Saucon Source (https://sauconsource.com/author/rief/)
What started as a much-anticipated showdown between the Saucon Valley Panthers (2-1) and the Northwestern Lehigh Tigers (4-1) did not disappoint either fanbase throughout the first half of play on Friday night in New Tripoli. However, what started as a competitive scrap turned lopsided and ugly as the the second-half unfolded.
On a soggy Friday night in Hellertown, twelve total touchdowns, 804 yards of offense, 41 first-downs and a halftime turnaround all added up to a thrilling, 42-41 victory for Saucon Valley.
If there were any doubts that the Saucon Creek football rivalry was dead, those doubts were erased on Friday night in a classic thriller. The Saucon Valley Panthers and Southern Lehigh Spartans went toe to toe in an exciting matchup of two neighboring communities. With a 34-33 final score, this cliffhanging showdown certainly did not disappoint.
The Saucon Valley Panthers got to play a football game Saturday night at Montford E. Illick Stadium on Saturday night. The stands were empty, but after missing almost two full weeks of practice due to a positive COVID test in which the entire football team was required to quarantine, Saucon Valley finally was able to take the field against the Bangor Slaters. With all the high hopes and excitement that a new season brings, Saucon’s football future was finally under way. However, with only two days of practice after the prolonged layoff, the Panthers struggled to find any sort of consistent rhythm. Saucon Valley was far from a fine-tuned machine.
On Monday dozens of guests travelled to the Steel Club for an evening set aside specifically to safely celebrate another great year of Saucon Valley Wrestling. Hosted by the Saucon Valley Wrestling Club, members of the youth, middle school and varsity programs along with their families and friends took time to break bread and share some pre-COVID memories from the 2019-2020 season. It didn’t matter that the season-ending tradition was postponed due to coronavirus, a three-and-a-half month delay did nothing to dampen the spirits of those in attendance. The feeling of a tight knit, family atmosphere was still evident even though masks and social distancing were a part of the night’s protocol.
The first week of Saucon Valley Athletics Resocialization Plan seems to have run without incident. Designed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus amongst Saucon Valley student-athletes and staff, “Phase-One” of the plan has participants arriving to campus wearing their masks and checking in with the training staff for a mandatory screening and temperature check. If no red flags are raised and the screening is normal student-athletes receive a sticker that must be worn allowing participation in the voluntary workout.
The wait has now come to a close for high school fall athletes as far as voluntary workouts on campus are concerned. Granted, there will be many restrictions including social distancing requirements, temperature screenings and limited use of the facilities, but this is the first step on the long road back to normalcy in high school sports. Designed using two-week intervals, Saucon Valley’s four-phased plan will begin on Monday, June 29.
Talitha Diggs may have had her senior Track season stripped away from like so many others, but that did not stop her from being named Coordinated Health’s Female Athlete of the Year and cashing in on a very well-deserved $10,000 scholarship. Saucon Source was able to ask Talitha a few questions and here is what she had to say!
It is certainly obvious that due to COVID-19 our society is in the midst of some sort of very real, sci-fi-like metamorphisis. Terms like social distancing, quarantine and isolation have shoved their way to the forefront of our vocabulary and reflect an ugly world-wide episode of historic proportions. Layer by layer the Coronavirus is rotten to the core. Far beneath the horrors found in the daily headlines, the world of sport suffers as well. Professional athletes have, of course, put their millions on hold while many amateurs face an uncomfortable uncertainty. Other amateur athletes, in particular Saucon Valley High School seniors who compete in spring and some winter sports, have been robbed of what is perhaps the sweetest pinnacle of their athletic careers.
With the closing of Pennsylvania schools due to the Coronavirus now comes the termination of the 2020 PIAA Spring sports season. Saucon Valley student-athletes, like all other disheartened student-athletes across the state, have now had all practices and competition cancelled. So, let’s give a Saucon Source Shoutout to the SV Boys lacrosse program!
