The third-seeded Panthers were hoping for a repeat of their last matchup with fourth seed Bethlehem Catholic in 2015, but Friday night’s District 11 championship game didn’t end in Saucon Valley’s favor.
The title game at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown was the third matchup in three consecutive years between Saucon Valley and Bethlehem Catholic–and this district final game definitely had a revenge factor.
Two years ago, Bethlehem Catholic won 49-7 in the district finals. Last year, Saucon Valley beat Beca 14-6 in the District Semi Finals. Both teams wanted Friday’s win badly, but only one could claim the title of 4A District 11 Football Champion.
About two thirds of game spectators were Saucon Valley fans. The excitement in the atmosphere was
indicative that it was going to be a good game, and there was optimism in the air, as evidenced by Panther Head Coach Phil Sams’ statement earlier in the week that, “all we have to do is play our hearts out. What happens, happens.”
Beca was the first on the scoreboard with a touchdown with two minutes left in the first quarter. The PAT was good, making the score Beca 7, Saucon 0.
The Panther defense tried to trip up the Golden Hawks and had several chances, with Dino Zaharakis tipping a ball intended for a Beca receiver as well as a block by Kory Kemmerer that almost resulted in an interception.
Beca scored their second touchdown in the second quarter. The PAT was good even though
Saucon got a hand on it, bringing the score to Beca 14, Saucon Valley 0.
Saucon answered that deficit by getting on the scoreboard with a touchdown by Nate Kehs. Josh Snead’s PAT was good and the score was Beca 14, Saucon 7.
Beca then set up for a field goal, but faked it and ran the ball instead. Panther Alstan Wolfe
predicted the move and stopped Beca, moving them back 12 yards.
Wolfe made Saucon’s second touchdown bringing the score closer, to 14-13, and Snead’s PAT tied it up before halftime, when it seemed the momentum had definitely swung in favor of Saucon and the Panthers were optimistic as they headed to the locker room.
Since the Panthers’ kickoff at the beginning of the second half went out of bounds, Beca started
play at the 50-yard line.
Less than a minute and 30 seconds into the second half, Beca’s offense struck with an 11-yard touchdown. Wolfe got a hand on Beca’s PAT, blocking it so the score was Beca 20, Saucon 14.
Another touchdown by Beca brought the score to 27-14 in the third quarter.
Beca’s defense continued to put pressure on Saucon quarterback Brandon Holub in the fourth
quarter, forcing him to tuck it and run to move the ball down the field.
Beca stopped a ball from Holub intended for Petiet that had the potential to be another touchdown
for Saucon.
An interception by Wolfe at the 6:48 mark in the 4th quarter gave the Panthers possession.
Wolfe made a touchdown with less than five minutes in the game. Snead’s PAT made the score
Beca 27, Saucon 21.
The game was tight and fans were going wild screaming encouragement to the Panthers. The boys on the sidelines were also trying to boost morale. But when the clock ran down to zero, Beca had the high score on the scoreboard, putting an end to Saucon’s season and making Bethlehem Catholic the 2016 District 11 AAAA Champion.
The last time Beca had been defeated in a championship final was in 1994 by Central Catholic.
Saucon ends their 2016 season 10-2, with the title of Colonial League Champion.
It was an incredible season for first year head coach Phil Sams, who said, “I could not be more proud of this team and group of seniors.”
Equipment manager, father to senior Kory Kemmerer and team morale booster Kerry Kemmerer,
echoed sentiments of the entire community, “It was a heck of a run with these boys and it’s sad to
see it end.”
Saucon has something not many schools have and that is the support of an entire community.
Emergency vehicles from Lower Saucon Township and Hellertown not only escorted the Panthers out of town on their way to the game, but also were waiting at the Hellertown exit of I-78 to escort the District 11 finalists back to school after the game.
When Hellertown resident Susan Deibert saw the emergency vehicles lined up waiting for the
buses, she said, “That’s why I like the feeling of living in a small town. We come together and
celebrate each other.”
Congratulations to the Panther coaching staff and the entire football team. And thank you for a
wonderful season. We cheered for you, we celebrated with you, we cried with you. This is what a
family does and the Saucon Valley community is a family.
We wish the seniors the best of luck in their future endeavors and we look forward to Coach Sams leading next year’s team to another successful season.
