The Panther defense was on the prowl
The points came early and often for the Saucon Valley Panthers Friday night at their 2015 homecoming game. Helped by a relentless defense, seven different Panthers combined for 10 touchdowns giving Saucon Valley a memorable 67-0 homecoming victory. Defensively, the stingy play of the Panthers allowed only 80 total yards to the Green Knights. Saucon improved to 6-0 while Pen Argyl remained winless at 0-6.
Evan Culver is always coming to an end zone near you
Senior Evan Culver scored three first half touchdowns for the Panthers. Culver scampered for touchdown runs of 36, 31 and 1-yard. He finished the night with 11 carries for 153-yards. Culver continues his climb to the top of the Saucon football record books.
Fellow senior Nate Harka added two impressive first half touchdown receptions to keep the Panthers rolling. The first was a deep cross off bootleg action from 33-yards away. Panther quarterback Zach Thatcher hit Harka in perfect stride. On the second catch, Harka amazed the homecoming crowd as he leaped and snatched Thatcher’s pass from above a Green Knight defender on an “out” route. Harka landed on his feet as the defender stumbled and sprinted the final 30 yards to the end zone for a 57 yard score. Harka is now sitting on 998 career reception yards with at least four games remaining in his high school career.
Thatcher was not finished. He looked to the other side of the field and found sophomore Alstan Wolfe for his third touchdown pass of the night. Wolfe was just inside the pylon of the south end zone and secured Thatcher’s bullet for a 12-yard score. Wolfe’s touchdown made it 41-0.
Evan Culver’s back-up, junior Nate Kehs, finished the first half scoring with a 1-yard touchdown plunge straight up the middle to top off a 10-play Panther drive. Kehs’ score made it 48-0 at halftime.
Nate Kehs takes the touchdown plunge
Defensively, the Panthers were “lights out.” Pen Argyl’s rushing attack was held to a total of 68-yards for the entire game. The Green Knight passing attack was even more anemic, accounting for a total of 12 yards. Pen Argyl’s offense was helpless and could only muster five first downs throughout the entire game.
The second half, played under the “Mercy Rule” was all Panthers as well. Saucon received touchdown runs from reserves Steven Rose, Zach Petiet and Angelo Mahaffey making the final score 67-0.
Mike Paolini found room to run
It was a nearly perfect homecoming night for Saucon Valley. The Panthers produced 23 first downs. The ground game cannot get much better than 39 rushes for 394 yards. Quarterback Zach Thatcher was masterful, going 7 of 7 passing for 150 yards passing. The offensive production combined with the shutdown defense was simple domination on both sides of the ball.
Saucon Valley looks to ride the momentum and protect their unbeaten record next Saturday with an afternoon matinee game at Wilson. After losing 35-7 to Palisades on Saturday, the Warriors dropped to a 1-5 record. Kickoff for the Wilson game is scheduled for 1:30 and currently the weather is looking good. Make your Saturday plans right now and c’mon out and support your Saucon Valley Panthers!
