Perhaps the only thing more difficult than spelling Pen Argyl senior Jakob Pietraszkiewicz’s last name is for a lineman to score a touchdown. Pietraszkiewicz achieved what many linemen dream of in the final moments of last Friday’s game at Tamaqua. With the Green Knights tied 6-6 with the Blue Raiders, he intercepted a pass and returned it 58 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
The season opener between Pen Argyl and Tamaqua featured strong defensive play from both sides, as each team managed just one touchdown and together totaled 398 yards of offense. The decisive play marked Pietraszkiewicz’s first career touchdown.
Rocco DeCesare contributed nine tackles and was credited with a quarterback hurry on the pivotal play, while Zack Metzgar made an important block during Pietraszkiewicz’s return.
Across the Colonial-Schuylkill League, Week 1 included several standout performances from players at various positions. Among those recognized were Logan Anthony from Palmerton, who recorded seven tackles (two for loss) and recovered a fumble against Jim Thorpe; Matt Bodnar of Notre Dame-GP, who passed for 247 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score; and Rory Dixon of Marian Catholic, who rushed for 226 yards and four touchdowns, caught two passes for 48 yards and another score, registered three tackles, and had an interception return.
Other notable efforts included Chris Frame from Northern Lehigh amassing 148 rushing yards with two scores along with defensive contributions, Cole Lazorick of Jim Thorpe passing for 231 yards with two touchdowns while making seven tackles and intercepting a pass, and Kaden Hess—also from Jim Thorpe—making a game-high fourteen tackles in their win over Palmerton.
The league’s opening week also saw Saucon Valley quarterback Braden Rohn account for four total touchdowns (three rushing) alongside 329 offensive yards in his team’s win over Bangor. Additional key performances came from athletes across Lehighton, Wilson, Panther Valley, Salisbury, Northwestern Lehigh, Catasauqua, Bangor, Southern Lehigh, Palisades and others.
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
