Bragging rights, the No. 5 seed in the District 11 4A playoffs and the Route 209 Trophy are all on the line in the matchup between Jim Thorpe and Lehighton.

Because of those high stakes, the bout between the Olympians and the Indians is one of two highlighted Week 10 Times News Game of the Week contests.

The Indians have battled throughout the season, and have played the top teams in the Colonial-Schuylkill Red Division — other than Northwestern — much more competitively this season. The Tribe lost by just one to the current No. 1 ranked team in the state in 4A in Southern Lehigh, dropped a tough two-score game to Blue Mountain after the Eagles pulled away late in that one, and trailed just 14-7 last week to North Schuylkill at the half until the Spartans’ Luke Miller took over in the third quarter.

When the Indians have played their best football, it’s been when they’ve gotten the ground game going early. Lukas Croizier is flirting with the 1,000-yard mark, as he’s rushed for 905 yards and six touchdowns. Dual-threat quarterback Jayse Lawrence can also do damage with his legs, as evidenced by his 279 rushing yards and five scores.

Lehighton’s passing attack has also been effective at times this season. The senior has thrown for 1,197 yards, with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. The Indians have a talented trio of wideouts in Caden Meek (441 yards, 5 TDs), Blake Roberts (277 yards, 4 TDs) and Kyden Hauser (259 yards, 2 TDs). Hauser did a nice job last week with Meek out of the game, catching 10 balls for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

“When we have had our most success this season, it’s been when we have been able to run the ball and establish the run early,” said Lehighton head coach Tom McCarroll. “And then we have been able to do some good things in the passing game with Jayse, and the athletes we have on the outside.

“I do want to mention Kyden Hauser. He did a great job last week. Meek was out for us, and they really keyed on Roberts, so Kyden had some opportunities, and he made some big-time plays. He’s the type of kid that continuously works hard week in and week out, like a lot of our guys do, to get better. We’re super proud of him.”

It’s no secret that Jim Thorpe goes as senior signal caller Cole Lazorick goes, and even with defenses keying on him weekly, Lazorick has been able to put together a solid season. Lazorick rushed for 139 yards and a score, and also threw for two touchdowns last week in a 35-21 win over Bangor.

On the season, Lazorick has thrown for 1,341 yards, with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and has also ran for 511 yards and six rushing scores. Freshman Bobby Levins (345 yards, 6 TDs), Connor Zurawa (329 yards, 2 TDs) and Spencer Gothard (282 yards, 3 TDs) have been Lazorick’s main targets. Senior Josh Louk, who has 534 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, and was also a standout player on the defensive end, was lost for the season a few weeks ago.

“A key for us, is we have to take advantage when we have big-play opportunities. And we have to find a way to spread the ball around,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger. “Cole, you know is going to make plays, and Levins has played well beyond his years this season. But we also need to spread out the touches, and some of our other guys need to step up and make plays.

“And we also need to be balanced by establishing the run game. They have some big and athletic defensive linemen, physical linebackers and the way Croizier comes down and makes plays from his safety spot against the run is impressive. We need to be able to match their physicality along the line of scrimmage.”

There’s also no denying that the Jim Thorpe-Lehighton battle for the Route 209 Trophy is one of the area’s true rivalry games.

“I think you’re seeing some of the true rivalries in our area go by the wayside a little bit. But this is one of those rivalries that is still going strong,” said McCarroll. “Both teams have a ton of respect for each other, and I think the rivalry gets so heated because the communities and the players are a lot alike. I know when we both get on the field that there is no love lost, but it’s a good healthy rivalry, where we can go toe-to-toe but not disrespect each other. And it’s Week 10. No matter who you are playing, you want to be playing your best football of the season, and you want that win to generate momentum going into the playoffs.”

The game will be played in Olympian Stadium on Friday night, and there’s little doubt that it will be a packed house.

“It’s Week 10, it’s the end of the regular season and that only gets more intensified when you’re playing a rival, especially the Jim Thorpe and Lehighton rivalry,” said Rosenberger. “I also want to mention Ed Ruisz, who recently passed away. He was instrumental in creating the Route 209 Trophy, and getting the Jim Thorpe and Lehighton rivalry going again, and he did speed training for athletes in both communities.

“But this is always an exciting game. There are playoff implications on the line, and it’s just one of those games where you would strap on the helmet and play anywhere, whether it’s at one of our fields, the parking lot, McGarvey’s Field or Baer Memorial. It will be a great atmosphere come Friday night.”