Culver and Thatcher run past Notre Dame

Written by: David Mika on Saturday, October 31st, 2015. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Saucon Valley’s late touchdown by Zach Thatcher to Alstan Wolfe with 37.7 seconds remaining was the difference in the game.

HELLERTOWN – Saucon Valley’s (9-0) running back Evan Culver (201) and quarterback Zach Thatcher (162) combined for 363 yards rushing and five touchdowns in a thrilling 42-35 win over Notre Dame (8-1) Friday night at Montford E. Illick Stadium.

“I am so proud of our team and our program. It’s a special group of kids we have here,” said head football coach Matt Evancho. “Culver and Thatcher carried us tonight and I am so proud of them.”

The stage was set, two 8-0 teams and the winner would have the upper hand in the Colonial League title. You had two of the top three scoring teams in District 11.

In the first quarter both teams were feeling each other out like a pair of prizefighters. At the end of the first quarter the game was scoreless.

But don’t worry fans, in the second quarter both teams’ offenses put the pedal to the metal and started a scoring frenzy. Capitalizing on a missed field goal by Notre Dame, Culver took the handoff on the very next play and went 72 yards down to the Notre Dame 8. Culver went in from two yards out. Joe Snead’s kick was good, putting the Panthers up 7-0 with 9:55 left in the first half.

The Panthers extended their lead 14-0 on a Thatcher 24-yard run with 5:03 remaining in the first half.

Notre Dame would finally get on the scoreboard on a Tre Jordan to Jalen Simpson 20-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was no good and the Panthers led 14-6.

Saucon Valley drove 61 yards right before halftime and the drive was capped off by a Culver 3-yard run. That was a huge drive knowing that Saucon would get the ball to start the second half.

The Panthers led 21-6 at halftime.

The Panthers added to their lead with an 8-play, 80 yard drive by Thatcher. He finished the drive with a 25-yard touchdown run led by Culver’s blocking.

The Crusaders answered back, driving 66 yards capped off by a Jordan one-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was good and Notre Dame pulled to within two touchdowns, 28-14 with 14 seconds left in the third quarter.

It did not take long for the Panthers to move right down the field. In just two plays, right before the end of the third quarter, Thatcher’s 21-yard run and Culver’s 34-yard run put the Panther on the Notre Dame 14. Two plays later Culver went in from five yards out to put the Panthers up 35-14 with 11:02 left in the game.

Culver finished the game with 201 yards rushing on 25 carries and two touchdowns.

“This is one of the craziest games I have ever played in,” said Culver. “It also was one of the funnest games I played in. It came down to who wanted it more.”

With the game in hand by the Panthers, things got interesting. Notre Dame started a furious comeback. Notre Dame marched right down the field by Jordan’s passing and running attack. His three-yard touchdown run made it 35-20.

After a punt by Saucon Valley, the Crusaders went 53 yards on 10 plays as Jordan went in from two yards out to pull Notre Dame within one touchdown, 35-28 with 4:08 remaining in the game.

“We kind of fell a sleep a little bit in the fourth quarter,” said Evancho. “But credit to Notre Dame for fighting back. They are a real talented team.”

Notre Dame’s defense clamped down and forced a three-and-out. After the punt by Saucon Valley, Jordan completed two passes for 29 yards in the drive and scored the tying touchdown with 1:04 remaining in the game.

Jordan finished the game passing for 226 yards and rushed for 100 yards.

The game was tied at 35 with 56.3 seconds remaining in the game. The Panthers were 75 yards away from staying unbeaten. Somehow, Thatcher hit tight end Mike Kane for a 21-yard pass to the 46.

“I was so surprised that Michael was so open on that first play,” said Thatcher. “I just hit him as soon as I could. On the next play I thought of a saying we have as quarterbacks, when they are even they are leaving,” said Thatcher.”