by Matt Freiler, Schuylkill League Reporter
North Schuylkill used strong defense and a balanced ground attack to notch a 22-0 Schuylkill League Division I win over Blue Mountain at home on Friday.
The Spartan defense limited Blue Mountain to just 45 yards rushing. Leading rushers Ben Kramer and Cameron Umbenhaur left the game in the first half with injuries, limiting head coach Cory Mabry’s options for ball carriers in the wing-t offense.
“We tackled,” North Schuylkill head coach Wally Hall said. “I like our defense, we have physical kids, and tonight they got back to the football we were playing earlier in the season.”
Locked in a scoreless tie at a soggy, misty Spartan Stadium, North Schuylkill’s Scotty Grigas flashed and dashed his way to the endzone on a 55-yard punt return touchdown. Grigas converted the two-point run himself, giving North Schuylkill an 8-0 lead with one minute left in the first quarter.
Zach Chowansky was the Spartans’ feature back of the first half in the absence of injured starter Mitch Wagner. Chowansky was fed early and often, pounding his way to 87 rushing yards on 22 carries.
Blue Mountain turned to the passing game in the second half, but couldn’t find any success through the air. David Krewson was pressured by the Spartan front all night, and had trouble finding receivers with a slippery pigskin.
After a scoreless second and third quarter, North Schuylkill maintained an 8-0 lead. The Spartans got their first offensive touchdown of the night when fullback Tyler Elsdon plowed in from one yard out.
Up 16-0 in the fourth quarter, Wally Hall chose to switch things up in the backfield, giving Justin DeAngelo a bulk of the touches.
DeAngelo found the end zone from seven yards away with a minute left in the contest, propelling the Spartans to a 22-0 victory. DeAngelo led his team in rushing, with 97 yards on 16 carries and a score.
Overall, the Spartans tallied 233 yards on the ground and 52 through the air, as QB Doug Weist found Grigas on both of his completions. Blue Mountain was held to just 58 total yards on a night where the weather caused passing games for both teams to be non-existent.
“It shows that we still have life,” Hall said. “It was a tough two weeks for our guys, but the Spartans still have a lot of life.”
North Schuylkill improves to 6-2 on the season and is 1-2 in league play. The Spartans will host Tamaqua in Week 9. Blue Mountain fell to 2-6 and 1-3 in the league, heading into a home matchup with undefeated and first place Lehighton.
