It’s a matchup that features an experienced team with high expectations and another team building toward getting back to its winning ways.

Unbeaten Palmerton (3-0) heads to Jim Thorpe (1-2) Friday in the Times News Game of the Week.

It seems to be the same story each week for the Bombers when they take the field, which features the plot line of their explosive offense consistently putting up big numbers. Palmerton racked up over 500 yards of total offense last week against Palisades, scoring 54 points. All-State quarterback Matt Machalik rushed for 221 yards and three scores and threw for 179 yards and three touchdowns. Ty Sander looked good running the football once again, rushing for 100 yards and two touchdowns and also hauled in two receiving scores.

The Bombers offense is averaging 45 points per game and 448 yards per game. The Palmerton rushing attack - which has featured a lot of the duo of Machalik (609 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Sander (235 yards, 3 touchdowns) - is averaging 303 rushing yards per contest.

“We need to continue to execute and continue to do what has been working for us. Establish the run game and put together explosive plays,” said Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak. “We also always want to get the ball to our athletes and spread the ball around. Matty (Machalik) has been doing a great job of what he does, which is making plays, and Ty Sander has done a great job of running the football for us behind strong offensive line play.”

The Olympians’ defense, which has always been a consistent, productive staple for the Thorpe program, under head coach Mark Rosenberger, has struggled so far this season. The Olympians do have a young defensive unit, especially up front. Thorpe is giving up 366.7 yards per game and just over 224 yards per game on the ground.

Thorpe’s defensive unit did look better last week against Salisbury, a program that has seen its own struggles this season, with the Olympians allowing just 192 yards of total offense.

“Palmerton has a bunch of athletes that can make plays, but obviously you’re going to have to try and limit Machalik’s big plays. He very well could be the best player in the state right now, so you have to try and slow him down. He’s going to get his yards, but the big plays, you just have to try and limit them,” said Rosenberger. “We also have to be able to stay locked in when Machalik scrambles. He scrambles not only to run, but also to create time for his receivers to continue to work to get open.”

The Olympians look to have a dynamic player in the making with sophomore quarterback Cole Lazorick. Lazorick has been gaining confidence weekly and looked good last week against Salisbury. Lazorik rushed for 97 yards and three scores against the Falcons, and he also threw for 100 yards and three touchdowns. Lazorick has put together a nice season so far for Thorpe, rushing for 162 and four scores, while also throwing for 387 yards and four touchdowns. Lazorick’s favorite target on the season has been Justin Yescavage, who has been a problem for all of Thorpe’s opponents to date. Yescavage has hauled in 11 catches for 281 yards and three touchdowns on the season.

“Cole has been working really hard. He is a worker. He pushes himself every day at practice to get better. He’s going to make mistakes, like any young player will, but you can see his confidence starting to build. He’s a good athlete and a really good runner. He’s doing a nice job,” said Rosenberger. “It was certainly nice to get a victory last week, and to do that with a lot of young guys out there playing for us. We had five or six freshman and sophomores starting for us last week. We just have to continue to get better. Diversifying the offense once again this week will be key.”

The Palmerton defense has been solid this season, allowing 20 points per game and less than 240 yards of offense. However, Palisades was able to at times in last week’s matchup find some success in the passing game as the Pirates passed for 127 yards, including a 27-yard passing score in the second quarter.

“Lazorick is a player that we’re impressed with. Young player, but he has been able to do some nice things with his feet and his arm,” said Walkowiak. “They also have a nice stable of receivers as well. They will throw a ton of formations to try and confuse you, so we just need to be disciplined and be prepared and execute at reading our keys. As always, we want to establish control of the line of scrimmage early, and we want to try and make Lazorick as uncomfortable as possible back there and make plays and wrap-up when they do get the ball out to their guys in space.”