SLATINGTON – Saucon Valley’s Evan Culver (206) and Zach Thatcher (104) combined for 310 yards rushing in a 35-7 rout over Selinsgrove (12-2) Friday night at Northern Lehigh’s Bulldog Stadium in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals.
“It’s a fantastic feeling knowing where they have come from and what they accomplished this year,” said Head Football Coach Matt Evancho. “I am so proud of my team.”
With the win the Panthers (14-0) advance to the state semifinals for the first time in school history and will face Imhotep Charter out of District 12 who defeated Academy Park 46-16.
“We are going to celebrate this as a group tonight, but come tomorrow we are back to work,” said Evancho. “Last year at this time we were in the weight room. So to be out here still playing the kids love it and enjoying it and I can’t wait to go practice with them this week.”
The Panthers took the opening drive all the way down to Selinsgrove’s three-yard line where they were facing a fourth down and three. Zach Thatcher hit Nate Harka for the 3-yard touchdown pass and Josh Snead kick puts Saucon Valley up 7-0.
“Zach made a great play on fourth down,” said Evancho. “On the drive he was able to move the ball to different people. We have to continue to do that and we have the guys that can do it.”
Selinsgrove’s quarterback Logan Leiby’s first pass of the night was complete to the wrong team. Culver picked off the pass and went 29-yards for the score and the Panthers led 14-0 with 7:15 left in the first quarter.
The Seals finally made a play when Ethan Trautman blocked the punt and they took over on Saucon Valley’s 48. They drove down to the Panthers 4 and were facing a fourth down. But the Panthers knocked down the pass and took over on downs.
The Panthers drove 96 yards on 13 plays as Culver capped off the drive with an 7-yard touchdown run. It’s 21-0 Saucon Valley with 3:52 left in the first half.
“We came out and played physical and our guys made plays,” said Evancho. “It was a team effort tonight from my guys.”
You know things are going your way when you kick off and the ball hits a Selinsgrove player and is recovered by the Panthers Adam Hough on the Seals 37 with 3:46 left in the first half. But the Seals Garrett Campbell intercepted a Zach Thatcher pass to end the drive.
The first half would end with Saucon Valley leading 21-0 over Selinsgrove. The story of the first half was Saucon Valley leading in total yards of offense 233 (200 rushing) to 58.
Saucon Valley’s Mike Kane stopped Selinsgrove on their opening drive of the second half to force a punt. Trautman faked the punt and ran nine yards for the first down. But three plays later the Seals had to punt and punted to Saucon’s 10.
“I wasn’t happy the way we played mentally in the first half,” said Evancho. “We had too many penalties in the half. I think they heard the message loud and clear at halftime.”
They did just that. On the very next play, Thatcher handed the ball off to Culver who cut right up the middle, made a move and out ran the Seals defense for the 90-yard touchdown run with 8:52 left in the third quarter.
“It didn’t feel like we were up 21-0 at halftime. We made too many mental mistakes,” said Thatcher. “We came out focused in the second half and Culver made a big play for us to put us up four touchdowns.”
Saucon Valley’s Alstan Wolfe intercepted Leiby’s pass right by the sidelines ending another Seals’ drive. They took over on their 33.
Culver finished off the drive with his fourth touchdown of the night a 1-yard run with 4:29 left in the third quarter. They lead 35-0 and the mercy rule was in effect.
With the starters out for the Panthers, Leiby hits Nick Swineford for the 27-yard touchdown pass for the Seals first score of the night, The Panthers led 35-7 with 3:15 remaining in the game.
Saucon Valley’s defense held Selinsgrove star running back Juvon Batts to 70 yards on 13 carries and Logan Leiby to 100 yards passing.
“We were able to come out and play our brand of football in the second half,” said Evancho. “The kids were more focused in the second half.”
NOTE: Saucon Valley out rushed Selinsgrove 345 to 133. Zach Thatcher thew for 49 yards and one score and rushed for 104. Evan Culver had four total touchdowns and rushed for 206 yards.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
| Saucon Valley | 14 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
| Selinsgrove | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
