Quarterbacks dominating, including in the running game
It appears to be the year of the quarterback among Colonial League teams.
The four leading rushers among the 17 schools in The Morning Call coverage area in the Colonial League-Schuylkill League football cooperative are quarterbacks.
All of them — Northwestern’s Justin Holmes, Palmerton’s Matt Machalik, Bangor’s Eric Striba and Saucon Valley’s Dante Mahaffey — have a legitimate chance at running and throwing for 1,000 yards by season’s end.
And the possibility exists that no running back will reach 1,000 rushing yards in 2021.
Holmes, a senior Kent State commit, and Machalik, a sophomore already planning college visits, have at least 700 yards in each category through six games.
Both ran for more than 200 yards in Week 6 victories. Holmes punished Wilson on a series of designed runs. Machalik had three big scoring runs in Palmerton’s rout of Schuylkill Haven.
“What can you say about him?” Northwestern coach Josh Snyder wondered about Holmes. “He’s a man out there with his size, his strength and speed. Putting his shoulder down and his stiff arms. He’s tough to tackle for anyone in the state of Pennsylvania.
“If he gets a head of steam, if he gets to the second level with a head of steam, he’s a tough tackle for anybody.”
Three quarterbacks already have more than 1,000 passing yards, led by Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Collin Quintano and Wilson’s Cayden Stem, who reached those totals the previous week.
Northern Lehigh’s Dylan Smoyer joined them after throwing for 256 yards in last Friday’s loss at unbeaten North Schuylkill. He is the first Bulldog to throw for 1,000 yards in coach Joe Tout’s 16-year tenure. He threw for 976 yards in nine games last year. Two-time all-stater Bo Tkach, son of Bulldogs coaching legend Jim Tkach, was the last 1,000 yard passer (1,078 in 1999).
Gary Van Norman has the school record with 1,755 yards in 1968.
Palisades’ Kyle McGrath (28) takes over the receptions lead while Saucon Valley’s Ty Csencsits (27) continues to climb the list after a slow start.
Holmes (94 points) and Machalik (85) are leading the scoring race.
Pen Argyl’s Gian Greggo continues to lead all area tacklers with 78.
Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com