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Dainn Vassallo, Notre Dame-Green Pond, jr, TE/DE: Vassallo racked up a game-high 17 tackles Friday night against Gold Division foe Saucon Valley in a 41-34 victory.
Alex Achenbach, Williams Valley, jr, RB/DB: Achenbach generated a minor stir on Twitter Friday night – since his five rushing touchdowns in a 42-30 victory over neighboring Upper Dauphin bested the four scored by Polk High’s fictional Al Bundy in Chicago’s city championship game years earlier. Achenbach’s productive night also featured 35 rushing attempts for a remarkable 305 yards, one two-point conversion, one reception for 12 yards and four tackles on the defensive side of the ball. Not a bad opener for the Vikings’ junior feature back.
Travis Riefenstahl, Saucon Valley, sr., QB/SS/FS: Riefenstahl kept his team close Friday night, slinging the rock for 200 yards and a game-high four touchdowns on 10-of-17 passing against Notre Dame-Green Pond.
Damian Tyminski, Pen Argyl, jr., WR/SS: Tyminski hauled in everything his quarterback could throw to him, racking up a whopping 13 receptions for 129 and a score as Pen Argyl topped Wilson Area 22-12 on Saturday.
Matt Martin, Marion Catholic, sr., RB/LB: Marion Catholic offered Schuylkill Haven a heavy dose of Martin runs Friday night in a 21-7 victory. The senior responded, carrying the rock a game-high 27 times for 171 stripes and three touchdowns.
Cole Gemberling, Tri-Valley, fr, RB/OLB: Jeff Sampson said during a preseason chat that his freshman prodigy was a really good player and the youngster didn’t waste much time Friday night backing his coach’s assessment. Gemberling totaled five tackles in Tri-Valley’s 20-13 victory at Minersville, but he also swiped a pass in his first varsity game. And that pick was one of four takeaways Tri-Valley pocketed before their season-opening win was in the books.
Will Jacobson, Blue Mountain, jr, QB: Blue Mountain received a huge performance from their junior gunslinger Friday night against Jim Thorpe. The Eagles leader under centers competed a tiddy 11-of19 passes for 338 yards and three scores in a 27-26 victory.
Ezi Hite, Williams Valley, sr, OL/DL: Hite was another of Tim Savage’s Vikings to post a terrific season-opening effort on both sides of the football. Entrenched at defensive tackle, Hite recorded seven tackles – including three behind the line of scrimmage – and one quarterback sack. His efforts on the offense were just as notable, as Hite and his teammates up front created more than enough space so Williams Valley could roll up 400-plus rushing yards in its 42-30 conquest of Upper Dauphin.
Lane Lehman, Pine Grove, jr, RB/DB: While it was hardly a surprise that Lehman piled up offensive touches, he made them all count as the junior rushed 27 times for 216 yards and one score as Pine Grove turned back neighboring Northern Lebanon 14-9. Lehman also caught one pass for six yards as the Cardinals made new head coach Dave Shiffer’s debut a successful one. Pine Grove’s talented junior also factored defensively, totaling seven stops.
Jake Scheib, Tri-Valley, sr, RB/DT: Muscling between the tackles as he typically does, the brawny Scheib rushed 11 times for 65 yards and two scores, the latter arriving midway through the third quarter and proving to be the difference in Tri-Valley’s 20-13 success at Minersville. Scheib also registered six tackles and one quarterback sack for Jeff Sampson’s squad.
