The Funding Zone
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
 
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
CoachComm Cobalt Plus
Turf Tank
 

Dramatic Last-Second Field Goal Lifts Catasauqua to Victory Saturday Night.

Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 6, 2022

Seventeen Point Rally Lifts Catasauqua to District Championship Game.

KINTNERSVILLE- They say it’s difficult to beat a team twice in the same season, let alone one-upping a contest that went into overtime the first time Palisades and Catasauqua met but on Saturday night on the turf at Walter T. Rohrer Stadium with a berth into the District XI 2A Championship game the game was an instant classic.

Trailing for two-and-a-half quarters, the Catasauqua Roughriders dug down deep within themselves to score seventeen unanswered points in the second half, which concluded on a last second field goal with a 17-14 win. The win placed them in the District Championship game at Whitehall Zephys Stadium next Saturday at 1pm against Executive Education Charter School and a spot in the state playoffs on the line.

Irinically in week nine it was the Roughriders with a 14 point lead that the Pirates erased with a 20-17 OT win that gave Palisades the Schuylkill/Colonial League title. A lot more was at stake Saturday, however.

Palisades quarterback Kai Stianson got the scoring started with a one yard run midway through the opening quarter capping off a 76 yard ten play drive. a forty yard pass play set the Pirates up for the initial score.

The Pirates would extend the lead to 14-0 with 6:25 left in the half on a Steven Lilly 12 yard yard as he broke through several would-be Roughies tacklers on his way to the end zone. Greg Borgenson would add his second PAT as no further scoring would occur and the teams left the field for halftime.

Some photos and video provided by Krissy Laskowski @krisyPfn on Twitter

Catasauqua’s defense became more aggressive in their scheme after half as they put more pressure on Stiansen and kept Lilly pretty much in check the final twenty-four minutes. The decision paid off on the Pirates opening drive as Wyatt Younes picked off a Stiansen pass and gave Catty great field position. RB Jyziah Bonilla plowed in from a yard out to cut the deficit in half at 14-7. Christian Fye made the PAT.

The game would be tied to start the fourth quarter as Fye would find Ian Juica in the end zone and Juica made a diving catch for a 30 yard touchdown.

Both defenses made some big plays in the last twelve minutes as the offenses could not sustain drives and both teams would have turnover issues. The Roughriders threw two interceptions but the Pirates could not capitalize as they were shut down at the 25 yard line.

Aiden Hess of Catasauqua the picked off a a Stiansen pass and returned it to the 44. Hess was also on a tackle to stuff a Pirate run and held Lilly to a two yard loss.

The game-winning drive had a couple of key moments as Catty had to convert a third and a fourth down to keep possession. The latter was a 16 yard pass completion from Fye to Juica to setup the dramatic kick with just three seconds left and the ball sitting on the 19 yard line, Fye lined up his field goal attempt and drilled it with plenty to spare as his teammates rushed the field.

Palisades season ends at 8-3 and had won the 2020 District XI title. This will be Catasauqua’s first chance to win a District XI title since 2013 as they face Executive Education who upset Williams Valley Saturday night 22-20 in the other 2A semifinal.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
QwikCut
 
GoRout
 
Rainbow Lettering
 
x