Here come the Panthers!
Friday night the undefeated Saucon Valley Panthers will travel to Northwestern Lehigh to do battle with the 3-2 Tigers. Northwestern Lehigh has wins against Palmerton (13-12), Salisbury (19-5) and Wilson (37-7). Their losses came at the hands of Palisades (34-27) and Pen Argyl (35-21). Saucon Valley is looking to stay unbeaten while Northwestern is looking to avoid a third loss that could derail all of their post-season hopes.
Northwestern Lehigh has been averaging 21 points per game and has given up an average of 19. Make no mistake about it though, this Northwestern Lehigh Tiger team is a formidable Panther opponent. The Panthers are coming off a thrilling 26-21 slugfest against Southern Lehigh last week. It is sometimes difficult to recover and recharge after a hard-fought emotional win like that. Saucon will have to be at their best to take down these Tigers.
Things Worth Watching:
Saucon Valley Panthers
When the Panthers have the ball…..
The Panther offense so far has been carried primarily by its rushing attack. With Nate Kehs out with an injury the Panthers look to junior Zach “Lightning” Petiet (#23) to carry the ball. Petiet averages 8 yards per carry and scored 11 touchdowns so far. If it is not Petiet getting his number called it is usually quarterback Brandon Holub (#12) moving the chains. Holub also averages 8 yards per rush. Panther senior fullback Abe Lugo has received an increased workload lately and has plowed his way to average 7 yards per carry.
Saucon Valley is comfortable as a run first team, but they do have the ability to throw. Holub has proven efficient completing 21 of his 29 passes. He has only one interception to go with his 7 TD passes. Alstan Wolfe (#5) is Holub’s favorite target grabbing 10 catches that are good for 6 TDs. Wolfe is a big playmaker averaging 30 yards per catch. If Wolfe is getting a little extra attention from the Tiger defense Holub will either use his dual threat feet to get him out of trouble or dish to either senior Kory Kemmerer (#4) or sophomore tight end Patrick Morrissey (#80). Morrissey is a nice size target listed at 6’1″, 180.
The Tigers run a base 4-4 defense and mostly play three-deep in the secondary. They will show “man” and like to fire their inside linebackers on blitz. Coach Sams noted, “They seem to have success when they blitz one of their two middle linebackers Caleb Clymer (#7) or Tyler Lobach (#20)”. The Tigers are big up front averaging about 6’0″, 235. The Hogs Stephen Good (#65), Hayden Clifford (#66), Ryan Meyers (#74), Trey Polak (#75) and “King Kong” Cody Zrinski (#76) average 240 pounds. The Panthers can go a little bigger by bringing in 6’3″, 250 sophomore Tim Weaver (#77) for the 5’7″, 180 Clifford to beef things up.
The Panther running attack has been close to unstoppable and the smart money would be on the Tigers to try and stuff the running lanes. If the Tigers do crowd the line of scrimmage, look for the Panthers to tap into their play-action passes and bootlegs to keep the Northwestern Lehigh defense off balance.
When the Tigers have the ball…..
Northwestern Lehigh Tigers
The biggest Tiger to tame is 6’2″, 176 senior receiver Trevor Cunningham (#2). Cunningham has totaled 23 catches for 607 yards and 9 Td’s so far this season. He is a playmaker. The Tiger staff will line him up all over the field. Sometimes they will line him up as the lone receiver in a “3×1” set and try to get him single coverage. Other times he will line up to the trips side or in an “empty” look and they call for short bubble and rocket screen passes to him. Cunningham averages 26 yards per catch and 121 yards per game. He is their best player and he will be fun to watch.
Calling the signals and throwing to Cunningham is freshman quarterback Deven Bollinger. Bollinger is listed at a lanky 6’4″, 172. He has completed 57 passes in 102 attempts for 1079 yards and 12 TDs. Bollinger can be a little careless with the ball as he has thrown five interceptions so far this year. Bollinger and Cunningham have some chemistry going on between them, but it is hardly a two-man show. Junior Phil Dangello (#12) is also a dangerous receiver averaging 28 yards per reception. He has good size for a receiver at 5’10”, 166. Dangello has only scored two touchdowns so far but he is a quick-footed threat.
When the Tigers run the football it usually goes to senior Tyler Foster (#4). Foster is powerfully built standing 5’8″, 175. So far this season Foster has 64 carries for 369 yards and 2 TDs. Averaging 6 yards per carry, he is a legit weapon as well.
Senior inside linebackers Stephen Good (#65) and Dino Zaharakis (#30) along with the rest of the Saucon defense have their work cut out for them against the Tiger offense. Head coach, Phil Sams shared, “They definitely have our attention because they are very explosive and hit big plays.” The Panther defense will have to be sharp.
This has the making of another great high school football game. Both teams are very capable and well-coached. Both sides have talented play-makers and both play sound defense. If both teams can play a clean game in terms of penalties and turnovers, this could be another 15 round high-scoring slugfest. Saucon Source will be there to find out.
If you’re going to make this trip for win #6, the Source will be with you.
