Hollywood’s Cutting Room Floor-PIAA D4 Colonial League Playoff Edition

Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News

Billy Splain | November 4, 2021

We Take A Look at the Playoff Tilts in District XI Featuring Teams From the Colonial League and We Look Back to Rivalry Week Ten.

We concluded this regular season Saturday night in District XI with an upset victory in Easton. The season with the cloud of Covid still lingering overhead but every team got in at least 8 games this season and most finished playing in all ten weeks. The Colonial League is well represented in district play and we have two teams participating in the NIT of area high school football, the Eastern Conference playoff, but before we jump ahead let’s take a final look back at the weekend that was:

Catasauqua Roughriders at Northwestern Lehigh Tigers Friday night from New Tripoli

On a night with a driving rain affecting much of the area, the Catasauqua at Northwestern Lehigh game was pushed up an hour to a six o’clock kickoff. That was of little benefit to the visiting Roughriders, as the Tigers, trying to become the first team in school history to finish the regular season at 10-0. Behind quarterback Justin Holmes and the running of Dalton Clymer as well as Cade Christopher it was mission accomplished with a dominate 36-2 win to solidify the top seed in the District XI 4A playoff bracket. Not was all bleak for Catasauqua as they did qualify for the 2A playoffs as well and finished the season at 7-3, their best record since 2013. This will be these two teams will meet on the field for the foreseeable future.

Wilson Area Warriors(7-3) at Notre Dame Green Pond(7-2) Crusaders Saturday night in Easton.

The game between rivals Wilson and Notre Dame was pushed back to Saturday because the rain on Friday played havoc with the schedule and that Notre Dame plays on a natural grass surface that by Saturady was in pristine condition. Notre Dame-GP welcomed the return of quarterback Colin Quintano, who was averaging over 300 yards/game passing. Quintano was out several weeks since suffering an injury against North Schuylkill and he came out on fire, leading the Crusaders to a 17-0 lead and the defense forced to interceptions of Wilson QB Cayden Stem. Stem caught fire after a Damian Simpson 89 yard kickoff return, Stem finished the night with over 320 yards and a 69 yard touchdown run by Zack Gillen led the comeback and the Warriors got the win 42-34 as the Wilson student section storming the field to celebrate the win a classic ending to a unique season.

Other Scores That Involved Colonial League Teams

(6-4)Bangor 53 (0-10)Pen Argyl 0
(5-5) Saucon Valley 24 (2-8) Palisades 3
(4-5) Southern Lehigh 37 (2-8) Salisbury 8
(7-3) Northern Lehigh 43 (8-2) Palmerton 14

Now let’s get into the second season, the post-season as teams still have dreams of Hershey dancing in their heads, again focusing on Colonial League teams seeking district gold. In the 2A Bracket Northern Lehigh earned the top seed with a 7-3 record followed by Palmerton, Catasauqua representing the Colonial League and Minersville from the Schuylkill League.

Minersville Battlin Miners(6-4) at Northern Lehigh(7-3) Saturday 2pm
from Bulldogs Stadium in Slatington.

Northern Lehigh comes into the playoffs as the odds on favor to advance to the state tournament. Led by quarterback Dylan Smoyer averaging 160yds/game passing and the running attack Matt Frame(114 carries 911 yards 13 td’s) and Trevor Amorim(72 carries 587yds 7td’s. Smoyer has thrown for 1,580 yards with 21 scores and 6 picks. Nick Frame leads the defense with 58 tackles. The bulldogs come into this game averaging 35ppg.

Minersville goes as quarterback John Adams goes, Adams is the single-season leading passer in school history. He comes in passing for 2,389 yards on 151 of 263 passes with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions
He has also rushed for another 225 yards and 5 touchdowns. Luke Stevenosky has 160 yards on 42 carries and 3 touchdowns. Jason Cullen leads a trio of receivers with over 500 yards receiving. Cullen has 784 yards on 27 catches and 9 td’s. Brock Polinsky has 36 receptions for 582 yards and 4 scores and Jared Graeff has 544 yards on 45 catches and 7 touchdowns. Minersville is averaging 27ppg.

These teams did not play each other during the regular season, their one common opponent is Palmerton which Northern Lehigh won 43-14 last week whileMinersville lost 45-24.

Hollywood sees this game going to the Bulldogs 49-21.

CATASAUQUA ROUGHRIDERS(7-3) at PALMERTON BLUE BOMBERS(8-2) Saturday 7:10

Catasauqua coming off that 36-2 loss at Northwestern Lehigh Friday night are led by quarterback Christian Frye who has thrown for 858 yards on 50 completions with 8 scores and 5 interceptions. Elijah Soler leads the ground attack with 668yds on 136 rushes with 4 touchdowns. Wyatt Younes is the primary target of Frye’s as he has 490 yards and 6 scores. The Roughriders come into the contest scoring 23ppg.

Palmerton is the second seed and is led by Matthew Machalik 1,157 yards on 79/142 passing 8td’s 5int’s also has rushed for 1,263 yards on 124 carries and 24 scores. Daniel Lucykanish is his top target 432 yards with 25 catches 2 scores. The Bombers are averaging 370 yards/game and 40ppg.

Palmerton defeated Catasauqua 42-8 on September 24th. Machalik was 10/19/162yds/2td’s and had 142 yards rushing on 12 carries and 1 touchdown. Lucykainsh caught three passes for 65 yards and a score.

Hollywood does see this game ending much differently than last time Palmerton 49- Catasauqua 12.

PIAA District XI 3A Playoffs

(6-4) JIM THORPE OLYMPIANS at (7-2) NOTRE DAME GREEN POND CRUSADERS Saturday 7PM

Notre Dame is the only Colonial League team to qualify for the postseason. As stated they are coming off a stunning 42-34 loss to Wilson. The Crusaders only other loss was to North Schuylkill 42-21 on October 8th. Even with missing a couple of games Colin Quintano is back under center and has thrown for 1,893 yards with 22 touchdowns and only 5 picks. Trevor Shay has 337 yards rushing and two scores. Logan Castellano carried the ball 47 times for 320 yards with 8 scores. Tarif Muhammad is the leading receiver with 700 yards on 36 catches and 8 td’s.

Jim Thorpe is coming offa win in the battle of route 209 over Lehighton 28-6. Brett balliet is under center and has 83 completions for 1,002yds and 11 touchdowns. Camron Tinajero is the top rusher with 622 yards and 8 times he has found the end zone. Deryl Fisher is the teams leading receiver with 12.6yds/catch and 5 scores.

This is another rematch from the regular season as the Crusaders, though threatened at times, cruised to a 49-21 win. Quintano set the school record with 501 yards passing and 6 touchdowns. Muhammad had nearly 200 yards and two scores in that game.

I am sure the Crusaders are stinging from Friday night’s loss and expect to take out their frustrations on the Olympians as the Crusaders would like another shot at North Schuylkill still a possibility. Crusaders win 56-18.

PIAA DISTRICT XI 4A PLAYOFF CONTESTS

WILSON AREA WARRIORS(7-3) at NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH TIGERS(10-0)

The Tigers concluded their perfect regular season with a 36-2 win over Catasauqua. Justin Holmes is a Kent State commit and has completed 60 of 107 passes for 1,1141 yards 14td’s and 4 int’s, he has rushed for another 1,099 yards on 147 carries with 19 touchdowns. Sophomore Dalton Clymer has 81 carries for 543 yards 6 scores. Cade Christopher has rushed for 420 yards and adds another 594 yards receiving on 30 receptions and 16 total touchdowns. Clymer has 61 tackles on defense and the defense has forced 17 turnovers.

Wilson has had a roller coaster ride this season starting out at 5-0, but then suffered three staright losses to NW Lehigh 42-6, 43-8 to Pottsville and 37-6 to Bangor. Then came the signature win of the season last week 42-34 at NDGP. Quarterback Cayden Stem has thrown for 1,933 yards on 111/194 passing with 24 touchdowns and 9 picks. Damian Simpson has rushed for 707 yards with 11 scores. Damon Simpson has caught 21 balls for 640 yards and 8 touchdowns. Jackson Millen leads the team in tackles with 85 as a freshman.

These teams met at Wilson on October 2nd, Holmes only threw for 64 yards on 4 of 8 passing and 1td, but rushed for 205 yards on 12 carries and 3 touchdowns. Thge defense sacked Stem 5 times in a 42-6 win. Stem was 6/18/31yds 0td’s and 1 pick.

Wilson should have some momentum coming off last weeks’ win but Coach Snyder should have his Tigers well prepared for an improved Warrior team. The key will be can the Wilson big guys up front give Stem time in the pocket. In those three losses in the middle of the season Stem had no chance in the pocket and was sacked numerous times 11 times between NW and Bangor alone.

Northwestern is poised to get to that championship game either against Pottsville or Allentown Central Catholic. Northwestern 38 Wilson 21

PIAA DISTRICT XI 5A PLAYOFF GAME

(4-6) SOUTHERN LEHIGH SPARTANS at (3-6) WHITEHALL ZEPHYRS Friday 7pm

Two teams trending in opposite directions, Southern Lehigh started out 0-6,but it was a brutal schedule: 42-7 to Quakertown, 53-14 to Notre Dame-GP, 34-19 to Northwestern Lehigh, 35-14 to Bangor, 42-14 to Wilson and 42-26 to Pottsville. The spartans rallied to win their last four games. James Wisecarver is the signal-caller and has thrown for 711 yards on 46/97 passes 4 touchdowns but 6 interceptions. Running back Blaze Curry has carried the ball 133 times for 783 yards and 9 scores. Wisecarver has rushed for 558 yards and 6 touchdowns. Avery Koser has 10 catches for 180 yards and one score. Nick Ventreska leads the team in tackles with 43.

Whitehall started out 3-0 and had a what was thought at the time, a big win at Bethlehem Catholic 49-14 and a home win on Saquan Barkley night at Zephyr Stadium against Liberty 30-6, but since things have bottomed out for the Zephyrs six straight losses including a Cement Bowl game last week to rival Northampton 7-0. Quinn Wentling was at quarterback to start the year, but an injury allowed Trey Dogmantis to take over. Quinn was 32-52 441 yards 1 td and 2 int’s. Dogamntis is 33/59 377yds 1td and 4 picks. Running backs Damonte Foreman(97/538yds/6td’s) and Nigel Linton(53/412/9scores) have tried to keep the offense flowing. Bryce Bayshore is the leading receiver with 220 yards and Tommy Buskirk leads the defense with 39 tackles. These teams did not play in the regular season.

Southern Lehigh’s last four wins have been against teams either at or below .500. While Whitehall has all six of their losses to teams who made District playoffs. The Spartans have played Whitehall in the playoffs before the last time was for the District Championship in 2020 and came up just short 42-34.

This game should be close as well, but I think Whitehall’s grind through the EPC Schedule should help them prevail 35-24.

In an Eastern Conference Playoff Game on Thursady night Saucon Valley will be at Bangor for the 3/4A title 7pm.

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