Posts Tagged “Zach Barkett”

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.

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.

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.