Schuylkill League quartet looking for playoff runs
Perhaps only a few high school football fans in the heart of the Lehigh Valley pay attention to what’s going on in the Schuylkill League, at least until playoff time.
That will change in 2020 when a new football-only merger will take place between the Colonial League and Schuylkill League that will place teams in divisions based on enrollment size.
The Schuylkill League features big-time football in small towns. The atmosphere on Friday nights in most venues is electric and the quality of play on the field often reflects that excitement.
One of the Schuylkill League’s proudest moments came last year in the District 11 3A final when North Schuylkill avenged previous district losses to Notre Dame with a resounding 36-0 win over the Colonial League champion Crusaders in the wind at Lehighton High School.
North Schuylkill is expected to be one of the league’s top teams again this season.
At a preseason media event at the Schuylkill Country Club on Aug. 7, North Schuylkill came out on top of both the coaches and media poll for Schuylkill League Division I. The Spartans were followed in both polls by Tamaqua, Pottsville, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Blue Mountain.
The Division II polls were headed by Schuylkill Haven with Marian Catholic finishing fourth in the coaches poll and third in the media selections.
Here’s a closer look at four teams Schuylkill League teams in The Morning Call coverage area: rusher. His exploits are one of the many storylines that will create excitement and make the Olympians a team to watch in the league and in District 11 3A. with games against Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Schuylkill Haven within the first five weeks?
The Colts have experienced linemen but lack experience with the skillposition players. “We need the young kids to develop and contribute early,” Morgans said. “We have 11 seniors on the team and they have to step up and take a leading role. The line has to carry us and our young skill-position guys must get used to the speed of varsity football.”