Golden Hawks Soar Over North Schuylkill, Advance to Holy War

Tagged under: District 11, Game Photos-Videos, pfn, Playoffs

Cody Brady | November 8, 2026

It was the game that most expected at BASD Stadium Saturday night, as Carter Vassa was on the receiving end of three of Axel Burkart’s four TD passes in a 42-7 victory over the Spartans. Plenty of others got in on the act, as well, overpowering North Schuylkill early.

It was a sluggish start for both sides. The Spartans went three and out, while the Hawks got a 15-yard completion to Vassa to cross midfield, but quickly went backwards 18 yards on a fumble. Great Chifirst recorded a sack on the next Spartans possession and two in the first quarter to limit North Schuylkill’s offense.

The Hawks turned it on on their second drive and it only took one play. Axel Burkart swung it out to Carter Vassa, and Vassa did the rest, galloping 42 yards for his first of four touchdowns on the night.

With the aid of a defensive penalty by the Hawks, the Spartans crossed midfield on their next drive, but a 4th & 3 pass fell to the turf and the Hawks took over on downs. One play later, Tyre Lewis got by Brock Holmes in coverage down the near sideline, zipping 61 yards for the touchdown.

The ensuing kickoff was coughed up by North Schuylkill and Bethlehem Catholic took over just 23 yards away from the end zone. Burkart threw another one to Vassa, who juked Kole Rollenhagen hard and wound up on the 1-yard line. Vassa carried it in a play later to put the Hawks up 21-0. That score stood after a quarter.

North Schuylkill had a great moment when Xavier McNally got to Burkart in the backfield on Beca’s next possession. But the celebration was short-lived. Instead of going for a field goal on 4th & 7 at the 10, Burkart dropped back and tossed to Vassa who made one cut and jogged into the end zone.

Hawks 28 0 545 q2

McNally sacks Burkart but its a TD pass to Vassa on 4th down!

@xmcnally0 @axel_bkrt1 @cartervassa @PaFootballNews https://t.co/jBi1FJZsLt

— LSV Sports (@LSVSports) November 8, 2026

The Hawks tacked on one more before the halftime break. Working the left side most of the next drive, Burkart and the offense drove deep into Spartans territory again. Causing defensive confusion with pre-snap motion, Vassa found himself all alone on the right side for an 11-yard touchdown. At halftime, the score was 35-0 and the remainder of the game was played in the mercy rule.

For good measure, Anderson Gomez returned the second half opening kickoff up near midfield and on the first play from scrimmage, Justin Martinez motored his way 48 yards to the house.

Gomez big kick return and first play Martinez goes all the way 48 yards
42 0 Hawks 1107 q3

@justinmarttinez @AndersonGomez__ @BecahiFootball @BecaHawksSOAR @PaFootballNews https://t.co/Av45abYnqF

— LSV Sports (@LSVSports) November 8, 2026

North Schuylkill played tough all night long and finally got on the board against Beca’s second string defense. Bryce Kile plunged into the end zone from a yard out for the final score of the night.

Bethlehem Catholic now faces Central Catholic in another edition of the Holy War. That game will be played next Saturday at 1:00 at BASD Stadium. The Hawks won a week 2 meeting 35-24 at J. Birney Crum.

Bethlehem Catholic 42, North Schuylkill 7

Score by Quarters

North Schuylkill – 0 0 7 0 – 7

Bethlehem, Catholic – 21 14 7 0 – 42

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

B – Vassa 42-yd pass from Burkart(Schultz kick), 6:05 1-42

B – Lewis 61-yd pass from Burkart(Schultz kick), 2:03 1-61

B – Vassa 1-yd run(Schultz kick), :32 4-23

Second Quarter

B – Vassa 10-yd pass from Burkart(Schultz kick), 5:45 8-63

B – Vassa 11-yd pass from Burkart(Schultz kick), :17 8-63

Third Quarter

B – Martinex 62-yd run(Schultz kick), 11:07 1-62

N – Kile 1-yd run(Mentzer kick), 7:29 6-60

Passing: B – Burkart 12-21-209-4-0, Brake 0-1-0-0-0; N – Holmes 2-7-8-0-0, Kowalonek 0-1-0-0-0

Rushing: B – Martinez 5-62-1, Gomez 2-26, Vassa 2-(-17)-1, Salomono 1-12, Brake 3-4, Williams 4-(-3), Burkart 2-9; N – Kile 12-66-1, Brake 5-22, Roberts 4-5, Kowalonek 3-11, Sosnoski 2-9, Lynn 2-(-5), Holmes 9-7

Receiving: B – Vassa 8-111-3, Lewis 1-62-1, Thom 1-11, Martinez 2-26; N – Kile 1-(-2), Perkins 1-10