Schuylkill Haven's offensive line has been a big key to its success. (Photo by Kelly Wiley)

The backstretch is just about in sight.

Week 8 leaves little room for mistakes for contending teams in the District 11 football playoffs.

There’s a ton riding on the line for two local teams in the Class 2A race. Schuylkill Haven and Williams Valley are nearly in a tie for the top spot. Both are 6-1. Haven owns a win over the Vikings, but the latter sits in the top seed for now. That may change if both teams win out. The Hurricanes, led by their terrific trio of running backs Niko Carestia, Niko Castillo and Colton Reber, are so impactful it’s very difficult to stop this ground-oriented attack.

They share the spotlight and there surely is no “I” in their approach. Carestia is the leader, but you can’t just rely on trying to key on him. For sure, Castillo is a triple threat in his ability to catch, run and possibly throw the ball. He is very athletic, at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds. He doesn’t have hands of stone, and can make catches. The lesser known of the trio, Reber makes this group very special.

To which coach Mike Farr chortled when asked about having a threesome of backs: Did the Hurricanes ever have this type of attack?

“No, no, never,” he bellowed after the 36-0 win over Marian.

There have been some great backs this program has produced over the decades, but this one is so special. Why? One word; physicality. They run like thoroughbreds, too. Speed and power, Carestia at 5-10, 220 and Reber 5-11, 180, along with the aforementioned Castillo. Carestia’s uniqueness is the ability to run low to the ground. That style makes it difficult for defenders to get at his legs, and once past the second level he has a burst that elevates him to another level.

“They complement each other, they run so well, they have balance,” Farr said. When asked about three runners of this caliber on the same field … “NOOOO, never, not even close. I’ve had two never three.” And to think he said that having Carestia “still learning the fullback spot in the wing T,” kind of takes you aback.

Farr will never let this group get too comfortable; check the ego at the door!

He was howling at his offensive line walking off the field at the half. He wasn’t too pleased with the missed blocking and failure to line up in the right spacing. Gosh Mike, the backs rushed for 521 yards! Perfection is hard to attain. Farr wants it in the worst way, for he knows he has a very special group that can far outreach their grasp. He will not say it, but he knows this team can ride pretty far into late fall and get fairly close to December.

Haven’s backs say it all is about the offensive line; trench warfare is where it all starts. And this group is physical, including sophomore Brody Brand (6-0, 245), senior Brian Moran (6-0, 240) and a pair of juniors Ethan Kline (6-0, 250) and Wyatt Keefer (6-2, 285). Farr bumped Adam Malinoski, nephew of former Penn State and Shenandoah Valley star Mike Malinoski, to tight end. The 6-foot 200-pound senior played on the interior but before getting his new role.

A dearth of passing plays hasn’t seemed to hinder the Schuylkill Haven offense. Do not think otherwise, Brayden Fasnacht can fling it, take a look at him during pregame drills; not a pretzel arm. Heck, he has a good receiver in 6-2, Leyden Hertz, a rangy one at that. Farr may be old school to an extent, but he’s gotten sage, and he just may take this late-season ride to another level. Besides Hertz, keep an eyelid on Castillo, he is very capable of catching a football.

Yeah, we know Farr is a Woody Hayes disciple. The late Ohio State coach said three things can happen when passing; two are not good, incomplete and interception. But the third one is good; it keeps the defenses guessing.

There is no Southern Columbia in the roadblock after the district tournament. The Tigers are down this year — yeah that’s correct “they’re down,” but still will finish as a threat to Troy, perhaps one of the best this side of the Susquehanna River in the District 4, Class 2A race. Book it, Farr and his staff is staying the course for now. The Hurricanes are riding the wave of tough, resilient hard-nosed runners that can flatten you on the rear end.

This team is primed to get to the district finals, and so too is Williams Valley.

Yogi Berra said it best: “It ain’t over till it’s over!”

Still in the mix

All of a sudden we’ve got an old mainstay knocking at the doorstep.

North Schuylkill pulled a stunner at Blue Mountain on Thursday evening.

The Spartans revved up the engine, laid an impressive 38-14 defeat on the Eagles. So now what seemed like a going-through-the-motions at the tail end of the season for North Schuylkill has thrust this team back in the limelight. Oh, it’s not going to catch the leader of the pack in the District 11 3A race Northwestern Lehigh, but a shot still remains for the team to get a place in the tournament.

It trails Notre Dame of Green Pond and Tamaqua, but lurking in the background fast charging Saucon Valley (6-1).

North Schuylkill rallied around its defense in the Eagles’ Nest, picking off five interceptions, and that itself was the bottom line. The North Schuylkill secondary has been a bit of Achilles’ heel for this team, young for sure, but getting seasoning at the right time. Wally Hall the teacher and former NS standout Tom Gallagher were both aware of their need to secure this win.

Gallagher said the Spartans were more physical. Hall said his squad played defense, calling it a personal afront. It can feel good about itself after this win. And the team finally got quarterback Cayden Mengel back on track. The junior is very good when he gets the time. But he has this uncanny ability to read the defense and work on progressions.

Where it stands

Blue Mountain’s loss drops it to third in the District 11, 4A race behind front-running Southern Lehigh, which has three games to play: Tonight with Bangor, next weekend at Saucon Valley, which is not a gimmy, then it faces Northwestern Lehigh in a super matchup on the 10th weekend at home.

If Southern Lehigh losses two out of three, it bodes well for Blue Mountain. The Eagles host Pottsville next Friday before going to Tamaqua, which will have a lot riding on that game for the Blue Raiders, too. Bethlehem Catholic has the most daunting task; it plays three powerhouse teams to end the season, starting tonight hosting Nazareth (5-2), home with 6-1 Liberty before finishing at Northampton (4-3).