The North Schuylkill Spartans headed to Lehighton to take on the Indians for their senior night yesterday evening. The Tribe will be losing some key attributes at the conclusion of the season. Some big roles will be filled when the following season comes around.
As kickoff crept closer, North Schuylkill hoped to extend their two game win streak. After beating the Blue Mountain Eagles in their previous contest (5-3). Lehighton had held the Blue Raiders of Tamaqua in last week’s games to sit at (4-4).
Senior night unfolded with the Spartans receiving. To kick things off, senior Spartan Caden Mengel connected with Landon Smith as Smith grabbed a fresh set of downs. Mengel found some more open targets to meander their way downfield. Just a few plays later, North Schuylkill had a slight yardage setback but that wouldn’t trouble them when senior running back Luke Miller brought it to the house. With about nine minutes left in the first, the Spartans were up six over the Indians. Following the North Schuylkill score, Lukas Crozier returned the ball for a crucial advantage straight off the kick. The Spartan defense was in full force stopping the Lehighton drive. The Indians turned the ball over. North Schuylkill was now in control. They parked it just outside the goal line and tight end Cadyn McGraw shoved his way through the trenches.
With 3:44 remaining in the first quarter of play, the Spartans led 14-0. A few drives later, the Tribe was around the ten yard mark flirting with the goal line. Quarterback Jayse Lawrence locked eyes with Kyden Hauser with a short pass to put up an Indian touchdown. After two quarters of play, North Schuylkill had a one score lead.
Later on in the second half, Miller of North Schuylkill flew to the end zone breezing past Indian defenders. With around seven minutes left, Spartans were up 21-7. Just about three minutes later, Luke Miller from 40 yards swiftly brought it in for another Spartan score. The board stated 29-7 as the final quarter began. With just under a minute left in the game, Lawerence found Hauser to put on another Lehighton score.
The Tribe fell 36-14 as the Spartans held their own. Lehighton will go into the final week of the regular season as (4-5). They will take on the Jim Thorpe Olympians in Olympian territory. North Schuylkill is now (6-3) and they seek to further their win streak when they match up in Pottsville. Both games will be played on Friday, the 24th.
