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A Game of Inches, as Freedom Survives Scare from Allentown Central Catholic.

Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News

| October 20, 2019

ALLENTOWN- The cliche is that football is a game of inches. No more was that the case Saturday night at J. Birney Crum Stadium, as a furious second half rally by the underdog Central Catholic Vikings came up three points short, as a 33 yard field goal attempt in the waning seconds was stifled by the right upright of the goalpost in an entertaining 34-31 win for the Bethlehem Freedom Patriots in an Eastern Pennsylvania conference game.

Freedom, had its’ way in the first twenty-four minutes of the contest, as the Patriots amassed over 400 yards of offense en route to a 34-17 lead at intermission, only to be shutout in the second half and gaining a mere 48 yards after halftime thanks to a stingy Viking defensive effort.

Patriot running back Jalen Stewart kicked off the scoring frenzy on the second play from scrimmage following a Viking punt, by ripping off a 69 yard score with 8:23 left in the first quarter.

Viking quarterback Matt Rauscher then answered with a 16 yard scramble for a score to tie the game with 6:11 on the clock.

Vincent Reph, the speedy Patriot wide-out, was on the receiving end of two Jared Jenkins scoring passes. The first from ten yards out and the second on a long 72 yard play with 8:58 in the second quarter to make the score 20-7.

Matt Russin found the end zone again for Freedom on a nifty 28 yard run at the 5:07 mark to make it 27-7.

Refusing to allow his team to buckle, Rauscher connested with a wide open Jeremy Rivera on a 8 yard slant for a score to cut the deficit 27-14 with about two minutes remaining,

Stewart was on receiving end of a 32 yard pass from Jenkins to extend the lead to 34-14.

Chris Matejcek connected on a 30 yard field goal for Central Catholic with 11 seconds before half to make it 34-17 at intermission.

Central Catholic did all the scoring in the second half, as the defense kept the potent Patriot offense off the scoreboard. running back Jayden Williams scored twice, once from nine yards pout and then five five yards with 6:22 left in the contest making the score 34-31.

The Viking defense came up big 4:41 left to play, stopping the Patriots at Central Catholic 18.

A fourth-and-6 37 yard completion from Rauscher to George Hlavac extended the drive. Williams then picked up 28 yards on two carries to move the ball to the Freedom 13 with less than a minute to play. The drive however stalled there and forced Central Catholic into a 33 yard attempt by Matejcek that hit the upright and fell back onto the field of play with 16 seconds left preserving the win for Freedom.

“Give Central credit they competed for all four quarters. We had problems in the second half obviously.” Freedom coach Jason Roeder said. “I’m not sure if it was effort or assignment. We’ll have to look at it.” He concluded.

Freedom (8-1) will face their Christmas City rivals Bethlehem Liberty (3-6) next Saturday afternoon at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. The Hurricanes defeated winless Whitehall 52-27 Friday night. Central Catholic (5-4) will also be at BASD Stadium in the next edition of “The Holy War” with Bethlehem Catholic (6-3) who were upset by Emmaus 27-13.

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