Lazorick passes Jim Thorpe past Palmerton
Cole Lazorick, Jim Thorpe quarterback.
Special to T102SportsNow.com
By Brad Hurley, Lehighton Times-News
PALMERTON — Coming into the season, Jim Thorpe was expected to boast an explosive offense with dual-threat quarterback Cole Lazorick and his go-to target Justin Yescavage returning.
The Olympians showed Friday night against Palmerton that their offense is not only explosive, but also has the ability to react when the game is on the line.
Lazorick threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 118 yards and two scores as Jim Thorpe got big plays from a variety of skill players to down Palmerton 38-15.
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“Our skill players made some outstanding plays tonight. The big play was big for us in the game. Credit to our offensive line as well for giving Cole and our receivers the time needed to make those big plays as well,” Jim Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger said. “Coming into the season, we thought we could be that type of offense, and we showed some of that tonight. We’re hoping to continue to make even more plays like that throughout the season.”
Palmerton scored first, taking advantage of a Jim Thorpe special teams miscue on a snap that sailed over the punter’s head, partially blocking the punt and getting the ball at the Thorpe 15. A few plays later Jameson Trainer would get in the end zone from 1-yard out to give the Bombers an early 7-0 lead.
Palmerton was able to get a push up front early and establish its running game, which kept the explosive Olympians offense off the field.
“That’s a positive from tonight for sure. And that’s something that we can build off. I thought we were able to run the ball with success early and I thought we were physical up front,” Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak said. “We were able to string together some really nice drives, but unfortunately we didn’t finish some of those drives tonight and that hurt us. Credit to Thorpe though. They made big stops and came through with big plays with their athletes.”
Thorpe was able to answer with a nice drive of its own to end the first quarter to make it a 7-6 game after a missed extra point. An eight-play drive that saw Lazorick throw for 66 yards, including a 36-yard hookup with Yescavage, got the Olympians offense going.
Lazorick continued to make plays in the second quarter, paired with a strong defensive effort by Thorpe, which shut out the Bombers in the second frame. Two Lazorick strikes — one to Josh Louk from 14 yards out and one to Aaron Curran for a 10-yard score — put the Olympians in control with a 18-7 lead at the half.
Palmerton did its best to get back in the contest in third, cutting Thorpe’s deficit to just three points with 6:40 to go in the quarter. A nifty Trainer 10-yard run and a successful two-point conversion would make it an 18-15 game.
But once again, the Olympians offense proved to be a ticking time bomb.
On Thorpe’s ensuing possession, Lazorick hit a streaking Curran for a 62-yard explosion to extend the lead back to 10 (25-15). The JT defense would hold the Bombers scoreless the rest of the way, and Lazorick would add two more scores in the fourth. A 30-yard pitch and catch to Yescavage and a 2-yard quarterback plunge to cap off the big night for the Thorpe offense.
