Hollywood’s Cutting Room Floor-District XI 6A Semifinal Playoff Part I.
Tagged under: District 11, News, pfn, Playoffs
Brian "Hollywood" Ptashinski | November 9, 2022
9-2 Bethlehem Freedom Patriots at 10-1 Emmaus Green Hornets, Thursday 7pm EPSD Stadium. District XI 6A Semifinal.
A re-match of an opening weekend contest, which Emmaus defeated Freedom 19-13 at Bethlehem School District Stadium. This game will be played on Thursday due to a tropical storm that is expected to hit Eastern Pennsylvania on Friday, so there have been several games either moved up or pushed back to Saturday. Please keep tabs on pafootballnews.com for all the latest updates around the state.
These two programs met last year with the District XI championship on the line, which was won by Freedom 28-14 to advance to the state playoffs. There will be no shortage of marquee players for both squads. For Freedom, who are coming off a 38-0 shutout of District 2 champion last week Hazleton Area Cougars. The Patriots were without their star running back Jalen Fletcher who was out with an injury. Jiovanni Richardson and Aaron Beete combined for 116 yards on 17 carries. Quarterback Ethan Neidig threw for 252 yards on 12 of 16 passing and three touchdowns. Neidig has completed 79 of 135 passes on the season for 1,317 yards with 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.In the first meeting with Emmaus he only threw for 92 yards. Fletcher leads the team in rushing with 1,230 yards on 162 carries with 20 touchdowns. Owen Johnson is Neidig’s favorite target with 376 yards on 24 receptions, but he also has Jayden Colon with 12 catches and Jalen Fletcher has also added ten catches on the season. Owen Johnson also leads the defense with 66 tackles and three sacks. Alexie Sangster is second on the team in tackles with 63 and has two picks. Fletcher in the first meeting had 88 yards on 7 carries and a touchdown.
Emmaus comes into the contest coming off a win over the Wolfpack of Wilkes-Barre Area, another team that represented District 2 with a 42-14 win last week at home. Quarterback Jake Fotta threw for just 106 yards but had three touchdowns on 10 of 13 passing.running backs Jesiyah Banks and Tylik Jarvis led the ground attack with 62 and 40 yards respectively with each scoring once. Rafael Terrero caught five passes for 61 yards and a score. Chase Fotta had three receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown, Dylan Daville also added a scoring pass. Jake Fotta’s numbers on the season look like this 112 for 178 passing and 1,904 yards 22 touchdowns and just two picks. In the first meeting with Freedom he was 8 of 13 138 yards and a touchdown. Jarvis leads the team in rushing with 756 yards on 134 carries and 8 touchdowns. Darville is the leading receiver with 51 catches and 960 yards with 12 scores. Aiden Garrett is the leading tackler with 89 and 5 sacks this season. Darville on defense has a team leading 5 interceptions.
What’s At Stake:A Date with either Parkland or Northampton next week in the District 6A championship and a berth in the state playoffs.
Hollywood’s Take: This should be another hard hitting physical contest. Freedom would like nothing better but to avenge that week one loss at home, but Emmaus remembers how five turnovers in the District championship game ended their season. Going with Freedom to move on 24-22.
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