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Jalen Fletcher and Freedom Patriots Too Much For Central Catholic To Overcome Saturday Night.

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

| September 25, 2022

The Allentown Central Vikings Youth Football Teams were recognized prior to kickoff Saturday night
By Brian Ptashinski @BPtashinski on Twitter

ALLENTOWN- Both the Bethlehem Freedom Patriots and Allentown Central Catholic Vikings came into their contest Saturday night at historic J. Birney Crum Stadium looking to keep the momentum of last weeks’ wins. The Vikings knocking off Parkland 21-14 on the road and Freedom taking down then unbeaten Nazareth in a shootout 45-35 at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.

Freedom (3-2) got the best of the Central Catholic (3-2) by a score of 32-14 in a key Eastern Pensylvania Conference South contest on Andre Reed Field on a early Autumn evening.

Behind the running of the current National Football Federation- Lehigh Valley Chapter Player of the Week, Jalen Fletcher, who accounted for four touchdowns on 25 carries for 163 yards on the evening. The Patriots jumped out to a 20-0 lead and were never really threatened after that.

The first quarter was a scoreless draw as both teams had two possessions and neither could find their way to put points on the board. The second quarter was another story as the Patriots but up 20 points in about a nine minute span, with Fletcher leading the way.

The Patriots took the ball at their own 40 late in the opening twelve minutes and proceeded to drive to the Viking ten, Fletcher capped it off with a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter to make it 7-0.

On the next Central Catholic drive, they were forced to punt, but the snap went over the head of punter Griffen Patridege, that he was able to gather but could only kick it out of bounds at the 45 of the Vikings. Freedom moved it inside the five where they looked to be forced for a possible field goal, but Jason Roeder’s team decided to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the three. Quarterback Ethan Neidig on a semi-roll was able to find his receiver Justin Peluso who made the catch at the 6:52 mark to make it 14-0.

The Vikings then had a questionable fumble call go against them on their next possession, giving the ball back to Freedom at their own 35. Seven plays later Fletcher found his way into the end zone from twa yard out. The PAT was blocked leaving the score at 20-0 with 3:12 still on the clock.

Allentown Central Catholic avoided by going down more points just before intermission as a Neidig pass was picked off by DB Armonie Torres leaping interception leaving the lead at 20 as both teams went off to the locker room.

That stop seemed to inspire the Vikings in the second half, as they got the ball to start the third quarter and promptly went on a 75 yard nine play drive as Caiden Shaffer plowed in from one yard and Tamlin Ferguson connected on the PAT to make it 20-7 with 7:32 left. The drive was aided by a pass interference call and a subsequent unsportsman like call that advanced the ball 30 yards.

After taking a short kickoff and returning it to the Freedom 41, the Patriots answered right back in just seven plays as Fletcher score this time from five yards and again the PAT was no good leaving the score at 26-7 with just over three minutes left in the quarter.

In the final quarter, Central Catholic benefited on a bad snap on a Freedom punt and blocked the attempted kick to take over at the Freedom six. Shaffer would score just three plays later from two yards out to make it 26-14 with 7:52 left.

Once again working with great field position from the Patriots 47. Freedom drove the 53 yards on just seven plays and again it was Fletcher with his fourth score from a yard out with PAT missed ended the score at leaving it at 32-14 with 3:18 left.

There are some similarities to last season for Freedom as they started out 2-2 before going unbeaten the rest of the way to a District XI 6A championship before a close 24-21 loss to eventual PIAA State Runner-up St. Joe’s Prep in the State playoffs.

Here is what Jalen Fletcher stated after Saturday’s win.

Freedom now at 3-2 will be back at J. Birney Crum next Friday to face a winless William Allen squad who got smoked by Easton 62-21 Friday. Allentown Central Catholic (3-2) will also be back at JBC Saturady to face Dieruff (1-4) who lost to Stroudsburg Friday 28-31.

Here is Freedom coach Jason Roeder said after the win at Allentown Central Catholic.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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