Spartans storm to early lead, cruise to win over Palisades
Southern Lehigh dominated its first two opponents in league play, crushing Notre Dame-Green Pond and Bangor by a combined score of 115-34.
Needless to say, the Spartans don’t need two possessions to start the game before their opponents get one, but that’s exactly what happened Friday night in a 48-6 win over Palisades.
Sophomore Sean Steckert pounced on a loose ball on a kickoff following an opening-drive score by the Spartans.
Junior quarterback Chris Fritts connected with a wide-open Bryan Tobin for a 22-yard score four plays later to give Southern Lehigh a 12-0 lead before Palisades’ offense even took the field.
Fritts threw for a career-high 269 yards in the win, all in the first half, by spreading the wealth to senior wide receiver Jack Inglis and junior wide receiver Andrew Olesh on the outside.
“Our guys are really, really explosive on the outside,” Fritts said. “They make me look good.”
“Jack’s fast so you just have to throw him something he can run under, and Olesh can go up and get anything. It makes my job easy.”
Inglis racked up 60 yards on the first drive of the game and finished with 102 yards overall on four catches. Olesh tallied four catches for 61 yards on the night. Each receiver entered the night in the top-12 in the Colonial-Schuylkill league in receiving yards.
“Those kids are big, strong and fast. It’s hard to cover those guys,” Southern Lehigh coach Phil Sams said. “It’s nice to have those two.”
On the final drive of the first half for the Spartans, sophomore wideout Darius Roman emerged as a third option for Fritts, releasing downfield for three catches, 42 yards and a 4-yard touchdown to finish off his impressive drive.
Fritts has been leading the offense since starting quarterback Avery Koser suffered a collarbone injury in Week 9 last season, but the league’s second-leading passer is a completely different player than the sophomore who made just three starts last season.
“Having some success at the end of the season brought his confidence up and having a full offseason to run the majority of the offense helped him out,” Sams said. “He also played varsity baseball in the spring and any time you can go against older kids in any sport, it prepares you.”
“This year, coming in and knowing you’re the guy, adds a level of confidence,” Fritts said. “I can lead and build relationships with these guys, which is really nice.”
Senior running back Cade Sawyer had a nose for the end zone, punching in a pair of goalline carries and escaping for a 42-yard receiving touchdown to give the Spartans a 35-0 halftime lead.
The 42-yard touchdown was Sawyer’s only reception on the game, but he added 107 yards on just eight carries thanks to an 85-yard rushing touchdown on the team’s first play of the second half.
Despite the large halftime deficit, Palisades came out in the second half energized as sophomore Ashton Fitzgerald took a screen pass on the outside and made several Spartans miss on a 44-yard gain to put the Pirates inside the red zone for the first time in the game.
“Football is all about the will to want to and they wanted to come out strong,” Palisades coach Bobby Smith said. “That’s just a testament to the kids. It’s their attitudes.”
After a muffed snap ended the drive at the Spartans’ 7, Kyle Kirsch and John Haubert led the team back down the field before Kirsch capped it off with a 1-yard touchdown run.
“The kids played their hearts out. I can’t ask for anything else,” Smith said. “They brought everything they have. They don’t give up.”
Up next
Southern Lehigh (4-0) travels to Blue Mountain (3-1) at 7 p.m. Friday. Palisades (1-3) hosts Schuylkill Haven (3-1), also at 7 p.m. Friday.