Game Summary
JT (1-0, 1-0) 6 8 14 7 — 35
Min (0-1, 0-1) 0 0 0 0 — 0
JT — Heller 86 run (kick failed)
JT — Snisky 63 run (Heller run)
JT — Vitti 19 run (Fikentscher kick)
JT — Madera 12 run (Fikentscher kick)
JT — Carroll 1 run (Fikentscher kick)
JT Miners
First Downs 8 11
Rushes-Yards 36-365 31-94
Passes 2-4-1 3-8-1
Passing Yards 24 26
Total Yards 389 120
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties 4-25 5-45
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Jim Thorpe — Heller 11-149, Snisky 5-78, Carroll 5-48, Madera 5-42, Vitti 4-36, Day 2-7, St. Hill 3-4, Richards 1-1. Minersville — McBreen 11-64, Griffiths 3-13, Schultz 10-9, Bethea 4-8, Lucas 1-4, Stephen 2-(-4).
PASSING: Jim Thorpe — Snisky 2-4-1, 24. Minersville — McBreen 3-8-1, 26.
RECEIVING: Jim Thorpe — Vitti 1-17, Carroll 1-7. Minersville — Schultz 1-15, Brennan 1-9, Stephen 1-2.
INTERCEPTIONS: Jim Thorpe — Lauer. Minersville — Miklesavage.
MINERSVILLE — Jim Thorpe’s running game earned a yard for every day of the year.
The Olympians’ ferocious rushing attack chalked up 365 yards and five touchdowns en route to a 35-0 shutout of Minersville in an Anthracite Football League game Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Led by Robert Heller’s 149 yards, the Olympians (1-0, 1-0) exposed the Battlin’ Miners’ poor run defense and cruised to their first victory of the season.
Five different rushers scored TDs for Jim Thorpe, including Heller, Shane Snisky, Kevin Vitti, Antonio Madera and Ryan Carroll.
“Our ability to spread the ball around was the key tonight,” Jim Thorpe coach Mark Rosenberger said. “Our guys are having fun out there, and that’s what counts.”
Minersville’s offense failed to get in the red zone all game, proving that the “Red Swarm” defense is alive and well in Jim Thorpe.
“We play with a passionate style of defense,” Rosenberger said. “We were able to keep their offense contained throughout the game, so it’s a great team effort defensively.”
The Olympians struck first when Heller ran 86 yards for a touchdown on a drive that lasted just three plays.
After a missed extra point attempt, Jim Thorpe led 6-0 halfway through the opening quarter.
Following a three-and-out series for the Miners (0-1, 0-1), the Olympians’ new starting quarterback, Snisky, ran 63 yards for a touchdown on another three-play drive.
Heller’s successful run on a two-point conversion made it a 14-0 game in the second quarter.
Snisky finished with 78 rushing yards and 24 passing yards in the win.
“Both Robert and Shane are two explosive players,” Rosenberger said. “Robert’s a speedy guy who is excellent at breaking tackles, and Shane is definitely our starting QB for the year.”
In the third quarter, Jim Thorpe picked up two more rushing touchdowns, this time from Vitti and Madera. Vitti’s came from 19 yards out while Madera’s was from 12, increasing the lead to 28-0.
“Madera is outstanding,” Rosenberger said. “He has great vision and his cutback skills are very impressive.”
The Olympians scored one more touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run from Carroll, topping off a 35-0 victory for Jim Thorpe.
“Simply put, we didn’t stop the big plays,” Minersville coach Pat Mason said. “In this game, you gotta stop the big plays and you gotta make big plays.
“They have some great athletes who can score, and we have to control the ball better.”
The Olympians’ next challenge will be at home against Shenandoah Valley next Friday night, while Minersville travels to Lehighton.
“There’s no sense crying about this game when we have another big one coming up,” Mason said. “We’re gonna re-evaluate ourselves, but I know these kids won’t quit.
“We’re gonna show up and keep plugging away.”