Thorpe ready for Tamaqua
A great football game always features a premiere match-up within the game. It could be anything from a star wide receiver going against a true lockdown cornerback, or a top flight edge rusher against an elite left tackle. These are the matchups that make a gridiron battle not only good, but great.
The Times News Game of the Week between Jim Thorpe and Tamaqua will certainly showcase that type of battle. The Olympians dominant defensive front vs. Tamaqua’s dynamic duo backfield will undoubtedly be the key matchup in this important late season Schuylkill League Football Division 1 contest.
The Olympians (7-0, 3-0 SLF) defensive front has been absolutely dominant this season, especially against the run. Thorpe is giving up just 58 yards per game on the ground, or just two yards per carry.
Jim Thorpe’s “Red Swarm” defense also has done its best not to let the opposition into the end zone. Before North Schuylkill scored 18 points last week, the Olympians shut out five consecutive opponents. They have given up a total of just 25 points on the season.
Thorpe’s “D” has also been one of the best in the Times News area at forcing turnovers with 18. As a team, they’re an impressive plus-14.
“The key for us is to get our run game going early. We have to be able to get our backs to the second level, because they’ve shown the ability to make big plays when we’ve been (able) to get a push up front and get them some space,” said Tamaqua head coach Sam Bonner. “Also, it will be key for us to break the big play whenever we can. We have to take advantage of any breakdowns, especially against a team the caliber of Jim Thorpe.”
Raiders’ (5-2, 1-2 SLF) head coach Sam Bonner certainly has a lot to work with if he’s looking to break the big play in this game. The catalysts for just that will be running backs Nick Breiner and Nate Boyle. It seems like every week somebody is talking about these two and for good reason.
Breiner has rushed for 1,010 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Boyle has almost 500 yards on the ground and nine scores.
What makes these two unique is their ability to make people miss, both in space and in between the tackles. Very rarely do they go down on first contact, which is something Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger has been diligently preparing his team for.
“We’ve been a good tackling team all season long, finishing at the point of attack, and we always preach fundamental tackling. But this week, we’ve made it a real point of emphasis,” said Rosenberger. “We need to get penetration and then finish and swarm to the football. We have to contain the edges and bottle up the inside against their backs because they can really make plays if you give them the opportunity.”
The Olympians also have quite the stable of offensive weapons as well. Veteran running back Justin St. Hill has been terrorizing defenses all season long. Just ask Blue Mountain about St. Hill, who rushed for over 300 yards against the Eagles two weeks ago.
St. Hill has rushed for 930 yards and 17 touchdowns. His backfield counterpart, C.J. Selby, has also been a good complement to the Olympians rushing attack. Selby has been the big play back, rushing for 328 yards at 11 yards per carry with four touchdowns.
“We have to be able to get pressure in their backfield. They like to switch things up, moving St. Hill to quarterback, where they like to run and pass with him, and that’s been a challenge for teams,” said Bonner. “Our focus is going (to be) to play fundamental defensive football. Our gap control must be good, and up front, we have to battle and set the edge.”
