SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Colton Reber scored eight touchdowns and brought in two interceptions to lead Schuylkill Haven to a 55-14 win over Marian Catholic on Friday night.
Reber’s big night was a key ingredient in the Hurricanes (7-0; 6-0) demolition of the Colts, (5-2; 4-2) rushing for seven touchdowns and 312 yards, and returning an interception for a touchdown.
Schuylkill Haven’s defense slowed down Marian to just 151 total yards of offense.
Following a Rocco Griguoli game-opening interception for Marian, the Hurricanes swarmed the Colts’ backfield and allowed just one touchdown the rest of the way.
“We finished way better than we started, and we put all those points on the board in the second and third quarters,” Schuylkill Haven coach Mike Farr said. “We’re trying to find ways to incorporate everyone.”
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Schuylkill Haven sophomore Logan Goad (28) tries to tackle Marian Catholic junior Rocco Griguoli (15) as Schuylkill Haven hosts Marian Catholic, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Schuylkill Haven sophomore Logan Goad (28) runs the ball as Schuylkill Haven hosts Marian Catholic, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Schuylkill Haven junior Colton Reber (26) evades a tackle as Schuylkill Haven hosts Marian Catholic, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Marian Catholic sophomore Gregory Tirpak (14) throws a pass as Schuylkill Haven hosts Marian Catholic, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Schuylkill Haven sophomore Logan Goad (28) tries to tackle Marian Catholic junior Rocco Griguoli (15) as Schuylkill Haven hosts Marian Catholic, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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The defensive gems for the Hurricanes included a pair of Reber interceptions — the second going for a 35-yard pick-six — as well as sacks from Niko Castillo and Aaron Gilbert early on.
“We knew we had to get to the ball fast, because we have two of the best outside linebackers in the county,” Castillo said. “It adds a lot of pressure and that’s what caused the interception for Colton Reber.”
Griguoli stepped in front of Schuylkill Haven Max Heim’s pass and returned it for a 38-yard touchdown to give Marian a 7-0 lead just over a minute into the game.
When the Colts got the ball again, it was Gilbert and Castillo who stepped up for sacks to end the threat.
“It adds another element for the other team, because they have to watch me offensively and defensively, so that’s definitely a game changer,” Castillo said.
Reber jump-started the Schuylkill Haven offense with a 30-yard touchdown run as part of an eight-play drive to knot it at 7-7 less than a minute into the second quarter.
“We knew going in he was going to be a great running back, there’s just other great running backs here too,” Farr said. “Now he has an opportunity to be the guy so we develop everything around him.”
Marian answered when Tirpak hit Jake Tom for a 76-yard touchdown pass and the 14-7 lead just over a minute later.
The Hurricanes took just two plays to find the end zone next as Reber got through the defense for a 59-yard touchdown run and the 14-13 deficit after a failed PAT.
Schuylkill Haven’s defense forced a Marian turnover on downs, and Reber burst through for a 19-yard touchdown run two plays later for the 21-14 advantage.
“Every play is designed to hit somewhere and we have to trust where it’s supposed to hit,” Farr said. “Defensively we really picked it up from there.”
A combination of Reber and Castillo runs got the Hurricanes on the board again. An 8-yard touchdown run by Reber made it a 28-14 Hurricane lead with a minute left in the first half.
Reber then stepped up with a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown on Marian’s second play of the ensuing drive to give the Hurricanes a 35-14 halftime lead.
“Our secondary is solid when they trust each other and fly to the football,” Farr said. “It all starts with the pressure up front and Colton’s pick is a pressure pick.”
Schuylkill Haven got the ball to the start of the second half and Reber broke through for a 58-yard touchdown run and extended the lead to 42-14.
Triston Davis and Castillo backed up Marian’s offense seven yards with sacks before Reber added another touchdown run, this one 42 yards for the 48-14 lead.
Reber got in for his final score on a 13-yard scamper for the 55-14 lead with two minutes left in the third.
“Colton’s probably one of the only 2,000-yard rushers at the junior high level and he tore it up,” Farr said. “Now he has a chance to be one of the guys on this team.”
Castillo contributed to the Hurricanes ground game with 55 rushing yards. Chase Yoder and Logan Goad ran out the clock on the Schuylkill Haven win.
Marian’s Tirpak passed for a touchdown and 166 yards. Griguoli hauled in 85 receiving yards and Jake Tom had 76 receiving yards.
Schuylkill Haven hosts Pine Grove next Friday at 7 p.m. and Marian welcomes Williams Valley next Friday at 7 p.m.
Schuylkill Haven 55, Marian Catholic 14
MAR (5-2; 4-2);7;7;0;0;—14
SH (7-0; 6-0);0;35;20;0;—55
Scoring
1st Quarter
MAR — Griguoli 38-yard pick-six (10:11)
2nd Quarter
SH — Reber 30-yard TD run, Fessler PAT (11:21)
MAR — Tirpak to Tom 76-yard TD pass, PAT (9:56)
SH — Reber 59-yard TD run (9:06)
SH — Reber 19-yard TD run, Heim to Reber 2-pt pass (4:23)
SH — Reber 8-yard TD run, Fessler PAT (1:29)
SH — Reber 35-yard pick-six, Fessler PAT (0:23)
3rd Quarter
SH — Reber 58-yard TD run, Fessler PAT, (9:59)
SH — Reber 42-yard TD run (8:02)
SH — Reber 13-yard TD run, Fessler PAT (2:30)
