Hollywood’s 2022 Cutting Room Floor- EPC Edition August 28th-September 3rd.
Tagged under: District 11, News
Brian Ptashinski | August 31, 2022
Looking Back on the Opening Weekend in the EPC and Taking a Look Ahead to Week 2.
By Brian Ptashinski @BPtashinski on Twitter
Well week number one of the high school football season is in the books in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, and what a weekend it was. The marquee contest was defending 6A District XI Champion Bethlehem Freedom facing a hungry Emmaus squad that came up short in last years semifinal and when all was said and done the Green Hornets stung the Patriots 19-13. The Hornets defense was the story and they kept the Patriots out of the end zone in the second half. Jake Fotta was back at quarterback after missing all last season was 9 of 13 passing for 138 yards and a touchdown.
Parkland got of the starting gate with a bang with a convincing 42-0 win over Easton in Orefield. The Trojans had a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and held the Rovers to one first down. They increased that lead at half 35-0.
Bethlehem Catholic, coming off one their worst seasons in a decade, avenged an early 2021 season loss to the Zephyrs of Whitehall 35-7. Luke Thomas completed 12 of 20 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown and Rahmel Terry rushed for a 100 yards on 19 carries and scored twice.
Nazareth rolled to an opening night 48-6 win over Louis Dieruff. Blue Eagles quarterback Sonny Sasso threw for 294 yards on 12 of 19 passing and 3 touchdowns
Saturday night Allentown Central Catholic, the defending 4A District champion, outscored a much improved Bethlehem Liberty squad 34-28, a 4th quarter touchdown by Caiden Schaffer, one of his four touchdowns on the night was the game clincher.
Northampton, started their season on the right foot, after coming off one of best seasons in school history with a 50-8 win over Pocono Mountain West. AJ Slivka and Antonio Russo combined 16 of 18 passing 226 yards and three scores in the win. Caden Henritzy riushed for nearly 100 yards and 3 touchdown on just 13 touches for the K-Kids.
Pleasant Valley began their campaign towards a possible run at the EPC North title with a 62-0 scrubbing of Pocono Mountain East. The Bears had a commanding 48-0 lead at intermission.
The Cavaliers of East Stroudsburg South, coming off a District 5A Championship easily handled William Allen 43-3. Colby Mitchell tossed for 256 yards on just eight completions.
Stroudsburg took care of business Friday night as the defense pitched a shutout in 35-0 win over Pocono Mountain East.
This Weeks’ Contests and Previews:
The Key Games for this weekend’s match-ups will start at Nazareth’s Andrew Leh Stadium as the 1-0 Blue Eagles host the 1-0 Parkland Trojans. Both teams coming off nice wins with Parkland’s shutout of Easton 42-0 and Nazareth rolled Dieruff 48-6. The teams have had the last three meetings finish with one score games. Parkalnd has the edge in wins in the regular season in 2019 and 2021 21-17 and 43-40 respectively, while the Blue Eagles won the District playoffs in 2019 22-21. This game should be another dandy as both teams try to navigate their way through the brutal EPC Schedule. HOLLYWOOD GIVES THE EDGE TO NAZARETH AT HOME BY 3.
Emmaus (1-0) will host Allentown Central Catholic (1-0) Again these teams in their last three meetings the Vikings holding a 2-1 lead with a 35-17 win in 2019. Emmasus won in 2020 24-7 and Central Catholic shocked the Hornets last year at J. Birney Crum Stadium 21-0. This game will another nail-biter as HOLLYWOOD IS GOING WITH THE HORNETS AT HOME BY 7.
Northampton (1-0) has Stroudsburg (1-0) coming to town Friday night. The Konkrete Kids won last two meetings 35-7 and 35-14. HOLLYWOOD EXPECTS ANOTHER W FOR THE K-KIDS By 14.
THE BEST OF THE REST:
East Stroudsburg South (1-0) by 42 over Louis Dieruff (0-1)
Pleasant Valley (1-0) by 40 over (0-1) William Allen
Pocono Mtn East (0-1)by 21 over (0-1) East Stroudsburg North
Bethlehem Freedom (0-1) by 21 over (0-1) Easton
Bethlehem Liberty (0-1) by 24 over (0-1) Whitehall
Bethlehem Catholic (1-0) over (0-1) Pocono Mountain West (Saturday 1pm)
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