Last year the matchup between Schuylkill Haven and Jim Thorpe went in favor of the Olympians, as they defeated Schuylkill Haven 28-7. This year was a different story, as the Hurricanes led by a bevy of backs and a strong defense defeated Jim Thorpe by a score of 31-14.
Schuylkill Haven’s defense was ultimately the deciding factor in this game as they held Jim Thorpe to -7 rushing yards throughout the contest. A pair of long touchdown passes however, from Jim Thorpe’s quarterback Brendan Carroll, kept the Olympians close for most of the game.
Both teams got off to a slow start on Friday night at Rotary Field, as the score was 0-0 through one quarter of play. The offense picked up in the second quarter when Schuylkill Haven running back Preston Gehring opened up the scoring with a 38-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, giving the Hurricanes the early 6-0 lead after a blocked extra point.
Jim Thorpe responded on their next play from scrimmage, with a 76-yard touchdown pass on a flea-flicker from quarterback Brendan Carroll to Nick Rosahac to take a 7-6 lead. The Hurricanes then used their running game to manipulate a 12-play drive finished off by a two-yard touchdown run by Mike Kalyan to give them a 12-7 lead, after a failed conversion attempt, with 6.7 seconds remaining in the half.
Schuylkill Haven struck first in the second half on a 15-yard touchdown run by Gehring to give them a 18-7 lead after a failed conversion attempt. The Olympians answered yet again with a 66-yard touchdown pass from Rosahac to O’Toole. The pass went through the hands of a Schuylkill Haven defender and into O’Toole’s, bringing them within 4, at 18-14.
Schuylkill Haven quarterback Daniel Lozada responded for the Hurricanes on the ensuing kickoff, returning it 76 yards for the score, giving them a 24-14 lead late in the third. The Hurricanes didn’t look back from that point on, adding another score with 6:13 remaining in the fourth on a 12-yard touchdown run from Mike Kalyan to make the score 31-14.
The Hurricanes travel to Lehighton next Friday to face the Indians. Jim Thorpe hosts Marian next week.
Notes: Schuylkill Haven’s Preston Gehring rushed for 150 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns and Mike Kalyan rushed for 64 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns. Kobe Brish had an interception.
Jim Thorpe’s Brendan Carroll went 3-7 passing for 90 yards and a touchdown while Nick Rosahac also got some time at quarterback and went 4-7 passing for 107 yards and a touchdown.
