Indexed locally for search — headlines, people, teams, and short excerpts from reporting originally published in The Morning Call (1998–2010). Full article text on mcall.com; DRE'S TAKE links out and does not republish Morning Call copy.
In the 1970s, Artie Owens often gained inspiration to run hills and practice sprints from watching the Philadelphia Pioneers track team and U.S. Olympic speedster Bob Hayes on Wide World of Sports. The means of motivation worked as Owens went from a three-sport star athlete at…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →She was not vintage Chanelle Price. She was strategical. Competing in her first race since suffering a chest infection 10 days ago, Price ran a solid opening leg for Tennessee in the Championships of America 4×1,500-meter relay at the Penn Relays on Friday at Franklin Field. The…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty’s Stephen Lewis is lean and fast. Parkland’s Andre Williams is lean, fast and powerful. Both are outstanding senior hurdlers coming off top five finishes in the Class 3A 110-meter hurdles in the PIAA Track and Field Championships last year. Lewis was fourth in the 110 in…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Freedom senior Darrius Webb was one of the most exciting and effective running backs in the Lehigh Valley over the last two seasons. On Wednesday, Webb joined a cast of star players from around the state with his selection to the Pennsylvania sports writers’ Class 4A all-state…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →You’ve probably heard the phrase “Like father …” Well, how about “Like father and cousin?” That’s the situation Liberty senior three-sport star Jarrod West is now in after being selected to play in the 53rd annual Big 33 Football Classic June 19 at HersheyPark Stadium. West’s…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 5-6 (Independent) Beat North Texas 17-13 Mike McDermott (Bethlehem Catholic) So. OT, 6-6, 255. Game: Played. BOSTON COLLEGE 7-3, 4-2 (ACC) Lost to North Carolina 31-13 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10,. 193. Game: 1-for-1 on PATs; 2-for-2 on FGs, 28 and 20 yards.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 5-6(Independent) Beat North Texas 17-13 Mike McDermott (Bethlehem Catholic) So. OT, 6-6, 255. Game: Played. BOSTON COLLEGE 7-3, 4-2 (ACC) Lost to North Carolina 31-13 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10,. 193. Game: 1-for-1 on PATs; 2-for-2 on FGs, 28 and 20 yards.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bob Mitchell will retire as Northwestern’s football coach Friday and will take with him the blueprint for success both on and off the field. It’s a blueprint any athletic director in the Lehigh Valley looking to hire a football coach might want Mitchell to share with them. It’s…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bob Mitchell will retire as Northwestern’s football coach Friday and will take with him the blueprint for success both on and off the field. It’s a blueprint any athletic director in the Lehigh Valley looking to hire a football coach might want Mitchell to share with them. It’s…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The beauty of nature in the fall is something Northwestern legendary football coach Bob Mitchell has only heard about over the last three decades. Next fall, he’ll finally get to enjoy it, perhaps holding his grandchild. His daughter Stacey is expected to give birth in February.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 4-6 (Independent) Beat VMI 2-17 Mike McDermott (Bethlehem Catholic) So. OT, 6-6, 255. Game: Played. BOSTON COLLEGE 7-3, 4-2 (ACC) Beat Virginia 14-10 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10, 193. Game: 2-for-2 on PATs. Season: 34-for-34 on PATs; 7-for-7 on FGs. BROWN 6-3,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Back in the 1960s Nazareth High’s football team filled up the school’s trophy case. “Back them we won championships pretty regularly,” said Easton coach Steve Shiffert, a 1969 Nazareth grad. “Nazareth was the big school. We played Wilson, Bangor, East Stroudsburg. “I think…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Shawn Martell, the son of an established local college football coach, began his inevitable climb up the coaching ranks when he was hired as the wide receivers coach at Nazareth last year. The 24-year-old Martell, a 2002 Morning Call all-area wide receiver from Bethlehem…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 3-6(Independent) Lost to Air Force 35-7 Mike McDermott (Bethlehem Catholic) So. OT, 6-6, 255. Game: Played. BROWN 5-3, 3-2 (Ivy League) Beat Yale 35-21 Brendan Gallagher (Parkland) Sr. LB, 6-1, 225. Game: 1 assisted tackle. Season: 8 solo tackles,10 assisted, 2 INTs, 43…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton no longer has a chip on its shoulder. Instead, the Red Rovers have a bulls-eye on their chest. That’s because a year after having a 10-year district playoff run ended, Easton bullied to a 9-1 regular season record and finished as Lehigh Valley Conference co-champs with…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →All six Lehigh Valley Conference games this weekend have importance, including the Doughnut Bowl Saturday at J. Birney Crum Stadium between Allen and Dieruff. Both those teams are 0-9. All the other games have playoff implications. Central Catholic (8-1, 7-1) and Easton (8-1,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →BOSTON COLLEGE 6-3(ACC) Beat Central Michigan 31-10 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10,. 193. Game: 3-for-3 on PATs, 18-yard FG. Season: 32-for-32 on PATs; 7-for-7 on FGs. BROWN 4-3, 2-2 (Ivy League) Lost to Penn 14-7 Brendan Gallagher (Parkland) Sr. LB, 6-1, 225. Game: 1…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton boiled with emotion and played with unstoppable force on both sides of the ball to thwart Lehigh Valley Conference rival Liberty 28-7 on Senior Night Friday at Cottingham Stadium. Statistically, Liberty outgained Easton, 293-135. But Easton worked on a short field most of…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →I t’s Easton vs. Liberty tonight at Cottingham Stadium in what could be the first of two meetings between the Lehigh Valley Conference powerhouses this season. They could meet again in come in the District 11-2-4 Class 4A subregional playoffs as they did in 2005 and 2006. Easton…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Trap games do exist in high school football. Emmaus, Easton and Liberty will try to avoid them tonight in Lehigh Valley Conference matchups that have District 11-2-4 Class 4A subregional playoff implications. Next week is the traditional rivalry showdowns, featuring Emmaus…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →In Lehighton, where he saw familiar faces everywhere, former high school football star Robbie Frey was never faced with a situation like the one he has experienced this week. One of Frey’s University of Connecticut teammates, Jasper Howard, was stabbed to death early Sunday…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Following six straight seasons of three wins or less, Nazareth’s football team is displaying a new mental and physical toughness this season. Already a winner of four games in 2009, Nazareth is playing tougher football because second-year coach Rob Melosky has refused to listen…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton deflated Freedom’s defense with a 19-play, 66-yard scoring drive that took up most of the fourth quarter Friday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. Then the Red Rovers clinched a 14-10 Lehigh Valley Conference victory because of their own rugged defense.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The intensity level in the Easton vs. Freedom Lehigh Valley Conference matchup tonight at Bethlehem Area school District Stadium will be so high that a lot of players may be very sore when they wake up Saturday morning. “When Bethlehem [schools] and Easton get together the kids…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 3-3 (Independent) Beat Vanderbilt 16-13 (OT) Mike McDermott (Bethlehem Catholic) So. OT, 6-6, 255. Game: Played. BOSTON COLLEGE 4-2, 2-2 (ACC) Lost to Virginia Tech 48-14 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10,. 193. Game: 2-for-2 on PATs. Season: 20-for-20 on PATs;…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The top two playmakers, Liberty seniors Anthony Gonzalez and Jarrod West, had already made their share of standout plays in their final homecoming game Friday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. Senior kicker Jordan Roman then joined in the fun when he booted a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Central Catholic’s bid for the perfect season continues Saturday night at J. Birney Crum Stadium. The Vikings (5-0, 4-0) are the lone undefeated Lehigh Valley Conference team and will rely on sophomore quarterback Brendan Nosovitch, a threat running and passing, to try to topple…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Your football program is in serious trouble when its internal problems are just as heavy as its external ones, caused by bickering, losing, and parents trying to market their sons as if they’re free agents. That was the shambles Bethlehem Catholic was in while posting a 4-7…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 2-3 (Independent) Lost to Tulane 17-16 Mike McDermott (Bethlehem Catholic) So. OT, 6-6, 255. Game: Started. BOSTON COL. 4-1, 2-1 (ACC) Beat Florida State 28-21 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10,. 193. Game: 4-for-4 on PATs. Season: 18-for-18 on PATs; 5-for-5 on FGs.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Freedom senior tailback Darrius Webb is always only one missed tackle at the line of scrimmage from going the distance. That’s because trying to tackle the speedy, elusive Webb is tough once he gets into the open field. He displayed his talents over the previous two seasons at…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Central Catholic football players and coaches did not dwell on what happened at the end of last season. The Vikings’ parents, on the other hand, probably stewed for a while over the school administration’s decision to reject an Eastern Conference Class 3A playoff invitation.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 2-2 (Independent) Lost to Iowa State 31-10 Mike McDermott (Bethlehem Catholic) So. OT, 6-6, 255. Game: Played. BOSTON COLLEGE 3-1, 1-1 (ACC) Beat Wake Forest 27-24 (2 OT) Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10, 193. Game: 3-for-3 on PAT, 2-for-2 on FGs of 32, 23 yards.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It’s Allentown vs. Bethlehem weekend and contender or pretender night in Orefield. There are also Lehigh Valley Conference matchups in Easton and Northampton that figure to be highly competitive. Easton (3-0 overall, 2-0 LVC), Central Catholic (3-0, 2-0), Nazareth (3-0, 2-0) and…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →BOSTON COLLEGE 2-1, 0-1 (ACC) Lost to Clemson 25-7 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10, 193. Game: 1-for-1 on PATs. Season: 11-for-11 on PATs; 3-for-3 on FGs. BUCKNELL 1-2 (Patriot League) Lost to Cornell 33-9 Anthony Carter (Freedom) So. OL, 6-0, 275. Game: Started. BUFFALO…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The fourth quarter was wild and entertaining, the kind of helter-skelter stuff that probably made first-year Bethlehem Catholic coach Mike Palos feel a lot older than 31 years old. Wait until next week when Bethlehem Catholic plays Central Catholic in the “Holy War” in…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →In the previous two seasons, Easton was not a serious contender for the Lehigh Valley Conference title. Last season, without four-year starter and four-year Morning Call all-area defensive back Jarred Holley — now a redshirt freshman at Pittsburgh — Easton didn’t even post a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland backup defensive back Dan Castillo has been called nicknames that no football player wants to be called. “I get it all,” he said. “Tiny, midget, munchkin.” Well, he is only 5 feet, 5 inches tall. But he probably felt taller than the PPL building in Allentown after…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The U.S. Women’s Open was stirred by Creamermania on Friday. And Ochoamania. And Kerrmania. Paula Creamer, though, had the most frenzied support as the 22-year-old from Pleasanton, Calif., played with flamboyance during the second round at Saucon Valley Country Club. She was…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →This has been a month of all-star football for Liberty linebacker Daryl Klotz. On June 7, he played in the New Jersey-Northeast All-Star Classic at Rutgers University. Tonight, the Hurricane star who often had more blood stains than dirt spots on his uniform after games, will…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →One race on tired legs that Wilson senior Anthony Davidson lost by a slim margin did little to detract from the astounding two-week period he had running the 400-meter dash. No Lehigh Valley sprinter had ever run under 48 seconds in the 400 — and Davidson did it three times over…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →— Bethlehem Catholic sprinter Hansol Song had one thing on his mind before the start of the Class 2A 400-meter relay final in the PIAA Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Seth Grove Stadium. It might have seemed crazy to some. “I was thinking I will break my legs just…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Wilson senior Anthony Davidson is on the verge of pulling off a rare feat in the PIAA Track and Field Championships. A year after winning the Class 2A 400-meter dash, Davidson made huge strides toward validating himself as the best in Class 3A at Shippensburg University. Focused…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It was cloudy, unseasonably cool and occasionally rainy. The weather, however, didn’t prevent Wilson senior Anthony Davidson and other top District 11 sprinters from blazing to impressive victories in the boys Class 2A and 3A track and field championships on Thursday at…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It’s time to run fast, throw far, jump and vault high. It’s time to be better than just good. It’s time to win a District 11 track and field medal, preferably gold. Sprinters Anthony Davidson of Wilson and Bethlehem Catholic’s Tevrin Brandon are confident they’ll achieve their…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Combine the number of athletes on the Bethlehem Catholic, Liberty and Freedom track and field teams and it still wouldn’t equal the size of Parkland’s team. The Trojans have 368 male and female participants, a program record. It sometimes makes the Parkland squad look like a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Motivated to carry her 3,200-meter relay team into her school’s record book, Emmaus senior Lindsey Graybill took the baton and raced the Green Hornets to a convincing victory in the Lehigh Valley Conference track and field championships at J. Birney Crum Stadium on Wednesday.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Whitehall’s Doug Henninger won with strength and Easton’s David Hightower won with speed and crisp hurdling. Then, there was Parkland’s Matt Gillette, who used long strides and a solid finishing kick to anchor the Trojans to victory in the 3,200-meter relay before closing out…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Freedom senior Dan McLaughlin prepared for the Liberty-Freedom track and field meet Monday by isolating himself before heading to Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. “I went home, listened to my music, tried to get myself psyched for it,” he said. “I was trying to get myself…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Take your pick, dual meets, tri-meets or relay carnivals. Dual meets involve athletes of all abilities, while relay carnivals, generally, are for the more talented athletes, athletes who have usually received an invitation to compete. Dual meets can be more draining, especially…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Gatorade may have picked the right two high schools, the right two communities and the right time of year to stage a replay of a football game between Easton and Phillipsburg that ended in a 7-7 tie in 1993. Many players who competed to the disappointing deadlock in that…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Emmaus High football coach Joe Bottiglieri doesn’t think organizers of the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association All-Star game are trying to piggyback off the Big 33 Football Classic. It just looks like it since the ninth annual PSFCA game in Altoona will be…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Wilson senior Anthony Davidson, the 2008 PIAA Class 2A track and field champion in the 400-meter dash, and Palmerton senior Austin Cseh, the state runner-up to Davidson, headline the top boys returners this spring. Newcomer Andre Williams, a junior at Parkland who transferred…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Freedom High senior Eddie Mateo was down to the final days and his mind was about made up to sign a National Letter of Intent to attend NCAA Division II Bloomsburg University. All it took was just his signature on dotted lines during Wednesday’s Signing Day. Mateo, an Associated…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Levi Brown, an all-state defensive lineman at Liberty, pointed jubilantly to the Temple Owls’ hat on his head, then smiled as he looked out into the standing room-only crowd inside the school’s Arts Gallery on Wednesday. Liberty football coach Tim Moncman then came up and rubbed…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →John Bedics wants one more graduation gift. Bedics, a starting offensive lineman for the North Carolina State Wolfpack and former Bethlehem Catholic standout, plays his final college game Monday night. North Carolina (6-6) meets Rutgers (7-5) in the PapaJohns.com Bowl in…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →A week after Liberty High coach Tim Moncman and his star player Anthony Gonzalez shared tears, hugs and the glory of winning the school’s first state football title, the dynamic duo made a sweep of the Associated Press’ All-State Class 4A top honors. Moncman, who has managed the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethel Park High has advanced to its first PIAA Class 4A football final, helped by fundamentally sound play and luck, according to its coach, Jeff Metheny. The Black Hawks, after all, are 15-0 and have won each of their last three playoff games by four points or less. “There are…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Nazareth coach Rob Melosky hopes that he’ll be joined by Liberty coach Tim Moncman in a glorious company of coaches who have led a Lehigh Valley team to the PIAA Class 4A football title. Since 2002 when Melosky coached Parkland — powered by the record-breaking feats of running…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →BOSTON COLLEGE 8-3, 4-3 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Wake Forest 24-21 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10, 198. Game: 1-for-1 on PATs; 3-for-3 on FGs. Season: 34-for-34 on PATs; 13-for-20 on FGs. BROWN 7-3 6-1 (Ivy League) Beat Columbia 41-10 Brendan Gallagher…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →A Bethlehem Catholic football program that went from a consistent district championship contender to rock bottom over the last two seasons is now without a head coach. And Dan Kendra Sr., a longtime Bethlehem Catholic coach, teacher, and admitted die-hard lover of the program,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Senior running backs Brandon Brader of Liberty and Eddie Mateo of Freedom have been rivals since middle school. They’ve also been good friends and admired each other’s feats. But it wasn’t until last week when one of them decided to nickname the other. “He’s Superman,” Mateo…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ALBANY 8-3, 7-0 (Northeast Conference) Beat Wagner 30-11 Justin Peterson (Palmerton) Fr. RB 6-0, 225. Game: 1 carry, 0 yards. Season: 8 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD; 1 carry, 0 yards; 1 solo tackle, 3 assisted tackles, 1 forced fumble. BOSTON COLLEGE 7-3, 3-3 (Atlantic Coast…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ALBANY 7-3, 6-0 (Northeast Conference) Beat Robert Morris 41-7 Justin Peterson (Palmerton) Fr. RB 2-0, 225. Game: 3 catches, 33 yards. Season: 8 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD; 1 solo tackle, 3 assisted tackles, 1 forced fumble. BOSTON COLLEGE 6-3 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Notre…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton’s future stars stole the show on Senior Night to help the Red Rovers close out the regular season with a dramatic 38-31 Lehigh Valley Conference victory over Bethlehem Catholic Friday night at Cottingham Stadium. The game-clinching play was like a Larry Holmes left hook.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Lehigh Valley Conference’s version of boxing’s “Main Event” takes place Saturday afternoon at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. That’s when Liberty (8-1, 8-0) and Freedom (8-1, 7-1) clash on the Frank Banko Field turf. “As everybody knows, there’s a lot at stake,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Lehigh Valley Conference’s version of boxing’s “Main Event” takes place Saturday afternoon at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. That’s when Liberty (8-1, 8-0) and Freedom (8-1, 7-1) clash on the Frank Banko Field turf. “As everybody knows, there’s a lot at stake,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ALBANY 5-3, 4-0 (Northeast Conference) Beat St. Francis (N.Y.) 27-3 Justin Peterson (Palmerton) Fr. RB 2-0, 225. Game: One catch, 5 yards. Season: Five catches, 25 yards, one TD; two assisted tackles. BOSTON COLLEGE 5-2, 2-2 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Lost to North Carolina…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Northampton had its shot at Emmaus, Freedom and Liberty, but lost. The defeats were in successive weeks, knocking the Konkrete Kids out of contention for the Lehigh Valley Conference title and jeopardizing their chances at qualifying for the District 11-2 Class 4A subregional…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →A slug-it-out affair between two Lehigh Valley Conference teams, an affair that was scoreless after three quarters, turned lopsided in the fourth quarter Saturday night. That’s because Northampton, backed by a defense that continued to attack and a run-oriented Wing-T offense…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Two regular season games remain and Easton and Parkland are both trying to avoid something that has not happened since 1994. And that’s the District 11 playoffs being held without either of them being involved. But the traditionally strong Lehigh Valley Conference teams still…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ALBANY 4-3, 3-0 (Northeast) Beat Sacred Heart 26-21 Justin Peterson (Palmerton) Fr. RB 2-0, 225. Game: One catch, 2 yards. Season: Four catches, 20 yards, one TD; two assisted tackles. BOSTON COLLEGE 5-1, 2-1 (ACC) Beat Virginia Tech 28-23 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Freedom kicker Gregory Taylor settled his nerves with the help of his teammates, then zoned in on the goal post 22 yards away Friday night. Less than five seconds remained in the Lehigh Valley Conference classic between Bethlehem city rivals and the game was tied. Taylor, a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The scoreboard operator at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium figures to be busy tonight. That’s because high-scoring city rivals Freedom (31.4 ppg) and Bethlehem Catholic (29 ppg) meet in a Lehigh Valley Conference matchup that has playoff implications with just three…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Some high-profile athletes have transferred from one Lehigh Valley Conference school to another in recent years for athletic reasons. A fuss was made about most, and rightfully so since they were blatant, which has put District 11 officials under the gun more to try to stop…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic running back Darrius Webb fumbled once, but made amends before the Nazareth defense could react Saturday afternoon. It was on a fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line late in the second quarter. Webb, who is the Lehigh Valley Conference’s leading rusher, retrieved…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton and Freedom engaged in a shootout Friday night at Cottingham Stadium. It played to Freedom’s advantage — especially in the first and third quarters — when the Patriots unleashed their speed. But Freedom’s 36-28 Lehigh Valley Conference victory was not manufactured solely…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Freedom senior tailback Eddie Mateo ran for season highs of 198 yards and four touchdowns last week. He ran rampant on synthetic turf against a Northampton defense that’s one of the Lehigh Valley Conference’s best. Now Mateo, who transferred from Bethlehem Catholic during the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Lehigh Valley Conference is a tough conference and will be even tougher once Nazareth starts posting winning seasons on a consistent basis. Winning the LVC title probably won’t happen anytime soon because the Blue Eagles do not draw from a talent pool that’s similar to the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →BOSTON COLLEGE 4-1, 1-1 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat N.C. State 38-31 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10, 198. Game: 5-for-5 on PATs; 1-for-1 on FGs, 17-yarder. Season: 18-for-18 on PATs; 6-for-8 on FGs. BROWN 2-1 (Ivy League) Lost to Rhode Island 37-13 Brendan…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Back and forth Bethlehem Catholic and Liberty went, staggering each other with big plays Saturday night. But the blow-for-blow exchange lasted only for a half before a spirited crowd at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. In the second half, Liberty, upset in the city series…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →He ran hard. He ran over people. And best of all for Freedom, senior tailback Eddie Mateo scored four touchdowns in the Patriots’ 35-7 Homecoming victory over Northampton on Friday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. It was the first breakout game at Freedom for…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Freedom snapped a 12-game losing streak against Parkland last week, which raised the Patriots’ confidence level entering tonight’s Lehigh Valley Conference showdown against Northampton at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. Both teams are 4-1, 3-1 in conference play, but…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →There are two sides to Liberty junior quarterback Anthony Gonzalez, and both have made him popular with teammates and coaches. “He is low key,” Liberty senior Devin Street said about Gonzalez off the field. But on the field, it’s his aggressiveness and intensity that sets him…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →What happens in a game between longtime rivals is not easily explained. Liberty knows that all too well from its stunning defeats by Bethlehem Catholic the last two seasons. Liberty was considered a PIAA Class 4A title contender both years and seemed to hold major advantages on…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →BOSTON COLLEGE 3-1 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Rhode Island 42-0 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10,. 198. Game: 5-for-5 on PATs. Season: 13-for-13 on PATs; 5-for-7 on FGs. BROWN 2-0, 1-0 (Ivy League) Beat Harvard 24-22 Brendan Gallagher (Parkland) Jr. LB, 6-1, 225.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →No longer overlooked, Northampton is excited to welcome Emmaus to Al Erdosy Field tonight for a showdown between undefeated teams battling for first place in the Lehigh Valley Conference. Both teams are 4-0 overall, 3-0 in league play. “This is certainly a big game for us,”…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →In terms of taking steps forward, Freedom football coach Jason Roeder has no complaints. His teams did just that in each of his first three years, going from 2-8 to 5-5 to 9-3 and winning the Eastern Conference Class 4A title last season. Last season marked a school record for…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →BOSTON COLLEGE 2-1 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Central Florida 34-7 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10, 198. Game: 4-for-4 on PATs; 2-for-3 on FGs of 22 and 25 yards. Season: 8-for-8 on PATs; 5-for-7 on FGs. BROWN 1-0 (Ivy League) Beat Stony Brook 17-7 Brendan…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Surprise, surprise, that’s what Northampton (4-0, 3-0 LVC) has been in posting a perfect record out of the gate to remain tied with Emmaus (4-0, 3-0) for first-place in the Lehigh Valley Conference entering their showdown Friday at Al Erdosy Field. Elsewhere in the conference,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Central Catholic scored the hard way, grinding on the ground and relying on quarterback Paul Elliott to scramble around and find receivers open. Bethlehem Catholic scored faster, on 87 and 92-yard runs by tailback Darrius Webb and another time on a Tevrin Brandon 91-yard punt…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Central Catholic scored the hard way, grinding on the ground and relying on quarterback Paul Elliott to scramble around and find receivers open. Bethlehem Catholic scored faster, on 87- and 92-yard runs by tailback Darrius Webb and another on a Tevrin Brandon 91-yard punt…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Something disturbingly different happened to Easton last week against Parkland. It wasn’t the lopsided score of Parkland 26, Easton 0. Every team gets crushed once in a while, but Easton coach Steve Shiffert wasn’t as concerned about the final score as he was about the way his…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic High’s two-way senior lineman Brandon Lally was fired up at practice Tuesday as he prepared for Saturday night showdown against Central Catholic. “It’s the biggest game of the year, the two Catholic schools, rivals,” Lally said. But it’s a rivalry that has…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →CONNECTICUT 3-0 (Big East) Beat Virginia 45-10 Robbie Frey (Lehighton) R-Fr. RB, 6-0, 191. Game: Eight carries, 31 yards. Season: 18 carries, 66 yards, one TD; one kickoff return, 10 yards; one solo tackle, two assisted, one fumble recovery. Mike Ryan (Marian) R-Fr. OT, 6-5,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Something new in Week 3 of the Lehigh Valley Conference: Neither Liberty, Parkland nor Easton is involved in the top game. Easton (2-0, 1-0) opens its home schedule against Parkland (0-2, 0-1) at 7 tonight at Cottingham Stadium, and it promises to be a festive atmosphere as the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →BOSTON COLLEGE 1-1, 0-1 (ACC) Lost to Georgia Tech 19-16 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Sr. PK, 5-10,. 198. Game: 1-for-1 on PATs; 3-for-3 on FGs of 36, 34 and 26 yards. Season: 4-for-4 on PATs; 3-for-3 on FGs. CONNECTICUT 2-0, 0-0 (Big East) Beat Temple 12-9 Robbie Frey (Lehighton)…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It’s a Week 2 matchup that would have even more hype had it been scheduled for later in the season with the Lehigh Valley Conference title and possibly the No. 1 seed in the district playoffs on the line. But after not playing the last two seasons, Liberty and Parkland are…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Fair or not, Nazareth football coach Rob Melosky knows that he can’t prevent people from judging his every move because that’s expected when you are a high-profile coach. Melosky’s public perception soared, perhaps more so in the negative than positive last month, when he was on…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic senior Tevrin Brandon was electrifying on punt returns, scoring one touchdown and setting up another with an impressive burst of speed. The Golden Hawks’ small but lightning-quick junior tailback, Darrius Webb, also dazzled with his own speed and acceleration…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The wait is over for Freedom. Tonight, the defending Eastern Conference Class 4A champion will try to extend its winning streak in season openers under coach Jason Roeder to four games. “There is not a whole lot of room for error,” said Roeder, whose Patriots open at Central…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Winning streaks and more will be on the line in season-opening games for Liberty and Parkland tonight. Both play state-ranked teams that will provide the ultimate early-season test. Liberty, 8-0 under coach Tim Moncman in openers, puts that record on the line when it hosts…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ALLEN Coach: Chris Kinane (first year) Last year: 0-10 (0-9, LVC) Impact players: QB Justin Quaye, sr.; QB Nick Rhodes, jr.; WR Matt Wingler, sr.; WR Nik Davis, sr.; WR/RB David Gibbs, sr.; WR Siddiq Shabazz, sr.; OL Lance Troxell, sr.; OL Eddy Torres, sr.; RB/LB Luciano…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It’s been a decade of memorable games and streaks, of championship glory and the agony of defeat in state title games for District 11 football teams. History was made in 2002 when Parkland, behind Austin Scott’s state-record 53 touchdowns and 3,846 yards rushing, became the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ALLEN Coach: Chris Kinane (first year) Last year: 0-10 (0-9, LVC) Impact players: QB Justin Quaye, sr.; QB Nick Rhodes, jr.; WR Matt Wingler, sr.; WR Nik Davis, sr.; WR/RB David Gibbs, sr.; WR Siddiq Shabazz, sr.; OL Lance Troxell, sr.; OL Eddy Torres, sr.; RB/LB Luciano…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Wilson teammates Anthony Davidson and Adam Eckhart were the only District 11 male athletes to win gold medals in the PIAA Track and Field Championships last weekend at Shippensburg University. Davidson won the Class 2A 400-meter dash and Eckhart won the triple jump. Catasauqua’s…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Anthony Davidson appeared to be facing a daunting challenge when he showed up later than expected for the finals of the Class 2A 400-meter dash. Lucky for the Wilson junior, he had rival sprinter Austin Cseh of Palmerton to help settle his mind and help him prepare for a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Unperturbed by the wind that whipped across the field, Wilson senior Adam Eckhart raced the runway with confidence and posted the top mark in the Class 2A triple jump at the PIAA Track and Field Championships on Friday at Shippensburg University. With the gold medal already…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The two-day PIAA Track and Field Championships begins at Shippensburg University this morning with one major question for District 11. Can it get any better for the district than in 2003, when Bethlehem Catholic won the Class 2A team title, becoming the first school in the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Adam Eckhart has a crazy passion for jumping over things, which is why it’s best for him to always wear sneakers. “I jump everywhere I go,” he said. “It’s like everyone knows me for that. I just jump and jump and jump.” This weekend, the Wilson senior will be jumping in the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Jesse Sell would prefer to smash a volleyball over crashing the books any day of the week. But the Emmaus senior never lost sight of the fact that he needed to be successful in both. On Wednesday, Sell was rewarded for his hard work in both at the Lehigh Valley Conference…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Wilson sprinter Anthony Davidson spent more time watching youtube.com than anything else over the last week. He didn’t like what he saw, but he kept clicking back onto the popular Web site to watch how he lost to Palmerton’s Austin Cseh in the 400-meter dash in the Colonial…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →He’s not all hulked up, but Palmerton sprinter Austin Cseh had all the speed and endurance necessary to prevail over Wilson’s Anthony Davidson in a thrilling race to the finish line in the finals of the 400-meter dash at the Colonial League Track and Field Championships on…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic junior sprinter Tevrin Brandon is an underdog no more. Fast and confident since his freshman year, Brandon still entered this spring unfulfilled because he had yet to win the 100-meter dash at the Lehigh Valley Conference Track and Field Championships. But…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It’s finally time to get down to serious business in track and field. Next week’s Lehigh Valley Conference, Colonial League and Mountain Valley Conference championship meets will weed out the pretenders and establish the boys’ athletes who are most likely to contend for district…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →One of the most gratifying 11-day spans in Rob Melosky’s life was capped off Tuesday when he was introduced as Nazareth’s new head football coach. Austin Scott, the greatest football player Melosky has ever coached, had rape charges against him dropped on April 18, and the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Steve Hixson had another memorable run at the Penn Relays. Never mind that he was not able to rally Kutztown University to a victory in the college men’s Wetzler/Pennsylvania 1,600-meter relay Friday at Franklin Field. Hixson was still overjoyed that he ran one of his fastest…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Nazareth High senior Kevin Kroboth has had an easier time sprinting to 100- and 200-meter dash victories than he did breaking away for touchdowns during the football season. A first-year track and field athlete, Kroboth has used the dual-meet season to prove himself as a league,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →In track and field there’s fast and there’s really blazing, which Nazareth senior Kevin Kroboth was in the 100-meter dash Thursday afternoon at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. A first-year participant in the sport, Kroboth has been under 11.0 seconds in most of his races…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Devin Street appears to be a natural in track and field. A first-year participant for Liberty, Street established himself as the top long jumper in the Lehigh Valley Conference before the weather even turned warm. He entered the week with an area-high mark of 22 feet, 51/2…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Distance runner Trevor VanAckeren of Liberty and sprinter Aneurys Santos of Salisbury figure to dominate the headlines in boys track and field this spring. Never mind that both began the season injured — the long-legged Princeton-bound VanAckeren with a tweaked left knee and the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The rowdy DeSales students chanted “You can’t cover her” after point guard Kim Rarick pulled up and splashed a short jumper Saturday afternoon. Rarick had a good overall game, but her main job was to get the ball into shooting guard LeighAnn Burke’s hands as often as possible…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Couldn’t make it off your high school team’s bench to get playing time but still want to play college basketball? Don’t worry, Northampton Community College women’s coach Art Wolfe may have a spot for you on his team. And it’s not riding the pine. Wolfe, who finished his 19th…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton celebrated its biggest Signing Day since 1968 with football star Jarred Holley and U.S. Olympic track and field hopeful Chanelle Price heading the list of five Red Rover athletes who signed national letters of intent to Division I-A schools on Wednesday. Holley, a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →West Virginia offensive lineman Jake Figner was credited with 20 knockdown blocks last season, which was impressive enough for the Northwestern High graduate to remain a starter. The number of pancake blocks Figner had this season has not been released, but he’s confident that…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It’s easy for Austin Scott and Nick Pinchek to be remembered because they scored the most touchdowns on Parkland’s 2002 PIAA Class 4A championship team. The Decker brothers, Cody and Travis, were defensive standouts, who posted 30 sacks between them for a defense that allowed…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Hike the football quickly, Parkland wideout Jaleel Clark is matched up one-on-one with a defensive back. Throw it deep, and Clark promises to make something good happen. “I’m mostly going to win because I have moves to make on them,” Clark said. At 6-4, he also has the height to…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Brendan Beal paused, gathered himself and then rejoiced at the news that made his Friday. The Liberty High senior linebacker, who posted 113 tackles in his one season with the Hurricanes, was named Gatorade’s 2007-08 Pennsylvania football player of the year. “I’m definitely…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →BOSTON COLLEGE 10-2, 6-2 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Miami 28-14 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Jr. PK, 5-10, 183. Game: 4-for-4 on PATs, 0-for-1 on FGs. Season; 42-for-45 on PATs; 9-for-14 on FGs, long 45 yards. BRIGHAM YOUNG 9-2, 7-0 (Mountain West) Beat Utah 17-10 Joe…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 3-8 (Independent) Lost to Tulsa 49-39 Marcus Millen (Easton) Sr. DE 6-0, 228. Game: Played. Season: Four solo tackles, two assisted. BOSTON COLLEGE 9-2, 5-2 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Clemson 30-17 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Jr. PK, 5-10, 183. Game: 2-for-2 on PATs,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland senior quarterback John Laub can be used as an inspiration to help motivate other Trojan players in the future — those who are talented enough to start, but can’t seem to make it off the bench until it’s their turn. Laub patiently waited his turn, not earning the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Any team that’s still playing football past the first week of November has something to treasure, which is why Freedom and Whitehall plan to go all out tonight when they meet for the Eastern Conference Class 4A title. Kickoff is at 7 at Whitehall. Both teams are 8-4. They did…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →A showdown between two Lehigh Valley Conference powerhouse teams could be only one week away. Liberty and Parkland need to win tonight in District 11-2 Class 4A subregional semifinal games to set up a battle between the two stalwarts. Neither team will admit that they’re looking…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 3-7 (Independent) Lost to Rutgers 41-6 Marcus Millen (Easton) Sr. DE 6-0, 228. Game: Played. Season: Four solo tackles, two assisted. BOSTON COLLEGE 8-2, 4-2 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Lost to Maryland 42-35 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Jr. 5-10, 183. Game: 5-for-5 on PATs,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →How many Lehigh Valley Conference teams already have a wish list for next season? Five teams are still playing — Liberty and Parkland in the District 11-2 Class 4A playoffs; Freedom and Whitehall in the Eastern Conference 4A title game Friday night. Easton lost to Hazleton,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland’s bruising offense was overshadowed by its stubborn defense, which posted its seventh straight shutout in a 17-0 win over Emmaus in the District 11-2 Class 4A subregional quarterfinals Friday night in Orefield. The streak was jeopardized in the final minute after Emmaus…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 3-6 (Independent) Lost to Air Force 30-10 Marcus Millen (Easton) Sr. DE 6-0, 228. Game: One solo tackle, one assist. Season: Four solo tackles, two assisted. BOSTON COLLEGE 8-1, 4-1 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Lost to Florida State 27 -17 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Jr. K…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty quarterback Anthony Gonzalez accounted for more than 200 yards of offense, wideout Joey Orlando made circus catches and tailback Ahkeem Smith gained the tough yards. All three owe gratitude to big Levi Brown and the other Hurricane offensive linemen for the way they…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic and Easton entertained fans at Bethlehem Area School District Friday night with a back-and-forth second half that featured one breakaway run after another. But the play that helped Easton prevail 28-24 in the Lehigh Valley Conference matchup was a forced…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →A player from Freedom High apparently said something that offended players from Liberty. “This is the first time that we’re the underdogs in a game, which is pretty surprising, but let the best team win,” said Liberty senior linebacker Brendan Beal, who verbally committed to the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Lehigh Valley Conference all-star team won’t be announced until the regular season ends, but I don’t have to wait that long to make my selections. The final regular season games won’t prove who’s the best because anybody can have a really good game. But the best do it week…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →All 12 Lehigh Valley Conference teams have something important to play for in the final regular season games Friday and Saturday. In alphabetical order: Allen (0-9, 0-8): The Canaries, who’ve scored just 18 points all season, will try to get out of the last place by beating…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 3-5 (Independent) Lost to Georgia Tech 34-10 Marcus Millen (Easton) Sr. DE 6-0, 228. Game: One solo tackle. Season: Three solo tackles, one assist. Jake Walsh (Liberty) Jr. DT 6-3, 269. Game: Played. Season: No stats. BOSTON COLLEGE 8-0, 4-0 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The intensity level among certain teams figures to exceed that of any other Friday night of the season. The increased shift in adrenaline is because of showdowns between rival Lehigh Valley Conference teams. Pick a game: Parkland (8-0, 7-0 LVC) at Emmaus (6-2, 5-2) or Liberty…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Next week’s final regular-season games in the Lehigh Valley Conference will have even more suspense, if certain things happen this Friday. And the No. 1 if? If Parkland (8-0, 7-0) beats Emmaus in the battle between Cedar Crest Boulevard teams Friday, then the Trojans can clinch…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 3-5 (Independent) Lost to Georgia Tech 34-10 Marcus Millen (Easton) Sr. DE 6-0, 228. Game: One solo tackle. Season: Three solo tackles, one assist. Jake Walsh (Liberty) Jr. DT 6-3, 269. Game: Played. Season: No stats. BRIGHAM YOUNG 5-2 (Mountain West) Beat Eastern…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It was grueling game with a dramatic finish Saturday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. Freedom senior quarterback Joe Weaver faked a handoff, dashed left and ran for the end zone. Bethlehem Catholic defenders reacted slowly, but then several tried to form a wall…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It was the backbreaker in a game filled with backbending plays, most of which were administered by Freedom on Friday night. Determined to finally put Easton away, Freedom’s Yusef Reddick broke across the middle to catch a quick pass from Joe Weaver. Then, before Easton could…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland coach Jim Morgans doesn’t want to hear any talk about his team being unbeatable. Some people thought that of Liberty, which unraveled on both sides of the ball in losing 28-14 to Bethlehem Catholic last Friday night. “We don’t concern ourselves with other teams, except…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 3-3 (independent) Beat Tulane 20-17 Marcus Millen (Easton) Sr. DE 6-0, 228. Game: One solo tackle. Season: Two solo tackles, one assist. BOSTON COLLEGE 6-0(Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Bowling Green 55-24 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Jr. 5-10, 183. Game: 7-for-7 on PATs;…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Freedom has pummeled all the teams it was supposed to beat by 28, 48, 49 and 21 points this season, but obliterating weak teams does not bring the same pleasure as posting a signature win against one of the Lehigh Valley Conference’s top teams. So far, Freedom is 0-2 against the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It was an upset only on paper. On the field, Bethlehem Catholic stymied rival Liberty with an attacking defense, and then raced through the Hurricanes behind tailback Eddie Mateo, who ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns Friday night. Ahead by 21 points at halftime, Bethlehem…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty seniors Ahkeem Smith and Justin Rivera have been haunted for the last 364 days over what happened the last time they played city rival Bethlehem Catholic. Terrell Dobbins ran for 162 yards and Kyle John blocked an extra point attempt in helping Bethlehem Catholic…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 2-3 (independent) Beat Temple 37-21 Marcus Millen (Easton) Sr. DE 6-0, 228. Game: Played. Season: One solo tackle, one assist. BOSTON COLLEGE 5-0 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat UMass 24-14 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Jr. 5-10, 183. Game: 3-for-3 on PATs; 1-for-1 on FGs, 37…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The punishment for skipping a class at Liberty for the average student is nothing more than a detention for a first-time offender. But Liberty coach Tim Moncman enforced a much harsher punishment on seniors Brendan Beal, Ahkeem Smith, Michael Fritz, Justin Rivera and junior…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →One week after losing its first game, Easton seeks redemption. But the Red Rovers have to beat Central Catholic to achieve it. It won’t be easy. Central Catholic has been one of the top early-season success stories in the Lehigh Valley Conference, helped by a strong…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic is not about to wave the white flag just because it has three losses and cannot afford to lose another game. Not if it wants to keep alive hopes of making the District 11 Class 3A playoffs. There are many reasons why the Golden Hawks (1-3, 1-2) are in this…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 1-3 (Independent) Lost to Boston College 37-17 Marcus Millen (Easton) Sr. DE 6-0, 228. Game: Played. Season: One solo tackle, one assist. BOSTON COLLEGE 4-0 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Army 37-17 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Jr. 5-10, 183. Game: 2-for-3 on PATs; 1-for-2…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The high school football season reaches its midway point this weekend and the Lehigh Valley Conference has its share of teams with questions yet to be answered. The No. 1 question, of course, is who’s going to win the conference title? Liberty (4-0, 3-0) and Parkland (4-0, 3-0)…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Emmaus can forget about being overlooked by high-powered Liberty in their Lehigh Valley Conference matchup tonight at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. That’s because one loss could be detrimental to the Hurricanes’ chances of earning the No. 1 seed and homefield advantage…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty senior linebacker Brendan Beal has to wait until Oct. 26 to meet Easton and star defensive back Jarred Holley at Cottingham Stadium. Both players will probably make plays all over the field on that night. It will be the first game that Beal, a transfer from Roxbury High…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ARMY 1-2 (Independent) Lost to Wake Forest 21-10 Marcus Millen (Easton) Sr. DE 6-0, 228. Game: One solo tackle, one assist. Season: Same. BOSTON COLLEGE 3-0, 3-0 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Georgia Tech 24-10 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) Jr. 5-10, 183. Game: 3-for-3 on PATs;…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Over the last four years Freedom’s football team has produced three Division I players. Ryan Ehrie is a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman at Syracuse, Colin Neely a redshirt freshman at Michigan State, and Jeremy Kametz is in his final season at Delaware. The three of them…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Freedom no longer has to give up the home side of Bethlehem Area School District Stadium to visiting teams. It never should have been that way in the first place, and the BASD administration saw to it that it never will be that way again by announcing Monday that home side of…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →ALBANY 1-1 (Northeast Conference) Beat Fordham 23-20 Terrell Dobbins (Bethlehem Catholic) Fr. RB, 5-10, 205. Game: Played. Season: One carry, 2 yards. ARMY 1-1 (independent) Beat Rhode Island 14-7 Marcus Millen (Easton) Sr. DE 6-0, 228. Game: Played: Season: No stats. Jake Walsh…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Central Catholic’s Michael Milano went up the middle with power on most runs, dashed and sprinted away on others. On defense, he also smothered Bethlehem Catholic’s wideouts. He was making plays everywhere on a Saturday night in which he cramped up five times and had to briefly…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →What happened in Emmaus last Friday night is not being be dwelled on. That’s because of the request Green Hornets coach Joe Bottiglieri made to his players. Bottiglieri, who’s in his sixth season at Emmaus, tells his players to only concentrate on the current challenge and not…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Normally, you wouldn’t think that a team could set a positive tone for its season by losing, but Central Catholic did it Saturday afternoon. The Vikings did it by fighting back from a 20-3 second-half deficit to pull within seven points of powerhouse Liberty late in the fourth…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →There’s no such thing as meaningless games for District 11 Class 4A teams anymore, considering the complicated points system used to determine qualifiers for the PIAA subregional playoffs. But some Lehigh Valley Conference teams aren’t worried about matters they can not control…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Michael Vick may be in prison by the end of the year, may never play in the NFL nor receive a million-dollar endorsement deal again, and it’s all because of what he termed, “immature acts.” “I need to grow up,” Vick said during a press conference in Richmond, Va. on Monday, not…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty is bent on trying to make it back to Hershey and finally win the PIAA Class 4A title, but first must earn its stripes against Easton and other tough Lehigh Valley Conference opponents. That’s because the LVC season figures to be another series of weekly dogfights.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Adam Bednarik enters his final year at West Virginia like a boxer trailing on points, but confident he can win the last round and still come out on top. “My family, as I was growing up, especially my dad, always instilled in me to never give up, never stop fighting, and ever…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic’s Joe Kovacs is committed beyond the norm to playing in McDonald’s Lehigh Valley Football All-Star Classic at 7 tonight at Parkland Stadium in Orefield. If he wasn’t, Kovacs would be in Puerto Rico, perhaps tanning, eating spicy food and enjoying the scenery.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Wilson quarterback D.J. Lenehan came alive in the second half of the PSFCA East West All-Star Game, rifling passes all over the field that led to touchdowns and stirred memories of his many feats last season. But the ending Saturday night wasn’t as rewarding as last December,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Lehighton’s Robbie Frey has the speed, Bethlehem Catholic’s Terrell Dobbins the power. Together, they hope to be double-trouble tailbacks in the the seventh annual PSFCA East-West All-Star Game tonight in Altoona. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Mansion Park Stadium. Frey and Dobbins,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Before this week, only Parkland teammates of the Trojans’ dominating offensive lineman Michael Fay had seen his humorous side. That’s because Fay, a Morning Call All Area first team pick and second-team Associated Press Class 4A selection, doesn’t play around when he’s…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Wilson quarterback D.J. Lenehan isn’t ready to be reminded of what it’s like to lose a football game. He hasn’t lost a game since Dec. 10, 2005, and that was in the PIAA Class 2A title game. Since that defeat, Lenehan has gone 16-0 as a starter, winning each game during a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →For the second straight week, a record-breaking quarterback from the Lehigh Valley will showcase his talents in an all-star game. Wilson’s D.J. Lenehan, who’s headed to Toledo on a scholarship, will play his final high school game in the seventh annual Pennsylvania Football…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Every time he makes his spin move and lifts the shot put, Bethlehem Catholic’s Joe Kovacs is pointing toward heaven, where his father, Joe, has been watching and enjoying his every throw. His mother, Joanna, has been only a hug away, offering warmth, support, and also the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Pius X’s Eric Woodruff and Moravian Academy’s Trent Binford-Walsh took unusual paths en route to winning medals at the PIAA Track and Field Championships Saturday in Shippensburg. And it was a coach from the school neither attended who helped them achieve their goals. Woodruff…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic senior Joe Kovcs relaxed himself, then blew past the Class 2A discus field to win his second gold medal of the PIAA Track and Field Championships Saturday at Shippensburg University. His winning throw traveled 179 feet, 11 inches, which was five inches shorter…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic’s Joe Kovacs delivered his best-ever shot put to win the Class 2A gold medal and establish a record in the PIAA Track and Field Championships Friday at Shippensburg University. Whitehall’s Andy Fahringer, in the discus, and Catasauqua pole vaulter Kyle Miller…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty junior Trevor VanAckeren is participating in his fifth varsity sport this school year and he appears to be just as charged up running distance races as he was booting soccer balls and kicking footballs through the uprights in the fall. That’s because he’s still in the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic senior Joe Kovacs is seeded No. 1 in the Class 2A shot put and discus by wide margins, which gives him a strong chance of winning two gold medals in the PIAA Track and Field Championships. Several other Lehigh Valley male athletes also appear to have strong…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Mike Hartenstine was an All-American defensive lineman at Penn State and a starter on the Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl team. He said both experiences were unbelievable. For years, Hartenstine, who lives in Chicago, also savored the area shot put record of 62 feet, 11 3/4…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The pressure is now off Bethlehem Catholic senior Joe Kovacs. He took it off with the throw of his life, breaking the 36-year-old area record in the shot put on his final attempt Thursday in the District 11 Track and Field Championships at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bothered little by the rain and dark clouds, Catasauqua junior Kyle Miller cleared 14 feet, 7 inches to establish a Class 2A record in the pole vault in the District 11 Track and Field Championships Thursday at J. Birney Crum Stadium. The height was a personal best for Miller,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The chase is on again for Bethlehem Catholic standout thrower Joe Kovacs. Kovacs, a senior, will attempt to break the area shot put record of 62-113/4 in the District 11 Track and Field Championships. The two-day event begins at 3 p.m. today at J. Birney Crum Stadium in…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Standout throwers Joe Kovacs of Bethlehem Catholic and Andy Fahringer of Whitehall both faced immense pressure Tuesday afternoon. It was in different events, and the chase was also different for both in Day 1 of the Lehigh Valley Conference Track and Field Championships at J.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Seniors Joe Kovacs of Bethlehem Catholic and Andy Fahringer of Whitehall have had as much attention paid to them in the throwing events as sprinters, the usual glamor grabbers, have had heeped on them this spring. It’s been hard not to pay attention to good pals Kovacs and…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Dieruff has not had a top-notch boys track and field athlete since Andrew Battle nine years ago and not a standout sprinter since Stacy McCarthy won the District 11 Class 3A title in the 100- and 200-meter dashes in 1996. There have been a lot of downs since then, but first-year…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic senior Joe Kovacs had the mark he wanted to reach in the discus visualized Saturday morning. He just pressed too hard to try and reach it, which threw off his mechanics and spoiled his chance of winning the high school discus event in his first-ever Penn…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The high school track and field preseason is now over. It’s time to get serious. The athletes who are likely to contend for district and state titles will be competing in either the 113th Penn Relay’s in Philadelphia this weekend or in today’s Allentown School District…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It’s tough to succeed in track and field without having confidence to go along with talent. Fortuntely for him, Whitehall High senior standout thrower Andy Fahringer definitely has both. He also has posted early-season results in the discus and javelin that validate him as a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Seniors Andy Fahringer of Whitehall and Joe Kovacs of Bethlehem Catholic headline the top returning boys track and field performers in District 11 this spring. Both are standout throwers. Fahringer is the defending PIAA Track and Field Class 3A discus champion. Fahringer, who’s…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →You’ve probably heard of Michael Jordan coming out of retirement, Evander Holyfield repeatedly leaving his rocking chair to return to the ring, and Brett Favre declining to retire. But they are professional athletes. Alyssa Antolick, a former 1,000-point scorer at Bethlehem…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It’s all over. There are no more college recruiting trips to take, no more worrying about whether this school or that school is the right fit. Childhood dreams of playing college football were brought one step closer to reality by several Lehigh Valley Conference standout…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Muhlenberg senior Chris Pothering and Moravian junior Megan Kocon aren’t too concerned about their statistics. Just playing their role and contributing as much as possible is good enough for them. “I look at basketball right now and I just love having the outlet, having the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Even though Bethlehem Catholic and Liberty are bitter rivals, Golden Hawks coach Tarik Haddad is not about to cheer for Upper St. Clair Saturday night. Haddad is also not willing to share information with the Panthers’ coaching staff about how to beat Liberty. Haddad and his…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Three seconds. That’s all Liberty junior tailback Ahkeem Smith said he needs to follow his lead blocker Ray Mamuzich and find a hole in the defense. “It’s a big deal,” Smith said. “Three seconds, that’s all you need.” With honor, Mamuzich helps clear the way, often against…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →With a little under 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon, Liberty finally called off its defensive assault. The 35-point mercy rule was in effect. Frankford then scored 15 unanswered points, but it was against Liberty’s second-team defense. And that…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty senior quarterback Dan Persa made his game against Easton a memorable one Saturday night. He did it with speed, swiftness, and in a testament to his overall toughness, Persa at times also went airborne and dove to pick up yards. Whatever it took, Persa willingly did it,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Last week, all Liberty heard about was talk about the Easton-Parkland District 11 showdown. This week, the majority of attention throughout the Lehigh Valley is on the 100th Thanksgiving Day meeting between Easton and Phillipsburg at Lafayette College’s Fisher Field. There’s…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →‘COLLEGES ARMY 3-8 (Independent) Lost to Notre Dame 41-9 Marcus Millen (Easton) Jr. DE, 6-1, 230. Game: Played. No stats. Season: Same. Julius Meyers (Pennridge) Sr. LB, 6-2, 232. Game: Played. No stats. Season: Same. BOSTON COLLEGE 9-2, 5-2 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Phillipsburg coach Bob Stem has so many stories to tell, many of which will have you bent over laughing. He’s been involved in football as both a player and coach for more than 50 years. And though he was a center and linebacker on the Syracuse University team that beat Texas…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Several Bethlehem Catholic players bent over, some crying, while others simply appeared dumbfounded Saturday night. The Golden Hawks had just lost 35-33 to heavy underdog Northwestern in a District 11 Class 3A semifinal at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. It may be one of…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES BOSTON COLLEGE 8-2, 4-2 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Duke 28-7 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) So. K, 5-11, 175. Game: 4-for-4 on PATs. Season: 15-for-15 on PATs; 5-for-6 on FGs; longest 36 yards. BROWN 3-6, 2-4 (Ivy League) Lost to Dartmouth 19-13 Justin Gallagher…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Northwestern brought everything it needed to Bethlehem Area School District Stadium Saturday night, except boxing gloves. Twice, Northwestern, however, was penalized for roughing the kicker, both 15-yard penalties that enabled the Golden Hawks to keep alive drives. But…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Four years after winning the PIAA Class 4A championship, Parkland returns to the district playoffs with a balanced team that appears capable of making another run to Hershey. The Trojans don’t have a running back breaking school and state records as Austin Scott did in 2002 with…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland, Easton, Liberty and Bethlehem Catholic, start your engines. It’s time to begin the more serious chase on the road to Hershey. Each Lehigh Valley Conference team is heavily favored to win its first-round playoff game this weekend. Parkland (10-0), Easton (9-1) and…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES ARMY 3-7 (Independent) Lost to Air Force 43-7 Marcus Millen (Easton) Jr. DE, 6-1, 230. Game: Played. No stats. Season: Same. Julius Meyers (Pennridge) Sr. LB, 6-2, 232. Game: Played. No stats. Season: Same. BOSTON COLLEGE 7-2, 3-2 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Lost to…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty senior Oscar Rivera rushed to the locker room at halftime on Saturday afternoon, fumes seemingly blowing out of his ears. Rivera was frustrated that Liberty, the team with the high-powered offense and inflated confidence following an emotional victory over Easton last…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →With their demolition of Bethlehem Catholic finally over, Easton’s seniors lapped the field, and then, following a postgame speech from coach Steve Shiffert, they retreated outside into the cold to dig up pieces of the Cottingham Stadium grass field Friday night. It was a night…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland can complete it’s first 10-0 regular season since 1996 by beating rival Whitehall tonight. Even better, Parkland (9-0, 8-0 LVC) will clinch its first outright Lehigh Valley Conference title since 2002, the year the Trojans also won the PIAA Class 4A championship.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Emmaus football coach Joe Bottiglieri grew up two blocks from Easton’s Cottingham Stadium and had early ambitions to play for the Red Rovers. He eventually did suit up for Easton and then went on to play at the collegiate level. After graduating from Easton in 1966, he played a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Lehigh Valley Conference finally had a high school football game live up to the hype Friday night. It wasn’t because it was a shootout. It wasn’t because it went down the final seconds before being decided. It was because Easton and Liberty went toe-to-toe, each taking and…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES ARMY 3-6 (Independent) Lost to Tulane 42-28 Marcus Millen (Easton) Jr. DE, 6-1, 230. Game: Played. No stats. Season: Same. BOSTON COLLEGE 7-1, 3-1 (ACC) Beat Buffalo 41-0 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) So. K, 5-11, 175. Game: 4-for-4 on PATs; 2-for-2 on FGs of 25 and 30…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic has been in good hands this season with Ben Eichman as its starting quarterback. Eichman had not rolled up big numbers passing-wise, not until Saturday afternoon, that is, when he threw for a career-high 261 yards in leading the Golden Hawks to a 31-14…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Dan Persa was bent backwards, his helmet driven hard into the NeXturf Friday night. Easton’s Connor Moore had just leveled Persa with the hit of the game, forcing Liberty into a fourth-and-four late in the fourth quarter. On the next play, Persa ran right back into the heart of…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It’s no secret that Easton and Liberty want to hit each other hard. It’s still great hearing them say it. It will be even better seeing them do it when Easton (8-0, 7-0 LVC) and Liberty (7-1, 6-1) meet in the much-anticipated Lehigh Valley Conference showdown at 7 tonight at…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bob Stem was nearing his exit from a diner in Easton when an older woman walked by and expressed her high school football loyalty in a very sharp, yet also funny, tone. “Bad luck Thanksgiving,” the lady said. “I wouldn’t be an Easton rooter if I didn’t say that.” The man with…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES ARMY 3-5 (Independent) Lost to TCU 31-17 Julius Meyers (Pennridge) Sr. LB, 6-2, 232. Played. No stats. BOSTON COLLEGE 6-1, 3-1 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Florida State 24-19 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) So. K, 5-11, 175. Game: 3-for-3 on PATs; 1-for-1 on FG of 26…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Two weeks ago, Bethlehem Catholic senior Kyle John bulldozed through Liberty offensive linemen with the most fierce pass rush of his life. It was overtime, his Golden Hawks were ahead by a point, and it was loud inside Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. It became even…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES ARMY 3-4 (Independent) Lost to Connecticut 21-7 Julius Meyers (Pennridge) Sr. LB, 6-2, 232. Played. No stats. BOSTON COLLEGE 5-1, 2-1 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Virginia Tech 22-3 Steve Aponavicius (Easton) So. K, 5-11, 175. Game: 2-for-2 on PATs; 2-for-2 on FGs…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Brothers Oscar and Justin Rivera used to play roughhouse football in their parents’ living room growing up and, as a result, they’d often shake up the furniture. The brothers are now two-way starters at Liberty, and their coach, Tim Moncman, has demanded all season that they…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Andres Morales, Andrew Lee, Rich Jarnagin and Mike McClarin, all big playmakers with voices that carry on the sidelines and in the locker room, are not around to fire up their teammates at Liberty High, anymore. They graduated in June, but somebody else better try and find a way…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES ARMY 3-3 (Independent) Beat VMI 62-7 Marcus Millen (Easton) Jr. DE, 6-1, 230. Played. Julius Meyers (Pennridge) Sr. LB, 6-2, 232. Played. Jake Walsh (Liberty) So. DT, 6-4, 259. Did not play. BRIGHAM YOUNG 4-2, 2-0 (Mountain West) Beat San Diego State 42-17 Joe Semanoff…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty no longer owns bragging rights in Bethlehem. Bethlehem Catholic’s two-way workhorse Terrell Dobbins made sure of it Saturday night. After punishing Liberty with his running, Dobbins deflated the Hurricanes and sent his coach, Tarik Haddad, into tears in overtime by…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →No longer does Matt Rice have to worry about playing time. Like all good players, he wants to be on the field all the time. He didn’t get his wish at Bethlehem Catholic, but he transferred to Liberty after last fall and is now a two-way starter for the Hurricanes. “I was over…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES ARMY 2-3 (Independent) Lost to Rice 48-14 Marcus Millen (Easton) Jr. DE, 6-1, 230. Did not play. Julius Meyers (Pennridge) Sr. LB, 6-2, 232. Played. Jake Walsh (Liberty) So. DT, 6-4, 259. Did not play. BYU 3-2, 1-0 (Mtn West) Beat TCU 31-17-0) Joe Semanoff (Lehighton)…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland didn’t trample another opponent behind its Big Red rushing machine. Instead, the Trojans relied on the arm of senior quarterback Marc Quilling to roll to a 28-0 Lehigh Valley Conference victory over Northampton Friday night at Al Erdosy Field. It was a case of whatever…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Northampton coach Teko Johnson hasn’t flashed back to the last time he was in the heat of battle with Parkland. That was last Sept. 16 at Parkland Stadium in Orefield, when Johnson suddenly felt faint and short of breath. His left side became numb, and he felt pain in his upper…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Easton offense would have reason to be jealous of its defense, if it were not for the fact that most of the standout players go both ways. It’s on defense that they’ve excelled the most. “Their defense is outstanding,” said Whitehall coach Bob Panny, whose Zephyrs managed…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic two-way lineman Joey Kushner lives to hear his name called over the stadium loudspeaker every time he makes a tackle. That’s true even in tough times, like Saturday night when the Golden Hawks were thoroughly dominated in a 35-0 loss to Parkland. Not a finger…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES ARMY 2-2 (Independent) Beat Baylor 27-20 Marcus Millen (Easton) Jr. DE, 6-1, 230. Did not play. Julius Meyers (Pennridge) Sr. LB, 6-2, 232. Played. Jake Walsh (Liberty) So. DT, 6-4, 259. Did not play. BRIGHAM YOUNG 2-2, 0-0 (Mountain West) Beat Utah State 38-0) Joe…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The wait for a competitive Lehigh Valley Conference game continues. Blame it on Parkland for being too overpowering for Bethlehem Catholic to handle Saturday night before a stunned crowd at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. They each entered 3-0, which increased the hype…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Want bulletin board material, Parkland? Forget about it. The Bethlehem Catholic coaches and players have too much respect for the Trojans. So the Golden Hawks are saying all the right things. Maybe it’s because Bethlehem Catholic coach Tarik Haddad and his offensive coordinator,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES ARMY 1-2 (Independent) Lost to Texas A&M; 28-24 Marcus Millen (Easton) Jr. DE, 6-1, 230. Did not play. Julius Meyers (Pennridge) Sr. LB, 6-2, 232. Played. Jake Walsh (Liberty) So. DT, 6-4, 259. Did not play. BRIGHAM YOUNG 1-2, 0-0 (Mountain West) Lost to Boston College…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Central Catholic coach Harold Fairclough’s shirt was drenched once again, his palms were sweaty and his heart was pumping fast. Finally, he was in a ballgame at the end, his first victory as a head coach within grasp if his players could make clutch plays late. It was Saturday…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Three Freedom players limped off the field, each the victim of punishing tackles by the Parkland defense Friday night. Excluding one big-scoring pass play in the fourth quarter, Freedom managed zilch against the Trojans’ fast-pursuing and hard-hitting defense in a Lehigh Valley…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton, Liberty and Parkland are coming off 41-, 42- and 48-point victories. Just as telling is the fact that their opponents did not score. So, after three weeks, the “Big Three” have established themselves as the teams to beat in the Lehigh Valley Conference. Bethlehem…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES ARMY 1-1 (Independent) Beat Kent State 17-14 Marcus Millen (Easton) Jr. DE, 6-1, 230 Did not play. Julius Meyers (Pennridge) Sr. LB, 6-2, 232. Did not play. Jake Walsh (Liberty) So. DT, 6-4, 259. Did not play. BYU 1-1 (Mountain West) Beat Tulsa 49-14 Joe Semanoff…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →You cannot be considered a winner until you’ve done it on a consistent basis. Like year-after-year. And against elite opponents. The latter is why, despite starting 2-0, Freedom doesn’t have many jumping on its bandwagon just yet. The Patriots started last season by routing two…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic senior Mark Scattene closed out the first and second quarters by thwarting Central Catholic with his hands, moves and speed Saturday night. Terrell Dobbins, the Golden Hawks’ bulldozing tailback, stymied the Vikings even more with breakaway touchdown runs that…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →There might be a traffic jam around Emmaus High tonight. Perennial Lehigh Valley Conference powerhouse Easton, led by star defensive back Jarred Holley and hard-hitting linebacker Ryan Hartzell, will be playing in Emmaus for the first time since Sept. 26, 1997. “It’s a big game…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES ARMY (Independent) Sept. 7 at Arkansas State Marcus Millen (Easton) Jr. DE, 6-1, 230. Last season: Did not play. Jake Walsh (Liberty) So. DT, 6-4, 259. Last season: Did not play. BRIGHAM YOUNG (Mountain West) Sept. 7 at Arizona Joe Semanoff (Lehighton) Jr. RB, 5-11,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Way too much attention has been given to the players who transferred from Bethlehem Catholic, and not enough praise has been given to the star wideout who stayed put after last season. But stay tuned. Golden Hawks senior Mark Scattene may soon play his way into some headlines.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Make no mistake about it, Bethlehem Catholic senior Terrell Dobbins wanted to punish every Whitehall player who came his way Sunday afternoon. It was about making a statement, first for himself and then for his team, in a Lehigh Valley Conference season-opening game at Bethlehem…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Whitehall linemen Austin Recker and Eric Schoeneberger can eat, no doubt about it. But they’re quick to point out that they are not both six feet-plus and 300 pounds just because they throw down at every meal. Recker, a 6-4, 305-pound senior who’s receiving Division I-A interest…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The stadium lights will be on tonight from Allentown to Easton as Lehigh Valley Conference teams begin play. What should be expected? “I’ll let you know around 9:30,” Easton coach Steve Shiffert said a few days ago. “It’s a lot different when you have 3,000 fans out there,” said…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES ARMY (Independent) Sept. 7 at Arkansas State Marcus Millen (Easton) Jr. DE, 6-1, 230. Last season: Did not play. Jake Walsh (Liberty) So. DT, 6-4, 259. Last season: Did not play. BRIGHAM YOUNG (Mountain West) Sept. 7 at Arizona Joe Semanoff (Lehighton) Jr. RB, 5-11,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Harold Bellis has experienced every aspect of the Easton-Phillipsburg rivalry for the last 73 years. Now 90 years old, Bellis is the oldest living man to have played and coached at Phillipsburg. “I saw my first game when I was 10 years old, 1926, and ever since then I’ve been at…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Nobody is going to overlook Whitehall this season. The Zephyrs have too much size to be ignored as a contender for the Lehigh Valley Conference title, along with Liberty, Easton and Parkland. “We think we have kids who can be competitive and that are powerful,” said Whitehall…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Star quarterback Alex Atiyeh may have thrown his final high school pass. Atiyeh, a junior quarterback at Bethlehem Catholic last year, has transferred to Allen and had hoped to take over in the Canaries’ wide-open offensive set this season. But the District 11 Athletic Committee…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic’s Mike Bishop won’t have to search hard to find his biggest fan Thursday night. His brother Matt, 19, who also played at Bethlehem Catholic, plans to be boisterous in the stands at Nazareth’s Andy Leh Stadium. Mike Bishop will be playing linebacker for the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →To become a state champion in the 100-meter dash, Allen’s Rushane Scott had to spend countless hours running sprints, often in the most unfavorable conditions, Whitehall’s Andy Fahringer spent as many hours tossing around a disc, javelin, and heavy steel ball. The payoffs came…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Rushane Scott’s tears of joy lasted for several minutes. Memories of what he accomplished at the PIAA Track and Field Championships Saturday will last forever. The Allen senior closed out his career by winning the Class 3A 100-meter dash in a time of 10.60. Scott surged into the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic did in 2003 what no Lehigh Valley team had ever done — win a PIAA Track and Field team title. Three years later, the Golden Hawks are boasted by a standout distance runner in Eric Yeager, a rising sprinter in Chris Carter and a top-seeded discus thrower in Joe…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Give Rushane Scott a paint brush — or anything else to draw with — and he’ll craft an image of exactly what he plans to accomplish at the PIAA Track and Field Championships. Allen’s star senior sprinter will paint a picture of himself winning the Class 3A title in the 100 and…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Rushane Scott proved, for the second straight year, that he was the fastest sprinter at the District 11 Track and Field Championships. He did it with ease, leaving the crowd in awe as he overcame a sizable deficit in the 400-meter relay to lead Allen to a Class 3A victory at the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It was raining and windy, but Bethlehem Catholic junior Joe Kovacs was not bothered. He was pumped and anxious to blow out the competition early in the Class 2A discus throw at the District 11 Track and Field Championships Wednesday at Blue Mountain High School. “I practice in…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Eric Yeager has eaten mostly pasta and has resisted the temptation for junk food since last Wednesday. He has also focused harder and trained harder. Now, a week later, the Bethlehem Catholic senior is set to close out one of the most successful distance running careers in…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Joe Kovacs will never win 12 district gold medals, which is what his mother, Joanna Rampulla, a standout thrower for Nazareth High in the late 1970s, did. But two weeks from now, the Bethlehem Catholic junior has a solid chance to accomplish something his mother never did. And…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Allen sprinter Rushane Scott had other sprinters looking at the back of his jersey each time he ran Wednesday afternoon at J. Birney Crum Stadium. But he said his victories weren’t as easy as they seemed. Scott gained early leads in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and pulled out…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland senior John Carelli made the high jump and triple jump seem like routine business Tuesday at the Lehigh Valley Conference Track & Field Championships. It seemed that way because Carelli won both jumping events for the third straight year. He tied his personal best in…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The deans of area track and field coaches are back. Freedom’s Ray Herman returns for his 41st season and Southern Lehigh’s Brian Souerwine is back for his 34th. While not a lot has changed since last spring, a whole lot has changed in general over the years. “It’s amazing,” said…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Villanova senior Allan Ray found out more about the New York City streets than he wanted to Friday night. He didn’t like it. Not even close, and the thing about it is he wasn’t driving. Instead, he was a passenger in an ambulance that was transporting him to St. Vincent Hospital…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Muhlenberg and Moravian women’s basketball teams have experienced enthusiasm like never before this week. They both hope to create even more excitement as NCAA Division III tournament play opens today. Muhlenberg, owner of a school-record 25 wins with just two defeats, meets…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Muhlenberg, the Centennial Conference women’s champion, and Moravian, the Commonwealth Conference runner-up, will both begin NCAA Division III tournament play in Virginia on Friday. The coaches from both schools can’t wait to hit the road. And the players? “I think kids have to…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Rich Jarnagin entered Liberty High School four years ago as a skinny freshman, but one with a lot of potential. He became stronger and faster and this year made several game-breaking plays on both sides of the ball to help Liberty go 13-2 and finish as the PIAA Class 4A…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Lehigh men will get another shot at Bucknell Feb. 22 in Lewisburg, and that could be for a first-place tie in the Patriot League. Bucknell finished the first-half of league play 7-0 — with Lehigh at 6-1 and wishing that shots had fallen a different way when the Bison visited…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →With two minutes left in overtime, Kelly Applegate threw down a towel, dropped her head and vowed to convert her free throws if fouled again. Stephanie Seaman just figured she had to make an impact play, something she’s accustomed to doing. The two Moravian College star players…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Syracuse center Sara Antolick recalled an awesome highlight from a high school matchup with Villanova forward Jackie Adamshick. It was in Antolick’s sophomore year at Bethlehem Catholic. Adamshick was a senior at Central Catholic, the school Antolick transferred to for her…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Muhlenberg senior Stephanie Coluccini, who has already interned at Columbia and Universal Records, would like to do promotional work in radio and television after graduating. If she works as hard in the work force as she does on the court, Mules coach Ron Rohn believes she’ll be…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The stage is never as big, the spotlight far from blinding, but Moravian coach Mary Beth Spirk has always considered the NCAA Division III playoffs just as important as March dancing that Division I teams do. That’s why Spirk and her players are dreaming big now, hoping that…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Frank Trovato, the best friend of West Virginia sophomore quarterback Adam Bednarik, has drawn up the perfect scenario for tonight’s Nokia Sugar Bowl matchup between the Mountaineers and Georgia. It’s reminiscent of their senior season at Bethlehem Catholic in 2002, when…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Lehighton running back Robbie Frey often ran by, and away from, linemen during a 2,000-yard season. Central Catholic offensive lineman Chris Waldron bowled over opposing linemen, and as a result, exceeded his own expectations in helping to clear the way for an offense that…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →A little more than 12 hours after losing in the PIAA Class 4A title game, a few Liberty players engaged in a snowball fight inside Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. They were still disconsolate after losing 49-10 to McKeesport on Saturday night in Hershey. But the tears…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The PIAA board of directors did not bend Saturday morning. The board voted by a 22-5 margin not to accept Bethlehem Area School District superintendent Joseph A. Lewis’ proposal to amend Section B of Article XIII of the PIAA bylaws. As a result, the high school career of…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES NEW HAMPSHIRE 12-1, 7-1 (Atlantic 10) Lost to Northern Iowa 24-21 NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinals Jeff Pammer (Northampton) So. FS, 6-0, 210. Season: Team-high 53 solo tackles, 61 assists, one blocked kick, one interception, two pass break ups. WEST VIRGINIA 10-1, 7-0…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →North Penn coach Dick Beck reclined in his office chair on Thursday and reeled off the names of Lehigh Valley players and teams he has admired. He humbly talked about his team, which is coming off a 55-20 win over Downingtown East in the District One championship game, which…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES DELAWARE 6-5, 3-5 (Atlantic 10) Season completed Jeremy Kametz (Freedom) So. DL, 6-4, 243. Season: Five solo tackles, two for losses, four assists, two pass break ups, two sacks. DUQUESNE 7-3, 4-0 (MAAC) Season completed Travis Decker (Parkland) So. DL, 6-2, 225.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES DELAWARE 6-5, 3-5 (Atlantic 10) Beat Villanova 38-13 Jeremy Kametz (Freedom) So. DL, 6-4, 243. Game: One assisted tackle. Season: Five solo tackles, two for losses, four assists, two pass break ups, two sacks. DUQUESNE 7-3, 4-0 (MAAC) Beat Saint Francis 44-17 Travis…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Mike Gnall is best man in his brother Joe’s wedding next Saturday. But, if Whitehall wins tonight’s District 2-4-11 subregional Class 3A title game, he may not get the chance to wear the tuxedo he was recently fitted for. The fourth-seeded Zephyrs (9-2) visit No. 2 Pottsville…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES DELAWARE 5-5, 2-5 (Atlantic 10) Beat William & Mary 22-21 Jeremy Kametz (Freedom) So. DL, 6-4, 243. Season: Five solo tackles, two for losses, three assists, two pass break ups, two sacks. DUQUESNE 6-3, 4-0 (MAAC) Bye Travis Decker (Parkland) So. DL, 6-2, 225. Season:…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES DELAWARE 4-5, 1-5 (Atlantic 10) Lost to Massachusetts 35-7 Jeremy Kametz (Freedom) So. DL, 6-4, 243. Game: One assisted tackle. Season: Five solo tackles, two for losses, three assists, two pass break ups, two sacks. DUQUESNE 6-3, 4-0 (MAAC) Beat La Salle 56-14 Travis…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty quarterback Dan Persa did not see black and red jerseys, or Jarred Holley blanketing his wideouts, or anything else on Freedom’s defense that served as a haunting reminder of his last game against Easton. Instead, Persa saw only open field, open receivers, and for the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Richie Villani did not have a meltdown before attempting his first-ever punt for Freedom, on Oct. 7 at Northampton, although his father, Jim, a former NFL reserve punter, was studying his every move from the sidelines. Oh, Villani was nervous, but not because dad was wide-eyed.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Whitehall has won eight straight games, but may need to extend that streak to nine to secure a District 11/Sub-Regional Class 3A playoff spot. “It’s something the way things fell,” said Zephyrs coach Bob Panny. “After eight conference games we have a chance.” A chance to return…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES BRIGHAM YOUNG 4-4, 3-2 (Mountain West) Beat Air Force 62-41 Joe Semanoff (Lehighton) So. RB, 5-10, 215. Season: One carry, 6 yards; two catches, 25 yards, one TD. DELAWARE 4-4, 1-4 (Atlantic 10) Lost to Maine 25-15 Jeremy Kametz (Freedom) So. DL, 6-4, 243. Game: One…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →First-year Dieruff coach Jake Williams didn’t think he’d contend for the Lehigh Valley Conference title this season. He didn’t figure on finishing last, either, but that will be the harsh reality if Dieruff (0-8 overall, 0-6 LVC) doesn’t pull off an upset over the next two…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES BRIGHAM YOUNG 3-4, 2-2 (Mountain West) Lost to Notre Dame 49-23 Joe Semanoff (Lehighton) So. RB, 5-10, 215. Season: One carry, 6 yards; two catches, 25 yards, one touchdown. DELAWARE 4-3, 1-3 (Atlantic 10) Beat James Madison 34-28 Jeremy Kametz (Freedom) So. DL, 6-4,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Emmaus stopped making mistakes and excuses, and stopped losing after its embarrassing Week 4 loss to Nazareth. Maybe it was hard to walk the school hallways after losing 28-7 to Nazareth, a team that had not won a game entering that Lehigh Valley Conference matchup on Sept. 23.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES BRIGHAM YOUNG 3-3, 2-2 (Mountain West) Beat Colorado State 24-14 Joe Semanoff (Lehighton) So. RB, 5-10, 215. Season: One carry, 6 yards; two catches, 25 yards, one touchdown. DELAWARE 3-3, 0-3 (Atlantic 10) Lost to Richmond 20-10 Jeremy Kametz (Freedom) So. DL, 6-4,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty, Easton and Whitheall control their PIAA sub-regional playoff destinies with four regular-season games remaining. All each has to do is win, though somebody will lose when Liberty (6-0, 4-0) and Easton (5-1, 3-1) meet Oct. 28 at Cottingham Stadium. Whitehall (5-1, 4-0)…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES DELAWARE 2-3, 0-2 (Atlantic 10) Lost to Hofstra 10-6 Jeremy Kametz (Freedom) So. DL, 6-4, 243. Season: Four solo tackles, two for losses, one assisted, two pass break ups. DUQUESNE 2-3, 0-0 (MAAC) Lost to Georgetown 10-7 Travis Decker (Parkland) So. DL, 6-2, 225.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Alex Watty and Mike McClarin, two of Liberty’s grunts in the trenches, had fun plowing Bethlehem Catholic linemen Friday night. But they had even more fun watching tailback Charles Irvin turn their yeoman work into touchdowns in a Lehigh Valley Conference mismatch at Bethlehem…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Nobody is going to silence Rich Jarnagin, Liberty’s bullish tight end and linebacker. And he is particularly loud and animated when expressing his feelings about Bethlehem Catholic. The 6-1, 213-pound Jarnagin has had plenty to say this week because Liberty (5-0, 3-0) and…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES DELAWARE 3-1, 0-1 (Atl. 10) Lost to Towson 35-31 Jeremy Kametz (Freedom) Soph. DL, 6-4, 243. Season: Three solo tackles, two for losses, one assisted, two pass break-ups. DUQUESNE 2-2, 0-0 (MAAC) Bye Travis Decker (Parkland) Soph. DL, 6-2, 225. Season: Five solo…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The game that will likely decide the Bethlehem city championship is a week away. But Bethlehem Catholic and Liberty must first contend with tough Lehigh Valley Conference opponents before worrying about their showdown at BethlehemArea School District Stadium next Friday night.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Lehigh Valley Conference has become more interesting thanks to Allen’s resurgence with consecutive victories over Freedom and Bethlehem Catholic. However, the Canaries (2-2) are in an uphill battle to advance to the PIAA Class 4A sub-regional playoffs because it’s difficult…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty hopes to blow out Parkland in the same fashion it has its first three opponents. But it might not satisfy at least one Liberty High teacher. “One of my teachers said, “Can you make the games more interesting,’ but I said interesting games are usually the bad ones. The…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGES BRIGHAM YOUNG 1-1, 0-0 (Mountain West) Bye Joe Semanoff (Lehighton) So. RB, 5-10, 215. DELAWARE 2-0, 0-0 (Atlantic 10) Beat West Chester 42-21 Jeremy Kametz (Freedom) So. DL, 6-4, 243. Game: Did not play. Season: Three solo tackles, two for losses, two pass breakups.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →As a defensive end in the seventh grade, Alex Atiyeh found joy in chasing and tackling quarterbacks. Then in the eighth grade he became a quarterback, and his mind-set changed. “I love being a quarterback,” said Atiyeh, a junior who’s in his second season starting at Bethlehem…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →A Lehigh Valley Conference opener between rivals turned into a halftime scare when Northampton coach Teko Johnson stumbled to the bench. He was later carried away by ambulance after experiencing upper-body pains. Parkland trailed by a point, but overwhelmed dispirited…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Central Catholic seeks validation. Beating defending Lehigh Valley Conference champion Easton at 7 p.m. Saturday at J. Birney Crum Stadium would help validate the Vikings as a conference contender. “I don’t have to get them pumped up,” said Central Catholic coach Donnie Roberts.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Jason Roeder’s hiring was heavily opposed by most Freedom players in February when he was chosen to succeed Jim Morgans as football coach. Roeder, 30, had never been a head coach and most of the players had developed a closeness to Michael Heimbach, who had been an assistant on…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Hold off on considering Liberty as the team to beat in Bethlehem. That’s because Bethlehem Catholic is again powerful and eager to continue proving that it may be the Christmas City’s best team. The Golden Hawks, sparked by punishing tackles by Joe Dancho and Cory McFadden,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bob Stem returns to coaching tonight against a man who admires him, but who’s also yet to beat him. That doesn’t mean that Northampton coach Teko Johnson has already conceded. It’s quite the opposite because Johnson’s Konkrete Kids, led by the multi-talented and dangerous Josh…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Central Catholic will never be just an average football program, because the coaching staffs and players dressed in Vikings gear will always think they’re as good, if not better, than everybody else. Even if the victories don’t equal the always-high expectations. The fact is…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic and Parkland entered the second half the way they began the first: scoreless. The only highlights had been crunching hits, topped by a sandwich of Bethlehem Catholic quarterback Alex Atiyeh by blitzing Trojans Owen Thomas and Matt Wasley to end the half. But…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →He did not sleep with his helmet Thursday night and will not walk around school today with a football. But chances are Bethlehem Catholic quarterback Alex Atiyeh won’t take too long to get dressed in his brown and gold uniform for a Lehigh Valley Conference season-opener against…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty has “Hoagie,” which is what they call star senior linebacker Andres Morales, who’s being recruited by N.C. State, Duke and other Division I schools. It also has junior quarterback Dan Persa, an accurate passer and slick runner who’s healthy again and can pick apart…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Domenique Price’s name will be on the back of his Pennsylvania uniform tonight at the 48th annual Big 33 Football Classic at HersheyPark Stadium. He’ll get to keep the jersey, and the memories of his week in Hershey may never fade, but Price is lucky to be on Pennsylvania’s…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton’s Raymere Palmer talked himself up and believed he could back it up in the ring. The judges just didn’t see it that way. Palmer lost to Camden’s Mike Anderson in an action-packed 178-pound novice division title bout on a sizzling Sunday afternoon at Cedar Beach. The fans…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Emmaus senior Nate Gilbert didn’t need his sunglasses until after his fifth jump. By then, he needed them to block the sun and to hide the tears he thought he was about to shed. He had one jump left and his heart was pumping faster than ever, because he had already clinched the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Kyle Newell has plowed and leaped over other athletes on the football field. He has rebounded, intimidated and dunked with ease on the hardwood. And he has been named to several all-star teams in his four years at Bethlehem Catholic. But Newell doesn’t consider himself any…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Allen junior Rushane Scott was slightly behind out of the blocks, but he was way ahead at the tape. He’s closed many 100-meter dashes in the same fashion this spring. The stakes were higher in the Class 3A final in the District 11 track and field championships, but Scott easily…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →He was just about even with his rival, the one distance runner Northampton High senior Tyler McCandless said he thought he had lost to 80 times before. This time, only 50 meters remained in the 3,200-meter run and McCandless was no longer worried about past failures against…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic still has speed in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, just not the best around. That’s because former Becahi standouts Brandon Carter and Eddie Scipio have graduated and the area’s fastest boys runner is Allen’s Rushane Scott, who’s been timed at 10.6 in the 100…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Chris Pates was running with the wrong crowd and headed toward a dead end until he joined the Liberty High track and field team in the spring of his freshman year. Finally, he had goals to chase, first in the classroom, because without making the grade he wouldn’t have been…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Freedom High officially has a new football coach and athletic director Fred Harris hopes he doesn’t eventually follow in the footsteps of the last two Patriots head coaches. But Jason Roeder, who was formally introduced as the coach to the players and media on Tuesday, doesn’t…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Freedom’s two-month wait for a new football coach may soon be over. According to two sources close to the Freedom football program, Jason Roeder has been offered the job. Roeder has to be approved at a Bethlehem Area School District school board Monday night before he can be…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic senior two-way tackle Matt Kushner appeared to be an unlikely Division I product before last season. He’d made just 12 tackles in two previous seasons. He had played mostly as an offensive lineman and pancake blocks are not listed on any stats sheets. But…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Tony Cocca had forecasted the future for Bethlehem Catholic two-way standout Kyle Newell long before Newell had even begun to assert himself on the football field. “Keep an eye on Newell,” Cocca said before the start of the 2002 season. “He’s a Division I player.” Good forecast.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Central Catholic senior David Horton probably has Vikings coach Donnie Roberts high on his Christmas list. Roberts’ decision to move Horton from running back to wide receiver as a junior has panned out wonderfully. Horton’s 51-catch, 617-yard season with five touchdowns was…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The opponents hit hard. Easton just hit harder. The opponents were often bigger. Easton never buckled. For 13 straight games, Easton just won, mostly with smashmouth offense and punishing defense, and by taking advantage of some turnover opportunities in the playoffs during…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGE BUCKNELL 7-4, 4-2 (Patriot) Beat Duquesne 30-20 Mike Cangelosi (Nazareth) Sr. 6-0, 197. Season: 14 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD; 6 catches, 62 yards, TD. DELAWARE 6-3, 6-1 (Atl. 10) Beat Richmond 23-14 Sean Bleiler (Parkland) Sr. 6-0, 220. Season: 66 carries, 333 yards, 2…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty has yet to hit the panic button in a game this season. There’s that one loss — 21-7 to Easton — but the Hurricanes have demonstrated mettle and perseverance in many tough games, including last week’s dramatic 28-23 win over Wyoming Valley West that set up a rematch with…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton coach Steve Shiffert would rather forget about the 2001 District 11 Championship Game, and hope that his players don’t dwell on the memory too much, either. It’s not easy because Easton carried a 10-0 record into the 4A title game against Bethlehem Catholic and got routed…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGE BUCKNELL 6-4, 4-2 (Patriot) Beat Colgate 42-7 Mike Cangelosi (Nazareth) Sr. 6-0, 197. Game: One catch, four yards. Season: 14 carries, 93 yards, TD; six catches, 62 yards, TD. DELAWARE 6-3, 6-1 (Atl. 10) Beat Richmond 23-14 Sean Bleiler (Parkland) Sr. 6-0, 220. Season:…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →An area high school football coach, who showed little mercy when it came to an opponent, was just a fan Saturday afternoon watching the District 11 Class 4A subregional playoff game between Easton and Emmaus at Cottingham Stadium. But former Bethlehem Catholic High coach Bob…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGE BUCKNELL 5-4, 3-2 (Patriot) Beat Fordham 21-20 Mike Cangelosi (Nazareth) Sr. 6-0, 197. Game: Two catches, 25 yards, TD. Season: 13 carries, 89 yards, TD; six catches, 62 yards, TD. DELAWARE 6-3, 5-1 (Atl. 10) Lost 20-13 to James Madison Sean Bleiler (Parkland) Sr. 6-0,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton would prefer to have its first-round playoff opponent — either Liberty, Emmaus or District 2’s Delaware Valley — to think that it still has room for improvement. As if 9-0 doesn’t speak volumes. As if winning by an average score of 31-9 the last three weeks doesn’t say…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton is 8-0 and has already clinched the No. 1 spot in the PIAA Class 4A sub-regional playoffs, but the Red Rovers still have as much pressure on them as Emmaus and Liberty have entering the Lehigh Valley Conference’s final weekend. Liberty (8-1, 6-1) and Emmaus (8-1, 6-1)…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGE BUCKNELL 4-4, 2-2 (Patriot) Beat Holy Cross 42-27 Mike Cangelosi (Nazareth) Sr. 6-0, 197. Season: 13 carries, 89 yards, TD; 4 catches, 37 yards. DELAWARE 6-2, 5-0 (Atl. 10) Lost 34-20 to Navy Sean Bleiler (Parkland) Sr. 6-0, 220. Season: 66 carries, 333 yards, 2 TD; 5…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →After the big showdown against Easton that turned into the big letdown, none of the Liberty players seemed in a rush to leave the chewed-up field at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium Friday night. Not even to attend any Halloween parties or catch a late movie. Eventually,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The football gods finally frowned on Moravian Saturday afternoon. It had nothing to do with the muddy, ripped-up Leslie C. Quick Stadium field at Widener University. After all, Moravian outgained Widener 517 yards to 337 in total offense, had a 21-12 advantage in first downs,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton freshman Jarred Holley was a tone-setter, a game-breaker and, for Liberty, a heartbreaker Friday night. In fact, he was all those things and more in just the first four minutes of play at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. After his big game, which included a 69-yard…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty and Easton tuned up for the “Battle of the Unbeatens” by smashing their opponents last Friday night. Liberty beat Nazareth 22-0 and Easton rolled over Northampton 45-14. Liberty (8-0, 6-0) did not play its best game, but still proved merciless, holding Nazareth to just…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →COLLEGE BUCKNELL 3-4, 1-2 (Patriot) Lost 40-17 to Lehigh Mike Cangelosi (Nazareth) Sr. 6-0, 197. Game: Three carries, 11 yards. Season: 13 carries, 89 yards, TD; four catches, 37 yards. DELAWARE 6-1, 5-0 (Atl. 10) Beat William & Mary 31-28 Sean Bleiler (Parkland) Sr. 6-0, 220.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Emmaus could finish the season 9-1 and not make the PIAA Class 4A sub-regional playoffs. It’s not a joke. It’s just the harsh reality of the new playoff system, which has combined Districts 11, 2 and 4. Just four teams will qualify for the playoffs. Currently, Easton (6-0),…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →For a team that bashes opponents with nasty defense, nasty weather was to Liberty’s advantage Friday night. The conditions and the Hurricanes’ fierce rush were a nightmare for Northampton in a fumble-plagued Lehigh Valley Conference matchup at Bethlehem Area School District…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton and Liberty are still undefeated in the Lehigh Valley Conference, but will probably have to battle hard tonight to stay that way. And again next week. Then, on Oct. 29, Easton (5-0) and Liberty (6-0) will meet each other at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium, but will…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty had been outplayed and trailed rival Bethlehem Catholic 10-0 at halftime of their Lehigh Valley Conference matchup Saturday night. But the Hurricanes were not chewed out in the locker room by coach Tim Moncman. That’s the natural assumption. “We didn’t do any yelling or…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →There was nothing flat about the way Liberty played rival Bethlehem Catholic in the second half of a Lehigh Valley Conference game Saturday night. It was more like a dogfight. Runs were hard. Hits were harder. But that was to be expected. After all, the schools are separated by…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →There was nothing flat about the way Liberty played rival Bethlehem Catholic in the second half of a Lehigh Valley Conference game Saturday night. It was more like a dogfight. Runs were hard. Hits were harder. But that was to be expected. After all, the schools are separated by…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty is now the talk of Bethlehem. That’s what happens when you’re 5-0 and ranked No. 9 in the state in Class 4A by the Harrisburg Patriot-News. The Hurricanes also still have bragging rights because they swept city rivals Freedom and Bethlehem Catholic last season. Until…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Although Allen started the season 0-4 before beating Nazareth 10-7 Friday night at J. Birney Crum Stadium, the Canaries never lost confidence. “We weren’t stressing,” said Allen coach Kevin Ronalds. “We knew that were were going to get some wins.” Three of the Canaries’ games…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →No more proof is needed. Liberty is for real. The Hurricanes were solid, even merciless at times in a 42-14 pummeling of Central Catholic Friday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. The ‘Canes turned two first-half fumble recoveries into touchdowns and built a 28-0…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Emmaus and Whitehall are no longer being overlooked by other Lehigh Valley Conference teams. “That’s too bad,” said Emmaus coach Bottiglieri. “We need them to overlook us a little bit.” Neither Emmaus (3-1, 1-1 LVC) nor Whitehall (3-1, 2-0) will get breaks tonight, next week or…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The improved accuracy of sophomore quarterback Alex Atiyeh and Bethlehem Catholic’s overpowering size in the trenches helped the Golden Hawks gain a 37-14 victory in a Lehigh Valley Conference matchup Saturday in Bethlehem. Atiyeh, a transfer from Dieruff, rolled up 139 yards on…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →There was nothing mild about the Whitehall Zephyrs Friday night. Bruising and dominating was more like it as the Zephyrs blew into Bethlehem Area School District Stadium and routed Freedom 35-7. Whitehall’s 269-171 advantage in yards gained told only one part of the story. That…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton’s highly-touted band figures to rock in the stands as the Red Rovers football team goes after the 700th win in school history against Dieruff at 7 tonight at J. Birney Crum Stadium. It’s big. Maybe, the biggest storyline in the LVC in Week 3, but in an unusual twist, it…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic left more yellow laundry on the Emmaus field than it would have liked Friday night. But the Golden Hawks also dropped two key Emmaus players to the soggy field in back-to-back plays that put an exclamation point on a 14-9 victory in the opening night of Lehigh…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Potential thrillers lie in wait as Lehigh Valley Conference play opens tonight. Who will be surprise winners? Well, the LVC is so balanced that most games tonight and Saturday could be decided late. Who’s feeling the pressure? It’s heaviest for Bethlehem Catholic (0-2), Allen…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →North Penn, the defending PIAA Class 4A champion, and Mount Carmel, a Class 2A powerhouse with five PIAA titles since 1994, will both be playing in the Lehigh Valley Saturday night. Whether that’s good news or bad for the Lehigh Valley Conference teams they are playing remains…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic, Easton and Parkland have had their runs of dominance in the previous two years of the Lehigh Valley Conference. Now, Central Catholic hopes to make its own run. The Vikings, who have gone 10-12 under coach Donnie Roberts the last two seasons, begin their…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Must-win games will begin the second week of the season for Lehigh Valley Conference teams after they lose their season-openers. That’s because of the PIAA’s new sub-regional playoff format that has combined District 11 with District 2 and District 4 teams in a chase to secure…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Nobody threw up or fainted at Easton High. Nobody took lunch break and decided not to return for the afternoon practice. Most of the 108 players on the practice field were in good shape and brought good attitudes as far as coach Steve Shiffert was concerned as the high school…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Brothers Dave and Doug Spadt, former Emmaus High basketball standouts, shared the same concerns as clouds darkened, light rain fell and leaves floated from trees and onto the Catasauqua Playground court Thursday. The Spadt brothers were playing for G&S; Fastening against Ackey’s…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Don’t expect Easton coach Steve Shiffert to be all fired up for the McDonald’s Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic tonight at Nazareth High. The fund-raising game for the Ronald McDonald’s charities just won’t seem the seem as Easton playing against Parkland or Bethlehem…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic tailback Fred Rice never cared about being chased down by faster defensive backs or linebackers, because they still had to take him down once they caught up to him. He also never worried much about who was in front of him, because he’s nicknamed “Boomer” for a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →So many times during his high school career, Parkland senior Steve Stern sensed that he was being stared down by opposing sprinters. He was probably right. At just 5-8 and without any bulging muscles, Stern just didn’t care what other sprinters thought because he was confident…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland had an efficient running machine in senior Steve Stern, a sophomore jumper who demonstrated solid bunny hops in John Carelli and a senior pole vaulter who overcame the windy elements to vault to a fifth-place medal in Scott Rogasta. And there were other standout…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland High senior Steve Stern pictured the place on his stacked bedroom wall where he could put his silver medal. Emmaus junior Sam Luff, also a silver medal winner, said he was going to hang his medal on a wall, too. Easton senior Rich Ryan said he was going to give his…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →This time, the color of the medal didn’t suit Parkland sophomore John Carelli’s taste. That’s because Carelli had gotten spoiled after winning six gold medals over the previous two weeks in the Lehigh Valley Conference and District 11 Class 3A Championships. Otherwise, Carelli…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →His speed picked up and his head bobbed as the lead to the finish line narrowed. The previous two years, Allen High senior Eugene Clay had been denied victory in the Class 3A 110-meter high hurdles in the District 11 Track and Field Championships, placing second as a junior and…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →No more 800-meter runs for Bethlehem Catholic senior Jules Eggleston. Once was enough, so he hoped. “After I run one lap, my body shuts down,” Eggleston joked. “I’m not ready for two laps.” But it may be hard for Bethlehem Catholic coach Gary Mohylsky to grant Eggleston his…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Seeds mean more than what’s on paper, at least according to Bethlehem Catholic track & field coach Gary Mohylsky. If he’s right, then the most accomplished sprinter in the Lehigh Valley over the last two years will dominate in the District 11 Track & Field Championships today…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The only individual race Parkland senior Steve Stern didn’t finish first or second in was a 10-meter sprint — half-jog actually — against a bunch of kids just having fun Wednesday at J. Birney Crum Stadium. That Stern even had the energy to play around seemed amazing considering…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Something about that attempt, his third and final at 6 feet, 6 inches, fueled Parkland sophomore Jon Carelli to accomplish a personal-best Tuesday at J. Birney Crum Stadium. Carelli cleared 6-6 to win the high jump event in the Lehigh Valley Conference track & field…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton High track and field coach Frank Messa looked down at a piece of paper crammed with times, distances, and lots of names Thursday night and uttered the words a college student would say this time of year. “I feel like I’m studying for a math exam,” Messa said. He wasn’t…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Blowing out the field and breaking school records would not have been as special to Northern Lehigh senior Bob Sutjak had his team not won the meets. The success of the team means more to Sutjak than his personal triumphs. Lately, he’s been able to enjoy both. Last Thursday in a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →A 1,600-meter relay race that appeared dim after one lap turned into a success story for the Southern Lehigh boys Saturday at the Penn Relays at Franklin Field. That’s because junior Mike Snowden rallied the Spartans from near last place into third with a solid second leg.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Central Catholic High distance runner Frances Koons capped off two days of fantastic running in the Penn Relays Friday at Franklin Field. Koons, a senior, ran a 2:12.8 anchor-leg that helped the Vikettes place eighth in the High School Girls Championship of America 3,200-meter…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Artie Owens made sure he did his offseason conditioning work when he was with the San Diego Chargers in the late 1970s and 80s, but he also made sure he scheduled his vacation time around the Penn Relays in Philadelphia. Owens had been a football and track and field star at…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Lehigh Valley’s fastest sprinter has entered the spring track and field season without a college scholarship offer. That could change for Bethlehem Catholic senior Brandon Carter after he competes in the Penn Relays, April 22-24 at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Mercy rules do not exist in college basketball. That suited DeSales University women’s coach Fred Richter just fine against Delaware Valley Tuesday at Billera Hall in Center Valley. Richter, who is bidding for his sixth NCAA appearance with the Bulldogs, paced the sidelines and…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →A meeting at the line of scrimmage between Freedom’s 6-6, 297-pound Ryan Ehrie and Northwestern’s 6-5, 290-pound Jake Figner might have been a grueling matchup, testing more than just the strength of both. It could not happen because Northwestern played in the Colonial League…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Northampton High athletic director Mike Schneider would like nothing more than for interest in the school’s football program to boom following the Jeff Pammer’s ceremony this morning for NCAA national letter of intent day. Pammer, a multiple position star who was named The…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Some interceptions alter games, but the first interception of Bethlehem Catholic defensive lineman John Bedics’ career did more than that. His 42-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter against Parkland in last year’s season-opener increased his confidence…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Northampton had already been out of playoff contention by the time October rolled around and the leaves had changed colors over the past few years. Not so this fall. But how much longer will Northampton’s football season last? The Konkrete Kids (7-3) qualified for the District…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The season-ending game for Bethlehem bragging rights had been circled on the schedules of Freedom and Liberty since August. But only Liberty seemed ready for the challenge when the two rivals met in a Lehigh Valley Conference Northampton Division matchup before a spirited crowd…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton High erased the nightmares of past failures against Bethlehem Catholic with a big-play offense and a crunching defense Friday night. The Red Rovers needed just two plays to score on their first drive and rolled up seven more points in just five plays on their next drive.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →For the fifth straight year, Easton and Bethlehem Catholic will meet in a meaningful game. But it’s more meaningful for Easton. The Red Rovers (7-1, 4-0) can clinch the Lehigh Valley Conference Northampton Division title outright and the No. 1 spot and homefield advantage in the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic is still alive and making a strong run at qualifying for the District 11 Class 4A playoffs for the sixth straight year. Parkland is just hours away from proving it is the best team holding residence on Cedar Crest Boulevard, and the Trojans (6-2) visit Emmaus…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →A look at each sideline instantly revealed the difference between the Bethlehem Catholic and Freedom programs. Bethlehem Catholic had more than twice as many players as Freedom and seemed to develop more swagger as the Lehigh Valley Conference Northampton Division game continued…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The wake-up call Easton apparently needed came on Sept. 26 when the Red Rovers were smashed 40-20 by Altoona at Cottingham Stadium. It was the Red Rovers’ first loss and it was devastating. Gone, along with Easton’s aura of invincibility, was the No. 1 ranking in The Morning…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →With its offensive creativity and the execution to match it and a defense that placed a stranglehold on Liberty in the second half, Northampton proved Friday night that it really is a program on the rise. Maybe, even a team headed to the District 11 Class 4A playoffs for the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Compelling questions about Freedom (5-1) and Easton (4-1) will be answered when they meet in a Lehigh Valley Conference Northampton Division game at 7 tonight at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. Who’s tougher? Who can run the ball better? And, of course, who’s No. 1? With…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →For Liberty, reversing a trend of always losing to city rival Bethlehem Catholic over the last 19 years came down to making one final defensive stand on fourth-and-four with 21 seconds remaining Friday night. A stop on fourth-and-four before hobbled Liberty defensive star Barry…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Opportunity to beat an elite team knocks for Liberty when the Hurricanes play Bethlehem Catholic at 7 tonight at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. “It knocks too many times,” said Liberty coach Tim Moncman, which isn’t exactly a joke considering that the Hurricanes (3-2)…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Challenged to win every game in order to keep its District 11 Class 4A playoff hopes alive may turn out to be a good situation for Bethlehem Catholic. Especially if the Golden Hawk defense plays with the same intensity as it did in a 34-7 homecoming victory over Whitehall…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton was expected to be a top contender for the Lehigh Valley Conference title and a top District 11 Class 4A playoff spot. Emmaus and Northampton did not have the same expectations, but all three teams enter the fifth week of the season with stronger possibilities for…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →A year ago, Bethlehem Catholic and Parkland played two games that were like the Super Bowls of Lehigh Valley football. Bethlehem Catholic won the first meeting, 29-28 in overtime. Parkland prevailed in the second game, 14-11 to win the District 11 Class 4A title en route to…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The atmosphere was not like old times between Bethlehem Catholic and Central Catholic, at least not the way former Central Catholic lineman and current Vikings assistant coach William Edwards proudly remembered. “We used to play in front of 18,000 fans,” he said during the week.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →One more chance. “This is my fourth year,” said Central Catholic High senior quarterback Josh Hinkle. “I’ve got to get one.” Just one victory over Bethlehem Catholic, the arch rival that has bombarded Central Catholic by a 126-31 margin in their last three meetings. Hinkle has…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →They are the Bethlehem Towers, each tall and solid. Their potential appears to be limitless. Division I football scouts must think so because they have been hawking Freedom High two-way lineman Ryan Ehrie and Bethlehem Catholic two-way standouts John Bedics and Kyle Newell.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Liberty High survived last week, beating Pleasant Valley 35-28 in double overtime. Now comes a bigger team, a bigger task. Parkland’s visit to Bethlehem Area School District Stadium to play Liberty at 7 p.m. Saturday will be the Hurricanes’ biggest home game in years. Parkland…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic High’s national ranking in USA Today will be gone this week. The Golden Hawks’ chase for the District 11 and PIAA Class 4A titles will still continue. But the Golden Hawks’ offense needs to iron out several wrinkles and the ballyhooed defense needs to have its…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The stadium lights will be turned on and the blocking, tackling, passing, punishing and juking between the lines will commence throughout the Lehigh Valley this weekend as the high school football season kicks off. Lehigh Valley Conference powers Parkland, Bethlehem Catholic and…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It did not matter whether it was first, second or third down. Pennsylvania just could not move the ball — until the final five minutes of play. By then it was too late, but Bethlehem Catholic quarterback Adam Bednarik’s 17-yard draw for a touchdown put Pennsylvania on the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Austin Scott, the record-breaking Parkland High tailback who’ll begin his college career at Penn State next month, will have plenty of star company in the PNC Big 33 Classic at 7 tonight at Hersheypark Stadium. But will Scott be the biggest star? The run-and-shoot offense that…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Adam Bednarik had a celebrated high school football season at Bethlehem Catholic last fall, throwing for 27 touchdowns and over 2,300 yards. He was named to the Associated Press Big School first team and was The Morning Call’s all-area quarterback. He was also selected to the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →There is a no-blitz rule for the PNC Big 33 Classic Saturday night at Hersheypark Stadium. But defensive players can hit quarterbacks, wideouts and running backs as hard as they want. And Freedom defensive star Jeremy Kametz can’t wait to make contact with an offensive player in…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →So much for the Gold team all-stars’ speed and the hope of it being unleashed in a mighty way. The Red team all-stars, led by a defensive backs that blanketed wideouts and defensive linemen that created havoc, dampened the aspirations of fans looking for a shootout in the 33rd…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Following the third straight year that the McDonald’s Lehigh Valley Football Classic has been postponed because of inclement weather, Bethlehem Catholic coach Chuck Sonon recalled a fitting joke he heard on a New York City sports radio station. “What do you call the day after…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Like all the players in the McDonald’s Football Classic, Bethlehem Catholic quarterback Adam Bednarik will wear his school’s helmet for the final time at 7 tonight at Nazareth High. It just won’t be the same Golden Hawks helmet he wore during the season, the one that was loaded…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →How small was Bethlehem Catholic sprinter Brandon Carter when he was a freshman? “I don’t know if his head came up to a hurdle,” said Golden Hawks track and field coach Gary Mohylsky. “I was pretty tiny,” admitted Carter, who was 5-2 as a freshman. He’s a shade under 5-8 now,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →In his 10th and final race over the two-day period, Bethlehem Catholic High junior Brandon Carter experienced a terrible feeling with approximately 200 meters left in the Class 2A 1,600-meter relay at the PIAA Track and Field Championships Saturday at Seth Grove Stadium. “My…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland High senior Ryan Kleintop visualized the triple jump that clinched his first ever PIAA Track and Field Championships medal Friday at Seth Grove Stadium. But before he focused on his final attempt, he stood on the runway and blocked out the distractions of sprinters…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic sprinter Frank Trovato has already rented his tuxedo, shined his shoes and has limousine service set up for him and his prom date for Friday night. Trovato even has plans for his girlfriend to ride with him from the Lehigh Valley to Shippensburg University…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Bethlehem Catholic 400-meter relay fell behind early, rallied to gain the lead over the next two legs and then closed with the six other anchor-leg runners looking at the back of Golden Hawks junior Brandon Carter. Carter was focused on the finish line, rousing the crowd as…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Freedom track coach Ray Herman, who has been coaching and winning consistently in the sport for more than 30 years, has a request that he wants all the principals and members of the District 11 Committee to consider. “I prefer the two-day meet, like our league [Lehigh Valley…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Feet don’t fail me now. How many runners prayed for that not to happen in the Lehigh Valley Conference track and field championships Wednesday at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown? Bethlehem Catholic junior Brandon Carter didn’t have to worry. He won the 100-meter dash in 10.9…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The veins in Parkland senior Ryan Kleintop’s neck seemed as if they would burst through his skin each time he sprinted down the straightaway leading to the jumping pit. “I just try to get as pumped up for each jump as I can,” Kleintop said. He jumped farther and higher than…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →In the next four weeks league, district and state champions will be crowned in track and field. May is designed for that. April is supposed to be about building speed, strength, distance and mental toughness. Unfortunately, April was also a misleading month for far too many area…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Chilly and windy weather conditions hardly bothered Emmaus batters and pitchers Wednesday afternoon in Lower Macungie. Emmaus was efficient in both departments in beating Liberty 13-6 in a Lehigh Valley Conference game that bolstered the Green Hornets’ confidence. They had lost…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic sprinters stampeded the grass field, perhaps awakening the dead the faster they ran, and passed the baton from hand-to-hand at Wednesday’s practice. Odd as it seemed, practice was at Memorial Park Cemetery, located across the street from the high school. “This…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Tony Lattimore is an assistant track & field coach at Easton and the father of one of the area’s top female sprinters. But he doesn’t brag much about daughter Danielle. Sure, he’s always happy about her accomplishments in high school and the Junior Olympics. But Tony is just as…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland High’s Garrison Rausch wanted to drive Bethlehem Catholic pitcher Adam Bednarik off the mound. When the chance came, Rausch did just that, lining a three-run double to center field in the bottom of the fifth inning that put the Trojans ahead by three runs en route to a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland senior Austin Scott had many breakaway runs en route to a 53-touchdown football season last fall. Often, he seemed on the verge of being off to the races the second he took handoffs. But a change of season has brought a different result for Scott. His football feats…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Who’s back? Who’s fast? Who’s faster? Who’s stronger and hungrier? Every spring those are the No. 1 questions in track and field. Nothing has changed, except the weather has been absolutely horrible, making it difficult for sprinters and field performers to train like normal.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland running back Austin Scott and Bethlehem Catholic quarterback Adam Bednarik will rush and pass as high school players on the same football field one more time. Finally, it will be as teammates. They have been selected to the Pennsylvania All-Star team that will play the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland High’s all-everything running back Austin Scott has fallen into countless daydreams while watching ESPN’s SportsCenter. Often he hears the voices of Stuart Scott and Chris Berman ringing through his mind. Stuart Scott, the master of airwaves slang, is saying, “Did you…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →They started the season by having their hearts ripped out. Bethlehem Catholic capped off a stirring season-opener with quarterback Adam Bednarik’s completion of a two-point conversion pass to Fred Rice for a 29-28 overtime victory. But after that loss, Parkland did all the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic senior quarterback Adam Bednarik seemed to almost faint when told that he had been selected to the Associated Press Big School (Classes 4A/3A) All-State team. “That’s awesome,” Bednarik said, pausing on the phone before becoming even more exhilarated over his…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →She was the lady in the fur coat standing on the muddy steps in Hersheypark Stadium Saturday night, requesting to talk to the star Parkland running back, her nephew Austin Scott. He was the man wearing a much less flamboyant coat, proudly talking about the astuteness of his son,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →There are many ways to score touchdowns. Long runs, short runs. Long pass receptions, short pass receptions. Punt returns. Kickoff returns. Defensively. Parkland’s Austin Scott has explored most of these options during his memorable and historic season. And he’s not done, yet.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →They often yelled during stretching drills, “Orefield Beach, baby,” despite bitter cold temperatures that had frozen the ground Wednesday at Parkland Stadium. “I think it was colder out here [Tuesday], but it’s nice to be out here now when nobody else from the Lehigh Valley is…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The school buses that are used to transport Parkland football players, band members and fans will have to be cranked up for one more trip. And it will be a sweet one, because the Trojans are going to Hershey for the PIAA Class 4A championship. “We’ve been working since March for…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The planning is over. Now it’s time for Parkland to just go out and beat the USA Today’s 13th-ranked team, a team that is averaging 47 points and which once rolled up 76 points on an opponent this season. That team is Central Dauphin, which will bring a 12-0 record into…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →As guaranteed by star tailback Austin Scott 12 weeks ago, Parkland got the rematch with Bethlehem Catholic Friday night with the District 11 Class 4A title on the line. And led by Scott’s 222 yards rushing and touchdown runs that covered 57 and 28 yards, Parkland made the best…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →First, Parkland tailback Nick Pinchek did his part with hard, punishing blocks, helping teammate Austin Scott rush for over 200 yards and into the state record books Friday night in the District 11 Class 4A championship game at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. Then the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Down, set, hike. The former high school and college quarterback is being rushed from all points, but he is not running anywhere. Parkland coach Rob Melosky is just standing there, taking all the shots and handling the pressure just as he used to do when he was taking snaps from…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Following his sensational running show, which made Bethlehem Catholic’s defense appear to be frozen in place, Parkland tailback Austin Scott huddled his teammates and made a very bold prediction. “We will see them again,” Scott told his teammates. Many of those Parkland players…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →No team has stopped the offense of Bethlehem Catholic or Parkland. They didn’t even stop each other. But the defenses of both teams will give it another shot when Parkland (10-1) meets Bethlehem Catholic (11-0) at 7 tonight for the District 11 Class 4A championship at Bethlehem…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Their District 11 Class 4A semifinal games were going awfully poorly for Bethlehem Catholic and Parkland Friday night, raising doubts in both at halftime that the dream rematch between the two powerhouses for the district title might not happen. Underdogs Easton and Freedom…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic’s gritty effort against Easton was kind of like scraping for every penny in the piggy bank. Survival depended on what was found. The end to an undefeated season and rematch with Parkland also depended on Bethlehem Catholic’s ability to solve and score on an…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic-Parkland II now appears to be only a week away. At least that’s what most people outside the Easton and Freedom programs believe. “It’s high school football,” said Easton coach Steve Shiffert. “Anything can happen. You never know how they will react.” So hold…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →They are not called “hogs” or “beef brothers” or the “the plow crew.” Nothing intimidating. Instead, Parkland’s offensive linemen go by the nickname, “Merculators”, which sounds more suited for a dance studio than for the trenches on a football field. But they are called that…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →He has been nicknamed Boomer Jr. since birth. “I was a real big baby,” said Bethlehem Catholic junior Fred Rice. “I was almost 13 pounds when I was born, so they just called me Boomer.” The nickname fits him perfectly on the field where Rice is a star fullback and linebacker,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The sight of Parkland tailback Austin Scott warming up his throwing arm on the sidelines in the fourth quarter might have seemed odd at the time, but it sure looked sweet when he actually did it in the game Friday night at Cottingham Stadium. Scott lofted a spiral, landing…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Allen, Easton or Freedom will have their District 11 Class 4A football playoff hopes spoiled this weekend. Delivering the boot could be Dieruff, Parkland or Liberty. Could there be a more interesting climax to the final week of the first Lehigh Valley Conference regular season?…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Northern Lehigh coach Jim Tkach has been getting more “kicks” out of Colonial League games this season than ever before. That’s because junior kicker Aaron Mill has thrilled Tkach, his teammates and Bulldogs fans with his field goal accuracy. Even on rainy nights and muddy…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →No team in the first-year Lehigh Valley Conference has suffered as much heartbreak with no time left on the clock as Freedom. But the Patriots have become mentally tougher after losing 25-24 to Dieruff on a Brian School 20-yard field-goal on Sept. 20, and 22-21 to Easton on a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →And Rob Hauke scored. And again. And again. And the Central Catholic tailback scored four more times, the last on a 60-yard punt return in the fourth quarter, for the final exclamation mark in the Vikings’ 49-0 nonleague victory over host Crestwood of District 2 Saturday…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Oh mercy! Dieruff could have cried or shouted it out because it was obvious by late in the second quarter that Bethlehem Catholic was not going to take its foot off the gas pedal Saturday night. Instead, the Golden Hawks just kept flooring Dieruff behind an offense that clicked…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →With its crunching tackles, the Parkland defense seemed to break the spirit of Liberty about as much as Trojans tailback Austin Scott’s elusive running did Friday night in Orefield. But it was only the same devastating double-dose that the Trojans have used to beat every…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Dieruff and Liberty are playing “Survivor” this weekend, both going against powerhouse Lehigh Valley Conference teams that are among the best in the state. The chances both have of qualifying for the District 11 Class 4A playoffs may depend on the outcome of Liberty’s visit to…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Bethlehem Catholic, Catasauqua and Salisbury football teams each won weekend games that provided encouraging signs about the success they might enjoy the rest of the season. For Bethlehem Catholic, the Class 4A state title that has eluded the last two Becahi teams seems all…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It might have seemed like Easton had brought a bulldozer to Bethlehem Area School District Stadium the way it was plowing up and down the field Sunday afternoon. But the Red Rovers were simply using an overpowering rushing attack to punish the Liberty defense, paving the way to…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Two possessions to open the game, two straight punts. That wasn’t Bethlehem Catholic football. Neither was recovering a fumble at the 12-yard line and then failing to score any points against Ohio powerhouse St. Xavier Saturday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Easton Red Rovers are going on a shopping spree at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium for the second week in a row when they play the Liberty Hurricanes in a Lehigh Valley Conference matchup at 7 tonight. And the thing the Red Rovers (3-2, 3-1) will be looking for most…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →And now the Lehigh Valley Conference race thickens. No more easy games, at least on paper. Though powerhouse Bethlehem Catholic and Austin Scott-led Parkland appear headed for Dream Match II in the District 11 Class 4A playoffs, Allen, Freedom and Liberty each have a 4-1 overall…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic got more gifts than it could have expected from Glen Mills on Homecoming Saturday. And most of them were huge in the Golden Hawks’ 46-22 rout at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. They started when defensive back Kyle Horton recovered a Glen Mills fumble…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Last week, the Allentown public schools had Bethlehem’s number on the football field. In one game, Dieruff rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to edge Freedom, 25-24 on a Brian Scholl 20-yard field goal with time expiring at J. Birney Crum Stadium. In Bethlehem, Allen…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic quarterback Adam Bednarik notices the passing statistics of all the area’s other top quarterbacks. He was impressed by Friday night’s air shows of 258 yards yards by Allen’s Michael Bernhard against Liberty and the 269 yards Dieruff’s Richard Ocelus torched…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Allen quarterback Michael Bernhard might have become eligible for a free flight at nearby Lehigh Valley International Airport, if such a thing existed, because of the passing yardage he piled up against Liberty in a 28-6 Canaries victory Friday night. He was that on-target in…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Liberty Hurricanes know they’re not facing a cupcake in the Allen Canaries, who visit Liberty for a Lehigh Valley Conference game tonight at 7. But the Hurricanes aren’t buckling at the knees. They want to prove their mettle against a good team. “As long as everybody plays…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland tailback Austin Scott did not want to be hounded by bandwagon jumpers the rest of the season, especially since his heart has been set on playing for Penn State since his sophomore season. The senior Trojans star will make his choice official today by making an oral…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Parkland tailback Austin Scott helped cure all that had been aching the Trojans the best way he knows Friday night in Orefield. Scott’s way was to just break loose, tire, frustrate and outslick the defense. He seemed to get better with each carry, confounding Central Catholic…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Division I recruiters have been looking at Bethlehem Catholic quarterback Adam Bednarik since last season, probably drooling over his beautiful spirals and the distance he can throw. Shouldn’t they also be looking at Allen quarterback Michael Bernhard and Dieruff QB Richard…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The game was better than the hype. The ending was cliffhanging, leaving Bethlehem Catholic exhilarated and Parkland drowned in disappointment. It came down to The Decision. One or two points for victory or defeat. “It was in my mind all the time,” said Bethlehem Catholic…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic quarterback Adam Bednarik knows the Parkland defense wants to smother him, maybe even turn him into mashed potatoes. But by no means will Parkland distract Bednarik, the strong-armed, 6-3, 220-pound senior. He is just too confident, ready to play against the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The swagger is still there, though the players who figure to be leading the Bethlehem Catholic charge are different. The speed is also there, maybe more so than in the past. Look out for a junior named Brandon Carter. There is a new team leader, senior quarterback Adam Bednarik,…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →They are all back together in competition, old rivals, longtime friends, fans who want to engage in rah-rah chants, and coaches who want to outfox other coaches by any means possible. Most of them have been separated for four calender school years, leaving Allen deprived of a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Running on playing fields as hard as concrete was more fun than swimming for high school football stars Austin Scott of Parkland and Freedom’s Afa Anaoi and Jeremy Kametz on a Monday where temperatures neared 100 degrees. Each player said he had eagerly awaited the opening day…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The post-Bethlehem Catholic High football careers of Eddie Scipio and Pat Bedics have become more challenging and enjoyable since they arrived here on July 1. They’re in town to practice with the Pennsylvania All-Stars in preparation for the Big 33 Football Classic at 7 p.m.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The future fast lanes of District 11 athletes may have been paved by Bethlehem Catholic’s Eddie Scipio and his supporting cast of Golden Hawks sprinters in the PIAA Track and Field Championships last weekend at Shippensburg University. Scipio, a senior three-sport star, anchored…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic’s Maurice Simmons boasted about what he did Friday night at the school prom. “I danced all night,” the Golden Hawks junior sprinter said. So did his teammate, junior Frank Trovato. “I had a good time,” Trovato said. In some ways, they rewarded themselves early…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic pole vaulter Neil Schwab thought he was going to get an energy boost from a power bar he ate during competition in the Class 2A portion of the event in the PIAA Track and Field Championships Friday at Shippensburg University. Instead, the junior got sick to…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Athletes in The Morning Call’s circulation area from District 11 and District 3 who have legitimate shots of winning medals in the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University today and Saturday probably spent most of Thursday reflecting on what they need to do…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Eddie Scipio, the fastest of the Bethlehem Catholic High sprinters, enthusiastically raised his voice after winning his fourth gold medal in the District 11 Class 2A championships a week ago and proclaimed, “We’re on the map in track and field.” Not just as a dot, either. Four…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →A lot has been expected of Bethlehem Catholic three-sport star Eddie Scipio this track season. So far, the senior has handled the pressure well. That was again the case in the District 11 Class 2A track and field championships Thursday at Blue Mountain High. Scipio, appearing…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Now it’s time to run faster, throw further, and jump higher as the District 11 Class 3A and 2A track and field championships draw closer. “You don’t need much to motivate the kids now,” said Easton coach Frank Messa. Indeed, they now must “just do it.’ Even those who have been…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The answer to the most intriguing question of the scholastic track and field season, “Who has been dedicated enough to win a state title,” will be revealed over the next two weeks. For now, most people in District 11 know that Freedom junior Beth Crocus has a serious shot at…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bethlehem Catholic’s Eddie Scipio, Fred Rice, Brandon Carter and Maurice Simmons have memories from the 108th Penn Relays they will be able to savor the rest of their lives. And for good reason. They ran faster than any team in The Morning Call’s circulation area has ever run in…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Mark Borda has turned into pure adrenaline, taking pretty much what he wants on the hardwood in all but one game for Bethlehem Catholic this season. It’s helping the senior make amends for a football season that was cut short because of a night of drinking., which was in…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Easton senior tailback Sean Burgio is entering another Thanksgiving Day with his dinner plans on hold. But he’s not all that concerned with keeping his grandparents on his mother’s side in limbo, because they live in Phillipsburg, which is Easton’s annual Turkey Day football…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Dust blew off the ripped-up grass field and over the hills as the sun began to set near the close of a businesslike Easton High football practice Thursday evening. There was no smacking of the helmets, no banging up against each other as the Red Rover players jogged off the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Sean Burgio ran the ball up the middle often, cherishing every yard he gained and sucking up every jolting hit to carry the ball another down. He had become Easton’s best offensive option, but Burgio was rendered to watching from the sidelines as the drive that would decide the…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Around this time of the football season, some high school coaches warn their players not to say the wrong things, to be careful not to just speak their minds and fuel the rage in their opponents. Not so at Bethlehem Catholic, where shrewd coach Bob Stem has his Golden Hawks…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Austin Scott waits and wonders, hoping that he will play high school football for Parkland again this season. One doctor says no. Another will give his opinion on Monday. Tonight, however, Scott will sit and watch. His nerves may be unsettled when the Trojans play host to Pocono…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →“Beca, Beca, Beca.” The words have become so draining that it’s gotten to the point where all the Parkland players want to do is … well, let them speak for themselves. “I think we may try and strike fear into them right away, show them that we’re coming out to play and that we…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →New Parkland head football coach Rob Melosky turned to the immaculate building over the hills from the practice field 13 days ago, raised his arms and the enthusiasm in his voice rose. He has the job, the facilities, the program that the other Mountain Valley Conference teams…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The quarterback stood in the locker room, drying himself off, reflecting back on the pass he had attempted to complete down court. Unlike the football season when he often had to drop back or scramble to get loose, Bethlehem Catholic junior Mark Borda had nobody guarding him.…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The hardwood floor at Memorial Gymnasium opened up like the runway at nearby Lehigh Valley International Airport for Central Catholic’s Daniel Hinds in the second half Tuesday night. With the lanes to the basket more clear, his passion to score and take command of the game…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The black arm bands worn by the Emmaus High boys basketball team were a tribute to their former classmates and swim team members Tom Gray and Matt Kush, who were killed in an automobile accident early last Saturday morning. The game, an East Penn Conference tournament semifinal…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The Bethlehem Catholic defensive scheme is to force its opponent to wilt from its 1-3-1 trapping zone, and then lure that opponent to sleep with its patient offense. If you are Allen and you like to run and rely on your athleticism to carry you to victory, then you are in…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Unstoppable is not just Bethlehem Catholic. It’s also Central Bucks West, winner of 58 straight football games. Dominating is not just Bethlehem Catholic. It’s also Central Bucks West, winner of three straight PIAA Class 4A titles. “We want you,” is not what Central Bucks West…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →It started early with an interception that set up a long scoring drive of 72 yards in six plays, that consumed 4 minutes, 8 seconds. Believe it or not, that was a long scoring drive for Bethlehem Catholic against Easton in the District 11 Class 4A championship game Friday night…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The most rewarding high school football game of Larry Holmes Jr.’s career had just finished, a 41-14 victory over Parkland last Friday in the District 11 Class 4A semifinals. And within minutes, he was on his mother’s cell phone trying to reach his dad in Biloxi, Miss. “I got…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →They needed nobody to tell them what they already knew. ‘We knew the whole week that we were going to win, honestly,’ said Easton quarterback Matt Loebsack. ‘We had the confidence.’ ‘The difference between this game and the last game is I felt a lot more confident, and when you…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →You are Dieruff High and you are riding a 17-game losing streak. The last thing you need is two fumbles on the opening kickoff. The Huskies recovered the fumble both times, but rebounding from the slump they’ve been in for two seasons seemingly evaporated as soon as they fumbled…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Control the hype. That’s what Freedom coach Rob Melosky has tried to do all week, but too much is on the line to be cool. Too much can be gained, and possibly too much lost when Freedom (6-1) travels to Orefield to play Parkland (6-1) in a Mountain Valley Conference matchup for…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →The homecoming king and his teammates opened with a stale drive inside rusty old J. Birney Crum Stadium that resulted in a three-and-out. Then Central Catholic quarterback Frank Novogratz began to sparkle off rollout passes, and the Vikings’ running game began to click against a…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Only a little running room had opened up near the sidelines, but that was all the space 5-foot-7, 135-pound Bethlehem Catholic tailback Frank Trovato needed to carry the Golden Hawks to a first down and a huge non-league victory. Trovato is a junior varsity player who was called…
· Andre D. Williams
Read on mcall.com →Bob Stem, the highly successful head football coach at Bethlehem Catholic, has won 201 games in 26 seasons. Obviously, what Stem and his staff have done is working. The results, year-in and year-out prove it. Jim Morgans, the head coach of Central Catholic’s 1993 and 1998 state…
· Andre D. Williams
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