SLATINGTON – The Schuylkill League defense led the way shutting out the Colonial League offense for nearly three quarters of football. Leading the way was Schuylkill Haven’s Leyden Hertz, who had two interceptions in the game. The Schuylkill League All-Stars won 24-9 Sunday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.
Hertz was named Schuylkill League MVP of the game. “I was proud to be selected to the game and to play with players I competed against during the season,” said Hertz. “Having all the Schuylkill players on the field together was a lot of fun today.”
The Skook defense set the tone early forcing a punt and an interception on the Colonial first two drives.
After Hertz’s first interception, the offense drove down to the Colonial 17. They had to settle for a field goal. North Schuylkill kicker Gavin Mentzer came in the game and kicked a 34-yard field goal to put his team up 3-0 with 11:46 remaining in the first half.
After a bad punt by the Colonial team, the Schuylkill team took over mid-field. It didn’t take long for them to score the first touchdown of the game. Tri-Valley quarterback Blake Schwartz hit Blue Mountain’s Gaige Guers in stride for the pass completion. But an offensive penalty wiped out that play.
So Schwartz decided to try again. He hit Guers for a 42-yard touchdown pass with 5:08 left in the first half as the Skook All-Stars led 10-0.
The Colonial League’s best chance for a touchdown came early in the second half. Palmerton’s Aidan Ortiz had an interception off the tipped ball that put the Colonial All-Stars at the Skook 35.
Again, the Schuylkill defense made the plays and forced a turnover on downs.
The Schuylkill All-Stars scored on their next possession with 5:19 left in the quarter. Blue Mountain’s Tyler Stahley broke several tackles for a 13-yard touchdown run. It was 17-0 Schuylkill League.
Late in the third quarter, the Colonial League got on the scoreboard. Notre Dame’s Mark Talpas kicked a 27-yard field goal with 29 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Hertz answered right back what looked like a kickoff return for a touchdown. But a block in the back penalty wiped out the touchdown. After three quarters, the Schuylkill All-Stars led 17-3.
After a punt by the Skook All-Stars, Jim Thorpe’s Aaron Curran (Colonial League) returned a punt 62 yards down to the Skook 36. But that drive ended on an interception. On fourth down, Hertz got his second interception of the game.
The Schuylkill All-Stars then drove down the field and put the game away when Nativity’s Sam Walborn scored from 29 yards out with 1:15 left in the game. They led 24-3.
As time expired, the Colonial All-Stars got their first touchdown of the game. Jim Thorpe’s Justin Yescavage caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Wilson’s Jeramy Cressman.
The final score was 24-9 Schuylkill League.
There were four awards handed out after the game:
Named the Outstanding Linemen:
Nuallan King (Pen Argyl)
Sander Stokes (North Schuylkill)
Team MVP:
Jason St. Leger (Salisbury)
Leyden Hertz (Schuylkill Haven)
Schuylkill Leauge 24, Colonial League 9
Scoring:
2nd Quarter:
SL – Gavin Mentzer 34 yards FG 11:46
SL – Gaige Guers 42 yard pass from Blake Schwartz (Gavin Mentzer kick) 5:08
3rd Quarter:
SL – Tyler Stahley 14 yard run (Gavin Mentzer kick) 5:19
CL – Mark Talpas 37 yard FG :29
4th Quarter:
SL – Sam Walborn 29 yard run (Gavin Mentzer kick) 1:15
CL – Justin Yescavage 24 pass from Jeramy Cressman 0:00
One Response
Leyden Hertz played at Schuylkill Haven H.S.