improves to 6-3 and looks to be locked into the No. 3 spot in the District 11 3A power ratings. Lehighton falls to 4-5 and is currently ranked No. 5 in the 4A ratings.

North Schuylkill 36, Lehighton 14

No. Schuylkill 14 0 15 7 - 36

Lehighton 0 7 0 7 - 14

NS - Miller 22 run (run failed)

NS - McGraw 3 run (Miller run)

L - Hauser 12 pass from Lawrence (Ebbert kick)

NS - Miller 64 run (run failed)

NS - Safety

NS - Miller 40 run (Urban kick)

NS - Nelson 9 pass from Mengel (Urban kick)

L - Hauser 6 pass from Lawrence (Ebbert kick)