Preview: Northampton Returns Home to Face Bethlehem Catholic in Regular Season Finale

Tagged under: District 11, News, pfn

john fox dan di edwardo | October 28, 2026

After a 31-21 road loss to Nazareth, the Northampton Konkrete Kids face their final regular season foe back at Al Erdosy Stadium in Bethlehem Catholic. Northampton will look to finish the season above .500 at 6-4 against a high flying Golden Hawks offense that includes Axel Burkart and Carter Vassa.

Northampton enters this matchup at 5-4 and will look for a similar offensive effort from the one against Nazareth to prove they can score with the best teams in District 11. Chase Kessler led the way for the Northampton offense last week against the Blue Eagles with 23 carries for 135 yards and will need another big game against a Golden Hawks team that has scored 35+ points in all but 2 games this season. Keeping the Becahi offense off the field and winning time of possession with Kessler and QB Zion McKinney’s running ability (8 carries for 69 yards and 1 TD against Nazareth) will increase their chances at a statement win against one of the most complete units they will face this season. Northampton also needs to get the passing game established to keep the Becahi defense honest with Colby Brearman (2 catches for 47 yards and 1 TD against Nazareth). Complimentary football is something the Konkrete Kids need more of as the defense was gashed last week by Nazareth’s high powered offense, despite the game being tied at 21 at half, and the week before only putting up 14 points on offense against Freedom at home when the defense only held them to 17 points.

Bethlehem Catholic enters this game at 7-2 and coming off a 42-28 win over their BASD Stadium rivals in the Liberty Hurricanes. QB Axel Burkart turned in a strong performance going 24/32 for 469 yards and 4 TDs in that game, with WR Carter Vassa catching 12 passes for 249 yards and a TD. It was another day at the office for the Golden Hawks offense that has scored at least 42 in their last 5 games. The Golden Hawks have an offense that can grind teams down and force opposing offenses to play catch up. In there recent 5 game stretch, only Nazareth has been able to keep pace with them, with the Blue Eagles coming away with a 52-49 victory as time expired on a game winning field goal. On defense, Bethlehem Catholic has to just make the stops they need and let the offense do their job. Despite their 1-1 record in their last 2, the defense has been shaky, allowing at least 28 points in both contests, and one of them against a 2-7 Liberty team that hasn’t had a consistent offense all year. If Becahi wants to win games comfortably, the defense has to go back to making the timely stops they have made prior to the past 2 game stretch.

This game will come down to what offense controls the game and time of possession and what defense makes the timely stops. Northampton has to get back to that formula that has ailed them the past 2 weeks, and Becahi needs to trust their offensive playmakers of Axel Burkart, Carter Vassa, and Justin Martinez to make those timely plays like they have all year. There is a lot riding on this game, like potential playoff seeding and whatever offense starts the fastest will come away with the victory.