JT stuns Raiders on final play

Resiliency is the best word to describe Friday night’s Schuylkill League Football Division 1 matchup between Jim Thorpe and Tamaqua.

Each team answered the call time after time, responding when it seemed like one of the teams would capture an edge with a momentum-changing score.

But in the end, it was the Olympians that prevailed. With six seconds remaining in the game, a 37-yard Hail Mary pass down the seam connected from Thorpe quarterback Nick Rosahac to Justin St. Hill to give the Olympians (8-0, 3-0 SLF) a 30-26 walk-off victory.

“What a great football game go be a part of,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger. “We found a way to win, it wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t perfect, but we got it done. My heart also goes out to Tamaqua, they played their hearts out tonight too, we’re just so excited right now. It’s going to take some time for this one to sink in.”

The lead changed many times throughout the game, but it was the late scoring action that made this contest an instant classic.

The fireworks began with just seconds left in the third quarter. With the Olympians leading 18-6, a St. Hill fumble set up a Tamaqua seven-play, 40-yard drive that was capped off by a three-yard Nick Breiner plunge to bring the Raiders within a score.

A turnover plagued the Olympians once again on their ensuing possession, when a Thorpe fumble ended up in the arms of the Raiders’ Nate Boyle at the Tamaqua 49. Tamaqua cashed in on Thorpe’s miscue six plays later, when Breiner boomed up the middle from just one-yard out to give the Raiders a 19-18 lead with nine minutes remaining.

Overall, the Tamaqua defense played much better against the run this week after a tough showing against Lehighton a week ago. The Raiders held a premiere Olympians rushing attack to 4.4 yards per carry and just two runs over 20 yards.

“We had a lot of kids that played their hearts out and made some great plays. Defensively, we made some changes tonight, moving Thad (Zuber) to outside linebacker and Nate (Boyle) to inside linebacker,” said Bonner. “Those guys are really active and were able to make plays against the run. Those guys have mostly played in the secondary for us, so we moved them up there tonight to make plays.”

As it did all night, Jim Thorpe responded right back. Rosahac, who had a host of big throws and plays on the evening connected with speedy wide receiver Shawn O’Toole for a 50-yard strike to give the Olympians a 24-19 lead.

The game then looked to be in hand for Thorpe, as on the first play of Tamaqua’s next possession a Boyle fumble was recovered by the Olympians on the JT 45.

However, with its back against the wall, the Raiders “D” came through once again. Seven plays later, Tamaqua forced Thorpe to turn the ball over on downs at the Raiders 32-yard line, stuffing a St. Hill rush up the middle on fourth and five.

The Raiders defensive stop would give them the momentum for what seemed like the game-winning drive. Tamaqua went 68 yards on nine plays to gain a 26-24 advantage with just 47 seconds remaining. The score came off a Zuber pass to Matt Kistler from 15 yards out.

Then came the drive and the play.

Rosahac did his best Andrew Luck impression by quickly darting passes to the sidelines to Thorpe receivers, which gave them a chance for a score at the Tamaqua 37-yard line with just six seconds remaining.

Rosahac’s final drop back of the night was well protected, as he stepped up in the pocket and threw the ball directly down the seam where it looked as if two Raiders’ defenders would have a chance to knock the ball down.

But St. Hill slipped behind the Tamaqua defense and the ball streaked perfectly between two Raiders’ outstretched arms and into St. Hill’s hands for the game-winning touchdown.

“We had parallel posts called for that play and I saw that Shawn (O’Toole) had his man beat so I went for it, but I think I definitely missed him because the ball went down the middle of the field,” said Rosahac. “But Justin was right there and he beat his man too and it landed right in his hands and he scored.”

THE CATCH ... The 37-yard haul in by St. Hill took a lot of concentration to complete. The ball passed through two defenders outstretched hands, but St. Hill still had enough focus to make the play. “I honestly don’t know how I came up with the ball,” said St. Hill. “I kind of caught it on my shoulder and I just brought it in.”

AIR ATTACK ... Rosahac had a prolific night through the air. The senior threw for 257 yards and four touchdowns with just one interception.

KEEPING IT 100 ... St. Hill rushed for 102 yards on the night and also caught three passes for 106 yards.