This year’s SCFCA game is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 6, at Schuylkill Haven High’s Rotary Field. Head coaches are Mark Rosenberger of Jim Thorpe for the North and Jeff Sampson of Pine Grove for the South.  Read the full story in the Hazleton Standard Speaker here.

The Jim Thorpe Area High School football program held its annual banquet Jan. 11, 2009 at the high school. The banquet is an opportunity to congratulate all 72 football players and honor those who have displayed outstanding leadership, athletic success and academic achievement.

Coach Rosenberger started the banquet recapping the 6-4 season which ended with key victories against Marian and Lehighton. Rosenberger said the 2008 record wasn’t what he wanted but quoting a fellow coach he said, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” Rosenberger said he’ll accept that this year since we did crush Marian and Lehighton which means a lot to our program and our community.

Award Winners:
Kysheem Lynch — Offensive MVP
CJ Lehmann — Defensive MVP
Nate Schmidt — Special Teams MVP
Tyler Mangold — Lineman of the Year
Chris DeMuro — Anthracite League Sportsmanship Award
Bill Rieck — Lehigh Valley Scholar Athlete
Tony Mistretta — Phil Heraty Award
Tyler Mangold — Ed Fuzzy Fahey Award

Click on pictures below for descriptions and names.

Senior Running Back Tony Mistretta and senior wide receiver Kysheem Lynch were named on first team offense and Nate Schmidt, punter, was named to first team defense in the recent selection of the 2008 Anthracite Football All-Star Team.

Tyler Mangold was named second-team offense for the offensive line along with Nate Schmidt as the kicker.

Tyler Mangold was also named to the second team defense INT along with Chris DeMuro as defensive back.

Congratulations to everyone who played this year. Good luck to the seniors and mark your calendars for August 2009 when the Olympians will play Tamaqua to kick-off the start of another great season.

The Jim Thorpe Olympians played a heck of a game tonight against the Lehighton Indians and came out on top 27-20. Photos are here including a stream of photos capturing Terry Moll’s second touchdown of the game.

>> Game Photo Gallery

>> Pep Rally and Bonfire Photo Gallery

On a perfect night for football Marian Catholic fans thought they had a W before the game started. But, Jim Thorpe’s Red Swarm defense and Awesome Offense ended that assumption.

Photo Gallery Here >>

After an even first half (13-7) the Olympians dominated the field with 291 total offensive yards to Marian’s 183. JT QB Corey Cinicola connected with Kysheem Lynch for a 25-yard touchdown, Terry Moll, Chris DeMuro (60-yard pass), Tom Ferguson (18-yard pass) and Lynch again in the third quarter for a 40-yard pass.

The Olympian win may position Jim Thorpe for some post-season play. They must all show up next Friday at home, though, and stuff the Lehighton Indians just like they corralled the Colts before we think about playing into November.

Read the story from the Pottsville REPUBLICAN.

Marian	0	7	0	0	-	7
Jim Thorpe	7	6	19	0	-	32

JT – Lynch 25 pass from Cinicola (Schmidt kick)
M – Eckhart 10 run (Gates kick)
JT – Moll 2 pass from Cinicola (kick failed)
JT – DeMuro 60 pass from Cinicola (pass failed)
JT – Ferguson 18 pass from Cinicola (pass failed)
JT – Lynch 40 pass from Cinicola (Schmidt kick)

Statistics
	M	JT
First Downs	9	12
Rushing Yards	36-139	33-100
Passing Yards	44	191
Total Offense	183	291
Passing	4-13-0	10-18-0
Punts	6-34	5-31
Fumbles (lost)	3-2	0-0
Penalties (yds.)	6-40	5-35

Individual Statistics
Rushing – Marian – Lally 16-63, Eckhart 7-57, Andrews, 7-25, Zimmerman 1-3, Nietz 3-0, O’Brien 1-(-1_, Gates 1-(-8), Jim Thorpe — Mistretta 21-74, St. Hill 2-8, Baier 2-8, Cinicola 4-6, Fritz 1-4, Lynch 1-3, Canalley 1-0, Busocker 1-(-3).

Passing – Marian – Eckhart 4-12-0, 44, Leitzel 0-1-0, 0. Jim Thorpe – Cinicola 10-18-0, 191.

Receiving – Marian – Hutta 1-25, Nietz 1-15, Andrews 1-3, Lally 1-1. Jim Thorpe – DeMuro 4-79, Lynch 3-90, Ferguson 1-18, Mistretta 1-2, Moll 1-2.

The junior varsity team lost to AAAA Pocono Mountain West 20-0 in the Columbus Day match-up at home. Pictures are here for purchase. Remember, photo reprints support The Touchdown Club.

And the Olympians couldn’t pull out a win at Pocono Mountain West, falling to the Panthers 35-26. Pictures are here.

The Olympians took the long bus ride to Minersville and came home victorious! The score was 34-25. Great job, boys!

Despite the addition of tons of Booster Club Cheerleaders and football players, the Olympians could not find their game tonight and recorded their second loss.

Game photos, including pictures of the Booster Club children, are here. Remember, all reprint orders benefit the Touchdown Club and your Olympian football players.

The pictures are here from the win at Mahanoy Area High School, Sept. 5, 2008.