JIM THORPE
Mark Rosenberger’s team has been here before.
A year ago, Rosenberger’s Jim Thorpe squad rolled through its first seven games undefeated, with a second straight Anthracite Football League championship and a berth in the District 11 Class AAA playoffs in front of them for the taking.
The problem? Three games against playoff-bound teams — North Schuylkill, Blue Mountain, Lehighton — to close the regular season.
Last season, the Olympians dropped all three contests, finishing 7-3 and missing out on both the District 11 and Eastern Conference playoffs.
Starting tonight, the Olympians hope to follow a different path.
In its first chance to avenge last year’s misfortune, Jim Thorpe (7-0) entertains North Schuylkill (4-3) in an Anthracite Football League clash with heavy playoff implications for both schools.
Entering today, the Olympians were fifth in the intense race for four District 11 Class AAA playoff berths, despite their unbeaten record. North Schuylkill, meanwhile, was sitting in fourth place in an equally tough Class AA playoff chase.
Rosenberger hopes last year’s 43-0 loss to the Spartans and the Olympians’ rough finish serves as a motivation for this year’s club.
“Hopefully, it was a learning experience last year,” the veteran coach said. “We’re a year older, a year bigger, a year faster, a year stronger.
“You can see the results of last year’s offseason work that the kids put in this year. Hopefully it pays dividends for us (down the stretch).”
Jim Thorpe’s 2015 season has mirrored its 2014 season so far.
The Olympians have rolled to victories over Minersville, Shenandoah Valley, Tamaqua, Tri-Valley, Schuylkill Haven, Panther Valley and Mahanoy Area behind a powerful running game and an aggressive, stingy defense.
Jim Thorpe has tallied 255 points in seven games (36.4 ppg) while allowing just 59 (8.4 ppg), yielding more than one score in just two of those contests.
Senior tailback Robert Heller leads the area in rushing with 1,149 yards and 16 TDs on 126 carries, pacing a running attack that is averaging 284.3 yards per game. He’s rushed for more than 100 yards in all seven games, including a season-high 243 in the win over Tri-Valley.
Fullback Kevin Vitti (14-102, 3 TDs), wingback Antonio Madera (34-315, 3 TDs) and Justin St. Hill (19-133, 2 TDs) provide balance offensively, while quarterback Dean Richards (15-for-29, 334 yards, 4 TDs) has been effective enough to keep defenses honest.
“We’re playing well as a team, both sides of the ball,” Rosenberger said. “Defensively, we’re doing a very good job holding opponents down. We’re giving up yards, but keeping teams out of the end zone.
“We’ve been controlling the clock on offense. Our defense has been playing well, getting the ball back for our offense.
“The type of player we have, they love being around each other and they trust each other,” Rosenberger continued. “When you have that and great senior leadership, it’s a recipe for success.”
That senior leadership exists in several locations.
Up front, senior tackles William Nieves and Zac Dykas, senior center Michael Jefferson and senior tight ends Colton Hurley and Greg Palmer comprise an experienced front that also includes junior guards Derek Scott and Jon Fikentscher.
“It starts up front,” Rosenberger said. “They’ve been doing a great job with the blocking scheme that we employ. Nothing can happen without those guys up front. They give our skill kids a crease to slip through.
“We have a very small offensive line. We’re not very big, the biggest kid is about 235 (pounds). For a Triple-A school, that’s pretty small. Every game we’ve had the smallest line on the field, but they’re getting the job done.”
Defensively, senior linebacker Vitti, who is getting Division I looks, and defensive backs Jordan McElmoyle and Madera spearhead a defense that lives up to the school’s “Red Swarm” moniker.
The Olympians have forced at least one turnover in every game, with six interceptions — including one for a touchdown — and eight fumble recoveries. The Red Swarm has yet to let an opposing runner rush for more than 100 yards.
That defense will be tested against a North Schuylkill squad that has rushed for more than 400 yards and scored 91 points the past two weeks in victories over Shenandoah Valley and Mount Carmel.
After a Week 5 shutout loss to Mahanoy Area in which quarterback Bobby Grigas suffered a shoulder injury, North Schuylkill drastically changed its offense.
Leading receiver Richie Zahodnick was moved to quarterback, offensive guard C.J. Steinhilber was placed at fullback in sort of an inverted wishbone formation with Dylan Reese, and fullback Major Jordan took over the tailback duties.
The results were impressive, as North Schuylkill rushed for 427 yards and seven TDs against Shenandoah Valley and 405 yards and five scores against Mount Carmel.
Jordan, who had rushed for just 34 yards on 10 carries through five weeks, gained 236 yards against both the Devils and Red Tornadoes. Zahodnick rushed for 108 yards and four touchdowns last week in the 41-0 win over Mount Carmel.
And the Spartans still have 6-foot-6 senior wideout Tevin Murray, who has six touchdown catches.
“We took a look at what we were doing,” North Schuylkill coach Wally Hall said. “After the Mahanoy Area loss, we had a bunch of injuries and we were missing some players, some key players.
“We took a hard look up front, what we doing on the offensive line and with the quarterback position the way it was. We put Richie back at QB. He can throw the ball fairly well, but more importantly he was an athletic kid who could run the ball.
“C.J. is a really good blocker and a physical kid at the point of attack. The way things were going up front, moving him back sets up our runs and fills some holes from the backfield, which is a big advantage for us.”
Up front, the Spartans moved left guard Ethan Shewmaker to right guard, put Dane Tarantelli at left guard and inserted Danny Tomtishen at tackle.
The changes have electrified the atmosphere at North Schuylkill, bringing new- found excitement and energy to a team that at 2-3 looked in deep trouble.
“The kids are excited to play,” Hall said. “We found a solid chemistry amongst our players. They’ve worked hard, their effort has been fantastic and the mood and attitude has definitely changed.
“We just have to continue right where we left off. Our kids really know, by watching film, that Jim Thorpe is a really good football team. Offensively we have to move the sticks and we have to play solid defense.”
North Schuylkill could be boosted by the return of Grigas, last season’s Republican-Herald Offensive Player of the Year, who has been released to play and saw limited action against Mount Carmel.
Hall said how much Grigas plays moving forward will depend on his health, but Rosenberger expects the Spartans to utilize both quarterbacks during the course of the game.
“We know both quarterbacks will see playing time, and it’s two different offenses in some ways,” Rosenberger said. “You have to prep for both styles of offense. They’re a very physical football team.”
After North Schuylkill, Jim Thorpe travels to Blue Mountain and Lehighton to conclude the regular season. Lehighton is 7-0 and Blue Mountain is 6-1, with the Eagles’ only loss coming to the Indians.
Rosenberger and his squad know the challenge that lies before them, and is really to tackle it head on.
“Everybody in our league seems to have those 2-3 games, a gauntlet, and ours just happens to be at the end,” Rosenberger said. “We’re happy to be 7-0 and we’re excited about playing North Schuylkill.
“You can’t win Week 9 and Week 10 until you win Week 8. We’re only worried about doing our best against a very good North Schuylkill team that everybody picked to win our league. We’re excited about the opportunity that presents itself.”
Game preview
North Schuylkill (4-3)
at Jim Thorpe (7-0)
Players to Watch: North Schuylkill — RB/LB Major Jordan; Jim Thorpe — FB/LB Kevin Vitti
Storyline: Olympians host defending AFL champion Spartans in first of three grueling games to end regular season. How Spartans’ new-look offense fares against Jim Thorpe’s vaunted defense will be interesting to see.
Last year: North Schuylkill 43-0