District XI Playoffs 4-5-6A Featuring Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Foes.

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Brian Ptashinski | November 9, 2023

BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC GOLDEN HAWKS  (6-5) at ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC VIKINGS (9-2)

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11th 6pm at the ZEPHYR SPORTS COMPLEX, WHITEHALL

DISTRICT XI CHAMPIONSHIP

   Bethlehem Catholic snapped a five game losing streak with a shutout of a very good Blue Mountain squad by a score of 14-0. The Golden Hawks opened up the 2023 campaign by winning their first five games. It was Becahi’s 5th win in 6 tries against the Eagles, who came in the contest with an 8-2 record.

Sophomore quarterback threw for 98 yards last week and had one rushing score as well as a passing touchdown. The Eagles out-gained the Hawks 246-211 and moved the ball consistently, but could not convert on four opportunities inside the Hawks 25 yard line. Vassa struggled completing just five passes in sixteen attempts for 93 yards. On the season he has thrown for 1,230 yards on 69 of 162 attempts, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Central Catholic dominated Bangor last week by a 35-7 count. RB Nathan Schultz returned to the lineup and ran for 151 yards on 21 carries and also had a pick 6. The Vikings will be without several key players due to the transfer eligibility rules. But they still have QB Antonio Fontanez at QB, and WR’s Aiden Sorrentino and Jareel Calhoun at their disposal.

In the first meeting on October 28th, Fontanez was 24-35 359 yards and two touchdowns against their rival, while Vassa struggled  completing only 3 of 13 passing for just 28 yards and ran for 32 yards on 10 carries as the Vikings ended up victorious 24-14. The winner will face the winner of the Jersey Shore vs Selinsgrove District 4 champions next week at a site and time TBA

PREDICTION CENTRAL CATHOLIC 27 BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC 21

WHITEHALL ZEPHYRS (7-4) vs SOUTHERN LEHIGH SPARTANS (10-1)

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10th at CATASAUQHA MS 7PM

DISTRICT XI 5A CHAMPIONSHIP

The Zephyrs are on a three game winning streak after taking down Pocono Mountain West last week 34-10. Carter Troxell ran rushed for 84 yards  on 12 touches and scored twice. QB Trey Dogmanits completed 8 of 17 passes for 121 yards and also threw for two touchdowns against the Panthers. RB Dalton Wickel lead the ground attack with 114 yards on 20 carries  and found the end zone once. The Zephs are 5-0  against the  Spartans since 2016.

RB Cade Sawyer led the Southern Lehigh Spartans last week with 221 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-19 dismantling of East Stroudsburg South . He has rushed for over 1,400 yards on the season and crossed the goal line 30 times this season. The Spartans only loss of the season came against Northwestern Lehigh 42-14 on October 27th.

The last three times these two teams met Whitehall won by scores of 42-34 in 2020, 43-14, in 2021 and 43-17 last year. Dogmanits threw for 275 yards on 11 of 14 passing and five scores. Sawyer was held to just 52 yards on 19 carries.

The winner will face the District 2 champion either Del Val or Abington Heights next week

PREDICTION: This will be best Spartan team that Whitehall will have faced and should give the Zephs all they want but believe the schedule Whitehall plays will give them the edge 31-28.

EMMAUS GREEN HORNETS (6-5) at PARKLAND TROJANS (11-0)

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10th 7PM at OREFIELD MS

DISTRICT XI 6A SEMIFNAL

           This will be a re-match of game played in week 10 as the Trojans got the duke 41-17 also played in Orefield. Trojan QB Luke Spang threw for 230 yards on 12 completions in 16 attempts and four touchdowns. RB Trey Tremba rushed for 94 yards on 19 touches but did not score in that contest.  Emmaus had only 111 yards total rushing in the first meeting on 22 carries where Josiah Williams gained 43 of those yards on 10 carries.

Last week Emmaus knocked off a streaking Bethlehem Freedom by a count of 19-14 at BASD Stadium. Parkland shutout Distrct 4’s Williamsport Millionaires 56-0 last week. QB Jerek Copper led the Green Hornets as he completed 8 of 17 passes for 116 yards  against the Patriots last week. The defense held Freedom’s Chase Walker to just 85 yards passing on 12-27 passing. The running game picked up 160 yards on 38 carries, led by Josiah Williams 60 yards.

Luke Spang threw for 166 yards against the Millionaires completing just eight passes and two touchdowns. Tremba, who only played a half gained 104 yards on 10 touches and scored twice. The winner will face either face Nazareth or Northampton next week for a District title at a neutral site.

PREDICTION: Look for a closer contest than hat happened a couple of weeks ago, but Trojans are on a mission and should advance 35-24.

NORTHAMPTON KONKRETE KIDS (9-2) at NAZARETH BLUE EAGLES (10-1)

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10th 7PM at ANDREW LEH STADIUM

DISTRICT XI 6A SEMIFINAL

                                  These two teams did not meet in the regular season as the K-kids ere in the EPC North and the Blue Eagles played in the South division. Northampton defeated Stroudsburg last week 31-15 behind the running of Caden Henritzy picked up 107 yards on the ground on 17 touches. QB Gavin Taff threw for just 62 yards as the running game took  over the game. Nazareth rolled over District 2 champion Wilkes-Barre Area 42-6 behind the 113 yard performance by RB Jed Bendekovits picking up 113 of teams 252 yards on the night on just a dozen carries.

This will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2020 a 27-20 win for Nazareth. Northampton’s two losses came against EPC South opponents  Allentown Central Catholic 17-16 in overtime in week one and a 45-44 loss to rival Whitehall in week 10. Nazareth’s only defeat came against Parkland on September 15th 31-24.

PREDICTION: This is a chance for Northampton to show they belong , as they come back into the fold next year in the EPC Northampton Division if they can pull out a win. Nazareth is licking their chops with another possible meeting with Parkland next week. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Nazarteh should move on but close 28-21

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