EASTON – Back in early September, North Schuylkill quarterback Caden Mengel shocked the Crusaders on the last play of the game, throwing a nine-yard touchdown pass as the Spartans won that night 31-29. Could history repeat itself? The answer is yes.
The first half was a defensive battle. The Spartans got the first score of the game with 5:25 left in the first half. Gavin Mentzer’s 31 yard field goal gave North Schuylkill the 3-0 lead.
Notre Dame took the lead with 5:37 left in the first half. Jonathan Striba’s eight-yard run put the Crusaders up 7-3.
That score would stand and at halftime it was Crusaders 7, Spartans 3.
It may be past Halloween, but the Spartans had one more trick up their sleeve. North Schuylkill’s Gavin Mentzer executed a perfect onside kick to start the second half. So good, he recovered his onside kick.
The Spartans took over on Notre Dame’s 45. On the very next play, a penalty wiped out a big touchdown run by Mentzer. Another penalty wiped out a Mentzer touchdown pass. But North Schuylkill overcame the penalties on the opening second half drive. Angel Ortiz scored from four yards out with 7:14 left in the third quarter which put the Spartans up 10-7.
The Crusaders retook the lead late in the third quarter. Aaron Gordon somehow found the end zone for a one-yard score. It was 13-10 Notre Dame with 1:34 left in the quarter. The hometown crowd was waiting for the big play by the Crusaders. They got it. It didn’t come until 6:52 remaining in the game. Alex Clark caught a perfect pass by Bodnar for the 69-yard score. Notre Dame led 20-10.
The Spartans were down 10 late in the fourth quarter and never panicked. Mengel’s 13-yard touchdown run with 4:22 remaining cut into the Crusader lead to 20-17.
“We just had to get back to the next series,” said Mengel. “We knew we had to score there and get another stop and that is what we did.”
It was Notre Dame’s time to run out the clock. But three consecutive incomplete passes and a punt by the Crusaders gave the ball back to the Spartans with 3:53 remaining in the game. The Spartans started their drive on their 20. On the first play, who else, Mengel went 33 yards to the 47.
Mengel led the North Schuylkill offense down the field to the Notre Dame five. The Crusaders’ defense kept the Spartans offense out of the end zone. So with 17.9 seconds remaining in the game, Mentzer came in and calmly kicked a 23-yard field goal to tie the game up at 20. We headed in to overtime.
North Schuylkill won the toss and decided to go on defense first. Notre Dame got seven yards on the first play of the overtime when Bodnar hit Striba. But the Spartans defense held the next two plays setting up the Crusaders’ field goal attempt. Talpas’ 22-yard kick was good and Notre Dame led 23-20 in overtime.
It was the Spartans turn. Mengel and Kaden Knox went to their offensive coordinator Pete Stanakis and called a play.
“Let’s run the quarterback counter,” said Mengel. They did just that. Mengel followed Knox right into the end zone for the game winning touchdown run.
Caden faked the handoff, went in to the end zone for the 10-yard touchdown run and the Spartans won 26-23 over Notre Dame Green-Pond in overtime Friday night in a District 11 3A semifinal game. The Crusaders end their season with a 9-2 record with both losses coming against North Schuylkill.
With the win the Spartans improved to 8-3 and will play undefeated Northwestern Lehigh. They just defeated Saucon Valley 40-12. The District 11 Class 3A championship game at 7 p.m. Friday at Lehighton Area High School.
District 11 Class 3A Semifinal
North Schuylkill 26, Notre Dame-Green Pond 23 OT
| Friday, November 1, 2024 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Final |
| North Schuylkill | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 26 |
| Notre Dame Green-Pond | 0 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
Scoring Summary:
1st Quarter:
NS: Gavin Mentzer 31 yard field goal 5:12
2nd Quarter:
ND: Jonathan Striba 8 yard run (Mark Talpas kick) 5:37
3rd Quarter:
NS: Angel Ortiz 4 yard run (Gavin Mentzer kick) 7:14
ND: Aaron Gordon 1 yard run (kick failed) 1:34
4th Quarter:
ND: Alex Clark 69 pass from Matt Bodnar (Mark Talpas kick) 6:52
NS: Caden Mengel 13 yard run (Gavin Mentzer kick) 4:22
NS: Gavin Mentzer 23 yard field goal :17.9
Overtime:
ND: Mark Talpas 22 yard field goal
NS: Caden Mengel 10 yard run (no attempt)
WALKOFF WIN FOR SPARTANS@caden_mengel goes in for the game winning touchdown run. 26-23 OT NS @NorthSchuylkill @coachhall_ @NSAthletics1 @nd_crusaders @ndgp_football @piaadistrictxi @SLUHNSportsMed @The_SFBN @EPAFootball pic.twitter.com/bvZWChWzmb
— D11Sports (@D11Sports) November 2, 2024
