Lehigh Valley football: Stingy Northwestern Lehigh among Colonial-Schuylkill statistics leaders entering Week 5

It came without warning in the final minute of the third quarter of Northwestern Lehigh’s Week 4 game at Blue Mountain .

The Tigers committed a turnover.

It was their first of the season. It’s only fair. They had nine takeaways by that point on their way to four dominant victories to start 2024.

But there is plenty for Northwestern Lehigh to improve upon after finally seeing what coach Josh Snyder’s starters can do when asked to play four quarters.

“I told the kids we made a lot of first-game mistakes,” Snyder said, “because it’s really the first four-quarter game we played [a 30-8 win over the Eagles]. We had some personnel package issues. We had motion, getting aligned right and getting some of different packages issues, and not enough urgency at times.

“That will get a lot better from this week to next week and the rest of the season just because we had to get that out of our system. It was the first time we were forced to play.”

Saucon Valley has picked off 11 passes in the season’s first month on its way to a Colonial-Schuylkill League-best 15 turnovers generated.

Tamaqua, Salisbury and Notre Dame-Green Pond follow in the turnover margin category. The one common theme among the five teams: All are 3-1 or better this season.

Many individuals are off to stellar starts this year.

Marian Catholic’s Rory Dixon is more than halfway to a second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. The sophomore has an area-best 590 yards in four games. He is second in District 11 behind Schuylkill Haven’s Niko Carestia (706).

Notre Dame-GP’s Matt Bodnar continues to lead the state in passing yardage (1,501) and District 11 with 15 TD passes.

Catasauqua’s Manny Bolmer is having a breakout season. His 459 receiving yards are tops in District 11. Eight of his 14 catches have gone for touchdowns. His 11 total TDs are tied with Carestia for most in the district.

Northwestern’s Eli Zimmerman is next with 10 TDs. He had a punt return for a score in each of the first three games this year.

Salisbury’s Jason St. Leger tied a school record with five total touchdowns in last Friday’s win over Catasauqua, including throwing the game-winning touchdown pass with 48 seconds left. The senior has nine combined TDs this season between rushing and receiving. He also leads the team in tackles.

Notre Dame-GP’s Jonathan Striba leads all area receivers in the Colonial-Schuylkill League with 21 catches.

Saucon Valley’s Jared Rohn continues to pile up the tackles. The senior has an area-best 52 this season, 331 in his career.

Marian Catholic’s Jah Bushati is second in tackles with 49 and tied for second with seven tackles for loss. He trails only Catasauqua’s Matt Fotta, who has nine tackles for loss — including five last Friday against Salisbury.

Marian Catholic’s Charlie Hower leads the area with five sacks. Fotta, Tamaqua’s Brad Whalen and Northwestern’s Bryer Reichard are tied for second with three each.

Reichard had two sacks and a fumble recovery in last Friday’s win at Blue Mountain.

“Through the first three games, Bryer was just sort of being a big dude who was a good football player,” Snyder said. “But the coaches got on him that we need a Bryer-type game. I think he got tired of us saying that. He definitely impacted the game in many ways. Just extra effort.

“When he plays with an edge, he’s a difference maker. I think he was geared up for a good opponent and wanted to show his dominance. I think that’s what you saw.”

Reichard leads the area with three fumble recoveries. Northern Lehigh’s Chris Frame and Pen Argyl’s Rocco DeCesare each have two.

Tamaqua’s Victor Schlosser has an area-best four interceptions. Saucon Valley’s Jack Robertson and Elijah Miller have three apiece.

Colonial-Schuylkill season stat leaders

(Among 17 area teams entering Week 5)

RUSHING

Pos. Player, Team; Att.; Yards; Avg.; TDs

1. Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic; 87; 590; 6.8; 6

2. Brad Whalen, Tamaqua; 67; 452; 6.7; 4

3. Eli Zimmerman, Northwestern; 35; 402; 11.5; 6

4. Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl; 75; 391; 5.2; 4

5. Mason Soos, Pen Argyl; 68; 336; 4.9; 5

6. Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh; 57; 332; 5.8; 7

7. Jared Rohn, Saucon Valley; 63; 311; 4.9; 4

8. Grady Newhard, Northern Lehigh; 54; 305; 5.7; 4

9. John Haubert, Palisades; 72; 301; 4.2; 2

10. Jordan Bradshaw, Catasauqua; 48; 298; 6.2; 2

11. Lukas Croizier, Lehighton; 53; 295; 5.6; 3

12. Jameson Trainer, Palmerton; 61; 279; 4.6; 5

13. Brody Breiner, Panther Valley; 58; 259; 4.5; 0

14. Luke Kane, Tamaqua; 32; 242; 7.6; 3

15. Riley Waldron, Bangor; 62; 209; 3.4; 0

16. Aiden Reilly, Catasauqua; 41; 197; 4.8; 2

17. Braden Rohn, Saucon Valley; 33; 186; 5.6; 0

18. Victor Schlosser, Tamaqua; 20; 185; 9.3; 1

19. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 42; 169; 4.0; 0

20. Jacob Ferguson, Lehighton; 10; 165; 16.5; 2

PASSING

Pos. Player, Team; Comp; Att.; INTs; TDs; Yards

1. Matt Bodnar, Notre Dame-GP; 99; 139; 3; 15; 1,501

2. Colton Sams, Southern Lehigh; 37; 69; 2; 6; 866

3. Aiden Reilly, Catasauqua; 45; 78; 3; 10; 844

4. Jack Trickel, Palisades; 39; 83; 6; 5; 599

5. Jayse Lawrence, Lehighton; 39; 63; 1; 8; 544

6. Braden Rohn, Saucon Valley; 35; 63; 2; 7; 492

7. Cole Lazorick, Jim Thorpe; 45; 79; 6; 4; 490

8. Luke Kane, Tamaqua; 30; 49; 3; 5; 470

9. Jaxson Kreider, Bangor; 41; 80; 8; 2; 425

10. Garrett Smoyer, Northern Lehigh; 15; 21; 1; 4; 335

11. Shane Leh, Northwestern; 20; 38; 1; 6; 285

12. Brody Breiner, Panther Valley; 25; 69; 4; 2; 224

13. Mason Soos, Pen Argyl; 18; 31; 3; 2; 218

14. Dylan Rodino, Marian Catholic; 14; 34; 3; 3; 214

RECEPTIONS

Pos. Player, Team; Catches; Yards; Avg.; TDs

1. Jonathan Striba, Notre Dame-GP; 21; 277; 13.2; 2

2. Aaron Curran, Jim Thorpe; 18; 189; 10.5; 1

3. Carmine Diaz, Notre Dame-GP; 17; 328; 19.3; 4

4. Victor Schlosser, Tamaqua; 17; 257; 15.1; 3

5. Jack Robertson, Saucon Valley; 17; 243; 14.3; 4

6. Andrew Olesh, Southern Lehigh; 16; 386; 24.1; 1

7. Alex Clark, Notre Dame-GP; 16; 346; 21.6; 3

8. Justin Yescavage, Jim Thorpe; 15; 209; 13.9; 1

9. Manny Bolmer, Catasauqua; 14; 459; 32.8; 8

10. Brady Jones, Panther Valley; 14; 139; 9.9; 0

11. Lincoln Cook, Palisades; 13; 284; 21.9; 2

12. Joe Roth, Lehighton; 12; 221; 18.4; 4

13. Alex Farensbach, Bangor; 12; 122; 10.2; 1

14. Cadeo Estronza, Catasauqua; 11; 128; 11.64; 0

15. Blake Roberts, Lehighton; 11; 101; 9.2; 1

16. Josh Louk, Jim Thorpe; 11; 85; 7.7; 1

17. Max Woerner, Palisades; 10; 140; 14.0; 1

18. Nyechay Lawless, Notre Dame-GP; 10; 132; 13.2; 0

19. Drew Boyd, Notre Dame-GP; 10; 78; 7.8; 2

20. Jacob Hillis, Bangor; 9; 99; 11.0; 0

21. Vince Taglieri, Palmerton; 9; 45; 5.0; 0

SCORING

Pos. Player, Team; TDs; 2pts; PATs; FGs; Points

1. Manny Bolmer, Catasauqua; 11; 0; 0; 0; 66

2. Eli Zimmerman, Northwestern; 10; 0; 0; 0; 60

3. Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh; 9; 0; 0; 0; 54

3. Jason St. Leger, Salisbury; 9; 0; 0; 0; 54

5. Seth Kern, Northwestern; 3; 0; 19; 1; 40

6. Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic; 6; 0; 0; 0; 36

7. Jack Robertson, Saucon Valley; 4; 1; 9; 0; 35

8. Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl; 5; 1; 0; 0; 32

8. Mason Soos, Pen Argyl; 5; 1; 0; 0; 32

10. Mason Bollinger, Northwestern; 5; 0; 0; 0; 30

10. Jameson Trainer, Palmerton; 5; 0; 0; 0; 30

10. Jared Rohn, Saucon Valley; 5; 0; 0; 0; 30

10. Victor Schlosser, Tamaqua; 5; 0; 0; 0; 30

14. Carmine Diaz, Notre Dame-GP; 4; 0; 0; 0; 24

14. Mark Talpas, Notre Dame-GP; 0; 0; 24; 0; 24

14. Jonathan Striba, Notre Dame-GP; 4; 0; 0; 0; 24

17. Jonathan Cordon-Pinto, Catasauqua; 0; 0; 14; 3; 23

18. Alex Clark, Notre Dame-GP; 3; 2; 0; 0; 22

19. Lukas Croizier, Lehighton; 3; 1; 0; 0; 20

20. Jordan Bradshaw, Catasauqua; 3; 0; 0; 0; 18

20. Cole Lazorick, Jim Thorpe; 3; 0; 0; 0; 18

TACKLES

Pos., Player, Team; Tackles

1. Jared Rohn, Saucon Valley; 52

2. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic: 49

3. Christian Rivituso, Notre Dame-GP; 46

4. T.J. McLain, Bangor; 40

4. Charlie Hower, Marian Catholic; 40

6. Kalet Wilson, Notre Dame-GP; 38

7. J’son Johnson, Wilson; 37

8. Chris Wellington, Catasauqua; 35

9. Andrew Gilbert, Saucon Valley; 34

10. Tyler Koch, Tamaqua; 33

11. Michael Gelatko, Marian Catholic; 32

11. Joe Griffith, Saucon Valley; 32

13. Matt Fotta, Catasauqua; 31

13. Landon Moll, Northern Lehigh; 31

15. Tyler Limandri, Catasauqua; 30

15. Brady Zimmerman, Northwestern; 30

17. Nuallan King, Pen Argyl; 29

18. Kaden Quinones, Northern Lehigh; 28

19. James Mack, Palmerton; 27

19. Caleb Grim, Saucon Valley; 27

19. Zeandros Johnson, Wilson; 27

TACKLES FOR LOSS

Pos. Player, School; TFL

1. Matt Fotta, Catasauqua; 9

2. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic; 7

2. Charlie Hower, Marian Catholic; 7

2. Jameson Trainer, Palmerton; 7

2. Tyler Koch, Tamaqua; 7

6. Landon Moll, Northern Lehigh; 6

6. Jeremy Phelps, Panther Valley; 6

6. Nuallan King, Pen Argyl; 6

9. William Slattery, Northern Lehigh; 5

9. Jared Meck, Northwestern; 5

9. James Mack, Palmerton; 5

9. Marco Tessitore, Panther Valley; 5

13. Michael Gelatko, Marian Catholic; 4

13. Aidan Milkovits, Marian Catholic; 4

13. Brady McCabe, Tamaqua; 4

13. Kalet Wilson, Notre Dame-GP; 4

13. Caleb Grim, Saucon Valley; 4

13. Brad Whalen, Tamaqua; 4

SACKS

Pos. Player, School; TFL

1. Charlie Hower, Marian Catholic; 5

2. Matt Fotta, Catasauqua; 3

2. Bryer Reichard, Northwestern; 3

2. Brad Whalen, Tamaqua; 3

5. Taven Ying, Catasauqua; 2

5. Ethan Moore, Jim Thorpe; 2

5. William Slattery, Northern Lehigh; 2

5. Tuari Wright, Catasauqua; 2

5. Aidan Milkovits, Marian Catholic; 2

5. Kalet Wilson, Notre Dame-GP; 2

5. Brett Bruckman, Notre Dame-GP; 2

5. Austin Casal, Notre Dame-GP; 2

5. Declan Coleman, Tamaqua; 2

5. Luke Frohnheiser, Tamaqua: 2

5. Isaiah Davis, Tamaqua; 2

FUMBLE RECOVERIES

Pos. Player, School; Fumble rec.

1. Bryer Reichard, Northwestern; 3

2. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 2

2. Rocco DeCesare, Pen Argyl; 2

No one else with more than 1

INTERCEPTIONS

Pos. Player, School; INTs

1. Victor Schlosser, Tamaqua; 4

2. Jack Robertson, Saucon Valley; 3

2. Elijah Miller, Saucon Valley; 3

4. Colin Karetsky, Northern Lehigh; 2

4. A.J. Moren, Salisbury; 2

4. Braden Rohn, Saucon Valley; 2

4. Cooper Ansbach, Tamaqua; 2

No one else with more than 1

TURNOVER MARGIN

Pos. Team; TOs forced; TOs committed; Difference

1. Saucon Valley; 15; 4; plus-11

2. Northwestern; 9; 1; plus-8

3. Tamaqua; 10; 5; plus-5

4. Salisbury; 7; 3; plus-4

5. Notre Dame-GP; 8; 5; plus-3

5. Lehighton; 6; 3; plus-3

5. Marian Catholic; 7; 4; plus-3

5. Southern Lehigh; 8; 5; plus-3

9. Pen Argyl; 5; 4; plus-1

10. Catasauqua; 5; 6; minus-1

11. Palisades; 6; 8; minus-2

11. Panther Valley; 5; 7; minus-2

13. Northern Lehigh; 7; 10; minus-3

13. Wilson; 1; 4; minus-3

15. Palmerton; 3; 8; minus-4

16. Jim Thorpe; 4; 9; minus-5

17. Bangor; 2; 10; minus-8

Morning Call senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com