TAMAQUA – The banner said it all. “TAMAQUA RAIDERS: ANTRHACITE LEAGUE CHAMPS,” Tamaqua had completed the perfect season and defeated its arch rival, Marian Catholic, in the process. All year, newspapers talked up Marian’s suffocating defense that was allowing 9.1 points per game. The Colts took a back seat Saturday night as they were shutout by Tamaqua 12-0. The win gives the Blue Raiders their first ever league championship and completes the first 10-0 season in team history without a tie.
When the night began, fans knew they were going to witness a classic. Both defenses played ‘bend don’t break’ and stopped their opponent’s inside the redzone. Tamaqua had broken a few good, long runs but could not get the ball into the endzone. Marian could beat the Raiders for the short ball but couldn’t get around them once they ran out of space.
After a short, scoreless first quarter, Tamaqua’s record-breaking, junior quarterback, Nate Edmonds, hooked up with his biggest target in Tyler Krell for a 24-yard score to put the Blue Raiders ahead 6-0 after a failed two-point conversion attempt.
Tamaqua’s defense continued to contain and shut down the Marian offense and keep them off the scoreboard. Although, the offense was having problems. Receivers were dropping passes and one particular pass was an assured touchdown, but Edmonds had overthrown the receiver by less than a yard.
The visiting Raiders added to their lead when Edmonds hit other wideout Dustin Vandermartin for a four-yard tally to put their team ahead 12-0 after another missed extra point. Tamaqua’s defense finished the game strong. With three minutes remaining, the Raiders came up with a big fourth down stop. On the following drive, Marian was forced to punt from their own one yard line after senior Derek Vandermartin recorded two big sacks. The final declaration of Tamaqua’s victory was when junior Austin Miorelli proudly planted a Tamaqua Blue Raiders flag on the field at Men of Marian Stadium.
As stated above, the win capped off the first 10-0 undefeated untied season since 1927 for the Raiders. The win also sets up the first time in school history Tamaqua will host a district playoff game. The Class AA game will be played Saturday against the Green Knights of Pen Argyl Area. Marian Catholic falls to 8-2 but return to the playoffs after an 4 year drought. Next week, the Colts travel to Hegins to take on the 9-1 Tri-Valley Bulldogs in the Class A bracket.
