Just when it seemed Marian was about to lower the boom Friday night on visiting Palmerton, the Blue Bombers did an about-face.

Tyler Price, Marian’s speedster, was blazing down the middle of Stan Dakosty Field.

He was creating separation in Palmerton’s secondary.

Then, in a flash from nowhere, emerged Cale Young at a frantic pace. Young lowered a tomahawk chop, catching Price from behind, forcing a fumble and then returning it to the Marian 40 yard line.

That play stood out on this season opener for both teams in a wild affair as the Bombers shocked the Colts 34-33 at Men of Marian Stadium.

Crazy as it may sound, Young felt it was a play he had to make in order to keep his team from sinking into an abyss.

“I had to find a way to catch (Price),” said the senior, who also pulled off a dynamic 2-point conversion with 1:44 to play in the contest for the winning points.

“He’s a true gamer, a kid that leads by example. He was determined to help us win,” said Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak. “He made that great play on Price, otherwise we really were in trouble.”

Marian was in command 20-12 in a freaky way.

The Colts were hammering the Bombers defense and trying to add another score. Instead, the turnover led to a big momentum boost and Palmerton found its groove thing.

“After Cale makes that play and we scored it was a huge confidence surge for us,” Walkowiak said. “They have so many weapons (on offense). Just look at Greg Tirpak. He’s a heck of a quarterback. (Rocco) Griguoli made so many great catches, and the way Price can run, it put a lot of pressure on our defense.”

Palmerton closed the gap 20-18 when quarterback T.K. Gursky fired an 8-yard touchdown pass to Gaven Meixsell to start a rally that carried over until the final points were scored.

Marian had built a 20-6 lead by the half.

Griguoli and Tirpak were shaking hands on a fantastic pitch-and-catch from 30 yards out to ignite the offense. Price raced 32 yards to send Marian ahead 13-0 after Cole Grochowski booted the first of four extra-points. Young and Gursky hooked up for a 38-yard touchdown, but the Colts ran a perfectly executed screen pass from Tirpak to Griguoli for a 46-yard touchdown.

That sent Marian off to the 20-6 halftime lead before things went haywire.

Palmerton scored twice to open the third quarter.

Caleb Eckert punched in the first touchdown from four yards out, followed by Meixsell.

Marian charged right back with two straight touchdowns, with Price getting both on an 8-yard burst and a 41-yard run. But there still seemed a wave of momentum at the backs of the Bombers.

“We were down, but we still felt the way things were going our way we could come back,” Gursky said. “We just had a bunch of confidence. Our coaches told us at halftime to execute — and that’s exactly what we did.”

There was 10:57 to play when Michael Garey hit the end zone. Gursky flicked a 22-yard pass to end a 6-play, 53-yard touchdown march. Marian was forced to punt and pinned Palmerton at its own 15. The Bombers marched 85 yards on 13 plays.

“We were determined to score,” Garey said. “We all pulled together.”

There were three big plays in the drive.

On third-down, Connor Lawless raced 20 yards on a pass. Geary bolted 23 yards on third down to the Marian 35, and for the third time in the drive Palmerton converted using the legs of Gursky, who raced to the 8. Once again a third down conversion was the coup de grace, with Gursky running into the end zone from six yards out.

Then it was Young about to deliver the final game-winning blow, a 2-point conversion.

“Mark Versuk, our offensive coordinator, called a great game plan,” Walkowiak said. “We just had to get back to playing fundamental football.”

BY THE NUMBERS … Palmerton chewed up 408 yards of offense led by Geary’s 136 yards rushing. Griguoli had a terrific opening night with five catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Marian’s offense totaled 380.

HIS TAKE … “They were every bit as good as advertised,” Walkowiak said of Marian’s defensive front.

WEARING DOWN … “The difference, obviously we tired, our defense was getting tested,” said Marian head coach Billy O’Gurek.

Palmerton 34, Marian 33

Palmerton 0 6 12 16 – 34

Marian 6 14 13 0 – 33

MC – Griguoli 30 pass from Tirpak (kick failed)

MC – Price 32 pass from Tirpak (Grochowski kick)

P – Young 38 pass from Gursky (kick failed)

MC – Griguoli 36 pass from Tirpak (Grochowski kick)

P – Eckert 4 run (kick failed)

P – Meixsell 8 pass from Gursky (pass failed)

MC – Price 8 run (Grochowski kick)

MC – Price 41 run (kick failed)

P – Geary 22 pass from Gursky (Gursky run)

P – Gursky 6 run (Young run)