ORWIGSBURG — Ask Blue Mountain head coach Tom Gallagher about his squad’s matchup last season against Northwestern Lehigh and he’ll scratch his head.

The Eagles gave the Tigers all they could handle in a Week 3 game, the first football game ever played on the new artificial surface at the Eagles’ Nest. Blue Mountain couldn’t capitalize on a pair of scoring opportunities in that contest, falling 28-21.

It was a game the Eagles felt they let slip away.

They’re hoping for a different ending tonight.

In the T-102 Game of the Week, Blue Mountain (3-0) hosts Northwestern Lehigh (3-0) in a Schuylkill/Colonial Red Division clash of unbeatens at the Eagles’ Nest. The pre-game show starts at 6:30 p.m., with kickoff slated at 7 p.m.

The Tigers’ win over the Eagles last season was their closest margin of victory all season. Northwestern Lehigh won its first 15 games last season before falling to Belle Vernon in the PIAA Class 3A state championship game.

Ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 3A by both PennLive.com and Pennsylvania Football News, the Tigers have aspirations to return to Cumberland Valley again this season. They certainly look like a team capable of doing so, racking up 158 points and allowing just 14 in wins over Wilson Area (47-0), Northern Lehigh (56-7) and Bangor (55-7).

“They are very dynamic and have a lot of experience back with their skilled guys, and they always are tough up front,” Gallagher said of the Tigers. “Their offense can be tough to prepare for because they dress a lot of their plays up and move people around pre-snap. Our defense needs to communicate and tackle well in space to slow these guys down.”

Last year, Blue Mountain was able to run the ball against Northwestern Lehigh, as Tyler Miller (14-125) and Payton Fasnacht (14-107) both went over 100 yards.

Northwestern Lehigh countered with a strong passing attack, moving Shane Leh to quarterback and QB Mason Bollinger to wide receiver. Leh completed 12-of-18 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns, with Bollinger hauling in five passes for 142 yards and two scores.

The Eagles were hurt by two interceptions and a lost fumble. In the end, Blue Mountain’s inability to take advantage of its scoring opportunities proved fatal.

“It’s important to capitalize when opportunities present themselves, especially against a very good football program such as Northwestern Lehigh,” Gallagher said. “Opportunities to score or make big defensive plays will be the difference in this game.”

Northwestern Lehigh graduated just five players from last year’s group, with Leh, Bollinger and running back Eli Zimmerman leading the way this season. Leh has completed 16-of-26 for 213 yards and four TDs, with Bollinger catching seven passes for 89 yards.

Zimmerman is the Tigers’ leading rusher with 250 yards and five TDs on just 11 carries and leads all of District 11 with nine touchdowns, including three on punt returns.

The Eagles, meanwhile, have looked impressive in wins over Schuylkill Haven, Southern Lehigh and Jim Thorpe. QB Brady Strause leads the area in passing with 556 yards, while Tyler Stahley (63-342, 3 TDs) paces a ground attack that is averaging 224.7 yards per game. Gaige Guers (12-189, 2 TDs) and Bradley Renninger (7-135, 2 TDs) have been Strause’s top targets.

Guers has 60 career receptions, which sets a new Blue Mountain record. He’s just 18 yards from going over 1,000 yards for his career.

Gallagher is hoping that if the Eagles get opportunities tonight, that they cash them in.

“We need to stay within ourselves. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel or create anything fancy,” Gallagher said. “We have a good football team and we are going up against another good football team. We have to handle the adversity of the game well and take advantage of the opportunities when they are presented.”

Here’s a capsule look at the rest of the action for Week 4.

For a preview of Pottsville’s game at Bangor, visit https://www.t102sportsnow.com/2024/09/13/tide-look-to-bounce-back-at-bangor/

Northwestern Lehigh (3-0) at Blue Mountain (3-0)

Live updates: Follow T102SportsNow writer Bob Lipsky on X @BobLipskyRH

Radio/TV: WAVT 101.9 FM, PennSportsRadio.com, Blue Ridge Cable TV-113

Last week: NW Lehigh crushed Bangor 56-7, Blue Mountain beat Jim Thorpe 48-7

Last year: Northwestern Lehigh 28-21

Statistical leaders: NW Lehigh — QB Shane Leh 16-26, 213, 4 TD; RB Eli Zimmerman 11-250, 5 TDs; WR Mason Bollinger 7-89, TD. Blue Mountain — QB Brady Strause 30-40, 556, 6 TDs; RB Tyler Stahley 63-342, 3 TDs; WR Gaige Guers 12-189, 2 TDs

Breakdown: Tigers enter this game as the No. 1-ranked Class 3A team in the state, having outscored Wilson, Northern Lehigh and Bangor by a combined 158-14 score. Northwestern finished 15-1 last season, falling to Belle Vernon in the PIAA state championship game. … Last year’s meeting, also at Blue Mountain, was really tight, with the Eagles failing to capitalize on two scoring opportunities that could have swung the momentum and the final score in their favor. Eagles have to make sure they capitalize on every chance. Controlling the line of scrimmage will help Blue Mountain achieve its goals both offensively and defensively.

North Schuylkill (2-1) at Southern Lehigh (2-1)

Live Updates: Follow T102SportsNow writer Tim Demko on X @TimDemko

Last week: North Schuylkill rallied past Notre Dame-Green Pond 31-29; Southern Lehigh waffled Lehighton 34-3

Last year: DNP

Statistical leaders: North Schuylkill — QB Caden Mengel 23-48, 257, 2 TDs passing, 41-202, 3 TDs rushing; RB Luke Miller 68-441, 6 TDs rushing, 10-140, TD receiving. Southern Lehigh — QB Colton Sams 17-25, 602, 3 TDs; RB Sean Steckert, TE Andrew Olesh 11-330, TD

Breakdown: The Spartans have recorded two impressive wins at home; now they need to figure out how to win on the road. North Schuylkill relied on its running attack and its big, aggressive offensive line to control the game in a win last Friday over Notre Dame-Green Pond and will have to do the same against Southern Lehigh. They could follow Blue Mountain’s blueprint from Week 2, as the Eagles rushed 43 times for 218 yards while limiting Southern Lehigh to 29 yards on 24 carries. … Southern Lehigh will look to make big plays behind QB Sams and TE Olesh, who is bound for Michigan. Olesh has 92 catches for 1,579 yards and 13 TDs in his career. Steckert rushed for three TDs in last week’s win over Lehighton. … This is believed to be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Jim Thorpe (1-2) at Tamaqua (3-0)

Radio/TV: WMGH 105.5 FM

Last week: Jim Thorpe lost to Blue Mountain 49-0; Tamaqua edged Pottsville 24-21

Last year: Tamaqua 14-7

Statistical leaders: Jim Thorpe — QB Cole Lazorick 33-54, 393, 4 TDs passing, 30-150, 2 TDs rushing; WR Aaron Curran 13-148, TD, WR Justin Yescavage 12-188, TD. Tamaqua — QB Luke Kane 24-42, 405, 4 TDs; RB Bradley Whalen 59-328, 2 TDs; RB/WR Victor Schlosser 16-176, TD rushing, 14-232, 3 TDs receiving.

Breakdown: Jim Thorpe’s hopes rely on the health of Lazorick, who missed last week’s game due to injury. If he can’t go, freshman Kaden Hess will step in. He completed 11-of-18 passes for 128 yards in loss to Blue Mountain. … Blue Raiders must maintain momentum gained from dramatic win over Pottsville. Can’t get caught up in success, must continue to grind and work hard.

Palmerton (0-3) at Lehighton (1-2)

Radio/TV: Blue Ridge Cable TV-13

Last week: Palmerton lost to Saucon Valley 63-7, Lehighton lost to Southern Lehigh 34-3

Last year: Palmerton 45-30

Statistical leaders: Lehighton — QB Jayse Lawrence 28-50, 283, 4 TDs; RB Lukas Croizier 43-258, TD; WR Caden Meek 5-101.

Breakdown: Lehighton will look to even its record against a Blue Bombers squad that has been outscored 125-29 so far.

Marian (2-1) at Shenandoah Valley (0-3)

Last week: Marian beat Panther Valley 27-0; Shenandoah Valley lost to Schuylkill Haven 77-0

Last year: Marian 30-0

Statistical leaders: Marian — QB Dylan Rodino 13-31, 175, 2 TDs; RB Rory Dixon 72-459, 4 TDs; TE Michael Gelatko 7-42, TD. Shenandoah Valley — QB Tristan Karosas 7-38, 108, 0 TD, 7 Int; RB Reyes 13-73, TD; RB Nunez 22-60 rushing, 4-79 receiving.

Breakdown: The area’s leading rusher, Dixon is averaging 24 carries a game. He won’t get that many tonight against a Shenandoah Valley defense that is giving up 56.3 points per game. Building confidence is a weekly goal for Blue Devils.

Minersville (3-0) at Williams Valley (3-0)

Live Updates: Follow T102SportsNow content editor Leroy Boyer on X @pubsportsboss

Last week: Minersville downed Mahanoy Area 49-19, Williams Valley rallied past Nativity 34-31

Last year: Williams Valley 31-28, OT

Statistical leaders: Minersville — QB Dante Carr 22-41, 493, 8 TDs passing, 18-395, 7 TDs rushing; RB Easton Schultz 31-181, TD; WR Paiten LaPoint 8-174, 3 TDs. Williams Valley — QB Brady Shomper 26-48, 450, 7 TDs; RB Fletcher Thompson 46-298, 2 TDs; WR Kian Krzyzanowski 17-312, 5 TDs.

Breakdown: Classic battle of speed vs. strength. Miners will look to utilize the speed of Carr, Schultz, LaPoint and WRs Logan Hutsko and Kavanaugh to make big plays, while Vikings will look to dominate the line of scrimmage and run the ball with Thompson, controlling the clock. …. This game will be close throughout, decided by big play, turnover, missed extra point or costly penalty.

Nativity (2-1) at Tri-Valley (3-0)

Last week: Nativity lost to Williams Valley 34-31, Tri-Valley beat Pine Grove 42-0

Last year: Nativity 30-27

Statistical leaders: Nativity — QB Ben Kreitzer 16-33, 473, 5 TDs; RB Sam Spolski 24-180, 4 TDs; RB Sam Walborn 23-187, 4 TDs; WR Noah Dolbin 10-292, 3 TDs. Tri-Valley — QB Blake Schwartz 13-23, 217, 2 TDs; RB Cole Gemberling 45-247, 6 TDs; RB Parker Hatter 26-153, 2 TDs; WR Max Masser 4-92, TD.

Breakdown: Great matchup of Blue Division contenders. … Nativity will look to rebound from last week’s heartbreaking loss to Williams Valley. Getting the ground game going with Spolski and Walborn and making big plays to Dolbin are key. Nativity defense has eight interceptions in three games, four of which were returned for TDs. … Dawgs, meanwhile, have been stout defensively, pitching back-to-back shutouts and giving up just 19 points all season. … Gemberling has been everywhere the last two weeks. … Team that controls the line of scrimmage has the advantage.

Pine Grove (0-3) at Panther Valley (0-3)

Radio/TV: WLSH 1410 AM

Last week: Pine Grove lost to Tri-Valley 42-0, Panther Valley lost to Marian 27-0

Last year: DNP

Statistical leaders: Pine Grove — QB Wyatt Dixon 7-31, 79, 0 TD, 6 Int; Logan Troup 38-96; TE Robbie Schaeffer 4-36. Panther Valley — QB Brody Breiner 37-119 rushing, 21-61, 176, 4 TDs passing; WR Brady Jones 12-131.

Breakdown: Both teams have struggled to score points, with Pine Grove getting 7 and Panther Valley 6 in three games. … Games like this between winless teams often turn into good football games. … Both teams will be looking for a playmaker to step up. Who will it be?

Schuylkill Haven (2-1) at Mahanoy Area (0-3)

Last week: Schuylkill Haven beat Shenandoah Valley 77-0, Mahanoy Area lost to Minersville 49-19

Last year: DNP

Statistical leaders: Schuylkill Haven — QB Brayden Fasnacht 4-6, 94, TD; RB Niko Carestia 35-446, 5 TDs; RB Colton Reber 14-267, 5 TDs; RB Niko Castillo 13-136, 2 TDs. Mahanoy Area — QB Levi Terry 5-12, 193, 2 TDs; RB Kyler Quick 49-341, 3 TDs; RB/WR Michael Oblas 3-98, TD.

Breakdown: A battle of two teams who love to run the football, don’t expect a lot of passes here. … Mahanoy City has been a rough place for Schuylkill Haven to play over the years. … Golden Bears have been competitive in each game so far but have given up 144 points in three games. … Haven has outscored its last opponents 134-0. Expect Hurricanes to fine-tune their running game heading into Thursday’s showdown at Minersville.