Lehighton quarterback Jayse Lawrence

LEHIGHTON — Sometimes it just clicks and it all comes together.

For Lehighton, that was certainly the case Friday against Tamaqua.

From the opening kick, the Indians were able to play smart, complementary football, keeping the Blue Raiders’ offense off the field on their way to a 34-14 upset victory in Schuylkill/Colonial Red Division contest.

“I really want to thank my coaching staff,” Lehighton head coach Tom McCarroll said. “Every single week they put so much time in. Every week we feel like we have a good plan. But tonight, coaches, players, and everyone involved in our program, we put it all together.

“We really had a great week of practice. It was physical all week. I’m just so proud of these kids. Hopefully this is the win that pushes us in the right direction to where we want to be.”

Both squads traded shots throughout the first half.

Lehighton got on the board first with an eight-play, 83-yard opening drive, capped off by a Jayse Lawrence quarterback burst up the middle for 40 yards to give the Indians a 7-0 lead.

Tamaqua quickly answered, scoring in just four plays to tie the game at 7-7.

The big arm of Raiders’ quarterback Luke Kane was on display early when Kane scrambled around to find time, hitting Brady McCabe in stride for a 54-yard connection. That setup a Kane 11-yard scoring rush.

The Raiders forced a three-and-out on Lehighton’s next possession and again scored quickly — again in just four plays — with Kane taking it in from 26 yards out to make it a 14-7 Tamaqua advantage with 1:30 remaining in the first quarter.

However, Tamaqua ran just six plays in the second quarter, with the Indians’ offense taking control. The Tribe evened the score at 14-14 early in the second frame on a Lawrence 17-yard pass to Caden Meek.

Then, after the Indians’ defense forced a quick Tamaqua three-and-out, the Indians’ offense went on a methodical 15-play, clock-consuming drive finished off by a 21-yard pitch and catch from Lawrence to Logan Kent.

That score gave Lehighton a 21-14 lead at the half. The Tribe offense came through with conversion after conversion on the drive, tallying six first downs.

“We just didn’t have the ball much in first half, especially in the second quarter,” Tamaqua head coach Sam Bonner said. “Our first two possessions we scored, but after that we just didn’t have the ball much in that half. Credit to Lehighton, they had a good game plan and they were able to execute it.

“Then we got behind there a little bit and you’re trying to play catch up and that makes everything tougher. We needed to make some plays defensively on the ball on third down, and we just weren’t able to do that tonight. They were able to hit guys underneath and on hitches to extend drives. They were also able to win on first down and a lot of times they had third and short opportunities.”

The Lehighton defense got a huge stop early in the third quarter with Tamaqua receiving the kick to start the second half, forcing the Raiders to punt.

The Indians then took advantage and once again took a bunch of time off the clock, going 56 yards in 11 plays. The drive was finished off with an 8-yard Lawrence rush around the left side after he reversed field to give Lehighton a commanding 27-14 lead with 5:45 left in the third.

The Tamaqua offense then put a good drive together, trying to answer, driving the ball all the way down to the Indians 13-yard line. But the Indians defense held strong, turning the Raiders over on downs on a fourth-and-7, forcing an incompletion with 27 seconds left to go in the third.

In the fourth, a Blake Roberts 1-yard touchdown plunge for Lehighton off a direct snap put the game away with just a little over three minutes to go in the game. A nifty interception from Kyden Hauser in the end zone with Tamaqua trying to score late sent the Lehighton sideline into a frenzy, capping off the big win.

“What a team win,” McCarroll said. “It was a complete game. Our guys played good football for all four quarters. Lawrence did a good job running the offense tonight. He took care of the ball and when you take care of the ball good things usually happen.

“A lot of different guys made big plays for us tonight. The offensive line stepped up. And I can’t say enough about the defense. To hold that team to 14 points is impressive. Again, a team win through and through.”

DUAL-THREAT … Lawrence was calm and steady all game long. He threw for 181 yards and two scores and also rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Kane also had a nice night for Tamaqua, rushing for 135 yards and two touchdowns and throwing for 120 yards.

MOVING THE STICKS … Lehighton collected an impressive 18 first downs in the game.

SPREADING THE WEALTH … Four Lehighton players had three or more catches in the game. Meek, Roberts, Kent and Joe Roth all made key grabs in the game.

Game Summary

Lehighton 34, Tamaqua 14

Lehighton (3-5, 3-4) — 7 14 6 7 – 34

Tamaqua (6-2, 5-2)  — 14 0 0 0 -14

Scoring summary

L — Lawrence 40 run (Ebbert kick)

T — Kane 11 run (Barron kick)

T — Kane 26 run (Barron kick)

L — Meek 17 pass from Lawrence (Ebbert kick)

L — Kent 21 pass from Lawrence (Ebbert kick)

L — Lawrence 8 run (kick failed)

L — Roberts 1 run (Ebbert kick)