Pottsville faces huge challenge at powerhouse Northwestern Lehigh
(Photo by Danie Mae Photography)
Pottsville has taken a step forward each week this season, including last Friday’s grind-it-out, come-from-behind victory over Lehighton that lifted the team back to the .500 mark.
This week, the Crimson Tide take a step up in competition. Make that a big step up.
Pottsville (3-3, 3-2 Red) will load up the buses to travel east to New Tripoli to take on powerful Northwestern Lehigh tonight in a Schuylkill/Colonial Red Division contest. The Tigers (6-0, 5-0 Red) are ranked among the top Class 3A teams in the state according to numerous polls.
(The game will air live on WPPA 1360 AM and A-106/105.9 FM, beginning with pregame at 6:45 p.m. and kickoff at 7 p.m.)
“What a challenge. What a great opportunity,’’ Pottsville coach Mike Brennan said of facing Northwestern Lehigh. “… We have nothing to lose. No one outside this program thinks we have any chance to win this game. … This is the next step in our development as a program and as players. … We need some breaks. We need to create some breaks.’’
The Tigers have been nothing short of dominant in their six victories, outscoring their opponents 279-36. They’re piling up 46.5 points per game and allowing just six. Northwestern Lehigh rolled North Schuylkill 49-7 last Friday night.
Pottsville is also coming off a victory, taking the lead on a late touchdown in the first half, then pulling away from Lehighton after halftime in a 21-3 win on Homecoming at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“It was the first time we faced adversity and won the game,’’ Brennan said. “We had to fight and won a game with grit.’’
What makes Northwestern Lehigh so difficult to handle is that the Tigers can beat you in many different ways.
Last week against the Spartans, it was senior scatback Eli Zimmerman carving up the defense to the tune of 269 yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries. For the season, the 5-foot-8, 160-pound Zimmerman has rushed 58 times for 831 yards and 10 TDs. That’s an average of a whopping 14.3 yards per carry, He’s also caught nine passes for 94 yards and a score.
If you stack the box against Zimmerman, quarterback Shane Leh will beat you over the top. For the season, Leh has completed 39-of-68 passes for 567 yards and six touchdowns. His favorite receiver is Mason Bollinger (17-250, 3 TDs).
It’s on defense, though, that Northwestern Lehigh really shines. The Tigers are sound at all three levels and have senior Bryer Reichard, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound thumper, often in the middle of the action.
Pottsville will counter with sophomore quarterback Andrew Allen running the show. For the season, Allen has completed 68-of-117 passes for 1,175 yards with 10 TDs and four interceptions.
