Author Archive

Congratulations to Olympian Josh Hontz who was named 2nd Team All State at wide receiver.

Josh caught 60 passes for 1006 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Hontz was a consistent threat that drew double coverage from the defense on many occasions. He used his physical strength and leaping ability to constantly create separation from defensive backs. The crowd was often brought to its feet by #5’s spectacular diving receptions. Josh was also a great downfield blocker that helped fuel the Olympian running game. Congratulations Josh.

The 2007 JT football seniors completed their careers with an impressive 2007 campaign. The Olympians finished with a record of 9-3. One of those victories was the first playoff victory in school history, a 42-14 win over Northern Lehigh. During the regular season the Olympians recorded a 28-0 shutout victory over arch rival Marian Catholic (the District XI A champion) in week 9. The Red Swarm defense also held Schuylkill Haven RB Zach Barkett (who rushed for over 2500 yds this season) to under 40 yards rushing.

The Olympians claimed the Anthracite League title for the second straight year and the seniors will graduate with a 3-year record of 23-10 (the best of any group in school history). Congratulations seniors! Your skills, work ethic and leadership will be missed. Good luck in all future endeavors.

GAME PHOTOS HERE
The 2007 Jim Thorpe football season ended with a loss to Lansdale Catholic at Wissahicken High School. The Olympians took a 7-6 lead to the half. JT scored on a 2 yd pass from Corey Cinicola to Josh Hontz (Hontz went over 1000 yds receiving for the season) and the Red Swarm defense controlled a potent Crusader offense for the first 24 minutes. LC tailback John Howell came into the contest averaging over 10 yards per carry but the was held to 24 yds in the half.

In the 3rd quarter the Crusaders capped a 90 yard drive witha 15 yard Howell TD run to make the score 14-7. The Olympians drove to the LC 10 yard line with 5:40 remaining in the game but were stopped on downs when a 4th down pass to Hontz was tipped away by the defense. Three plays later Howeel sealed the Olympians fate with a 67 yard TD run to make the score 21-7. Howell would finish the game with 161 yds rushing. JT fumbled on the next possession and the Crusader QB Shane Pinzka scored the final TD of the game on a 42 yd run.

Jim Thorpe ended the season 9-3. The Olympians won the Anthracite League Title for the second straight year (and the 3rd time in the last 4 years). The team also won the first football playoff game in school history with a 42-14 victory over Northern Lehigh in the first round of district playoffs.

Friday night at 7pm the Olympians will play the Lansdale Catholic Crusaders at Wissahickon HS. Tickets are $5 and can be bought in the high school office. The Crusaders enter the game at 10-1 coming off an impressive 34-14 victory last week over Salisbury Twp. LC boasts one of the highest scoring offenses in the state of PA averaging over 40 points per game. Good luck Olympians on your continued drive toward district gold. Come out and support the team on Friday night and be a part of history.

The Anthracite League Champion Olympians are preparing to face the Northern Lehigh Bulldogs in the first round of the District XI AA playoffs. The game will be held at Jim Thorpe Stadium Saturday Nov 10th at 7pm. The Olympians earned the number 4 seed and the Bulldogs are the number 5 seed. District XI/I has 8 teams qualify for playoffs. The top seed this year went to Lansdale Catholic out of District I. The Bulldogs of Northern Lehigh compete in the Colonial League and have a 7-3 record. They have a strong rushing attack that features several talented runners. NL has a strong football tradition including a deep run into the state playoffs a few years ago. Come out to support the Olympians in their last home game of the 2007 season. Future playoff games will be on the road.

Tamaqua defeated Minersville Monday in OT 22-21. The dramatic win squashes Minersville’s quest for its 1st Anthracite title. Jim Thorpe is now the 2007 league champion. Marian could finish with the same league record as the Olympians with a win next week but the tie breaker would be Thorpe’s 28-0 victory over the Colts. Congratulations Olympians. Please come out to Lehighton on Friday night to support the team in their regular season finale against the Indians. A win guarantees the Olympians a home playoff game in the first round of district play.

Friday 26 October 2007. It’s finally here. Tonight’s game at Marian Catholic has high stakes. A win by Marian would assure them the 2007 Anthracite League Title. A win by the Olympians could create a 3 way tie for the title. Both teams enter the game with 7-1 records. Come out to Hometown and support your Olympians.

Column about JT on mcall.com — click here.

Notable quote referencing last week’s victory:

“In a game that Schuylkill Haven coach Mike Farr made excuses as to why his standout Zach Barket, who came into last Friday’s game with more than 1,600 yards, managed just 25 yards, Redline finished with 111 on 25 carries. Those 111 yards came on the same muddy field that Barket’s came on.”

This is why newspapers and reporters who work for them are referred to as sunshine — they shine the light so that others may see the truth.

After limiting an explosive Pocono Mtn West to 7 points in week 7. The Red Swarm welcomed one of the state’s leading rushers in week 8. Zach Barkett had averaged 250 yards per game entering the contest and some had asked the question “Can anyone stop Zach Barkett?” That question was answered on Saturday afternoon in Jim Thorpe.

The Olympians limited Barkett to 25 yards on 17 carries. The leading rusher in the game was Olympian Phil Redline with 111 yards on 25 carries. The defensive standout in the game was the entire Red Swarm Defense. Barket was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on nearly every play by 4 or 5 tacklers. Some say that if the field been dry, Thorpe would have been able to swarm even more defenders to the point of attack. 

For more great photos from this game from the Pottsville REPUBLICAN, click here.

Tonight’s home game vs Schuylkill Haven has been postponed. The game has been rescheduled for Saturday afternoon at 1pm. Come out and support the Olympians as they continue their drive toward the D XI playoffs.