Szukics burns Tigers for POW

When Palmerton receiver Monty Szukics came to head coach Chris Walkowiak with a broken hand right before the start of the season one can imagine Walkowiak and his staff weren't very happy. Szukics, who hurt his hand playing basketball, told Walkowiak "I was only doing what you told me to coach, which was to stay active."

Szukics recovered from his injury and was certainly active last Friday night against Northwestern. The Palmerton senior caught two touchdown passes along with intercepting two passes in the second-half to earn week six TIMES NEWS Player of the Week.

There is possibly only four games left in the Bombers' season and Szukics knows time is running out for him on the football field.

"I knew coming into my senior year that I couldn't hold anything back," said Szukics. "I worked real hard this off-season and I wanted to make the best of my last year."

Szukics started out the year just playing defensive due to his injury and couldn't wait to get back on the offensive side of the football.

"It killed me not being out there playing receiver for us," said Szukics. "I knew I could help with the offense and I wanted to get out there and show what I could do."

Szukics did just that catching two back-to-back touchdown passes from Cody Grohotolski in the first half which helped the Bombers jump out to a 21-point lead against the Tigers. It's apparent that the addition of Szukics to the Palmerton offense adds the big play factor the Bombers were looking for.

"One word sums up Monty and that's explosive," said Walkowiak. "He provides a different element out there with his speed. We can spread teams out with Monty on the field which we like to do at times in the game. He's a passionate kid and he cares a lot about our football team."

Szukics showed his toughness early in the season battling through his broken hand and playing defensive back. The Palmerton defense has been stubborn all year and didn't disappoint last Friday night against Northwestern. Szuckis especially did his part making some huge plays in the second half intercepting two Ty Cunningham passes, which were vital in helping the Bombers get the win.

"Monty had some big plays in the second half defensively," added Walkowiak "Not only did he have two interceptions, but he had some key pass deflections as well."

Just past the halfway mark of the season the Bombers look to be hitting their peak just at the right time with a tough slate of games on the horizon.

"When we are all healthy our chemistry is great," said Szukics. "I think were still missing a little something but were definitely getting there."

The Bomber staff and players know that last week was a big win for their team against a solid program, but know they have a lot of work left to do this season.

"Every week coach stresses to us not to watch the district rankings and just take it one day at a time," added Szukics. "Were going to take it one practice and one game at time for the rest of the year."