Panthers Hog-Tie Falcons

The 2015 Hogs and Coach Ed Chromczak

It was a less than desirable start for the Saucon Valley Panthers on Friday night. But the team stayed calm and maintained their poise to withstand the early Salisbury pressure and eventually prevail with a lopsided 39-15 victory.

Saucon Valley opened the game by kicking off and then forcing a Salisbury punt. Mason Donaldson’s 55-yard punt and favorable turf-field roll backed the Panthers up to their own 5-yard line. Operating in tight quarters, the Panthers unsuccessfully ran Evan Culver twice and threw an incomplete pass. The Falcons’ Devin Irwin would return Mike Kane’s punt to the Panther 11-yard line. But a couple of Falcon penalties and a sack by the combined efforts of Mike Kane and Cody Zrinski led to another Falcon punt that backed the Panthers to their own 2-yard line.

“King Kong” Cody Zrinski leads the way

It was time. The Panther offense would begin to roll.

This instant-classic Panther drive would include a bold fourth down conversion from their own 11-yard line on a Zach Thatcher run, a 35-yard catch and run courtesy of a sweet corner route by receiver Nathan Harka and a shifty 30-yard run off right tackle by Evan Culver to the Falcon 18. This would all culminate with a 4-yard scamper by Culver for a Panther touchdown. When all was said and done, it was a gutsy 98-yard drive on 11 plays. Saucon kicker, Josh Snead, would add the extra point for a 7-0 Panther lead.

The Panthers would score twice more in the first half courtesy of a pair of touchdown runs by Zach Thatcher, creating a 19-0 deficit for the Falcons.

Salisbury would get on the scoreboard with Tevon Weber’s 14-yard touchdown pass to split end Mason Donaldson that followed a dazzling 39-yard run and catch by Shane Wittman. Salisbury’s score made it a 19-7 game at halftime.

Saucon QB Zach Thatcher reaches the ball across the goalline for a touchdown

Any thought of momentum shifting to the Falcons’ favor was extinguished at the start of the second half when the Panthers received the kickoff and quickly marched 65 yards in only five plays for a touchdown. Saucon missed a 2-point attempt and the scoreboard read 25-7.

Salisbury kept fighting and answered with a lightning quick 3-play drive that ended with Weber, this time, connecting with 6’6” tight end Kyle Hartzell for a 2-yard touchdown. The quick strike was set up with a 68-yard “hitch-and-go” pass from Weber to Donaldson. That would be last time the Falcons would see the end zone.

The Panthers, however, would score twice more with an Evan Culver 1-yard rush and another Thatcher-to-Harka corner route from 36 yards out, making the final score 39-15.

It became clear as the game progressed that the Saucon Valley “Hogs” asserted their dominance. The big boys up front took over the game carrying the team to 468 yards of total offense and 24 first downs, all the while protecting their quarterback without giving up a single sack.

Culver benefitted from the Hogs’ blocking as he finished rushing 24 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Paolini also had a good night from his fullback position. “Big Mike” ran for a total of 70 hard-fought yards and a touchdown on only nine carries. In addition, quarterback Zach Thatcher followed the offensive line for 62 yards on nine carries.

Thatcher follows his blockers to the end zone

The protection provided by the Hogs allowed Saucon’s passing attack to do some damage as well. Thatcher was 7 of 16 for 162 yards including the Nate Harka touchdown. Harka would finish the night with 129 yards on five receptions, earning him “Offensive Player of the Game” recognition.

Saucon’s “Offensive Player of the Game” Nate Harka with one of his five receptions

Christian Carvis was named “Defensive Player of the Game”

As good as the offense was behind the Hogs, the Saucon Valley defense cannot be overlooked. Saucon allowed Salisbury’s talented trio of running backs only 54 yards on the ground for the night. Salisbury quarterback Tevon Weber did throw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, but the Panther defense was stout, allowing only nine first downs and a total of 15 points. The entire Saucon defense deserves recognition for their tenacity. Inside linebacker Christian Carvis, in particular, played a great game and was “all over the place” on defense according to Coach Matt Evancho. Credited with 11 tackles, Carvis earned “Defensive Player of the Game” honors.

A job well-done!

Saucon Valley was able to convincingly overcome a very talented Salisbury Falcon squad. The Panthers will now move forward and turn their focus to Northern Lehigh. The Bulldogs, coming off a 20-7 victory over Pen Argyl, may have a little extra incentive when they travel to Hellertown next Friday night. Last year the Panthers thumped the Bulldogs 35-6 in Slatington. Saucon Source will certainly be there to cover the game. Will you?

(Stats courtesy of Rob Lofthouse)