HELLERTOWN — Mickie McClarin wasn’t supposed to play a starring role Saturday.

The Saucon Valley sophomore had only been cleared to return from injury two days earlier and had seen limited action, primarily on defense, against Jim Thorpe.

But when the Panthers needed someone to deliver in the closing minutes, McClarin was ready.

His 9-yard touchdown reception from Chris Chaffier with 2:08 remaining broke a 20-20 tie and lifted Saucon Valley to a 27-20 victory over the Olympians.

“He actually got cleared on Thursday,” Saucon Valley coach Mason Stewart said. “He was kind of an emergency guy, and we put him in there in a big spot, and he made a really nice play to give us the lead.”

McClarin’s touchdown capped a comeback that saw Saucon Valley (5-4) overcome a 13-point first-quarter deficit and win its third straight game.

The Panthers had plenty of contributors along the way.

Chaffier completed 13-of-22 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns, while Braden Rohn caught four passes for 102 yards, including a 94-yard score. Eli Szlachtianshyn added 81 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, along with two critical defensive plays in the fourth quarter.

But early on, Jim Thorpe (5-4) appeared poised to take control.

The Olympians scored on their first two possessions, opening with a seven-play, 70-yard drive capped by Tyler Hoherchak’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Mason Jacobs.

After forcing a punt, Thorpe struck again when Hoherchak connected with Spencer Gothard for a 47-yard score. Blaze Flyzik’s extra point made it 13-0 midway through the opening quarter.

The Olympians then forced turnovers on consecutive Saucon Valley possessions, with Dominic Kiehl intercepting a pass and Anthony Kiehl recovering a fumble.

But the Panthers’ defense held firm both times, stopping Thorpe on downs after the Olympians took possession in Saucon Valley territory.

“We had the opportunity,” Jim Thorpe coach Mark Rosenberger said. “We were up 13, and we had the ball inside their 30-yard line twice with the turnovers, and they stopped us. Credit to them, they made the plays when they had to.”

Rather than allowing the early deficit to grow, Saucon Valley found its rhythm in the second quarter.

With Chaffier at quarterback and Szlachtianshyn providing a spark in the backfield, the Panthers put together two lengthy scoring drives.

Szlachtianshyn’s 3-yard touchdown run cut the deficit to 13-7 with 4:41 left in the half. Chaffier then found Taylor Rohn for a 13-yard touchdown with 52 seconds remaining, giving Saucon Valley a 14-13 halftime advantage.

“I think a lot of the kids believing,” Stewart said of the difference Saturday. “In the past, we’ve turtled when we get down like that, 13-nothing, and it wasn’t, ‘Here we go again.’ It was, ‘Let’s keep battling.’”

That mentality carried into the second half.

Pinned at its own 2-yard line in the third quarter, Saucon Valley needed just three plays to extend its lead. After two short runs, Chaffier connected with Braden Rohn deep down the middle for a 94-yard touchdown that made it 20-13.

Jim Thorpe answered with an impressive 15-play drive that included two fourth-down conversions. Hoherchak capped the march with a 9-yard touchdown run, and Flyzik’s extra point tied the game at 20 with 1:22 left in the third quarter.

The teams traded punts before Saucon Valley’s defense delivered another pivotal stop.

Facing fourth-and-one at its own 44, Jim Thorpe tried to keep its drive alive, but Szlachtianshyn broke through for a four-yard loss, giving the Panthers possession at the Olympians’ 40.

Chaffier moved Saucon Valley into scoring position before finding McClarin for the go-ahead touchdown.

The Panthers’ defense responded again on Thorpe’s ensuing possession, forcing a fumble that Szlachtianshyn recovered with 1:29 remaining.

Although the Olympians regained possession for one final drive, Saucon Valley held on as time expired.

Hoherchak finished 15-of-31 passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns while adding 30 rushing yards and another score. Gothard caught four passes for 101 yards, while Bobby Levins contributed 49 rushing and 37 receiving yards.

The Panthers limited Jim Thorpe to 82 rushing yards on 36 attempts and outgained the Olympians 314-263 overall.

Stewart credited his defense’s relentless effort and the adjustments made by defensive coordinator Mike McClarin.

“They kept getting after him, making the quarterback uncomfortable,” Stewart said. “They came through for us.”

For Rosenberger, the result wasn’t about an emotional letdown following the previous week’s dramatic victory over rival Lehighton.

“It wasn’t about a letdown,” he said. “It was just about a team that played better than us today.”

For Saucon Valley, the victory was another step toward a goal Stewart established following a three-game losing streak: winning the final four games of the regular season.

The Panthers are now three-fourths of the way there.

“My message has been 4-0 the last four,” Stewart said. “They’ve been living by that. At practice it shows, and those guys all just worked their asses off.”

SPOOKY SPIRIT ... Jim Thorpe’s marching band performed in Halloween costumes during halftime Saturday. The band had originally planned to participate in Jim Thorpe’s Halloween parade, but the football game’s move from Friday to Saturday created a scheduling conflict. The musicians kept the Halloween spirit alive with their costumed halftime performance.

Saucon Vy. 27, Jim Thorpe 20

Jim Thorpe 13 0 7 0 - 20

Saucon Vy. 0 14 6 7 - 27

JT - Jacobs 9 pass from Hoherchak (kick failed)

JT - Gothard 47 pass from Hoherchak (Flyzik kick)

SV - Szlachtianshyn 3 run (Sanders kick)

SV - T. Rohn 13 pass from Chaffier (Sanders kick)

SV - B. Rohn 94 pass from Chaffier (kick failed)

JT - Hoherchak 9 run (Flyzik kick)

SV - McClarin 9 pass from Chaffier (Sanders kick)