This year’s first offensive MVP had many fans at the edge of their seats when the ball was in the air. Anticipation, waiting for the next great diving catch and along touchdown reception. His work ethic in the off-season weightroom and at speed camp has made him into one of the best receivers if not the best receiver to ever come out of Jim Thorpe.

Unfortunately, the school records are not updated but I would like to believe that 60 catches in one season is probably a school record. In addition, he had 1,006 yards receiving on the season and 11 touchdowns.

One of this year’s MVPs – Josh Hontz.

This year’s other co-MVP is a young man who has been entertaining fans with his legs for four years - three as a starter and one as a complimentary back. This young man has show extreme dedication to personal perfection as he spent seven years in Speed Camp and countless more hours in the weightroom.

His strength and his speed were his two greatest attributes. This young man finished this year with 1,275 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. A lot was made about another RB in our league from Schuylkill Haven but if I had my choice I would take Redline any day – after all he can run on a muddy field!

This year’s co-offensive MVP is Phil Redline.

 

The following players were recognized at the Annual Football Banquet, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008 for their 2007 All-Star Selections:

Billy Rieck – Center
Honorable Mention Schuylkill County North Team
Honorable Mention All Anthracite Team

Tyler Mangold – Guard
Honorable Mention Schuylkill County North Team
Honorable Mention All Anthracite Team

Joe Garland – RB
Honorable Mention RB – All Anthracite Team

Nathan White – OT
2nd Team Schuylkill County North Team
2nd Team Anthracite Team
2nd Team Times News

Anthony Mistretta – DB
2nd Team Schuylkill County North Team
2nd Team Anthracite League

Jake Zurn – DB
2nd Team Schuylkill County North Team
2nd Team Anthracite League
2nd Team Times News – Defensive Specialist

Nathan Schmidt – Kicker
1st Team Schuylkill County North Team
1st Team Anthracite League
1st Team Times News

Corey Cinicola – QB
1st Team Schuylkill County North Team
1st Team Anthracite League
1st Team Pottsville Republican
1st Team Times News
2nd Team Morning Call
Honorable Mention Pennsylvania Football News All State

Kyle Porembo – LB
1st Team Schuylkill County North Team LB
1st Team Anthracite League LB
1st Team Times News
Honorable Mention – Reading Eagle LB

Scott McGonigal
1st Team Schuylkill County North Team LB
1st Team Anthracite LB & FB
1st TeamTimes News
1st Team Pottsville Republican LB
1st Team Reading Eagle – Anthracite Region LB 

Eric Busocker
1st Team  Schuylkill County North Team DB
1st Team Anthracite League DB
1st Team Pottsville Republican DB
1st Team Times News DB
2nd Team Anthracite League WR
Honorable Mention – Reading Eagle WR
Honorable Mention Pennsylvania Football News All State DB

Lance Malatak
1st Team Schuylkill County North Team Guard & DT
1st Team Anthracite League Guard & DT
Anthracite League Lineman of the Year
1st Team Times News
2nd Team Pottsville Republican Offensive Guard
Honorable Mention – Reading Eagle Offensive Guard
3rd Team Pennsylvania Football News All State

Phil Redline – RB
1st Team Schuylkill County North Team
1st Team Anthracite League
1st Team Times News
2nd Team Pottsville Republican
Honorable Mention – Reading Eagle RB
Honorable Mention Pennsylvania Football News All State

Josh Hontz
1st Team Schuylkill County North Team WR
Offensive Player of the Year Anthracite League
2nd Team Schuylkill County DE
1st Team Anthracite League
2nd Team All Anthracite DE
Co-Offensive Player of the Year
1st Team Times News
1st Team Pottsville Republican
1st Team Reading Eagle – Anthracite Region
1st Team Morning Call
2nd Team Associated Press All State
3rd Team Pennsylvania Football News All State

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. 

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.

After limiting an explosive Pocono Mtn West to 7 points in week 7. The Red Swarm welcomed one of the state’s leading rushers in week 8. Zach Barkett had averaged 250 yards per game entering the contest and some had asked the question “Can anyone stop Zach Barkett?” That question was answered on Saturday afternoon in Jim Thorpe.

The Olympians limited Barkett to 25 yards on 17 carries. The leading rusher in the game was Olympian Phil Redline with 111 yards on 25 carries. The defensive standout in the game was the entire Red Swarm Defense. Barket was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on nearly every play by 4 or 5 tacklers. Some say that if the field been dry, Thorpe would have been able to swarm even more defenders to the point of attack. 

For more great photos from this game from the Pottsville REPUBLICAN, click here.

Outstanding plays by TIMES-NEWS Player of the Week Josh Hontz, QB Cinicola, Redline, McGonigle, Adams, Garland, White, Jones and the entire Olympian team resulted in another X in the win column.

We have some video clips of the game. Here’s one:
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldOROWwP3yA]

Go to our YouTube channel to see them.

Lehighton    27

Jim Thorpe  20

The Lehighton Indians defeated Jim Thorpe 27-20 in overtime to retain the 209 Trophy. The Olympians had several chances to seal the game but could not finish off the persistent Indians.

The Indians dominated most of the first half despite limited playing time for their phenomenal running back Robbie Frey. Lehighton kicker Corey Whitehead connected on a 34 yard field goal that skipped over the crossbar to give the Indians a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. Justin Mooney completed a TD pass to Salvatore Caruso expand the 2nd quarter lead to 10-0. The Thorpe offense came to life in the 2nd quarter behind the running of Craig Zurn. Zurn finished a JT drive with a TD pass to Scott McGonigal. Alex Landon’s kick cut the Indian lead to 10-7 at the half.

The Indians regained momentum on the opening kick of the second half when Frey raced untouched for an 80yd TD making the score 17-7. The Olympians answered later in the third quarter. The hard running of Zurn and a key run by Joe Garland set up a 5yd TD run by Phil Redline. The extra point attempt failed making the score 17-13. The Red Swarm defense dominated the 3rd quarter and most of the 4th. JT took the lead for the first time in the 4th quarter on a 16 yd run by Zurn who finished with 205yds rushing. The Olympians held a 20-17 lead with 4 minutes remaining and took possession of the ball at their own 11. The Olympians needed only 2 first downs to run out the clock but only earned one. After a Thorpe punt the Indians took over with 1 minute remaining. On 4th down Mooney avoided a sack and connected with Caruso on a 30yd pass with under 30 seconds remaining. The next play was a short pass to Frey. Scott McGonigal was able to pull Frey down in bounds to keep the clock running. The Indians hustled to the line and spiked the ball with one second remaining. Whitehead hit a 38yd FG as time expired to send the game to OT. Mooney scored a 4yd TD on the third Lehighton play in overtime to give the Indians a 27-20 lead. An Indian interception on 3rd down sealed the win for the Indians.

Both teams will be participating in District XI playoffs next weekend.

Jim Thorpe 31

Schuylkill Haven 6

The Jim Thorpe offense looked sluggish to start the game and the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie. The game did not remain close for much longer. The Olympian offense got a spark when Corey Cinicola completed a 36 yd pass to Craig Zurn. Just a few plays later, Phil Redline scored on a 7 yd TD run. Two plays into the next Haven possession, Zurn intercepted a pass and returned it for a defensive TD. Alex Landon would cap the first half scoring with a 31 yard field goal. Jim Thorpe held a 17-0 lead at the half.

The Red Swarm defense dominated the Haven offense only allowing 147 total yards and causing 2 fumbles. Robert Mathurin was practically unstoppable on the D-Line for the Olympians. Zach Barkett, the AFL’s leading rusher entering the game, finished the night with only 60 yds on 20 carries.

The Olympians used a balanced offensive attack to move the ball on the Canes. Zurn passed for over 100 yards including a 4 yd TD pass to Josh Hontz in the 3rd quarter that expanded the Thorpe lead to 24-0. Redline led the Olympian rushing attack with 60 yds. Zurn rushed for 56 and Joe Garland added 3 carries for 12 yds in his first game since returning from an injury. Zurn completed 3 passes to Raul DeBenedittis for 66 yds, Hontz caught 2 for 12 yds and Ben Flizack had 1 reception for 21 yds.

Zurn rushed for a 15 yd TD early in the 4th quarter to make the score 31-0. The Hurricanes escaped the shutout with an 8 yard TD run late in the final quarter.

Jim Thorpe 38
Pocono Mountain West 28

Pictures from the game.

Jim Thorpe improves record to 7-0.

Jim Thorpe jumped out to an early 14-0 lead Friday on rushing TDs by Phil Redline and Scott McGonigal. The Panthers dominated the remainder of the half scoring 21 points. PMW quarterback Jon Mangual had a tremendous game throwing for 216 yards and evading the JT rush.

JT trailed for the first time this season 21-14 at the half. The Olympians regrouped at the half and scored 17 3rd quarter points. The Red Swarm defense set up the Thorpe offense forcing back-to-back turnovers on Panther drives. Corey Cinicola, making his first career start, threw a 27yd TD pass to Raul DeBenedittis to tie the score at 21. Redline would score his 2nd rushing TD on the next JT possession to give the Olympians a lead they would not relinquish.

Alex Landon connected on his first field goal of the year to expand the JT lead to 31-21. Redline scored a 3rd rushing TD in the 4th quarter to make the score 38-21. The Panthers would not quit and drove for a TD of their own to cut the Thorpe lead to 38-28 with under 5 minutes to play.

An onside kick attempt by PMW was recovered by Mike Thomas. The Olympians would be forced to punt and made a final defensive stand to preserve the win for the Olympians. Cinicola finished 8-15 for 146yds 1td and 2 ints. His main target was Josh Hontz with 4 receptions for 61yds.

Redline had a huge game on the ground carrying 32 times for 135 yds and 3 scores. The Red Swarm defense played a tremendous second half containing Mangual who was so elusive in the first half.

NEXT GAME

7pm Friday October 20th at Schuylkill Haven

In 2005 the Shenandoah Valley crowd suggested Jim Thorpe use a shovel. The Olympians brought a shovel to the 2006 matchup and used it to bury the Devils. The highly regarded SV backfield (Reese, Metkus, Varga & Latimore) was held to a total of 3 yards rushing on 19 carries.

After a short SV kickoff was returned to the Devil 45 yard line to open the game by Tony Mistretta, the Olympians drove for their opening touchdown. Scott McGonigal finished the drive with a 2 yard TD run. The extra point kick by Alex Landon made the score 7-0. The Red Swarm defense would take over the game and force 3 turnovers. Second quarter runs by Craig Zurn and Phil Redline extended the lead to 21-0. The lone Shenandoah score would come in the 2nd quarter on a 1 yd run by Josh Metkus.

The offensive & defensive line of the Olympians dominated the entire game. On offense line opened holes for 2 100 yard rushers for the 2nd straight week (Zurn 25-100 & Redline 20-119) and gave Zurn plenty of time to pass (receptions: Raul DeBenedittis 2-27, Flizack 1-30 & Redline 1-10). McGonigal would close out the scoring with a 1yd run in the 4th quarter. With the JT defense completely shutting down the run, SV was forced to throw 26 times. Eric Busocker ended a Devil drive in the 3rd quarter with his first interception of the year.

A complete team effort on defense kept the Devils from reaching the endzone in the second half. Zurn smothered Kaplafka, Porembo punished ball carriers, Bradley pressured Reese while Flizack kept contain and batted down pass attempts.
The win keeps the Olympians atop the Anthracite league standings at 5-0.

NEXT GAME

Friday Oct 6th, 7pm at 4-1 Minersville.

Visit the Shenandoah Photo Gallery with more than 90 photos from the game here.