Tamaqua’s historic football season marches on following an upset win Friday night.
The Blue Raiders scored 14 unanswered points in the second half to topple previously unbeaten Wyomissing, 20-10, in the PIAA Class 3A Quarterfinals.
Tamaqua moves on to the state semifinals. They’ll face the winner of Saturday’s Wyoming Area vs. Montoursville.
The other Schuylkill County team still alive in the state football playoffs didn’t fare as well Friday night.
Despite taking a 21-0 lead over Jersey Shore, Pottsville fell in triple overtime, 42-35, in their Class 4A quarterfinal game.
Jersey Shore scored a go-ahead touchdown in the third overtime period and then picked off a Pottsville pass in the end zone on the Tide’s possession in OT to seal the game.
Tamaqua Topples Wyomissing, Reaches State Semifinal
The Spartans got a go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter against Tamaqua to go up 10-6 before halftime. But going into the half, the Blue Raiders were outgaining Wyomissing nearly 2:1.
Tamaqua tacked on two scores in the second half and kept Wyomissing off the board entirely. Do-everything running back Nate Boyle ran in a touchdown from 34 yards out in the fourth quarter to put a cap on the win for Tamaqua.
Here’s a look at the final snap of the game:
All she wrote from Ashland as @TASDAthletics1 move on in the #pahsfb tournament by beating @WyoFootball 20-10. Great ball game. @HSFBamerica @EPAFootball @D11Sports @CaryMoyer @RossTuckerNFL https://t.co/MgISdjzMHb pic.twitter.com/gZbSnIrky4
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) November 23, 2019
Historic Run for Tamaqua Football
Tamaqua’s historic season keeps going. Before this run deep into the state playoffs, Tamaqua won its first District 11 championship.
And in defeating Wyomissing, not only did they do something no other team did this season, they did something three other Schuylkill League teams couldn’t this season.
Wyomissing previously beat Pottsville (in double overtime), North Schuylkill, and then Blue Mountain over the course of the regular season. Tamaqua lost to Pottsville and North Schuylkill in the regular season but topped North Schuylkill in the District 11 championship game a couple weeks ago.
The big win has Tamaqua fans on the internet beaming.
Support is rolling in from everywhere, especially close to home.
Following the win over Wyomissing, the school’s baseball team sent out this tweet:
So proud of our guys!! Way to go boys!!!!
— Tamaqua Blue Raiders Baseball (@TamaquaBaseball) November 23, 2019
Some may or may not have had side bets going on the game:
Pay up Geoff Morrow. Tamaqua 20 – Wyomissing 10! Accepting crisp money!
— Roseann Cadau (@Ragdoll1960) November 23, 2019
The Blue Raiders even got some support from one of Twitter’s elite blue checkmark accounts, Brett Banditelli:
TAMAQUA HIGH SCHOOL RAIDERS GOING TO THE SEMIFINALS BABY!!!!! https://t.co/trqPCIpVwc
— Brett Banditelli (@banditelli) November 23, 2019
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And from up the line, too, at Panther Valley:
From our family to yours, congrats Tamaqua Football. That was the definition of GRIT!!! Unbelievable performance!! #goraiders
— Coach Crampsie (@PVBoysHoops) November 23, 2019
Here are some more reactions from Tamaqua football fans:
Congratulations to the Tamaqua Blue Raiders! Incredible game! I hope all players, parents,family members, fans, faculty, alumni, and coaches enjoy every second of this special season. One for the history books!
— Tara Yuricheck (@taralhup) November 23, 2019
Congratulations Tamaqua Blue Raiders and Coach Bonner on the huge win over powerhouse Wyomissing! 🏈🇺🇸🏈
— kathyschwartz (@kathyschwartz) November 23, 2019
