North Schuylkill doesn't throw the ball much. But the Spartans showed Friday night in a 19-0 win over Tamaqua that they could be effective in the passing game when they need to, and when they want to.

Junior quarterback Doug Weist completed 10 of 21 attempts for 119 yards. Senior running back Major Jordan ran for 121 yards and the Spartan defense played the way it has all season, preserving a 19-point first-half lead through a scoreless second half."That was the plan," said North Schuylkill head coach Wally Hall, "try to move the ball on the ground and throw the ball when we want to throw the ball, not throw when we have to throw the ball."The Spartans chunked away in the first half with Jordan, who carried 34 times in the game and averaged 3.5 yards per carry without any runs over nine yards."That was the plan, to get him touches," said Hall. "Last week we didn't get in any rhythm. That was the plan, to wear the defense out and give him the football."North Schuylkill kept drives alive by converting six of eight third downs in the first half and both of their two tries on fourth down. Weist went 5-for-6 on third downs in the first half.The Spartans scored on three of their first four possessions while Tamaqua gained just one first down in the first half."Offensively we had no rhythm," said Blue Raider head coach Sam Bonner. "Defensively we gave up some third and fourth downs that kept them on the field and kept us off the field. I thought we just didn't play a very good ball game tonight."The Spartans went 67 yards in 10 plays on the game's opening drive, capped by Weist's 11-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Wagner.They made it 12-0 on their next possession when three Weist completions moved them from midfield to the 3-yard line before Jordan punched it in with 1:51 left in the first quarter.The Spartans final drive of the second half went 68 yards and took up nearly seven minutes before Jordan's second three-yard touchdown with 55 seconds left in the first half.Weist took the majority of the snaps on the rainy night in Tamaqua, while Rich Zahadnic, who also plays under center for the Spartans, ran the ball twice and caught two passes in the game."We'll change gears," said Hall. "It depends who we play. When Doug plays quarterback we like to throw the ball. When Richie Zahodnic goes in at quarterback we like to run the ball a little more. We're fortunate to have two guys that are tremendous role players and know exactly what they have to do."Doug Weist has been put in some situations and he continually steps up. He's a great role player. He knows exactly what he has to do. He's a smart football player."The Spartan defense allowed just 162 yards of Blue Raider offense, including just 26 yards in the first half.STREAK ENDED ... The shut out marks the first time Tamaqua has been held scoreless since the Spartans beat the Raiders 49-0 on Oct. 8 2010. It was the longest streak in the Times News area.STINGY SPARTAN DEFENSE ... North Schuylkill has shut out four teams this season - Shenandoah Valley, Steelton-Highspire, Lehighton and now Tamaqua. They have given up an average of 11 points per game this season.PLAYOFF PICTURE ... The win keeps the Spartans solidly in fourth place in the District 11 Class 3A rankings. The Raiders are in seventh place. Even with a loss next week they are likely to remain within the top eight and earn a postseason berth.DOWN THE ROAD ... Tamaqua ends the regular season against Marian Catholic. North Schuylkill will face Pottsville.