Panther Pregame Football Focus: Saucon Valley v. Bethlehem Catholic

For the fifth year in a row the Saucon Valley Panthers (10-2) will square off against the Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks (9-3) in District XI postseason play.  Last week, the #2 seeded Panthers advanced by defeating the #3 seeded Northwestern Lehigh Tigers while No. 1 Bethlehem Catholic thumped No. 4 Pottsville.  This season’s District XI 4A championship showdown will take place at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium (Liberty High School) with a 7 p.m. kickoff.  In addition to securing the 2018 District XI title, a victory will keep the hopes for a PIAA state championship alive for one of these teams while a loss will bring the 2018 season to a close for the other.

Things Worth Watching:

When the Panthers have the ball…..

The Golden Hawks are big, fast, physical and will likely present a 3-3 Stack defense for the Saucon Valley offense to navigate.  BECA likes to blitz and will play quite a bit of man-to man pass coverage.   The Hawks are big and strong up-front with quite a bit of speed on the back end.  Up front, the headliner for BECA is Dalton Daddona who is listed at 6’3″, 280. Daddona committed to Penn State last week and is a physical presence who plays very hard.  In the secondary, the Hawks are led by a linebacking corps that includes Trea Lovell (#2), Brandon Lysick (#4) and Paul Carreras (#7).  Averaging about 5’10”, 210, all three like to blitz and are aggressive to the ball. Coming from the East Penn Conference, BECA has given up an average of 22 points per game.  Nonetheless, Saucon Valley averages almost 400 yards of offense and 41 points per game.

The Golden Hawks 2018 Schedule

• 8/24   won 54-6 over Dieruff
• 9/01   lost 37-20 to Freedom
• 9/08   won 45-16 over Liberty
• 9/14   won 24-16 over Parkland
• 9/22   lost 31-21 to Nazareth
• 9/28   won 56-21 over Whitehall
• 10/06  won 41-28 over East Stroudsburg South
• 10/12  won 28-7 over Easton
• 10/20  lost 50-49 to Emmaus
• 10/26  won 59-14 over Allentown Central Catholic
• 11/03  won 45-13 over Blue Mountain
• 11/10  won 40-28 won over Pottsville

The Panther headliner on offense is still the running of senior Ian “Sizzler” Csicsek (#28).  At 5’10”, 185,  Sizzler has been stellar this season having carried 334 times for 2,724 yards. Csicsek is a ball-carrying dynamo and has found the end zone 37 times so far this year.  He averages 8.2 yards per carry and 227 yards per game.  Csicsek is making a strong push to challenge Evan Culver for the Panthers all-time, single-season rushing record in Saucon Valley history.

Panther season-rushers in the books……

1. Evan Culver  2,934 yds. (2015)
2. Ian Csicsek  2,724    (2018)
3. Nick Savant   2,135      (2013)
4. Erik Kuester  1,868      (2007)
5. Evan Culver  1,715       (2014)
6. Billy Binczak  1,691     (2006)
7. Joe Killar       1,649      (1995)
8. Zach Petiet    1,564      (2016)

A couple other Panthers who are definitely worth keeping your eyes on when Saucon Valley has the ball are seniors Christian “Mongo” Alling (#33) and Curtis Clifford (#38). Both can move the chains and are valuable offensive weapons.  Alling averages 7.2 yards per carry and is good for 5 TD’s. Clifford, who missed a few games with injury, has 10.8 yards per carry and 6 TD’s to his name.  The duo could be the difference-makers in Saturday’s contest.

Freshman quarterback Dante Mahaffey (#12) also joins the Panther backfield as a proven playmaker. Mahaffey has completed 55 of 106 passes for 894 yards and nine touchdowns.  Mahaffey has also proven to make good decisions throwing only two interceptions in twelve games this season.  In addition, he has run 87 times for 378 yards and 7 TD’s. If overlooked by opponents, Mahaffey can hurt opposing defenses with his arm as well as with his feet.

Tight-end Patrick Morrissey (#80) leads the Panther receivers.  Morrissey is a senior who stands 6’2″, 215.  Having reeled in twenty of Mahaffey’s throws for 334 yards and three touchdowns, Morrissey averages 17 yards per catch. Mahaffey has also shared the ball with senior wide receiver Ryan Holub (#13).  Holub is good for 2 TD’s resulting from 20 catches and 310 yards.  Senior Justin Kyra (#22) and junior Dane Csencsits (#32) are also recipients of Mahaffey touchdown throws.

2018 Panther Play-Makers

• QB: #12  Fr.   Dante Mahaffey
• RB:  #27  Sr.  Kelvin Gallard, #28  Sr.  Ian Csicsek, #32  Jr.  Dane Csencsits, #33  Sr.  Christian “Mongo” Alling,  #38  Sr. Curtis Clifford
• WR:  #6  Sr.   Justin Clements, #11  Fr.  Ty Csencsits, #13  Sr.  Ryan Holub, #18  Fr.  Eternal (E.T.) Aris, ,  #22  Sr.  Justin Kyra
• TE:  #80  Sr.  Patrick Morrissey, #44  Jr.  Dale Sorensen

For as much as the Panther ball carriers get recognition for their offensive contributions, the Saucon Valley offensive line should be given their due.  The 2018 “Hogs” are led by seniors Tim “Boss Hog” Weaver, Aidan Redding and Jared Harka along with junior Evan Deily and sophomore David Osman. These seasoned Hogs have paved the way for an average of almost 400 yards of offense per game and a total of 71 touchdowns.

The 2018 Hogs

• Left Tackle:    #77    Sr.  Tim Weaver        6’5″, 285
• Left Guard:     #61    Sr.  Jared Harka       5’9″, 210
• Center:            #60    So. David Osman     6’0″, 225
• Right Guard:  #65    Jr.  Evan Deily          6’1″, 225
• Right Tackle:  #73   Sr.  Aidan Redding   6’3″, 290

When the Hawks have the ball…

Bethlehem Catholic averages 40 points per game and will charge opposing defenses using a spread-gun attack with senior quarterback Zamar Brake (#10) calling the signals.  Brake catches your eye at 6’4″, 205 and has completed 96 of 163 passes for a remarkable 1,655 yards and 12 touchdowns.

However impressive Brake’s numbers are, the biggest weapon the Hawks have is junior running back Tavion Banks (#8).  Banks is a tough, downhill runner with excellent speed who has carried 173 times for 1,271 yards.  He measures a solid 5’10”, 187 and also has 11 catches for 141 yards.  Banks is very dangerous if given any space in the open field.  If it is not Banks carrying the football then it will be senior Zahir Seabrooks (#28).  Seabrooks is quick and shifty.  He is listed at 5’11”, 198 and has carried 151 times for 1,224 yards.  His 8.1 yards per carry has led him into opposing end zones 12 times.  It is quite a lethal one-two punch for the Hawks.

The Hawks Up-Front

• Tackle  #69   Jr.    Jeremy Lyons           6’2″, 285
• Guard  #66   Sr.    Matthew Vasquez    5’10”, 235
• Center  #70   Sr.   Skylar Sutton            6’0″, 240
• Guard   #75   Sr.   Dalton Daddona       6’3″, 280
•  Tackle  #76   Sr.   Elias Marte               6’4″, 300

When BECA goes aerial, it is junior Matt Stianche (#22) who leads a trio of Hawk receivers.  Stianche is 6’3″, 170 and has 29 catches for 463 yards and 5 TD’s. Stianche is joined by seniors Nathan Palancia (#25) and Nick Lucien (#5).  Palancia goes 5’11”, 175 and has 20 receptions for 316 yards. With a 31-yard per reception average, Lucien totals 8 catches for 244 yards.

 2018 Panther Defense

• DE’s:   #32  Jr.  Dane Csencsits,  #44   Jr.  Dale Sorensen,  #65  Jr.  Evan Deily,  #80  Sr.  Patrick Morrissey
• DT’s:    #61   Sr.  Jared Harka,  #77  Sr. Tim Weaver,
• ILB’s:   #33  Sr.  Christian “Mongo” Alling,  #27  Sr.  Kelvin Gallard
• OLB’s:  #5  Jr. Aiden Renninger,  #28  Sr.  Ian Csicsek,  #38  Curtis Clifford
• DB’s:    #13   Sr.  Ryan Holub,  #22  Sr.  Justin Kyra,  #6  Sr.  Justin Clements,  #11  Fr. Ty Csencsits

The Panther defense gives up an average of 23-points per game.  Saucon will have their work cut out for them to keep the Hawks around that average.  Coach Sams shared, “They are definitely a good team with great size and athletic ability.  They are very dangerous.  We have to limit our mistakes in all phases to be successful.”

Past District XI Match-Ups:  Saucon Valley v. Bethlehem Catholic

• 2014  BECA  defeated  Saucon 49-7
• 2015  Saucon defeated  BECA  14-6
• 2016  BECA  defeated  Saucon  27-21
• 2017  BECA  defeated  Saucon  42-7

Once again, the Panthers’ quest to advance farther into the PIAA state tournament passes through Bethlehem Catholic.  For the past four seasons these two programs have met in the post-season with the Hawks taking three of those games.  In 2015, the Panthers managed to get past Bethlehem Catholic and make a run to the PIAA state semifinals where they were ousted by Imhotep Charter.

Whatever the situation, each team will only field eleven players at a time.  Whether the Panthers have enough homegrown firepower to overcome the regional fusion that BECA has assembled remains to be seen.  One thing is certain, however.  Coach Sams along with his players and staff will not be intimidated by BECA’s all-star lineup.  The Panthers will take the field intent on playing hard with the goal of winning the game and advancing in the PIAA state playoffs.  These Panthers will not back down.  Saucon Valley is in this to win it.

• Saturday Night Football Forecast:
  • Clear and cold with temperatures in the mid-30’s. Light winds out of the West at 3 mph.

Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!

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