Jim Thorpe had everything riding on the outcome.

A rivalry trophy, a Schuylkill League championship and a District 11 playoff berth were on the line against Lehighton on Friday night.

A lesser team might have felt the pressure — the Olympians just felt pleasure.

Jim Thorpe turned in a dominating display of power football to defeat the Indians, 28-6.

“A football game against our rival in front of a great crowd on a Friday night, that’s not pressure. This is the reason you play the game,” said Jim Thorpe coach Mark Rosenberger. “We talked to our kids about the importance of the game and what was on the line.

“But that’s because we wanted them to embrace the challenge — and I thought that’s exactly what they did.”

The Olympians’ physical play up front allowed them to pile up 361 yards on the ground, while holding Lehighton to just 58.

“The line of scrimmage was the story,” said Indian coach Tom McCarroll. “We couldn’t run the ball and we couldn’t stop their run.

“We knew what we were going to get from them. They just line up and run the ball, and challenge you to stop them — and we couldn’t do it.”

Nobody epitomizes Jim Thorpe’s power running game more than CJ Selby.

Selby ran over Lehighton defenders time-and-time again on his way to a 28 carry, 164-yard, two touchdown performance.

“I’m really proud of how all my teammates played,” said Selby. “We knew how important this game was and the entire team was focused on taking care of business and getting the win.

“We pride ourselves on being a physical football team so when I run the ball, I try to be as physical as possible. I feel like if I’m getting five and six yards a carry and making defenders pay when they tackle me, that eventually they are going to wear down and those short runs will turn into big runs.”

After a 16-play drive came up empty on Thorpe’s first possession, the Olympians scored the next two times they had the ball to build a 14-0 halftime lead.

Derrick Beckham had a five-yard run for the first score.

A Luis Valdez interception — one of two he had on the night — set up the second Thorpe score. Selby carried three times in the four-play, 30-yard scoring drive, including the final nine for the touchdown.

“We felt like we wanted to establish our physicality right from the start,” said Rosenberger. “Giving the ball to CJ is a great way to do that because he runs so hard. Even though we didn’t score with that first possession, I thought it set the tone.”

Trailing 14-0, Lehighton drove to the Olympian three-yard line late in the first half thanks to a pair of Chris Whiteman passes — a 48-yarder to Shane Williams and a 20-yard strike to Zack Hunsicker. But Jim Thorpe came up with the defensive stop of the game, sacking Whiteman and forcing a fumble that Austin Williams recovered.

“That was huge,” said McCarroll. “You don’t get a lot of chances against their defense so when you get inside the 10, you need to take advantage of it. You can’t afford turnovers in that situation.”

Thorpe put the game out of reach when Beckham raced 38 yards for a score with just over two minutes left in the third quarter. Selby added a one-yard TD run in the final quarter.

Lehighton got on the board with 2:39 remaining on a Whiteman to Mark Solt TD pass.

“It’s a nice win for us,” said Rosenberger. “Lehighton is a good team and we knew they would come out ready to play.

“But our kids knew what was on the line and responded with a great performance. This checked off a couple of goals we had, but there are still more out there.”

PLAYOFFS

... Jim Thorpe should be the No. 4 seed in the District 11 3A playoffs and will travel to top-seeded North Schuylkill Friday. Lehighton will more than likely be the No. 7 seed in the 4A playoffs and play at the No. 2 seed (more than likely Saucon Valley) on Saturday. The playoff pairings won’t be confirmed until late tonight or Sunday.

HARDWARE

... Thorpe’s victory earned it the Route 209 Trophy and also a three-way share of the Schuylkill League Division 1 title.

SETTING THE TONE

... Selby had eight straight carries to start the game for the Olympians and carried 12 of the 16 plays on the opening drive.