Coal Bucket Blasts from the Past, parts 3 & 4… 1968: Mt. Carmel earns shutout in the series’ lone matchup where both teams entered 9-0 or better. newsitem.com/sports/coal-buc… 1971: Shamokin regains bucket with late goal-line stand in snow-delayed meeting. newsitem.com/sports/coal-buc…

HS Football Notebook From Week 9: – Blue Mountain test, loss could benefit Shamokin in long run – Delaney, Karycki further cement themselves as one of MCA's most effective 1-2 punches ever – Line Mountain earns first shutout – SCA gets another tune-up newsitem.com/sports/h-s-foot…

First two Coal Bucket Blasts from the Past on page B2 in today’s News-Item… 1995: Shamokin blanks defending state champ Mount Carmel, 15-0. The Indians’ last CB win until 2024. 2014: Mount Carmel converts 4th-and-12, makes extra point to win, 33-32; the series’ lone OT game.

I’ll be re-running notable, old game stories leading up to 75th Coal Bucket game in this week’s News-Item editions. Current release schedule… Tuesday: 2014 and 1995 Wednesday: 1971 and 1968 Thursday: 1961 and either 1953 or 1958 Friday: 1951 (the first Coal Bucket game)

This game has been moved to Shikellamy. Still 5:30 Thursday.

News-Item playoff schedule (all Sat.)... 2A boys quarterfinal @ Danville: #8 Lourdes (7-8-3) v. #1 Central Col. (17-0-1), 12p 1A girls quarterfinals @ Midd-West: #1 Line Mountain (17-1) v. S. Williamsport-Wyalusing winner, 12p #4 Southern (11-6-1) v. #5 Warrior Run (11-7), 2p

Line Mountain (11-5-2) gets the third seed and will take on No. 6 Lewisburg (9-7-1) in a District 4 Class 1A quarterfinal Thursday 5:30pm at Warrior Run. The Eagles previously beat the Green Dragons, 2-1 in overtime, on Oct. 5 in Lewisburg.

In eight trips inside Blue Mountain territory Friday night, Shamokin Area was able to reach the end zone just once, which cost the Indians their 28-game regular-season winning streak in a battle between two Class 4A titans. Story: newsitem.com/sports/h-s-foot…

Last comment for now: I was shocked when I saw PFN didn’t even have Blue Mountain as an HM in 4A state rankings. PennLive only had Eagles 9th. After watching that team tonight, I’m befuddled. Poised to make a deep playoff run. Bravo to both schools for scheduling the challenge.

Weekender area teams went 5-3 tonight: Line Mountain 41, Juniata 0 Southern Columbia 56, Jersey Shore 20 Mount Carmel 49, Central Mountain 21 Blue Mountain 34, Shamokin 14 Lewisburg 35, Milton 14 Mifflinburg 21, Montoursville 7 Shikellamy 48, Warrior Run 13

After coming close on several occasions, Line Mountain (8-1) gets its first shutout of season, 41-0 at Juniata. Preston Derk 79 pass yds, 65 rush & TD each way. Kaden Dunkelberger game-high 103 rush yds & threw for 65 more & TD. Liam Troutman chipped in 50 yds & 2 TDs on ground.

Southern Columbia (8-1) took care of business at Jersey Shore, 56-20. Tigers tallied 382 rush yds, w/ Grady Garcia accounting for 184 of them. Coach Roth called it “one of best running games of season,” as 3 starting backs & QB Ayden Hockenbroch averaged 8.4 yds & each scored.

Mount Carmel is the last unbeaten News-Item team. Red Tornadoes handle Central Mtn., 49-21, as Jaylen Delaney & Cooper Karycki become program’s fifth-ever duo to amass 1,000 rush yds in same season (first since Meyrick Lamb & Cody Shustack in 2011). MCA averaged 12.5 yds/play.

Two-time all-stater Logan Steele and a couple other Indians sustained injuries tonight and didn’t return. Unsure of severities, but not ideal with Coal Bucket game and playoffs on horizon. 1968 remains the only Coal Bucket game both teams entered with 9+ wins and 0 losses.

#9 Blue Mountain 34, #1 Shamokin 14, FINAL. Indians put up 400 yards and outgain the Eagles, but go 0/5 on fourth down deep in BM territory, and get their 28-game regular-season winning streak snapped. Lucas Pritiskutch’s 102-yard pick-6 in Q3 looms large. BM is a T5 4A team.

It’s also Blue Mountain’s senior night tonight. 7:05 start time for TV.