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.

Freshman and JV game photos are here.

Photos of the latest Jim Thorpe victory – the shutout of Marian, in case you missed the news – are here.

Remember, all photo reprint purchases benefit the Touchdown Club!

Thanks to Mr. Lesisko for taking the pics!

The Olympian Freshman football team defeated Marian Catholic 21-0 on Monday. Thorpe scored 3 rushing TDs (2 by Shawn McHose and I by Justin Canalley). The star of the game was the swarming Jim Thorpe defense. Terry Moll & Sean Green each had interceptions, Green’s came in the endzone to end a Colt scoring threat. Another Marian drive was stopped deep in Thorpe territory when Pete McGuire forced and recovered a fumble. In all the freshman Red Swarm forced five turnovers. Olympian Joel Nieves scored on defense when he recorded a safety on an attempted punt. Congratulations to the freshman team.

Tamaqua defeated Minersville Monday in OT 22-21. The dramatic win squashes Minersville’s quest for its 1st Anthracite title. Jim Thorpe is now the 2007 league champion. Marian could finish with the same league record as the Olympians with a win next week but the tie breaker would be Thorpe’s 28-0 victory over the Colts. Congratulations Olympians. Please come out to Lehighton on Friday night to support the team in their regular season finale against the Indians. A win guarantees the Olympians a home playoff game in the first round of district play.

In front of an impressive crowd, the Red Swarm defense lived up to its name on Saturday at Men of Marian stadium. The Colts never threatened to score punting 7 times in the game and managing just 6 first downs.

While the Marian offense was being smothered, the Thorpe offense was pushing the Colt defense all over the field. The Olympian offensive line blasted open holes all night. The primary beneficiary of this dominance was running back Phil Redline. Redline rushed for 195 yards on 30 plus carries. He scored 3 TDs (2 rushing and 1 receiving). Redline also past the 1000 yard rushing mark for the season.

Eric Busocker added an exclamation point to the Jim Thorpe victory returning an interception for a TD with 1 minute to go in the game making the final score 28-0.

Many faithful Olympian fans stayed after the game and congratulated the players on the victory. 

With the win the Olympians claim at least a share of the 2007 Anthracite League title. The Olympians must now prepare for the final regular season game against Lehighton. Thorpe also clinched a spot in the District XI AA playoffs. A victory over Lehighton will guarantee a home playoff game for the Olympians. Click here for photo gallery. 

Friday 26 October 2007. It’s finally here. Tonight’s game at Marian Catholic has high stakes. A win by Marian would assure them the 2007 Anthracite League Title. A win by the Olympians could create a 3 way tie for the title. Both teams enter the game with 7-1 records. Come out to Hometown and support your Olympians.

Column about JT on mcall.com — click here.

Notable quote referencing last week’s victory:

“In a game that Schuylkill Haven coach Mike Farr made excuses as to why his standout Zach Barket, who came into last Friday’s game with more than 1,600 yards, managed just 25 yards, Redline finished with 111 on 25 carries. Those 111 yards came on the same muddy field that Barket’s came on.”

This is why newspapers and reporters who work for them are referred to as sunshine — they shine the light so that others may see the truth.

About our team are here:

Olympians seeking another playoff run and this one about Marian should suffice to get us fired up

Colts early favorite in rough, tough, AFL

 

Marian Catholic 21
Jim Thorpe 14

Game Photos
Principal Lesisko Game Photos

Marian outlasts Jim Thorpe to force a 3-way tie for the lead in the Anthracite Football League. Both teams fought extremely hard in a driving rain in front af a huge homecoming crowd at Jim Thorpe. The Red Swarm defense allowed only 50 yards rushing and forced 3 turnovers but was hurt several times on big pass plays. In the end, it was the Colts that capitalized on Thorpe miscues to win the game.The Olympians capped their first possession with a 5-yd TD pass from Craig Zurn to Scott McGonigal. Alex Landon made the extra point to give Thorpe the 7-0 lead. Marian answered later in the first quarter on a 2-yd run by Brad Petrisch.

The Olympians held on to the lead by blocking the extra point leaving the score at 7-6 after one quarter. Jim Thorpe extended the lead to 14-6 at half-time on a 63-yd flea flicker from Zurn to Josh Hontz.

In the 3rd quarter Marian took advantage of good field position to tie the score at 14. Adam Agosti capped the dive with an 8-yd run. A 2-pt conversion pass from Agosti to Petrisch knotted the game.

The game would remain tied for most of the 4th quarter with neither team able to get into an offensive rhythm. The Olympians seemed to be poised to take the lead. With eight minutes remaining in the game, Agosti was sacked and fumbled. Kyle Porembo recovered setting up the Olympians with a first and goal at the Colt 5-yd line. Two running plays field reach the endzone and on third down Travis John made a diving interception in the endzone to end the threat.

The Red Swarm defense stopped the Colts again but Thorpe fumbled the ball away near midfield. A few plays later Agosti connected with Kevin McNavage who avoided two tackles and raced 40 yards to put the Colts up 21-14. With 22 seconds remaining in the game, Craig Zurn scrambled 39 yards to the endzone while avoiding several Colt defenders. The play was negated however on a phantom block in the back penalty. Time expired before the Olympians could run another play.

RUSHING: Marian: Petrisch 26-50, Yorke 2-16, Confer 1-9, King 3-5, Rizzo 1-1, Agosti 11-(-30), JT: Redline 14-40, Garland 1-8, McGonigal 1-5.

PASSING: Marian: Agosti 9-17-1-149, JT: Zurn 7-21-2-154.

RECEIVING: Marian: McNavage 4-84, Stevens 4-33, Petrisch 1-32, JT: Hontz 2-94, McGonigal 2-14, DeBenedittis 1-24, Skaflestad 1-11, Redline 1-11.

If Shenandoah Valley and Marian Catholic both win in week 10, they will share a Tri-Championship with Jim Thorpe (all 3 teams would have an 8-1 league record). All 3 teams have already clinched spots in the District XI playoffs (SV & Marian in A and Thorpe in AA).