POTTSVILLE — It took a while, but Pottsville finally found a way to beat Tamaqua.

The past two seasons were frustrating for the Crimson Tide (3-3), as the Blue Raiders had dominated the series.

That changed Thursday night.

After a scoreless first half in which neither team threatened the end zone, Pottsville broke through with three second-half touchdowns and shut down Tamaqua’s offense in a 22-0 Schuylkill League Division I victory.

Pottsville standout Shay Strencosky was the difference, with the senior scoring all three touchdowns as the Crimson Tide offense came alive through the air.

Sophomore quarterback Tommy Walsh connected with Strencosky on a 63-yard catch-and-run touchdown to open the scoring. Strencosky later hauled in a 13-yard touchdown pass and capped his night with a 32-yard scoring reception.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver finished with five catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns.

“We were a little bit out of sync, we had that 16-play drive in the second quarter and didn’t get anything out of it. It was a physical game and hats off to Shay Strencosky and quarterback Tommy Walsh,” Pottsville coach Mike Brennan said.

Both teams controlled the clock during the first half, making for a physical, tightly contested battle.

Tamaqua coach Sam Bonner said five turnovers doomed his team.

“Five turnovers, you aren’t going to win a game like this, and penalties that should not be happening.”

The game had the feel that the first team to score would take control.

Once Pottsville broke through, momentum quickly swung its way.

Late in the third quarter, the Crimson Tide defense forced a three-and-out and took possession at their own 37-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Walsh found Strencosky behind the Tamaqua secondary for a 63-yard touchdown that gave Pottsville a 7-0 lead.

“The running game was tough yards (to get),” Brennan offered. “We figured we had to open the game up in the second half.”

Pottsville’s passing attack continued to pay off in the fourth quarter.

After an interception gave the Crimson Tide the ball at the Tamaqua 24, Pottsville drove four plays and scored on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Walsh to Strencosky. After a missed extra point, Walsh connected with Max Clews for the two-point conversion, extending the lead to 15-0.

“Hey number 14 made some great catches and the quarterback connected,” Bonner said of Pottsville’s scoring surge.

Strencosky’s third touchdown came after another Tamaqua turnover. Clews intercepted a pass as the Blue Raiders were attempting to put together a scoring drive.

Pottsville then marched 62 yards to put the game away. Clews sparked the drive with a 28-yard run through the middle of the defense. Two plays later, Walsh connected with Strencosky on a 32-yard touchdown pass with just over seven minutes remaining.

“They were filling the box and we had to figure out a way to throw the ball with success,” Brennan explained about Tamaqua’s defensive strategy.

While Pottsville’s offense grabbed the headlines, its defense also delivered a strong performance against Tamaqua standout Terrence McDowell.

Playing through a high ankle sprain, McDowell rushed for 130 yards on 18 carries despite not being at full strength.

“We didn’t want to play him on defense,” Bonner said. “We missed him.”

Tamaqua also got 61 rushing yards from Cam Walker as the Blue Raiders finished with 191.

The Blue Raiders had two promising drives in the first half. On their opening possession, they ran 16 plays and consumed 7:50 off the clock before reaching the Pottsville 18-yard line, where the drive stalled. Later in the half, they advanced to the Pottsville 30 but again came away empty-handed.

“You know we had chances, but we never (sustained) it,” Bonner lamented.

DECEIVING ... Tamaqua totaled 211 yards of offense, including 197 rushing yards. Pottsville finished with 298 total yards, rushing for 166 and passing for 132.

KUDOS ... Tamaqua received strong defensive performances from Teeghan Phillips, Carter Troutman, Flynn Coleman and Ace Shickram.

Pottsville 22, Tamaqua 0

Tamaqua 0 0 0 0 - 0

Pottsville 0 0 7 15 - 22

P - Strencosky 63 pass from Walsh (Allen kick)

P - Strencosky 13 pass from Walsh (Clews pass from Walsh)

P - Strencosky 32 pass from Walsh (Allen kick)