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District 11 3A Playoffs: Notre Dame Crusaders Win Big 56-6 Over Salisbury Falcons

Tagged under: District 11, Game Photos-Videos, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| October 31, 2025

Neither the Rain nor Salisbury Was Able Slow Down Notre Dame

The rain had stopped an hour before kickoff of last night’s District 11 3A 1st round playoff between the Crusaders and the Falcons at Catasauqua Field. But about ten minutes before the game, mother nature let loose and so did Notre Dame. The Crusaders scored 42 first half points, on their way to a 56-6 win over the Falcons. Salisbury was hoping the weather was going to slow down Matt Bodnar and the high powered offense of Notre Dame. But that went right out the window when the Crusaders scored early and often, putting up 42 1st half points and allowing none. The rain let up, but the Crusaders didn’t and not just on offense. Notre Dame scored twice on interceptions after the defense forced Salisbury to throw the ball to keep pace.

Notre Dame Won the toss and elected to receive the opening kick and wasted no time. On the second play from scrimmage Matt Bodnar threw to Alex Clark for a 48yd touchdown pass and the Crusaders led 7-0 with 11:14 in the 1st quarter.

Salisbury started on their own 35yd line and with Jacob Watson grinding out the yards and got 2 1st downs before the drive stalled at the 48yd line of Notre Dame and they punted to the Crusaders. On 2nd and eight from the 39yd line Matt Bodnar threw to Jonathan Striba and connected for 23yds to the 38yd line of Salisbury. That set up Faustie Capobianco, who ran for a 38yds and the score and halfway through the 1st quarter at the 6:02 mark and crusaders led 14-0

The Falcons went back to Jacob Watson on the ground with some success, but on 2nd and long Iovani Lopez-Rodriguez threw an interception, that Nyechay Lawless returned for a touchdown and at 2:54 in the 1st quarter, the Crusaders led 21-0.

Salisbury’s next possession started at their own 24yd line, a false start moved them back 5 to the 19yd line and the Falcons pulled off a flea flicker Lopez-Rodriguez to Jadiel Gonzalez, who threw to Alexander Moren for 17yds to the 36yd line, but the drive stalled and the Falcons punted to Notre Dame. The Crusaders wasted no time adding to their lead when Jonathan Striba ran from 3yds out and put Notre Dame up by a score of 28-0 at 10:36 in the 2nd quarter.

 

Salisbury and Notre Dame traded possessions, till on 2nd and ten from the Falcons 38yd line back-up quarterback Tommy Murphy ran for the score and increased the Crusaders lead to 35-0 at 2:24 in the 2nd quarter.

The Falcons needed a score, but on 3rd and ten from their own 23yd line Caden Ditze returned an interception for a touchdown and Notre Dame led by a score of 42-0 with 42 seconds left in the half.

42-0 would be the score at halftime.

The Falcons got the ball to start the second half, but still was not able to put a scoring drive together and punted to Notre Dame. The Crusaders started on the 44yd line of Salisbury and on 1st and 10 Faustie Capobianco 19yds to the 25yd line and two plays later Matt Bodnar threw his 2nd touchdown pass of the night, this time to Jonathan Striba his 2nd score of the night for 25yds and the point after Notre Dame led 49-0.

 

 

The Crusaders were not done scoring and pulled off a flea flicker of their own, when Tommy Murphy pitched the ball to Jason Frederick, who then threw to John Hull for the score from 5yds out and put the Crusaders up 56-0 with 9:22 in the 4th quarter.

 

 

Salisbury really wanted to avoid the shutout and pulled out all the stops including a fake punt on 4th and five from their own 25yd line and TE Christian Olesak ran for a 1st down to the 44yd line. Then on on 2nd and 31 from the Crusaders 41yd line Lopez-Rodriguez threw to Jamanni Cruz for the score. A failed 2pt try made the score 56-6 with 14 sec left in the game.

 

56-6 was the final score, the Crusaders dominated from the start and never really let the Falcons in the game. This is a big win for coach Stambaugh and his Crusaders, but only the 1st step to a District 11 title on their way to states.

John Fox @EaglesD15812 caught up Matt Bodnar after the game. Matt threw 2 touchdown passes, one for 44yds to Alex Clark and 25yds to Jonathan Striba.

 

John Fox also got to talk to Jonathan Striba, he ran for a touchdown and caught a 25yd pass for a score.

 

And don’t forget for all your playoff news follow @DanDiEdwardo @EaglesD15812 and @PaFootballNews

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