Pen Argyl moved senior Terrell Estes from wide receiver to fullback for a play during the second half of last Friday’s game at Northern Lehigh.
The Bulldogs defense noticed. More importantly, they did something about it.
“When Pen Argyl sneaks Estes at fullback and are in the I-formation, they like the trap,” Bulldogs coach Joe Tout said. “They killed us with that last year. They ran it twice [last Friday]. The first time it was a negative play. It was a big step forward [for our defense].”
The reason it was progress for Northern Lehigh’s defense was because those playing defense saw the personnel package and the formation and communicated it pre-snap to each other.
The Bulldogs did that throughout last Friday’s victory regarding tendencies. It was one of the reasons for a better defensive performance and optimism moving forward.
It also helped that Northern Lehigh’s two films on Pen Argyl were from close games into the fourth quarter, so it was less likely that the Green Knights could hide things from their playbook or save plays for situations like they faced in Weeks 1 and 2.
Northern Lehigh also got solid performances from a few of its top defensive players, including Kaden Quinones and Bill Slattery, who are the team’s top two tacklers after three weeks. They combined for 21 tackles, five for loss, against Pen Argyl.
Tout and his staff also got a pleasant surprise from sophomore Paul Porobensky, who made his first career start at linebacker in place of injured Mason Rothrock.
“He opened our eyes,” Tout said of Porobensky. “We thought he’d be in the mix. We were high on him at the beginning of the year. He took advantage of an opportunity. I didn’t know if he was ready, but our linebacker coaches felt pretty good with him in there. He’d done some nice things in practice.”
Porobensky played only special teams in the first two games, but he’ll be part of the linebacker rotation moving forward with Rothrock and Grady Newhard. The sophomore made 10 tackles against Pen Argyl, including one for loss, and recovered two fumbles.
Northern Lehigh is going to need another strong defensive effort Friday night when it visits 3-0 Palisades, which managed only three wins all of last season.
The Pirates are talented and experienced. Many starters endured while playing through the last two seasons when they managed only a combined five victories.
“They are physical and athletic,” Tout said. “We told the guys. They are fully aware of the challenge we have this week. One thing we can’t do is give them big plays in the passing game.”
Catasauqua found that out last Friday. Jack Trickel and Lincoln Cook combined for 87- and 73-yard touchdown passes in the first half of what was a 42-14 Palisades win. The first TD pass play gave the Pirates the lead for good. The other answered a Rough Riders score to re-establish a two-TD lead.
Cook leads all area Colonial-Schuylkill League receivers with 21 receptions and 369 receiving yards.
“We have to make them earn it,” Tout added. “Cook has speed and size, but we have a bunch of veterans in the secondary. We know their speed is there, but we think our speed is one of our strengths.”
Northern Lehigh’s offense also will need to be efficient and limit turnovers. Tout said he is growing more comfortable with his team’s motion game in an effort to get top playmaker Chris Frame in favorable situations. It was more evident against Pen Argyl.
Quarterback Garrett Smoyer and receivers Colin Karetsky and Ryan Zambo and Newhard at running back also are capable of making opposing defenses pay for spending too many resources on Frame.
“We don’t have to score on every drive,” Tout said. “But we have to have quality drives. [Palisades’] first two games were relatively low scoring, so we’re hoping to get the lead and make them play from behind.
Colonial-Schuylkill League football season stat leaders
(among 17 Morning Call area teams)
RUSHING
Pos. Player, Team; Att.; Yards; Avg.; TDs
1. Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh; 81; 494; 6.1; 8
2. Lucas Croizier, Lehighton; 58; 440; 7.6; 3
3. Terrence McDowell, Tamaqua; 71; 307; 4.3; 4
4. Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic; 59; 306; 5.2; 5
5. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 26; 282; 10.9; 5
6. Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl; 42; 282; 6.7; 4
7. Max Woerner, Palisades; 45; 262; 5.8; 3
8. Braden Rohn, Saucon Valley; 47; 238; 5.1; 3
9. Keaton Frye, Salisbury; 23; 237; 10.3; 3
10. Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh; 13; 236; 18.2; 4
11. Grady Newhard, Northern Lehigh; 53; 231; 4.4; 2
12. Chase Sukanick, Northwestern Lehigh; 21; 209; 9.9; 5
PASSING
Pos. Player, Team; Comp.; Att.; Yards; INTs; TDs
1. Matt Bodnar, Notre Dame-GP; 44; 67; 657; 1; 9
2. Jack Trickell, Palisades; 42; 65; 581; 1; 5
3. Colton Sams, Southern Lehigh; 44; 65; 557; 1; 3
4. Cole Lazorick, Jim Thorpe; 28; 46; 430; 2; 2
5. Jayse Lawrence, Lehighton; 28; 52; 428; 1; 4
6. Aiden Reilly, Catasauqua; 24; 50; 425; 4; 2
7. Brody Breiner, Panther Valley; 42; 67; 414; 3; 2
8. Garrett Smoyer, Northern Lehigh; 28; 53; 408; 2; 5
9. Shane Leh, Northwestern Lehigh; 21; 30; 390; 1; 4
10. Braden Rohn, Saucon Valley; 25; 49; 366; 3; 2
11. Mason Soos, Pen Argyl; 33; 57; 363; 2; 2
12. Greg Tirpak, Marian Catholic; 18; 36; 245; 2; 2
13. Eziah Cartagena, Bangor; 19; 39; 209; 3; 0
14. Chase Serfass, Tamaqua; 19; 37; 206; 1; 1
15. T.J. Weller, Palmerton; 21; 36; 194; 3; 0
16. Keaton Frye, Salisbury; 10; 19; 186; 3; 3
17. Jaxson Tadayesky, Wilson; 15; 33; 173; 3; 0
RECEIVING
Pos. Player, Team; Catches; Yards; Avg.; TDs
1. Lincoln Cook, Palisades; 21; 369; 17.6; 3
2. Luke Kawczenski, Southern Lehigh; 17; 233; 13.7; 2
3. Gavin Yuricheck, Panther Valley; 17; 188; 11.1; 1
4. Thomas Cahill, Saucon Valley; 15; 166; 11.1; 1
5. Josh Louk, Jim Thorpe; 14; 130; 9.3; 0
6. Chase McArdle, Panther Valley; 14; 122; 8.7; 1
7. Jonathan Striba, Notre Dame-GP; 13; 219; 16.8; 3
8. Darius Roman, Southern Lehigh; 12; 168; 14.0; 1
9. Terrell Estes, Pen Argyl; 11; 122; 11.1; 1
10. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 10; 167; 16.7; 2
11. Jacob Hillis, Bangor; 10; 135; 13.5; 0
12. Ryan Zambo, Northern Lehigh; 9; 87; 9.7; 1
13. Vincent Taglieri, Palmerton; 9; 76; 8.4; 0
SCORING
Pos. Player, Team; TDs; 2-pters; PATs; FGs; Total points
1. Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh; 8; 0; 0; 0; 48
2. Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic; 7; 0; 0; 0; 42
2. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 7; 0; 0; 0; 42
2. Chase Sukanick, Northwestern Lehigh; 5; 0; 12; 0; 42
5. Manny Bolmer, Catasauqua; 5; 0; 0; 0; 30
5. Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh; 5; 0; 0; 0; 30
7. Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl; 4; 1; 0; 0; 26
8. Jonathan Striba, Notre Dame-GP; 4; 0; 0; 0; 24
8. Max Woerner, Palisades; 4; 0; 0; 0; 24
8. Terrence McDowell, Tamaqua; 4; 0; 0; 0; 24
11. Lucas Croizier, Lehighton; 3; 1; 0; 0; 20
11. Lincoln Cook, Palisades; 3; 1; 0; 0; 20
11. Ryan Bonham, Wilson; 3; 1; 0; 0; 20
TACKLES
Pos. Player, Team; Tackles
1. Rocco DeCesare, Pen Argyl; 35
1. Taylor Rohn, Saucon Valley; 35
3. Max Woerner, Palisades; 34
4. Hunter Hill, Saucon Valley; 33
5. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic; 31
6. Chris Wellington, Catasauqua; 30
7. Eli Szlachtianshyn, Saucon Valley; 29
8. Trey Dunn, Catasauqua; 27
8. Kaden Hess, Jim Thorpe; 27
10. Damian Rodino, Marian Catholic; 26
10. Dominick Rodino, Marian Catholic; 26
10. Garrett Grants, Notre Dame-GP; 26
10. Peter Kruslicky, Panther Valley; 26
10. Tyler Hoherchak, Jim Thorpe; 26
15. Tyler Price, Marian Catholic; 25
15. Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh; 25
17. Dominic Kiehl, Jim Thorpe; 24
17. Bill Slattery, Northern Lehigh; 24
17. Faustie Capobianco, Notre Dame-GP; 24
20. Sahalay Hernandez, Saucon Valley; 23
TACKLES FOR LOSS
Pos. Player, Team; TFL
1. Garrett Grants, Notre Dame-GP; 7
1. Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh; 7
3. Luke Frohnheiser, Tamaqua; 6
4. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic; 5
4. Dominick Rodino, Marian Catholic; 5
4. Logan Anthony, Palmerton; 5
7. Chris Wellington, Catasauqua; 4
7. Peter Kruslicky, Panther Valley; 4
7. Kaden Quinones, Northern Lehigh; 4
7. Bill Slattery, Northern Lehigh; 4
7. Marco Tessitore, Panther Valley; 4
12. Nick Faust, Jim Thorpe; 3
12. Faustie Capobianco, Notre Dame-GP; 3
12. Tom Kosiba, Notre Dame-GP; 3
12. Robert DiGiacamo, Northwestern Lehigh; 3
12. Silas Day, Palisades; 3
12. Eli Szlachtianshyn, Saucon Valley; 3
12. Dylan Gretz, Southern Lehigh; 3
SACKS
Pos. Player, Team; Sacks
1. Fritz Scheirer, Northwestern Lehigh; 3
2. Tyler Scholato, Bangor; 2
2. Joziah Martinez, Catasauqua; 2
2. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic; 2
2. Garrett Grants, Notre Dame-GP; 2
2. Jadan Claudio, Salisbury; 2
2. Dylan Gretz, Southern Lehigh; 2
INTERCEPTIONS
Pos. Player, Team; INTs
1. Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic; 3
1. Jake Tom, Marian Catholic; 3
3. Tyler Price, Marian Catholic; 2
3. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 2
3. Michael Lagowy, Northwestern Lehigh; 2
3. A.J. Moren, Salisbury; 2
3. Leonard Davis, Wilson; 2
3. Connor Patterson, Wilson; 2
FUMBLE RECOVERIES
Pos. Player, Team; Fumble recoveries
1. Paul Porobenski, Northern Lehigh; 2
TURNOVER RATIO
Pos. Team; TO caused; TO committed; TO ratio
1. Marian Catholic; 14; 3; plus-11
2. Northern Lehigh; 7; 3; plus-4
2. Palisades; 5; 1; plus-4
4. Southern Lehigh; 4; 1; plus-3
5. Notre Dame-GP; 4; 2; plus-2
5. Saucon Valley; 6; 4; plus-2
7. Catasauqua; 7; 6; plus-1
7. Tamaqua; 2; 1; plus-1
7. Wilson 4; 3; plus-1
10. Bangor; 4; 4; even
10. Jim Thorpe; 3; 3; even
12. Northwestern Lehigh; 4; 5; minus-1
12. Pen Argyl; 2; 3; minus-1
14. Lehighton; 0; 2; minus-2
14. Panther Valley; 1; 3; minus-2
16. Palmerton; 3; 7; minus-4
17. Salisbury; 3; 8; minus-5
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
