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Bethlehem Catholic Survives Northampton’s 2nd Half Comeback and Hung on For the Win 24-21

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| October 25, 2025

Bethlehem Catholic Survives Northampton’s 2nd Half Comeback

Bethlehem Catholic scored 17 unanswered points in the 1st half and kept Northampton off the board till 8 seconds left in the 2nd quarter and that made 17-6. The 2nd half went more Northampton’s way and scored twice. But they came up short and lost to Beca 24-21 in their regular season finale. Northampton had opportunities, including late in the 1st quarter, Cameron Hersch had a nice return from their own 21yd line to Beca’s 42yd line and the Kids drove to Beca’s 6yd line, but turned the ball over on downs on 4th and 4. Turnovers that nasty word, no coach wants to hear. Interceptions 3 total and 2 that killed long drives for Northampton, one by Armondo Thom in the 1st quarter that started on their own 12yd line to the 42 of Beca. And another in the 4th quarter, this time by Mason Thomas after the Kids drove from their own 37yd line to Beca’s 17yd line.

Beca got the party started when Axel Burkart threw to Rodney Brodie for 45yds and a touchdown at 7:35 in the 1st quarter and the Golden Hawks led 7- 0.

Their next score came on the ground when Axel Burkart ran from Beca’s 23yd line for the score with 42 seconds left in the 1st quarter and that made the score 14-0

 

Beca was knocking on the door again and came up a little short, but on 4th and 4 from the 7yd line Aaron Geiger kicked a field goal, and that put Beca up 17-0 at 1:25 in the 2nd quarter.

 

With only 1:25 left before the end of the 1st half, Northampton and Gavin Taff put together a 69yd drive where he connected with 4 different receivers and drove to the 3yd line. Then Taff threw to the 5th different receiver on the drive Sincere Wadlington for a touchdown with 8 seconds left in the half and after a missed point after, the Kids closed the gap to 17-6 and that was the score at the half.

 

Northampton did what they needed too, to start the 2nd half and that was score on their 1st possession. It only took 4 plays including Taff to Wadlington for 55yds to the 10yd line and two plays later Zander Rickert ran it in from the 5yd line 8:09 in the 3rd quarter and cut the lead to 17-14.

 

Beca’s next possession didn’t result in a score, but starting on their own 25yd line and drove to Northampton’s 25yd line before turning the ball over on downs. But Northampton’s drive was cut short by another interception, this one by Emery Oberholzer, would end the Kids drive before it started giving Beca the ball at Northampton’s 19yd line. And only a few plays later Axel Burkart had his 2nd rushing touchdown of the night and with the point after Bethlehem Catholic led 24-14 with 10:36 left in the 4th quarter.

 

After Beca turned the ball on downs, Northampton put together a drive that started on their own 5yd line to Beca’s 12yd line. Then Gavin Taff threw to Joey High for the touchdown at 2:07 left in the game and that made the score 24-21.

Bethlehem Catholic got a 1st on 4th and 1, that was enough to ride out the clock and hold on for the win 24-21, in a game that really was not over, till it was over, with Northampton making a second half run to win the game. Beca is 6-4 on the season and Northampton drops to 4-6. Both teams will in the playoffs, so follow me, John Fox and Pa Football News and get all your bracket matchups and playoff results.

John Fox and I caught up Coach Bernard after the game.

Caught up Axel Burkart after the game, he threw for one and ran for two touchdowns

 

 

Caught up with next man up Antonio Salamoni after the game, who gained the majority of Beca’s 172yds on the ground

 

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