Game of the Week
Northampton 17 Bethlehem Catholic 14: The lone victory by an EPC North school, Northampton shocked 4A #5 Bethlehem Catholic, taking a 10-0 lead at halftime, then holding on as the Golden Hawks missed a field goal as time expired that would have sent the game to overtime. Becahi actually took a 14-10 lead with five minutes to play, but Cooper King drove the Konkrete Kids down the field for a score with 1:26 left, hitting Jaelen Richardson on a 27 yard touchdown pass for the win. King finished 6-11 for 106 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Richardson 3 times for 86 yards and the game winning score. It was the first win for new Northampton coach John Toman (formerly of Southern Lehigh) and the KKids got a little revenge on former boss Kyle Haas, now patrolling the Behtlehem Catholic sideline. Jared Richardson threw for 183 yards and a touchdown in the losing effort.
Best of the Rest
Liberty 24 East Stroudsburg South 16: It was a great week for new coaches, with Shawn Daignault’s bunch knocking off returning EPC North champion East Stroudsburg South. Karim Brice caught four passes for 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns and was the favorite target of Tommy Mason, who threw for 281 yards on the night and completed passes to eight different receivers. They also had a 100 yard rusher in Kyndred Wright, who carried 13 times for 117 yards and a TD. This was Liberty’s first win since 2019. The Cavaliers are replacing 20 starters from their best team in school history, and begin the year 0-1, and also are facing an injury to star running back/defensive end Ray Blake, who had 72 yards on 11 carries, but was helped off the field in the third quarter.
Notre Dame (GP): 47 Saucon Valley 20: The Crusaders raced past Saucon Valley on opening night, with a typically brilliant effort from senior quarterback Colin Quintano, who went 21-26 for 302 yards and four toucdhwosn, plus ran for a score. After Dante Mahaffey ran for an 80 yard TD to cut Notre Dame’s lead to 21-14 in the second quarter, Quintano put the offense into high gear and the Crusaders finished on a 26-6 run. Tarif Muhammad led all receivers with 5 catches for 113 yards and a pair of scores, and was one of eight Crusades with receptions. Jayden Becker starred on defense with two interceptions.
Other Games
Northern Lehigh 40 Muncy 21: Star running back Matt Frame carries 10 times for 165 yards and three touchdowns, and quarterback Dylan Smoyer threw for 143 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs routed Muncy in their opener. The game was a late reschedule after Panther Valley, the Bulldogs original opponent, had to cancel due to a COVID outbreak.
North Schuylkill 33 Mount Carmel 14: State 3A #1 North Schuylkill got their act together following a lightning delay, turning a 7-7 game at halftime into a 33-14 rout. Returning All State running back Josh Chowanosky ran for 252 yards on 26 carries, while All State quarterback Jake Hall threw for 167 yards and three touchdowns.
Northwestern Lehigh 42 Tamaqua 13: Kent State bound quarterback Justin Holmes threw for 142 yards and ran for 52 and had four total touchdowns in the season opening win for the Tigers.
Bangor 35 Palisades 0: The Slaters got a big win over reigning 2A D11 champion Palisades, with quarterback Erik Striba putting up 207 yarsd of offense (144 rushing/63 passing) and the defense forced three turnover in a big win.
Wilson 47 Pen Argyl 14: The Warriors opened their season by returning a punt for a touchdown and never looked back. Wilson, one of the fastest teams in the classification with their state finalist 4x100 relay team making up the skill positions, had a 209 yard, 4 touchdown effort from quarterback Cayden Stem and they raced past the rival Green Knights.
Easton 76 Pocono Mountain East 6: The Red Rovers opened refurbished Cottingham Stadium in style, scoring on all but one drive in the win. Marcus Williams tied a school record with six touchdowns, on six carries, and ran for 176 yards. Aidan Hutchinson tacked on 93 yards on three carries on the Red Rovers first two drives.
Nazareth 57 East Stroudsburg North 0: New quarterback Sonny Sasso went 7-8 for 92 yards and three touchdowns as Nazareth extended their D11 winning streak to 15 and 20 of their last 21.
Freedom 54 William Allen 12: Deonte Crawford carried five times for 165 yards and four touchdowns in a laugher, with Freedom going up 54-0 at halftime.
Whitehall 42 Pocono Mountain West 0: The Zephyrs went up 42-0 in the first half before the game was called due to lightning.
Emmaus 51 Stroudsburg 0: Emmaus took a 41-0 lead at halftime, with three return touchdowns, including a punt return TD by starting quarterback Josiah Williams, and Tylik Jarvis ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns on his three carries.
Allentown Central Catholic 39 Dieruff 7: Allentown Central Catholic turned a 7-7 first quarter tie into a 39-7 rout between the Allentown schools. Dieruff, who hadn’t practiced in a week due to COVID contact tracing, kept the score at 15-7 into the third quarter before running out of steam. Caiden Schaffer starred for the Vikings with a rushing touchdown and blocked punt.
Looking Ahead: Schedule for Week 2
Game of the Week: Parkland at Easton
Northwestern Lehigh at Northern Lehigh
Allentown Central Catholic at Liberty
Freedom at Emmaus
Dieruff at Nazareth
Northampton at Pocono Mountain West
Wilson at Palisades
Salisburg at Saucon Valley
Southern Lehigh at Notre Dame (Green Pond)
Blue Mountain at North Schuylkill
Whitehall at Bethlehem Catholic
Catasauqua at Pen Argyl
Northampton 17 Bethlehem Catholic 14: The lone victory by an EPC North school, Northampton shocked 4A #5 Bethlehem Catholic, taking a 10-0 lead at halftime, then holding on as the Golden Hawks missed a field goal as time expired that would have sent the game to overtime. Becahi actually took a 14-10 lead with five minutes to play, but Cooper King drove the Konkrete Kids down the field for a score with 1:26 left, hitting Jaelen Richardson on a 27 yard touchdown pass for the win. King finished 6-11 for 106 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Richardson 3 times for 86 yards and the game winning score. It was the first win for new Northampton coach John Toman (formerly of Southern Lehigh) and the KKids got a little revenge on former boss Kyle Haas, now patrolling the Behtlehem Catholic sideline. Jared Richardson threw for 183 yards and a touchdown in the losing effort.
Best of the Rest
Liberty 24 East Stroudsburg South 16: It was a great week for new coaches, with Shawn Daignault’s bunch knocking off returning EPC North champion East Stroudsburg South. Karim Brice caught four passes for 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns and was the favorite target of Tommy Mason, who threw for 281 yards on the night and completed passes to eight different receivers. They also had a 100 yard rusher in Kyndred Wright, who carried 13 times for 117 yards and a TD. This was Liberty’s first win since 2019. The Cavaliers are replacing 20 starters from their best team in school history, and begin the year 0-1, and also are facing an injury to star running back/defensive end Ray Blake, who had 72 yards on 11 carries, but was helped off the field in the third quarter.
Notre Dame (GP): 47 Saucon Valley 20: The Crusaders raced past Saucon Valley on opening night, with a typically brilliant effort from senior quarterback Colin Quintano, who went 21-26 for 302 yards and four toucdhwosn, plus ran for a score. After Dante Mahaffey ran for an 80 yard TD to cut Notre Dame’s lead to 21-14 in the second quarter, Quintano put the offense into high gear and the Crusaders finished on a 26-6 run. Tarif Muhammad led all receivers with 5 catches for 113 yards and a pair of scores, and was one of eight Crusades with receptions. Jayden Becker starred on defense with two interceptions.
Other Games
Northern Lehigh 40 Muncy 21: Star running back Matt Frame carries 10 times for 165 yards and three touchdowns, and quarterback Dylan Smoyer threw for 143 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs routed Muncy in their opener. The game was a late reschedule after Panther Valley, the Bulldogs original opponent, had to cancel due to a COVID outbreak.
North Schuylkill 33 Mount Carmel 14: State 3A #1 North Schuylkill got their act together following a lightning delay, turning a 7-7 game at halftime into a 33-14 rout. Returning All State running back Josh Chowanosky ran for 252 yards on 26 carries, while All State quarterback Jake Hall threw for 167 yards and three touchdowns.
Northwestern Lehigh 42 Tamaqua 13: Kent State bound quarterback Justin Holmes threw for 142 yards and ran for 52 and had four total touchdowns in the season opening win for the Tigers.
Bangor 35 Palisades 0: The Slaters got a big win over reigning 2A D11 champion Palisades, with quarterback Erik Striba putting up 207 yarsd of offense (144 rushing/63 passing) and the defense forced three turnover in a big win.
Wilson 47 Pen Argyl 14: The Warriors opened their season by returning a punt for a touchdown and never looked back. Wilson, one of the fastest teams in the classification with their state finalist 4x100 relay team making up the skill positions, had a 209 yard, 4 touchdown effort from quarterback Cayden Stem and they raced past the rival Green Knights.
Easton 76 Pocono Mountain East 6: The Red Rovers opened refurbished Cottingham Stadium in style, scoring on all but one drive in the win. Marcus Williams tied a school record with six touchdowns, on six carries, and ran for 176 yards. Aidan Hutchinson tacked on 93 yards on three carries on the Red Rovers first two drives.
Nazareth 57 East Stroudsburg North 0: New quarterback Sonny Sasso went 7-8 for 92 yards and three touchdowns as Nazareth extended their D11 winning streak to 15 and 20 of their last 21.
Freedom 54 William Allen 12: Deonte Crawford carried five times for 165 yards and four touchdowns in a laugher, with Freedom going up 54-0 at halftime.
Whitehall 42 Pocono Mountain West 0: The Zephyrs went up 42-0 in the first half before the game was called due to lightning.
Emmaus 51 Stroudsburg 0: Emmaus took a 41-0 lead at halftime, with three return touchdowns, including a punt return TD by starting quarterback Josiah Williams, and Tylik Jarvis ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns on his three carries.
Allentown Central Catholic 39 Dieruff 7: Allentown Central Catholic turned a 7-7 first quarter tie into a 39-7 rout between the Allentown schools. Dieruff, who hadn’t practiced in a week due to COVID contact tracing, kept the score at 15-7 into the third quarter before running out of steam. Caiden Schaffer starred for the Vikings with a rushing touchdown and blocked punt.
Looking Ahead: Schedule for Week 2
Game of the Week: Parkland at Easton
Northwestern Lehigh at Northern Lehigh
Allentown Central Catholic at Liberty
Freedom at Emmaus
Dieruff at Nazareth
Northampton at Pocono Mountain West
Wilson at Palisades
Salisburg at Saucon Valley
Southern Lehigh at Notre Dame (Green Pond)
Blue Mountain at North Schuylkill
Whitehall at Bethlehem Catholic
Catasauqua at Pen Argyl
