FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - Pottsville's boys almost lost six months of work in 20 minutes Wednesday afternoon.
Combining the greatness of Brendan Shearn and a fired-up lineup, North Schuylkill pushed the unbeaten Crimson Tide to the brink before falling 27-28 in a Schuylkill League Division I meet at Spartan Stadium.
Schuylkill Haven lost to North Schuylkill 15-48 and Pottsville 15-49 in non-league action to round out the tri-meet.
The girls' race followed closer to form, with Paige Stoner (19:35) and Grace Casey (20:16) finishing 1-2 to lead Pottsville past North Schuylkill 20-37 and Schuylkill Haven 15-50.
Jess Yeneskie placed third in 21:55 as the Spartans topped Schuylkill Haven 15-48.
Pottsville's girls (8-0, 3-0 D-I) wrap up the regular season next Wednesday with a Division I tri-meet with Pine Grove at Jim Thorpe.
The Crimson Tide boys (8-0, 3-0 D-I), though, came one spot away from having a second straight undefeated season and its Division I repeat hopes evaporate.
"Today could have derailed everything we've worked for,'' Pottsville coach Barb McGinley said. "They underestimated North Schuylkill, and I hope that woke them up.''
To start, Shearn broke the 16-minute barrier for the fourth time this season, clocking a 15:52 on the 3.1-mile course.
The junior standout has chopped big chunks of time off his races this season, ramping up his training to 8-12 miles a day. Shearn said he starts a typical day at 5:30 a.m. with what he calls "an easy run'' - four miles. After school, he works out with the team, then sometimes adds another run by himself to put in the necessary mileage.
A few times, he's trained while carrying two small rocks above his head to build his core and upper body strength. He said he got the idea from a movie.
Winning a state championship is his ultimate goal.
"I want to be able to go to sleep at night and know that day I did everything I could to achieve my goal,'' Shearn said.
Pottsville's Jacob Plachko (17:07) and Eric Scanlan (18:01) finished 2-3 to get the Tide on the board.
The Spartans (6-3, 3-2) answered when Devin Mashack (18:18) and Evan Brouse (18:28) took the next two spots. Brouse made a big final kick to pass No. 6 Edward Hossler (18:31) at the finish.
Pottsville's Dominick Direnzo (19:09) led the next wave, placing seventh to give the Tide a fourth runner in.
North Schuylkill continued to battle, as Mike Ferenchick (19:14) outkicked William Hossler (19:16) in the battle for eighth. North Schuylkill's Alex Weisbeck (19:31) rounded out the top 10.
"(North Schuylkill) put in a great effort. They wanted it,'' McGinley said. "It was lucky for us we held on.''
Meet Summary
Wednesday at Fountain Springs
3.1 miles
Boys' results
Pottsville 27, North Schuylkill 28
Pottsville 15, Schuylkill Haven 49
North Schuylkill 15, Sch. Haven 48
1. Shearn (NS) 15:52, 2. Plachko (P) 17:07, 3. Scanlan (P) 18:01, 4. Mashack (NS) 18:18, 5. Brouse (NS) 18:28, 6. E. Hossler (P) 18:31, 7. Direnzo (P) 19:09, 8. Ferenchick (NS) 19:14, 9. W. Hossler (P) 19:16, 10. Weisbeck (NS) 19:31 ... 12. Sterner (SH) 19:53
Girls' results
Pottsville 20, North Schuylkill 37
Pottsville 15, Schuylkill Haven 50
North Schuylkill 15, Sch. Haven 48
1. Stoner (P) 19:35, 2. Casey (P) 20:16, 3. Yeneskie (NS) 21:55, 4. Burnhouser (P) 21:55, 5. Nagle (P) 22:03, 6. Cantwell (NS) 22:04, 7. Warner (NS) 22:05, 8. Direnzo (P) 22:41, 9. Watkins (P) 23:08, 10. Gownley (NS) 23:44 ... 13. Daniels (SH) 24:14