Big Game by Cayden Vassa Leads Bethlehem Catholic Past Berks Catholic
Tagged under: District 11, District 3, Gameday Hub, News
Billy Splain | September 6, 2024
Guest Contributor: lsvsports.com/
Fresh off his first head coaching victory at Berks Catholic, Dave Stahler had his sights set on the Golden Hawks Thursday night. However, Bethlehem Catholic cruised by the Saints, despite getting in their own way repeatedly throughout the night.
Bethlehem Catholic established their offense early, going on a 12 play, 92 yard drive that spanned just over six minutes. Jeziah Gregory had big gainers of 16 and 12 yards, while Cayden Vassa gained nine on a designed keeper and completed an 11-yard pass to Bryce Medina. Vassa kept it on a 4th & 1 from the Saints’ 9 and went all the way in for the score.
Berks Catholic took over at its own 30, trailing 7-0. The Golden Hawks were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, the first of eleven enforced penalties against Becahi, pushing the Saints just over midfield. The drive would end on a big sack by Carlos Perez, who chased down QB Zach Suski on 4th & 6.
With the turnover on downs, Becahi took over on the Saints 45, but after a holding call and false start, Cayden Vassa was picked off by Scott Duffy on a deep ball near the end zone. Unfortunately for Duffy, he went down just outside the goal line and his team was backed up on their own 1-yard line. Following a three and out, Beca again took over in excellent field position at the Saints 44. Despite a 17-yard completion for Vassa to Medina, the Hawks continued to back themselves up. This time, it was a holding call followed by a desperation throw in the backfield to Gregory for a loss of four. On 4th & 29, the Hawks punted, pinning Berks Catholic back at its own 18.
One play later, Isaiah Brown read Suski’s eyes over the middle and picked him off, setting up Beca in the red zone. Carter Vassa went up to snag a pass from his brother for a gain of 12 and Cayden ran it in from there, three yards for the score.
Trailing 14-0, Berks Catholic went on a 14 play drive that ate nearly six minutes off the second quarter clock. On an enormous 4th & 7 call, Suski completed his first pass along the far sideline to Jackson Kozik, who was able to twist around and haul in the ball for 15 yards. The Saints kept running the ball for short gains, eventually reaching the 14 of Beca. The drive stalled on the ten and the Saints settled for a 30-yard field goal to make the score 14-3, knowing they would get the ball to open the second half.
While the Hawks ran 20 of their 25 first half plays in Saints territory, they were penalized six times; Berks ran 17 of its 24 first half plays on the other side of midfield, but was thwarted by the likes of Carlos Perez and Jonathan Ayache keeping the running game in check.
On the first drive of the second half, Nate Rose broke off his second longest run of the night for 22 up the far side, crossing midfield into Bethlehem Catholic territory once again. Carlos Perez pressured Suski, causing Suski to throw a 3rd down pass away and hurrying him into a 4th down throw to Rose for negative yardage.
The Hawks’ penalties woes reached their peak on the next drive, as two personal fouls put the team in a 1st & 40 situation. One play later, Cayden Vassa flipped the field on a 52-yard scramble up the middle. Momentum was stunted a play later, as Cayden completed a pass to his brother, but Carter had the ball knocked out of his hands. Nate Rose recovered the fumble.
Rose had a long gain called back on the ensuing drive, forcing a three and out and setting up Bethlehem Catholic in prime position one more time. A personal foul against the Saints moved the ball to the Berks 34, where Justin Martinez broke off a 14 yard gain and Gregory gained 11. Gregory took it in from eight yards out to extend the lead to 21-3 for the Hawks.
Following a big kick return that started the Saints at the Hawks 39, Rose finally ripped off the big run he had been looking for all night–a 39 yard touchdown run in wide open space over the left side. Momentum was suddenly with the Saints. Two plays later, Cayden Vassa was stripped on a keeper and Palmer Reber was on the football. On the very next play, the air came out of the balloon as Aiden Curley fumbled it right back to Emery Oberholzer.
Off an eight yard Carter Vassa catch, Berks Catholic was flagged for a personal foul. Cayden Vassa then completed a pass to Medina for 16, setting the team up three yards from pay-dirt. Cayden took it in for his third score of the night for a 28-10 lead. With Zach Suski exiting the game late in the third quarter, Berks Catholic took over with 10:06 to play and ran the ball sixteen consecutive times to end the game.
The Golden Hawks(2-1) amassed 200 rushing yards on the night, while Vassa was also 9/14 for 95 yards through the air. Penalties were a big problem, as 10 were enforced for 100 yards and another took away a long punt return in the second quarter. Becahi will look to clean things up and keep momentum going when they travel to Easton next Friday night.
In the loss, Nate Rose ran 17 times for 92 yards and a score. Xavier Gerald saw significant time in the second half, racking up 43 yards on 11 carries. The Saints(1-2) will look to get back on track next week when they welcome Pequa Valley.
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