Saucon Valley’s Patrick Morrissey looking to pick up a first down.
The Saucon Valley footballers were riding high after last week’s 42-21 victory over the Northwestern Lehigh Tigers in the District XI semifinal. The Panthers (10-3) avenged their previous loss to the Tigers and, for the fifth consecutive season, advanced to the District XI championship game. But, after an excellent first quarter against the Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks (10-3) in the 2018 District XI title game, the Panther’s mighty wave of success crashed down into the ground.
Zahir Seabrooks (#28) gets caught by Evan Deily after picking up yardage for the Golden Hawks.
Saucon Valley won the coin-toss and deferred their option to the second half. Becahi, of course chose to receive the opening kickoff and wasted little time finding the Panther end zone. Two minutes into the ballgame after a six-play drive, the Hawk’s quarterback Zamar Brake, sneaked the ball into the end zone for a 1-yard TD run. Anthony DaSilva hit the extra-point to make it 7-0 in favor of Bethlehem Catholic.
Ian Csicsek find little room in the 2018 District XI final.
Saucon Valley wasted little time answering. The Panthers marched right down the field and capped a nine-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown run by Ian “Sizzler” Csicsek. Sizzler bounced it outside off left-tackle for the score. Sean Cyphers did his thing and with 5:44 left in the opening quarter the score was all tied up 7-7.
Nick Warnke and the Hogs had their hands full against the Hawks.
On the ensuing kickoff, Christian “Mongo” Alling drilled an onside kick that ricocheted off a would-be Hawk receiver and was pounced on by the Panther’s Curtis Clifford. Saucon Valley took possession at the Becahi 44-yardline and, in six plays, marched down the field once again for another score. From 2-yards out Dante Mahaffey sneaked the ball in behind the Hogs for a touchdown. Cyphers, once again, hit his target for the PAT. With 2:28 remaining in the first quarter the Panthers held a 14-7 lead.
Saucon Valley’s Tim Weaver (#77) wraps up Becahi’s Tavion Banks.
But, that would be it for the Panthers. The Bethlehem Catholic offense proved, for the most part, unstoppable while the defense went into “lights-out” mode. The Hawks’ size, strength, physicality and speed surfaced to take the game over. The regional talent assembled by the Golden Hawks was too much for the homegrown Panthers to overcome. Bethlehem Catholic scored the final 17 points of the first half to create a 24-14 advantage at the halftime break. Then, in dominating fashion Becahi smothered the Panthers for forty-nine unanswered second-half points to seal a 73-14 victory. The Hawks now advance to the PIAA State quarterfinals to battle Pottsgrove.
The Panther’s Dante Mahaffey looking downfield for an open receiver.
Panther Flash Stats!…..
- Csicsek carried 24 times for 118 yards and had a TD. He has 2,847 on the season (2nd all-time for SV).
- Dante Mahaffey is credited with completing 7 of 9 passes for 33 yards.
- The Panthers were held to 12 first downs and 157 yards of total offense.
- Becahi had 519 yards of total offense.
Up Next: The 2018 Saucon Valley Panther football season comes to an end.
Good luck in the future Panthers, the Source is with you!
Note: Photos by Chris Christian. Click here to purchase these and other photos from Saturday night’s game.
