awaited District 11 football victory
Caiden Faust's 8-yard run on the third play of the second quarter Saturday in Pen Argyl's District 11 Class 2A quarterfinal at Northern Lehigh was the first time in eight years a Green Knight reached the 1,000-yard mark in rushing.
Logan Sterner's 1,532 yards in 2016 was the last time a Pen Argyl player achieved the feat. It also was the last time the Green Knights won a district playoff game.
It was two years after their head coach, Brady Mutton, graduated from Pen Argyl.
"This one feels great," Mutton said. "First district win for us. Just being in districts felt really good. The kids were excited for it. Getting the first district for me, the coaches and the kids, it feels just incredible. We're going to enjoy it, and then get back to work for next week."
Pen Argyl (5-6) will need to play a spotless game in Saturday's district semifinal at defending champion Williams Valley (10-1).
The Green Knights also will need a full tank of gas on the school bus for the 96-mile trek across Interstate 78 and Route 209 to Williamstown that will take nearly two hours.
Career record setters
Saucon Valley's Jack Robertson's interception late in the second quarter of the district 3A quarterfinal loss at Northwestern Lehigh was his fourth of the year, 13th of his career — which is a school record.
The senior also finished his career with school records in career receptions (135) and receiving yards (2,136). He had 62 catches this year for 980 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had 28 career TD catches.
In the same game, Northwestern Lehigh's Eli Zimmerman had his 18th career pick, which gave him sole possession of the school's career record. Austin Bleam (1999-2002) also had 17. It was Zimmerman's fifth this season.
Also on Friday, fellow Tiger Bryer Reichard broke the school record for most career sacks with his 17th on the Panthers' first possession of the third quarter. Conner Snyder (2016-2019) had the previous mark of 16.5.
Colonial-Schuylkill League football Week 11 stat heroes
(in alphabetical order)
Matt Bodnar, Notre Dame-GP: Threw for 286 yards and a touchdown against North Schuylkill.
Isaiah Checo, Saucon Valley: Made 14 tackles, including five for loss (two sacks), against Northwestern.
Silas Day, Palisades: Made a game-high 12 tackles, including four for loss, against Schuylkill Haven.
Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl: Ran for 80 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 26-yard pass that led to another score in a win over Northern Lehigh.
Andrew Gilbert, Saucon Valley: Registered 12 tackles, two for loss, and recovered a fumble against Northwestern.
Charlie Hower, Marian Catholic: Made a team-high eight tackles against Tri-Valley.
Jackson Huber, Northwestern: Had eight tackles, including a sack, in a District 11 Clas 3A semifinal win over Saucon Valley.
Shane Hulmes, Northwestern: Made nine tackles, including a sack, and scored his first career rushing touchdown in the first half against Saucon Valley.
Luke Kane, Tamaqua: Ran for 62 yards and two touchdowns, threw for 142 yards and another score, and made two tackles, one for loss, in an Eastern Conference championship game win over Pequea Valley.
Jayse Lawrence, Lehighton: Threw for 115 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner with 16 seconds left, and ran for 106 and another score in a victory over Blue Mountain.
Cole Lazorick, Jim Thorpe: Completed 19 of 29 passes for 393 yards and three touchdowns against Southern Lehigh.
Josh Louk, Jim Thorpe: Ran for 71 yards and a touchdown and caught 10 passes for 253 yards and three scores against Southern Lehigh.
Jared Meck, Northwestern: Registered a team-high 10 tackles, including one for loss, against Saucon Valley.
Andrew Olesh, Southern Lehigh: Caught six passes for 88 yards and three touchdowns in a District 11 Class 4A quarterfinal win over Jim Thorpe.
Jacob Pietraszkiewicz, Pen Argyl: Registered a team-high seven tackles, including one for loss, against Northern Lehigh.
Kaden Quinones, Northern Lehigh: Made a team-high nine tackles against Pen Argyl.
Christian Rivituso, Notre Dame-GP: Registered 22 tackles, including 12 solos, against North Schuylkill.
Jack Robertson, Saucon Valley: Caught 10 passes for 70 yards, made 10 tackles and intercepted a pass against Northwestern.
Jared Rohn, Saucon Valley: Registered 14 tackles, two for loss, and recovered a fumble against Northwestern.
Colton Sams, Southern Lehigh: Completed 11 of 15 passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns against Jim Thorpe.
Victor Schlosser, Tamaqua: Caught 10 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown, and made five tackles against Pequea Valley.
Garrett Smoyer, Northern Lehigh: Threw for 112 yards and ran for 65 more and a touchdown against Pen Argyl.
Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh: Ran for 352 yards and four touchdowns against Jim Thorpe.
Bryan Tobin, Southern Lehigh: Made six tackles, including three for loss (one sack), against Jim Thorpe.
Jack Trickel, Palisades: Threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns against Schuylkill Haven.
Brad Whalen, Tamaqua: Rushed for 168 yards and a touchdown and made three tackles, two for loss, against Pequea Valley.
Morning Call senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at
