POTTSVILLE — For the Pottsville High football team its non-league season opener Friday at Veterans Memorial Stadium against Class AA state power Shamokin was similar to what faced the defenders at the Alamo.

Outnumbered by more than 20-to-1, there was no way the Texicans could defeat the Mexican forces, but by holding out for 13 days, allowed Sam Houston time to build an army that earned Texas its freedom a few weeks later. With the collective and individual talent boasted by the Indians, a victory was a foregone conclusion by everyone except the guys suiting up for the Crimson Tide.

Because of that determination, the game was competitive into the third quarter before the Indians scored three unanswered touchdowns and left with a 34-14 victory.

Shamokin quarterback Logan Steele broke a 14-14 tie with an 18-yard run with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter.

“They just wear you down,” Pottsville coach Mike Brennan said. “You’ve got to be aware of Steele, and then they can hurt you in other ways.

“We’re a better team, a better program, than when we played them up there last year (in a 27-13 loss), but still have too many people going both ways. That won’t be the case in a few weeks, but right now we just can’t physically match them.

“What we did do was play hard and really worked hard. That could be seen on our two touchdowns.”

JuJu Bainbridge pulled the Tide (0-1) into a 14-14 tie with a pair of tackle-breaking runs of 14 and 5 yards to highlight his team-leading 89 yards rushing on 21 carries.

Pottsville senior Juleon “JuJu” Bainbridge (5) runs the ball for a touchdown as Pottsville and Shamokin face off at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Pottsville, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)SEE MORE PHOTOS: Pottsville football falls to Shamokin 34-14

A fumble recovery by Max Clews set up the five-play 27-yard drive that tied the score with 8:21 left in the third quarter, but then the Indians (1-0) took over.

After Steele scored to put the Indians ahead to stay, Ryan Bickert increased the lead to 28-14 late in the fourth quarter with an 11-yard run.

That left it up to Steele to put his final mark on the game with a 102-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Pottsville junior Max Clews (21) holds the ball up after recovering a fumble as Pottsville and Shamokin face off at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Pottsville, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)

Steele is being recruited by Mississippi and Penn State as an athlete, and he showed his versatility when he opened the scoring with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Colin Steinhart. Steele finished with 5-of-10 passing for 85 yards and 59 rushing yards on eight carries.

For the Tide, Andrew Allen completed 10-of-23 passes for 86 yards. Christian Alverez had three receptions for 31 yards.

“Up next is our first (Schuylkill) league game against Jim Thorpe (Friday, 7 p.m. at Palmerton), and we’ll work to be a better football team,” Brennan said. “We had trouble with cramping tonight, but otherwise we came out of the game in good shape. We’re just going to keep working to be a better football team.”

Shamokin 34, Pottsville 14

Shamokin:(1-0) 7 | 7 | 7| 13 — 34

Pottsville: (0-1) 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 — 14

Scoring

S — Steinhart 42 pass from Steele (Steinhart kick)

S — Clinton 4 run (Steinhart kick)

P — Bainbridge 14 run (A. Allen kick)

P — Bainbridge 5 run (A. Allen kick)

S— Steele 18 run (Steinhart kick)

S — Bickert 11 run (Steinhart kick)

S — Steele 102 interception return (kick failed)

Shamokin

239 total yards; 13 first downs; 8 penalties, 57 yards; 2 fumbles, 1 lost

Rushing: 31 attempts, 192 yards, 2 TD — Clinton 13-103-1, Steele 8-59-1, Ginck 8-27, Bickert 2-3-1

Passing: Steele – 7 completions, 13 attempts, 99 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Steinhart 3-55-1, Steele 2-14, Cavanaugh 1-31

Interceptions: Steele (TD)

Pottsville

291 total yards; 16 first downs; 5 penalties, 42 yards; 0 fumbles

Rushing: 30 attempts, 153 yards, 2 TD — Bainbridge 21-89-2, Durham 3-27, Eroh 3-22

Passing: Allen – 10 completions, 23 attempts, 86 yards, 1 INT

Receiving: Alvarez 3-31, Huda 2-11, Strencosky 2-3, Bainbridge 1-33