Saucon celebrates their 2015 undefeated Colonial League championship
Saucon Valley wasted no time to finish off a perfect 2015 regular season. The Panthers quickly pounced on Palisades Friday night making quick work of the Pirates on their way to a 49-7 victory and an outright Colonial League championship. The Saucon Valley Panthers finished with a perfect 10-0 record.
The 2015 Hogs holding the hardware
The Panthers sprinted out of the gates by creating a Palisades turnover on the very first offensive play of the game. The Pirates coughed it up and Zach Thatcher from his free safety position stole the ball giving the Panthers fantastic field position at the Pirate 23 yard line. On Saucon Valley’s first offensive play they went “sprint-action” pass to the right and Thatcher hit Nate Harka in stride on a corner route for a 23-yard touchdown catch. Panther kicker, Josh Snead made the extra point as Saucon jumped out to an early 7-0 lead only twenty seconds into the game.
The Panther defense forced a “3 & out” punt and started their next drive at the Pirate 41 yard line. This time the Panthers would punch it into the end zone courtesy of Zach Thatcher reading “keep” on a “dive-option.” Thatcher made a great fake and kept the ball around the left end for the touchdown score. The extra point was good and the Panthers led 14-0 with 9:10 remaining the the first quarter.
Palisades trying to roothog and stuff the Panther ground attack
On Palisades next possession they went “4 & 0ut” and punted to midfield. Five Panther plays later Evan Culver drug the Palisades defense with him into the end zone for an amazing 49-yard touchdown run. The scoreboard read 21-0 with 4:35 to go in the 1st.
The Pirates looked like they started to heat up, but any momentum they hoped to create was stolen by Alstan Wolfe’s acrobatic interception. “Wolfie” attacked the ball at its highest point and held on for the pick at his own eleven yard line. The Panthers capitalized on the turnover with an 89-yard scoring drive. Thatcher would run “speed option” to his left and pitch to Culver who darted 37 yards for another Panther touchdown. The scoreboard, with 5:30 left in the 1st half, read in the Panthers favor 27-0.
The Panther offense goes play action against the “roothogging” Pirates
The Panthers continued to play good defense and again got the ball back for the offense. Thatcher this time hit Nate Harka on a “bubble” screen-pass. Harka picked up a great block from Kory Kemmerer and raced 38 yards to the Pirate two yard line. The next play, Culver punched it in off tackle for the touchdown. Thatcher hit Harka on a quick “out” route for the two-point conversion making the score 35-0 with 4:02 remaining in the half.
Culver blocking downfield for teammate Nate Harka on a “bubble” screen pass
On the next Palisades series, the Panthers cashed in on another Pirate turnover when Mike Kane jumped on a fumble at the Palisades 33 yard line. Culver touched the ball one last in the 2015 regular season with a 33-yard touchdown run on a “counter trey” to his right. Snead’s extra point was good and the score was 42-0 at the intermission.
With the “mercy-rule” in full swing, Panther sophomore Zach Petiet countered Palisades lone score with a 68-yard burst off right tackle and down the Panther sideline. Petiet’s touchdown closed out all scoring at 49-7.
Sophmore Zach Petiet popping the Pirate defense
The bottom line: The Saucon Valley Panthers completed a perfect 2015 Colonial league season. These record setting Panthers finished the regular season 10-0 and are the undefeated and undisputed Colonial League champions!
What next?: The Panthers will play Bethlehem Catholic on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the District XI tournament at Liberty High School. A win against the Hawks puts Saucon in the District XI final against the winner of Lehighton and Blue Mountain. A victory there advances Saucon Valley into the running for a State title.
Go get ’em Panthers! The Source will be with you.
