Coach Evancho leads the Panthers to Catasauqua
Saucon Valley was expected to win Friday night and they did. The Panthers remained unbeaten with a 55-13 drubbing of the Catasauqua Rough Riders. Evan Culver had another remarkable game running behind the “Hogs” for 185-yards on only 12 carries. Culver found the end-zone four times.
Coach Evancho reminds his team to keep their cool
The anticipated result did not come without some drama, however. Catty knew they were in for a battle against the #4 ranked team in the area according to the Express Times. Catasauqua knew they would have to live up to their Rough Rider moniker to have any chance at beating these Panthers. The Roughies, however, were too rough. Catty finished the game with 120 yards in penalties, many of them personal fouls. The game was so rough, in fact, Panther Coach Matt Evancho burned two of his first half time-outs, not just to redirect and regroup his team, but rather, to consult with the referees about the illicit tone of the game and the protection of his players. The Roughies seemingly tried to push the Panthers to sidetrack their focus and get them off their game. But for the most part Saucon Valley took the high road and went about their usual business of winning football games.
Mike Kane shakes off a tackle on the way to the endzone
Saucon senior Mike Kane got the scoring started with a 20-yard touchdown reception off a play-action pass from Zach Thatcher. Kane’s catch capped a four-play drive. The Panthers would miss the extra-point and take a 6-0 lead.
The Panther defense forced Catty to turn the ball over on downs stopping a 4th and 9 conversion at mid-field. This allowed the Saucon offense to get back to work and they did not disappoint. It took only three plays for the Panthers to reach the end-zone. Saucon’s Evan Culver rumbled then raced off left tackle for a 42-yard touchdown run. Josh Snead converted the extra point to take a 13-0 first quarter lead for the Panthers.
Catty answered with a patchwork 14-play drive to claw their way to the scoreboard. This drive included a 32-yard acrobatic catch by Corey Raysley with Panther safety Zach Thatcher draped all over him and a 4th and 4 conversion by the Roughies that looked to be an incomplete pass to everybody in the stadium except the referee. The scenic route to points made the score 13-7.
Mike Kane leads the SV sack attack
Saucon Valley rallied with a 10 play drive that ended with an Evan Culver 14-yard scamper on a draw play to extend the Panther lead. The Saucon defense stiffened and kept Catty out of the end-zone for the duration of the half. Both teams hit the locker-room with Saucon leading 20-7.
Evan Culver runs for another touchdown against Catty
The 3rd Quarter was all Panthers with Evan Culver scoring twice and Zach Thatcher once. Culver scored on touchdown runs of 40 and 3-yards. Thatcher got six after he scrambled right then reversed field around the left end for a 20-yard score. Snead would make his kicks and Thatcher hit Nathan Harka for a 2-point conversion to put Saucon up 42-7. The 35 point margin put the mercy-rule into effect.
Sophomore Zach Petiet motors for a 39 yard touchdown
Saucon added a 2-yard power plunge by junior Abe Lugo and a 39-yard touchdown dash by speedy sophomore Zach Petiet. Catty used their timeouts and finished all scoring with a 3-yard touchdown reception with 11 seconds remaining. Catty would go for two, but the pass try was well defended by sophomore Steven Rose. It was a great opportunity for the Panthers to get some youngsters playing time.
Sophomore Steven Rose playing good defense
Next week the Panthers will return home to defend their unbeaten 4-0 record against 3-1 Northwestern Lehigh. The Tigers were the only Colonial League team to defeat the 2014 Panthers. Will the Panthers get their revenge in 2015? It should be another great night for Panther football.
Be sure to check out the Saucon Source Pregame Football Focus on Friday morning for a preview of the game!