Posts Tagged “Alex Landon”

This year’s Special Teams MVP came out for football for the first time this year. He was actually a two-sport fall athlete as he also was a member of the Olympian soccer team. His desire to become a kicker started last spring when he first mentioned the possibility to me. I was immediately excited because of the success last year we had with Alex Landon as a full-time kicker.

It was very common to watch this young man kick 100-200 balls during summer workouts. This year he was 35-39 for extra points and one field goal. He also had several crucial touchbacks.

This year’s special teams MVP goes to Nathan Schmidt.

Thanks to all the 2006 Seniors for their contributions to the success and ongoing tradition of Olympian Football. Good luck in all your future endeavors.

5 Olympians to Continue Grid Careers in College

Shawn Bradley - Wilkes University

Ben Flizack- Lehigh University

Alex Landon - Widener University

Keith Long - Susquehanna University

Craig Zurn - Lehigh University

Lehighton    27

Jim Thorpe  20

The Lehighton Indians defeated Jim Thorpe 27-20 in overtime to retain the 209 Trophy. The Olympians had several chances to seal the game but could not finish off the persistent Indians.

The Indians dominated most of the first half despite limited playing time for their phenomenal running back Robbie Frey. Lehighton kicker Corey Whitehead connected on a 34 yard field goal that skipped over the crossbar to give the Indians a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. Justin Mooney completed a TD pass to Salvatore Caruso expand the 2nd quarter lead to 10-0. The Thorpe offense came to life in the 2nd quarter behind the running of Craig Zurn. Zurn finished a JT drive with a TD pass to Scott McGonigal. Alex Landon’s kick cut the Indian lead to 10-7 at the half.

The Indians regained momentum on the opening kick of the second half when Frey raced untouched for an 80yd TD making the score 17-7. The Olympians answered later in the third quarter. The hard running of Zurn and a key run by Joe Garland set up a 5yd TD run by Phil Redline. The extra point attempt failed making the score 17-13. The Red Swarm defense dominated the 3rd quarter and most of the 4th. JT took the lead for the first time in the 4th quarter on a 16 yd run by Zurn who finished with 205yds rushing. The Olympians held a 20-17 lead with 4 minutes remaining and took possession of the ball at their own 11. The Olympians needed only 2 first downs to run out the clock but only earned one. After a Thorpe punt the Indians took over with 1 minute remaining. On 4th down Mooney avoided a sack and connected with Caruso on a 30yd pass with under 30 seconds remaining. The next play was a short pass to Frey. Scott McGonigal was able to pull Frey down in bounds to keep the clock running. The Indians hustled to the line and spiked the ball with one second remaining. Whitehead hit a 38yd FG as time expired to send the game to OT. Mooney scored a 4yd TD on the third Lehighton play in overtime to give the Indians a 27-20 lead. An Indian interception on 3rd down sealed the win for the Indians.

Both teams will be participating in District XI playoffs next weekend.

Marian Catholic 21
Jim Thorpe 14

Game Photos
Principal Lesisko Game Photos

Marian outlasts Jim Thorpe to force a 3-way tie for the lead in the Anthracite Football League. Both teams fought extremely hard in a driving rain in front af a huge homecoming crowd at Jim Thorpe. The Red Swarm defense allowed only 50 yards rushing and forced 3 turnovers but was hurt several times on big pass plays. In the end, it was the Colts that capitalized on Thorpe miscues to win the game.The Olympians capped their first possession with a 5-yd TD pass from Craig Zurn to Scott McGonigal. Alex Landon made the extra point to give Thorpe the 7-0 lead. Marian answered later in the first quarter on a 2-yd run by Brad Petrisch.

The Olympians held on to the lead by blocking the extra point leaving the score at 7-6 after one quarter. Jim Thorpe extended the lead to 14-6 at half-time on a 63-yd flea flicker from Zurn to Josh Hontz.

In the 3rd quarter Marian took advantage of good field position to tie the score at 14. Adam Agosti capped the dive with an 8-yd run. A 2-pt conversion pass from Agosti to Petrisch knotted the game.

The game would remain tied for most of the 4th quarter with neither team able to get into an offensive rhythm. The Olympians seemed to be poised to take the lead. With eight minutes remaining in the game, Agosti was sacked and fumbled. Kyle Porembo recovered setting up the Olympians with a first and goal at the Colt 5-yd line. Two running plays field reach the endzone and on third down Travis John made a diving interception in the endzone to end the threat.

The Red Swarm defense stopped the Colts again but Thorpe fumbled the ball away near midfield. A few plays later Agosti connected with Kevin McNavage who avoided two tackles and raced 40 yards to put the Colts up 21-14. With 22 seconds remaining in the game, Craig Zurn scrambled 39 yards to the endzone while avoiding several Colt defenders. The play was negated however on a phantom block in the back penalty. Time expired before the Olympians could run another play.

RUSHING: Marian: Petrisch 26-50, Yorke 2-16, Confer 1-9, King 3-5, Rizzo 1-1, Agosti 11-(-30), JT: Redline 14-40, Garland 1-8, McGonigal 1-5.

PASSING: Marian: Agosti 9-17-1-149, JT: Zurn 7-21-2-154.

RECEIVING: Marian: McNavage 4-84, Stevens 4-33, Petrisch 1-32, JT: Hontz 2-94, McGonigal 2-14, DeBenedittis 1-24, Skaflestad 1-11, Redline 1-11.

If Shenandoah Valley and Marian Catholic both win in week 10, they will share a Tri-Championship with Jim Thorpe (all 3 teams would have an 8-1 league record). All 3 teams have already clinched spots in the District XI playoffs (SV & Marian in A and Thorpe in AA).

Jim Thorpe 31

Schuylkill Haven 6

The Jim Thorpe offense looked sluggish to start the game and the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie. The game did not remain close for much longer. The Olympian offense got a spark when Corey Cinicola completed a 36 yd pass to Craig Zurn. Just a few plays later, Phil Redline scored on a 7 yd TD run. Two plays into the next Haven possession, Zurn intercepted a pass and returned it for a defensive TD. Alex Landon would cap the first half scoring with a 31 yard field goal. Jim Thorpe held a 17-0 lead at the half.

The Red Swarm defense dominated the Haven offense only allowing 147 total yards and causing 2 fumbles. Robert Mathurin was practically unstoppable on the D-Line for the Olympians. Zach Barkett, the AFL’s leading rusher entering the game, finished the night with only 60 yds on 20 carries.

The Olympians used a balanced offensive attack to move the ball on the Canes. Zurn passed for over 100 yards including a 4 yd TD pass to Josh Hontz in the 3rd quarter that expanded the Thorpe lead to 24-0. Redline led the Olympian rushing attack with 60 yds. Zurn rushed for 56 and Joe Garland added 3 carries for 12 yds in his first game since returning from an injury. Zurn completed 3 passes to Raul DeBenedittis for 66 yds, Hontz caught 2 for 12 yds and Ben Flizack had 1 reception for 21 yds.

Zurn rushed for a 15 yd TD early in the 4th quarter to make the score 31-0. The Hurricanes escaped the shutout with an 8 yard TD run late in the final quarter.

Jim Thorpe 38
Pocono Mountain West 28

Pictures from the game.

Jim Thorpe improves record to 7-0.

Jim Thorpe jumped out to an early 14-0 lead Friday on rushing TDs by Phil Redline and Scott McGonigal. The Panthers dominated the remainder of the half scoring 21 points. PMW quarterback Jon Mangual had a tremendous game throwing for 216 yards and evading the JT rush.

JT trailed for the first time this season 21-14 at the half. The Olympians regrouped at the half and scored 17 3rd quarter points. The Red Swarm defense set up the Thorpe offense forcing back-to-back turnovers on Panther drives. Corey Cinicola, making his first career start, threw a 27yd TD pass to Raul DeBenedittis to tie the score at 21. Redline would score his 2nd rushing TD on the next JT possession to give the Olympians a lead they would not relinquish.

Alex Landon connected on his first field goal of the year to expand the JT lead to 31-21. Redline scored a 3rd rushing TD in the 4th quarter to make the score 38-21. The Panthers would not quit and drove for a TD of their own to cut the Thorpe lead to 38-28 with under 5 minutes to play.

An onside kick attempt by PMW was recovered by Mike Thomas. The Olympians would be forced to punt and made a final defensive stand to preserve the win for the Olympians. Cinicola finished 8-15 for 146yds 1td and 2 ints. His main target was Josh Hontz with 4 receptions for 61yds.

Redline had a huge game on the ground carrying 32 times for 135 yds and 3 scores. The Red Swarm defense played a tremendous second half containing Mangual who was so elusive in the first half.

NEXT GAME

7pm Friday October 20th at Schuylkill Haven

Olympians dismantle Battlin Miners upping their record to a perfect 6-0. Through most of the first 2 quarters, the Olympian offense controlled the ball driving for 2 scores and a 14-0 lead. Between the 2 scoring drives, Kyle Porembo halted a Minersville drive with a 3rd down interception.

With under 3 minutes remaining in the half, JT QB Craig Zurn was tossed from the game by an overzealous official on a controversial call. They Minersville team and crowd erupted into a deafening roar. The Miners believed that without Zurn, the Olympians would quit.

They couldn’t have been more wrong. Freshman backup QB Corey Cinicola replaced Zurn and the Olympian dominance continued. JT rode balanced offense (101 yards rushing & 121 yards passing) and a stifling Red Swarm defense (forcing 7 turnovers) to a 28-6 AFL victory.

The Miners offense was held in check the entire night with the exception of one big play in the 3rd quarter. A 97 yd TD run by the Minersville QB cut the Thorpe lead to 14-6. On the ensuing kickoff the Olympians were pinned inside their own 5 yd line but the Miners would not be able to take advantage of the field position.

After a scoreless 3rd quarter, Cinicola threw his first varsity TD pass to TE Ben Flizack to extend the lead to 21-6. Just seconds later the Olympians special teams would slam the door on any Minersville hopes. The Miners fumbled the kickoff return which was scooped up by Raul DeBenedittis who raced 24 yards for the final TD of the game. Alex Landon was a perfect 4-4 on PAT attempts.

“Jim Thorpe Pride” overcame adversity as the entire team stepped up in a tough situation. The Olympians never lost their intensity and kept their composure throughout the contest. The Red Swarm was dominant again allowing only 60 yards of offense outside the one Minersville TD run. The Thorpe pass defense stepped up after allowing over 100 yards each of the previous 2 weeks. Miner receivers caught just 3 of 17 pass attempts for 33 yards while the JT defense had 4 interceptions (Eric Busocker 2, Porembo & Josh Hontz).

The Thorpe offense had many contributors. The O-line (Bradley, Andrews, Malatak, Mathurin, Zayas & Mertz) protected Thorpe QBs, giving them time to complete 73% of their passes (Zurn 5-7-0-86 & Cinicola 3-4-1-35). Josh Hontz was the leading receiver catching 4 passes for 71 yards (Redline 2-30, McGonigal 1-11 & Flizack 1-9-1TD). The Olympians rushed for over 100 yards (Phil Redline 25-64-1TD, Scott McGonigal 12-24-1TD, Zurn 9-12, Porembo 1-5).

NEXT GAME

7pm Friday Ocober 13th at Pocono Mountain West

In 2005 the Shenandoah Valley crowd suggested Jim Thorpe use a shovel. The Olympians brought a shovel to the 2006 matchup and used it to bury the Devils. The highly regarded SV backfield (Reese, Metkus, Varga & Latimore) was held to a total of 3 yards rushing on 19 carries.

After a short SV kickoff was returned to the Devil 45 yard line to open the game by Tony Mistretta, the Olympians drove for their opening touchdown. Scott McGonigal finished the drive with a 2 yard TD run. The extra point kick by Alex Landon made the score 7-0. The Red Swarm defense would take over the game and force 3 turnovers. Second quarter runs by Craig Zurn and Phil Redline extended the lead to 21-0. The lone Shenandoah score would come in the 2nd quarter on a 1 yd run by Josh Metkus.

The offensive & defensive line of the Olympians dominated the entire game. On offense line opened holes for 2 100 yard rushers for the 2nd straight week (Zurn 25-100 & Redline 20-119) and gave Zurn plenty of time to pass (receptions: Raul DeBenedittis 2-27, Flizack 1-30 & Redline 1-10). McGonigal would close out the scoring with a 1yd run in the 4th quarter. With the JT defense completely shutting down the run, SV was forced to throw 26 times. Eric Busocker ended a Devil drive in the 3rd quarter with his first interception of the year.

A complete team effort on defense kept the Devils from reaching the endzone in the second half. Zurn smothered Kaplafka, Porembo punished ball carriers, Bradley pressured Reese while Flizack kept contain and batted down pass attempts.
The win keeps the Olympians atop the Anthracite league standings at 5-0.

NEXT GAME

Friday Oct 6th, 7pm at 4-1 Minersville.

Visit the Shenandoah Photo Gallery with more than 90 photos from the game here.