On Friday night the Panthers will take the field against the Northwestern Lehigh Tigers.
Friday night the Saucon Valley Panthers (3-2) will play host to the Northwestern Lehigh Tigers (2-3). Northwestern Lehigh fell in their first three games while battling Palmerton (42-14), Salisbury (7-3) and Palisades (46-0). The Tigers did, however, win their last two contests by defeating Wilson (29-26) and Pen Argyl (43-14). The Panthers are looking to get back on the winning track after a heartbreak loss to Southern Lehigh last week.
Both the Panthers and Tigers are all but eliminated from the Colonial League title race. However, both teams are jockeying for position to compete for post-season play including the District XI 4A playoffs. Saucon is currently in fourth place behind BECA, Pottsville, and Allentown Central Catholic. Northwestern follows the Panthers in fifth. A Saucon Valley win would create a little breathing room in securing the fourth and final playoff spot for Districts. A Saucon loss would allow Northwestern Lehigh to leapfrog them in the standings. The Panthers will have to be at their best to fight off 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. Senior Zach “Lightning” Petiet (#23) has been shouldering most of the load with his 527 yards on 74 attempts this season. However, Alstan Wolfe (#5) was forced to pick up the slack last week against Southern Lehigh due to an injury to Petiet. Wolfe did not disappoint as he rolled up 211 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Wolfe also added a couple of touchdown passes to Steven Rose (#34) in the losing effort. For the season, the Panther dual-threat quarterback has 458 passing yards along with 534 rushing. Through the air and on the ground this 2017 season, Wolfe has found the endzone 14 times. If Petiet is limited in action against the Tigers, Coach Sams said he has full faith in his back-ups. Without Petiet’s services, the Panthers will likely lean on Ian Csicsek (#28), Justin Kyra (#22) and Angelo Mahaffey (#44).
The Tigers run a base 4-4 defense and usually play three-deep in the secondary. Their defense often looks like a 6-2 when they press their outside linebackers closer to the line of scrimmage. When asked his impressions of the Tiger defense, Coach Sams shared, “They have several good players on defense and what scheme they run against us concerns me the most. Last year they did a good job game-planning against us with different looks out of their 4-4. They do not get away from that defense too often.”
Whatever the Tiger scheme may be, it is no secret that the Panthers are a run-first team. The smart money would be on the Tigers trying to stuff the running lanes and bottling-up the Panther runners. If the Tigers do crowd the line of scrimmage, look for the Panthers to tap into their play-action, roll-outs and bootleg passes to keep the Northwestern Lehigh defense off balance. Of course, the Panthers most exciting offense has been Wolfe scrambling for big yardage on pass plays.
When the Tigers have the ball…..
Northwestern Lehigh Tigers
Northwestern Lehigh’s “pistol” offensive scheme typically operates from a variety of “3×1” sets and includes a good deal of motion. Lately, however, the Tigers have shown quite a bit of “empty” looks where they empty the backfield except for the quarterback and attack with five receivers. The Tigers like to throw short passes utilizing bubble, jailbreak and rocket screen passes. They have also shown a little shovel-pass package that is creative and fun. The Tigers are not all about the short game, however. They do have the ability to attack deep and throw the ball down the field. Their offense has a lot of good going on.
Calling the signals for the Tigers is sophomore quarterback Deven Bollinger. Bollinger is listed at an eye-catching 6’4″, 185. As a freshman, he threw for 1,876 yards and 20 TD’s. So far this year at the halfway point of the regular season, he is responsible for 785 yards and 9 touchdowns. Bollinger easily looks the part of a true pocket-passer and plays with a strong arm and great poise.
In addition to Bollinger, “Northwestern has two very good receivers in Caleb Clymer (#7) and Phil Dangello (#12), said Coach Sams. “They are their two main offensive threats.” Dangello has decent size for a receiver at 5’10”, 173. The senior is off to a slow start in terms of stats, but with his quick feet, he is a reliable and dangerous weapon. Clymer, another senior who does some of his damage from the tight-end and fullback positions, measures 5’11”, 160. He has logged 25 catches for 459 yards and four touchdowns this year. Averaging 18-yards per reception, Clymer will surely be on the Panthers radar.
When the Tigers run the football it usually goes to sophomore Jayden Allen (#26). However, Dangello is no stranger to running the football. Two weeks ago against Wilson, he carried 17 times. With all the tools the Tigers have available to attack, the Panther defense will have to be sharp.
Some would point out that it is cliche to say that “every game is big.” But it is certainly true this week. Maybe the sun is setting for a fourth straight Colonial League championship for Coach Sams and the Panthers, but a District XI playoff berth and post-season play is at stake. If that is not enough motivation for the Panthers to lay it all on the line, perhaps the pay-back factor may be a little motivation. Northwestern Lehigh delivered the Panther’s only regular-season loss last year. If revenge does not convince the Panthers to step-up, then perhaps motivation comes from good old, Saucon-pride and the intrinsic desire to compete.
Wherever the motivation comes from, this has the makings of yet another great high school football game. Both teams are very capable and well-coached. Both sides have talented play-makers. If both teams can play a clean game in terms of penalties and turnovers, this could be another 48-minute slugfest.
Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!
