Colonial League Holds off Schuylkill League in Defensive Battle, 14-12

Written by: David Mika on Sunday, May 28th, 2023. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

PALMERTON – Last year in the inaugural Colonial-Schuylkill All-Star football game, it was the Schuylkill League winning 28-6 at Schuylkill Haven.

On Sunday afternoon, The Colonial League All-Star Football Team tied the series up at one. Bangor’s Quarterback Eric Striba found Southern Lehigh’s Tyler Rizzuto for a 62-yard touchdown pass on fourth down, which proved to be the difference in the game. The Colonial League won a defensive battle, 14-12.

On the opening drive, the Colonial Team wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. On the third play of the game, Northern Lehigh’s Nick Frame called his own play from the quarterback position and sprinted 61 yards for the score. Ayden Scharper’s extra point was good and they led 7-0 with 10:35 remaining in the first quarter.

“We knew we had some weapons and Nick is a stud,” said Pen Argyl Head Coach Brady Mutton. “He ripped off that big run and set the tone for us.”

The Schuylkill League had an answer. On their second play from scrimmage, Pine Grove’s Mason Kroh hit a wide-open Brady Evans of Williams Valley for a 79-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was no good and it was 7-6 Colonial with 9:36 left in the first quarter.

The Schuylkill County team’s defense came up with a big stop on fourth-and-10 when Blue Mountain’s Ian Donohue came through the line for the sack. They took over on the Colonial 32. The big play of the drive was Pine Grove’s Mason Kroh hitting Tri-Valley’s Jolten Flory for a 22-yard completion. North Schuylkill’s Jared Tinari finished the drive powering in from one yard out. The two-point conversion was no good and Schuylkill led 12-7.

Both defenses settled down until the third quarter when the Colonial Team cracked the scoreboard again. Striba hit Rizzuto for the 62-yard touchdown pass on fourth down and Scharper’s kick put them up 14-12 with 6:25 left in the third quarter.

“That was schoolyard craziness,” said Mutton. “Striba made a play and found Rizzuto.”

Late in the game, the Schuylkill team had one more chance to take the lead. Four incomplete passes ended their final drive and Striba kneeled down as time ran out.