Hollywood’s Cutting Room Floor- District XI 6A Semifinal Part II.

Tagged under: District 11, News, Playoffs

Brian Ptashinski | November 9, 2022

7-4 Parkland Trojans vs 11-0 Northampton Konkrete Kids Thursday 7pm at Al Erdosy Stadium.

With the threat of tropical storm conditions expected much of the day Friday several games have been moved up to Thursday or pushed back till Saturday. Both District XI 6A Semifinals will be held Thursday.

The K-Kids and the Trojans have not faced one another since August, 2019 with Parkland coming out on top 49-14. Parkland, arguably, could be the best four loss team in the state. Playing without quarterback Luke Spang, running backs Nakhi Bullock and Trey Tremba at various times throughout the season where they lost 3 of their first 5 games, but now with the team as healthy as it’s been has a 5-1 record, a lone loss to Emmaus 40-25 in the season finale.

Spang has thrown for 1,562 yards on 101 of 160 passing 13 touchdowns and just five picks. Junior Tremba has 1,002 yards rushing on 163 carries and 16 touchdowns, he has also caught 22 passes for 352 yards and 4 touchdowns. Jack Harrison leads the team in receiving with 35 catches for 674 yards and four scores.Victor Pagen leads the defense with 67 tackles. Nate Kemmerer has a knack for getting to the opposing quarterback with 9 sacks for the Trojans. On special teams Gryffin Mitstifer, may be the best in the EPC with 7 field goals and 45 made PAT’s.

Northampton, technically, is an EPC South school that plays in the EPC North as the team had trouble competing in the infancy of the conference as frequent blowout losses to Lehigh Valley teams, had the K-Kids take a step back and regroup the struggling program. In the last two year’s however the have gone through the regular season 10-0 and back-to-back North Division championship, but have yet to take that next-step to beat a quality EPC South team. Now, they do have wins this season over both Bethlehem Catholic and Whitehall, but those programs have been hovering around .500. The offense is led by quarterback Antonino Russo with 1,172 yard on just 88 of 126 passing passes 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. Running Back Caden Henritzy has carried the rock 175 times and gained 1,158 yards with 19 trips to the end zone.Wide Receiver Jaelen Richardson has caught 29 passes for 469 yards and 7 touchdowns. Junior Tristen Pinnock has three scores and 276 yards on 29 catches as well as leading the team in tackles on the defensive side of the ball with 36. The defense however has only 7 sacks on the season as a team.

What’s At Stake: The winner will advance to the District XI 6A championship against either Emmaus or Bethlehem Freedom next week.

Hollywood’s Take: Parkland is at full-strength and is playing about as well as anyone in the district. Northampton is trying to make a statement that they can do more than just to compete with the elite of the EPC South and may have a chance to get into the state playoffs in two weeks. Northampton will compete Thursday night at home, which should be rocking, but can they get over that hump, that remains to be seen. Parkland by 7 24-17.

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