SCHUYLKILL HAVEN – North Schuylkill’s (4-0) shutout streak came to an end but the Spartans pulled out a 42-20 win over Schuylkill Haven in Friday night’s Anthracite Football League showdown at Rotary Field.
The Spartans jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback Ryan Henning hit Kody Flail for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Then Henning hit Ethan Motsney for his second touchdown pass of the quarter.
Flail would make it 21-0 Spartans on a 35-yard run in the second quarter.
But the Hurricances did not give up. The Spartans would give up their first points of the year. Schuylkill Haven’s quarterback Brian Murphy found Eric Zipay for the 35-yard touchdown pass.
For the first time all season the Spartans were challenged in a game.
Like any good team the Spartans struck back. Henning hit Dylan Hughes for the 13-yard score.
The Spartans had a 28-7 lead at halftime.
The Hurricanes (3-1) tried to cut the lead to two scores twice in the second half. Each time the Spartans responded with scores of their own.
Murphy hit Matt Naftzinger for the 35-yard score. The Spartans answered right back on a Pavalko five-yard touchdown run.
The Spartans led after three quarters 35-14.
The fourth quarter would be much the same as the third quarter. Murphy connected with Naftzinger for the second time in the half. The 42-yard touchdown pass cut the lead to 35-20 Spartans.
North Schuylkill Head coach Rick Geist said, “They challenged us. We gotta play better defense than this.”
Murphy finished the night completing 15 of 31 passes for 228 yards and three scores.
Pavalko would finish off the scoring for the Spartans, scoring on the three-yard run.
The Spartans went on to win 42-20. The Hurricanes did move the ball well through the air. The Spartan’s defense took a big hit losing Flail right before halftime due to an injury.
Geist talked about his defense saying, “Our pass coverage is not good. We gotta do better than that.”
The Spartans team rushed for 246 yards on 42 carries. Ryan Henning finished the night completing 7 of 10 passes for 129 yards and three scores.
North Schuylkill hosts Marian Catholic next week. Schuylkill Haven travels to Panther Valley next Friday night.
