Nazareth takes down Emmaus

Easton, Pen Argyl get back in win column; Freedom cruises

Here is a roundup of the top Lehigh Valley high school football games Friday night in Week 8.

Nazareth 20, Emmaus 14:

One of the season’s best games featured two of the best teams in the area and state. Emmaus (7-0) traveled to Nazareth (6-1), and this game did not disappoint.

Neither team scored a touchdown in the first quarter of a game that was expected to be a high-scoring one. Emmaus attempted a field goal, but it bounced off the right upright. However, Nazareth kicker Chris Bugbee converted a 43-yard field goal later in the quarter to give his team a 3-0 lead.

The game remained 3-0 until Emmaus quarterback Jake Fotta found Tylik Jarvis for a 33-yard touchdown on fourth down to give Emmaus the lead in the second quarter. Both teams’ defenses played well the rest of the quarter, and Nazareth’s Nolan Lobb intercepted a pass in the end zone to conclude the period and send Emmaus up 7-3 at halftime.

On the opening possession of the second half, Nazareth’s high-powered offense, led by quarterback Sonny Sasso, got on the board. Sasso found Frankie Mroz for a 20-yard score, and after the extra point Nazareth led 10-7.

Sasso did not stop there, as the star quarterback scored on a short run to put Nazareth up 17-7 with 3 minutes, 48 seconds left in the third quarter. Emmaus was up for the fight, and the Green Hornets drove down the field, ending the quarter by having a second-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

On the first play of the fourth quarter Emmaus’ Josiah Williams scored, cutting Nazareth’s lead to 17-14 with 11:56 to go in the game.

Emmaus was driving, but it went on fourth-andlong and turned it over on downs. Nazareth took over with 5:13 left. The Blue Eagles drove down the field, but they found themselves with a fourthand-18 from the 25-yard line with 54 seconds left. Bugbee nailed a 42-yard field goal, putting Nazareth up 20-14 with 48 seconds left.

Emmaus got the ball to the Nazareth 20-yard line but completed a pass in the middle of the field and was not able to get out of bounds. The Green Hornets tried to spike the ball for one last play, but time ran out and Nazareth handed Emmaus its first loss of the season.

Easton 26, Liberty 7:

The Red Rovers got on the board first with a 7-yard run by Aidan Hutchinson. It capped a 13-play, 90-yard drive, and Easton led 6-0 with 3:04 left in the first quarter. On fourth down, with 6:54 left in the second quarter, Liberty took the lead 7-6 after Tommy Mason found Karim Brice for a 23-yard score.

Liberty attempted a field goal, but it was blocked by JuJu Fears. Fears then picked off a pass and returned it to the 1, and Hutchinson got back in the end zone to give Easton a 13-7 lead at halftime.

Easton’s offense opened the second half with another big drive, this time a nine-play, 63-yard march capped by Fears scoring from 7 yards out. Easton led 20-7 at the end of the third, then Fears made it 26-7 in favor of Easton with a 14-yard touchdown reception.

Pen Argyl 39, Schuylkill Haven 16: Pen Argyl’s Damian Tyminski caught a 35-yard pass from Brad Rissmiller to put the Green Knights up 6-0. Then Rissmiller found Tyminski again, this time from 10 yards out, to give Pen Argyl a 13-0 lead.

Rissmiller scored his third touchdown of the night as he scored from 7 yards out. Tyminski then scored his third touchdown of the night as well, doing so on a 39-yard pick-six.

Tyminski and Rissmiller started off the second half with their fourth touchdowns after they connected for 57 yards this time, and Pen Argyl was in control, up 33-0. The Tyminski and Rissmiller connection was unstoppable, as the pair connected once more, this time on a 77-yard score, and the Green Knights led 39-0.

Schuylkill Haven scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Saucon Valley 24, Blue Mountain 21:

Saucon Valley scored first on a 30-yard touchdown, and the score remained 7-0 after one quarter. In the second quarter the teams traded touchdowns.

Blue Mountain scored on a 44-yard pass, then Saucon scored on a 20-yard pass. Blue Mountain then tied the game at 14 with a 20-yard touchdown run, but Saucon answered with another touchdown pass to give Saucon a 21-14 lead at halftime.

Both teams’ defenses stepped up in the third, and the score remained 21-14 heading into the fourth. Saucon Valley kicked a field goal to extend the lead to 24-14, but Blue Mountain was able to score again to close the lead to 24-21.

Saucon’s defense stepped up at the end of the game and preserved the win.

Freedom 49, Pleasant Valley 0:

A Pleasant Valley fumble on the first drive foreshadowed what was to come in this game. Freedom recovered and then scored a 5-yard touchdown to go up 7-0, and the Patriots did not look back.

Freedom added two more scores in the first and went into the second quarter leading 21-0. The Patriots scored again before halftime and went into the half up 28-0.

The second half of the game was just like the first, as Freedom added three more scores and dominated the 5-2 Bears.

Catasauqua 21, Panther Valley 0:

Neither team found the end zone in the first quarter, but Catasauqua broke the tie with a 34-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Catty’s Wyatt Younes returned a punt 45 yards to the house, and Catty led 14-0.

The game stayed 14-0 until the fourth, when Catasauqua extended the lead on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Christian Fye to Ian Juica. The Rough Riders’ defense made it a rough night for the Panther Valley offense and preserved the shutout at the end of the game.

Palisades 35, Minersville 6:

The first quarter featured both teams trading punts. It was more of the same in the second quarter. However, Palisades struck first, taking a 7-0 lead with 4:16 left in the half. Palisades followed its first touchdown drive up with a pick-six on defense, and after the extra point, led 14-0 at halftime. Both teams played solid defense again to start the third, but it was Palisades again who got on the board, taking a 21-0 lead at the end of the quarter. In the fourth, Palisades scored on a short touchdown pass to go up 28-0 with 8:45 left. The teams traded late fourth-quarter scores.