Aggressive Spartans down Red Tornadoes in milestone win

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — It was a big night for North Schuylkill’s Luke Miller and head coach Wally Hall.

Miller rushed for 184 yards and four touchdowns as the Spartans defeated Mount Carmel 37-30 in a non-league football game Friday at Ghosh Orthodontics Field at Spartan Stadium.

And the celebration was only just beginning once North Schuylkill broke its post-game huddle. Players and assistant coaches surrounded Coach Hall, who with the win secured his 100th career victory with the Spartans football program.

“The first four minutes of the game and last four minutes of the game were crucial,” Hall said. “A lot of games are won at that time. We’re going to lean a lot on our offensive and defensive lines.

“Our defensive line played great as well. Things are starting to fall together. Like I mentioned, we had some good months of preparation leading up to this.”

And that preparation was certainly present as North Schuylkill was aggressive early. 

The Spartans (1-0) rushed the ball five times on their opening drive that was capped by Miller’s first TD scamper of the evening. He found the end zone from 29 yards out on a fourth-and-2 play. 

North Schuylkill’s defensive line matched the strength and power shown by the offensive line by forcing a quick three-and-out by the Red Tornadoes offense. 

Mount Carmel (0-1) answered in a big way by tying the game 7-7 with 6:18 left in the first quarter. Jaylen Delaney picked off Caden Mengel and returned it 49 yards for the score, followed by an extra point kick by Robert Schoppy.

Gavin Mentzer booted a 49-yard field goal to give North Schuylkill a 10-7 lead with 2 minutes left to play in the first quarter, but the second quarter was where the game took a turn. 

Troubled snaps plagued Mount Carmel all evening long. The Spartans’ Chase Slotcavage jumped on a fumbled snap and North Schuylkill took full advantage. Miller ripped off TD runs of 21, 2 and 5 yards before the half. Cooper Carl also recovered a fumble and Brayden Lauta added a sack for the Spartans. 

Mentzer went for a second field-goal attempt, this time from 51 yards, but it was deflected. 

The Red Tornadoes were able to build some momentum going into halftime. Delaney snagged a 66-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Marshalek right down the middle of the field with 1:34 remaining in the half to cut North Schuylkill’s lead 30-14.

Fortunately for Mount Carmel, halftime adjustments sparked a big score as Michael Kimsal plunged into the end zone with 6:33 remaining before Marshalek found Kimsel for the two-point conversion to bring the Red Tornadoes back a little closer, trailing North Schuylkill 30-22. 

Unfortunately for Mount Carmel, the Spartans weren’t going to let Red Tornadoes play spoiler. 

Mengle converted a fourth down with a sneak reminiscent of the Philadelphia Eagles’ “Tush Push.” And it proved to be costly as a few plays later Mengle scampered for a 2-yard TD followed by an extra-point boot by Mentzer that upped the Spartans lead to 37-22.

Mount Carmel answered right back as Tait Adams hauled in an 8-yard TD pass from Marshalek. Cooper Karycki caught the 2-point conversion pass to bring the Red Tornadoes closer, trailing 37-30 with eight minutes remaining.

North Schuylkill marched down field and killed roughly 5 minutes off the clock before coming to a halt with a turnover on downs on Mount Carmel’s 32-yard line with almost 3 minutes remaining. 

But the Spartans’ defense held strong as defensive backs Julian Nelson and Carl made back-to-back coverage plays to thwart the Red Tornadoes on third and fourth down.

Mount Carmel will have to wait at least one more week to secure the program’s 900th victory.

“You have to keep fighting forward,” Hall said about his post-game message to his team. “I tell these guys there’s going to be adversity throughout the game. They’re focused.”

Game Summary

North Schuylkill 37, Mount Carmel 30

MC (0-1) 7 7 8 8  — 30

NS (1-0) 10 20 0 7  — 37

NS — Miller 29 run (Mentzer kick)

MC — Delaney 49 interception return (Schoppy kick)

NS — FG Mentzer 49

NS — Miller 21 run (Mentzer kick)

NS — Miller 2 run (Mentzer kick)

NS — Miller 5 run (kick fail)

MC — Delaney 66 pass from Marshalek (kick fail)

MC — Kimsal 2 run (Kimsel pass from Marshalek)

NS — Mengel 2 run (Mentzer kick)

MC — Adams 8 pass from Marshalek (Karycki pass from Marshalek)

Team Statistics

MC-NS

First Downs —- 8      18

Rushes-Yards — 19-14      48-277

Passes —- 17-35-0      6-12-1

Passing Yards —- 267      56

Total Yards —- 280      333

Fumbles/Lost —- 2-2      1-1

Penalties — 3-30      6-55

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: Mount Carmel — Blessing 6-23, Kimsel 5-15, Delaney 1-4, Karycki 2-4, Marshalek 1-(-2), Team 4 -(-30). North Schuylkill — Miller 28-184, Mengle 16-77, Joyce 4-16.

PASSING: Mount Carmel —- Marshalek 17-35-0, 267. North Schuylkill —- Mengel 6-12-1, 56.

RECEIVING: Mount Carmel — Delaney 4-85, Adams 5-68, Karycki 1-32, Balichik 3-24, Bailey 2-26, Lukoskie 1-17, Blessing 1-15. North Schuylkill — Jones 2-32, Miller 2-16, Mogish 2-8.

INTERCEPTIONS: Mount Carmel — Delaney.