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Whitehall Snaps Three Game Losing Streak With Overtime Win Thursday Night.

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

| October 20, 2023

Whitehall, playing on a short week, staves off upset minded Bethlehem Liberty Thursday night.

BETHLEHEM- Coming off a 30-14 loss this past Saturday night to Allentown Central Catholic, the Whitehall Zephyrs held off a Bethlehem Liberty valiant effort in a thrilling 23-20 overtime win Thursday night before a moderate crowd at Bethlehem School District Stadium.

The win ended a three game losing streak for he Zephyrs, who are in the race to clinch a home playoff spot in the upcoming District XI 5A playoff race. The Zephyrs are currently in third place behind Southern Lehigh and Pocono Mountain West in the four team bracket.

Whitehall took the opening kickoff, only to go three-and-out and was forced to punt the ball to the Hurricanes. Liberty began to advance the ball near the red zone, but a fumble ended the threat.

On their second possession, Whitehall advanced the ball into Liberty territory and from the 36, quaterback Trey Dogmanits would hand the ball off to his brother Talon on an end around, however Talon would loft a perfect pass to WR Jack Kocher, who was wide open near the five yard line and Kocher would score easily giving the Zephs a 7-0 lead after a Andrew Deutsch PAT at the 7:32 mark of the first quarter.

Liberty would pull to within one point with just under a minute left in the quarter as Gabriel Green would cap off a Hurricanes drive as he reached the end zone from six yards out, but the extra-point was no good leaving the score at 7-6.

In the second quarter, Liberty would grab the lead at 12-7 as quarterback Caden Vermuelen would hook up with Jahsi Cole for a 24 yard touchdown pass with 7:38 left in the half, but the try for a two-point conversion came up short.

A one yard run by Dalton Wickel would give the lead back to Whitehall with just over a minute left before intermission. The Zephyrs also attempted a two-point conversion that was unsuccessful leaving the score at 13-12.

Liberty received the second half kickoff and went on a time consuming drive that had them at the doorstep to another score, but a 29 yard field goal attempt was wide right. The Zephyrs could do no better when they got the ball back and were forced to punt late in the third quarter.

A 23 yard touchdown pass from Vermuelen to Jacob Pukszyn had Liberty take the lead back and with a Vermuelen run for the two-point conversion gave the lead to the Hurricanes at 20-13 with just 1:10 left in the quarter.

Whitehall tied the game up at 20 at the 6:52 mark of the final quarter as Trey Dogmanits connected with Kocher on a 16 yard touchdown pass, as Kocher outraced the Liberty defender into the corner of the end zone.

Both teams had a chance to end the game in regulation as Whitehall had the ball at their own 41 at the five minute mark, but could not convert. Liberty got the ball back with 3:45 left at their own 21. They moved the ball to the Whitehall 39, but facing a fourth down with ten seconds left a Vermuelen pass came up short and the Zephyrs took over with just four seconds left as they just took a knee to force overtime.

Whitehall won the option and decided to play defense first. Overtime rules in high school is each team gets possession from the 10 yard line A great defensive play on a Hurricanes pass to the back corner of the end zone kept Liberty off the scoreboard. Two runs got the ball to the three and facing a fourth down. Liberty lined up for the go-ahead field goal, but instead they ran a fake, and the pass was incomplete as the Zephs had it read perfectly.

With the ball on the ten for Whitehall, they ran the ball three straight times, setting up Deutsch for a 23 yard field goal and the win as he drilled it between the uprights for the win.

Whitehall improved to 5-4 with just one game left for the “Cement Belt Trophy” at Northampton next Friday. The 7-1 Konkrete Kids are at East Stroudsburg North Friday night. Bethlehem Liberty 2-7 will close out their 2023 campaign next Saturday afternoon against “Christmas City” rival Bethlehem Freedom. The Patriots will be at Emmaus Friday night in a key EPC South contest.

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