In a game filled with intense moments, big plays, and late-game heroics, Tamaqua emerged victorious, 24-21.
The Raiders struck first with 7:34 left in the second quarter when Tamaqua's Victor Schlosser intercepted a pass and sprinted 70 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. Nicolas Barran's successful PAT put Tamaqua on top, 7-0.
Pottsville Area responded with a solid drive, spearheaded by Ju Ju Bainbridge, who helped march the ball down the field. This set up quarterback Andrew Allen for a 10-yard rushing touchdown. Christian Alvarez's extra point tied the game at 7-7.
As the first half drew to a close, Tamaqua capitalized on a Pottsville fumble, recovering the ball to set up another score with just 34 seconds left. The Blue Raiders headed into halftime with a 14-7 lead.
In the second half, Pottsville took advantage of a fumble on a Tamaqua punt, recovering the ball and eventually scoring from the 1-yard line on a run by Bainbridge. The game was tied once again, 14-14.
The Blue Raiders regained the lead in the third quarter with a 28-yard field goal by Barron, making it 17-14 in favor of Tamaqua. However, Pottsville was not done. With just 3:04 left in the game, Bainbridge found the end zone once more with a 4-yard touchdown run, giving the Crimson Tide a 21-17 lead.
In a dramatic final series, Pottsville's offense stalled on Tamaqua's 15-yard line, turning the ball over on downs with just 39.8 seconds remaining. This set up one last chance for the Raiders, who executed a quick two-play drive that resulted in a game-winning touchdown. Tamaqua clinched the thrilling victory, 24-21.
With the win, Tamaqua Area remains undefeated at 3-0 and will host Jim Thorpe next week, aiming to continue their strong start to the season. Meanwhile, Pottsville Area falls to 1-2 and will look to bounce back as they head to Bangor next Friday.
The Raiders' resilience and clutch performance in the final seconds highlighted their determination to stay unbeaten in the competitive Schuylkill/Colonial League, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what comes next in the season.
The Raiders struck first with 7:34 left in the second quarter when Tamaqua's Victor Schlosser intercepted a pass and sprinted 70 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. Nicolas Barran's successful PAT put Tamaqua on top, 7-0.
Pottsville Area responded with a solid drive, spearheaded by Ju Ju Bainbridge, who helped march the ball down the field. This set up quarterback Andrew Allen for a 10-yard rushing touchdown. Christian Alvarez's extra point tied the game at 7-7.
As the first half drew to a close, Tamaqua capitalized on a Pottsville fumble, recovering the ball to set up another score with just 34 seconds left. The Blue Raiders headed into halftime with a 14-7 lead.
In the second half, Pottsville took advantage of a fumble on a Tamaqua punt, recovering the ball and eventually scoring from the 1-yard line on a run by Bainbridge. The game was tied once again, 14-14.
The Blue Raiders regained the lead in the third quarter with a 28-yard field goal by Barron, making it 17-14 in favor of Tamaqua. However, Pottsville was not done. With just 3:04 left in the game, Bainbridge found the end zone once more with a 4-yard touchdown run, giving the Crimson Tide a 21-17 lead.
In a dramatic final series, Pottsville's offense stalled on Tamaqua's 15-yard line, turning the ball over on downs with just 39.8 seconds remaining. This set up one last chance for the Raiders, who executed a quick two-play drive that resulted in a game-winning touchdown. Tamaqua clinched the thrilling victory, 24-21.
With the win, Tamaqua Area remains undefeated at 3-0 and will host Jim Thorpe next week, aiming to continue their strong start to the season. Meanwhile, Pottsville Area falls to 1-2 and will look to bounce back as they head to Bangor next Friday.
The Raiders' resilience and clutch performance in the final seconds highlighted their determination to stay unbeaten in the competitive Schuylkill/Colonial League, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what comes next in the season.
Photos by Jocelyn Barrett / Danie Mae Photography / Skook News
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