Indexed locally for search; full article text on mcall.com.
Dre's Take — The Story Behind the Performance.

school

Freedom

484 headlines · Open in archive filters

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.

Football
The Morning Call

Hurdlers point toward states

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 →
Other
The Morning Call

Dennis tops in PSAC and region

Kutztown’s Stephen Dennis went two-for-two in major awards on Wednesday, earning the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East and Daktronics NCAA Division II Atlantic Region player of the year awards. Now, the 6-foot-6 senior guard with the deceptively quick first-step…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Stars make it official **Parkland’s Williams, Wilson’s Smith, and Liberty’s Gonzalez, West lead bevy of local football players signing with colleges **NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

The decision of where they wanted to play college football had long been made by Parkland’s Andre Williams, The Morning Call’s player of the year, and star quarterbacks Anthony Gonzalez of Liberty and Tyler Smith of Wilson. But there’s still nothing like the day of unrestrained…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Five make first team **Freedom’s Webb, Parkland’s Williams, Liberty’s Gonzalez and West, ES-South’s Cason all-state selections **CLASS 4A ALL-STATE TEAM

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot On The Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Basketball
The Morning Call

DeSales looking to fit pieces together **Bulldogs lost two stars, but have the depth and balance to come back strong.

In 19 seasons, DeSales women’s basketball coach Fred Ricther has become so accustomed to developing star players that he doesn’t dwell over losing dynamic players. LeighAnn Burke, a two-time Freedom Conference player of the year, averaged a school-record 20.4 points per game…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Basketball
The Morning Call

Loaded Bulldogs have Final Four potential **DeSales return four starters from team that reached D-III Elite Eight last season.

The DeSales men’s basketball team tips off its season tonight in Center Valley with a tough player with all-around solid skills expected to lead the show. Senior guard Darnell Braswell, who last year became the school’s first NABC first-team All-American, returns with a jump…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Second season begins **The Class 4A district subregional playoffs get under way tonight with four games, three of which involve LVC teams. No. 8 Nazareth meets No. 1 Easton in an LVC rematch.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Liberty heads to playoffs after Freedom win **Senior Anthony Gonzalez has stellar final game against rival to end high school career.

Liberty quarterback Anthony Gonzalez displayed elusiveness and speed on his first carry, which he ran 70 yards for a touchdown against rival Freedom Saturday afternoon at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. More impressive dashes followed for Gonzalez in a must-win game for…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Something at stake in all final weekend games **Only Allen-Dieruff meeting is without playoff implications, and that one is for pride.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

A lot on the line at Cottingham tonight **Easton hosts Liberty in game with huge implications. Parkland and Emmaus will also square off in an important game.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Looking ahead could be very costly **With rivalry week looming and playoffs berths on the line, teams can’t afford to lose focus.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Easton-Freedom winner will be in district driver’s seat ** Red Rovers, Patriots are tied for first place in Class 4A subregional standings.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Surging Central looks to remain unbeaten **Vikings host Whitehall. Meanwhile, Liberty and Becahi open Bethlehem city series.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Freedom’s Webb rising to his challenges this year **The speedy back has been racking up yardage and looks forward to the Parkland game.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Intriguing logjam atop conference standings **Four LVC teams have 2-0 marks heading into a weekend of interesting matchups.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Reid ready to let Vick loose **The Eagles coach says the beleaguered quarterback will see meaningful action in his first game in nearly 3 years

Michael Vick’s speed and flash are back. His arm strength also has looked good during practices at the Eagles’ NovaCare Complex. But can he still play quarterback in the NFL? Thursday night, we’ll begin to find the answer. That’s when Vick — wearing a No. 7 jersey and with what…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

There’s strong, and then there’s SportsFest strong **Annual sports extravaganza, which begins in earnest today, unveils new competition.

Lehigh Valley SportsFest XIII now goes to bat at Cedar Beach. And Alton Park. And Jordan Park. And at 19 other locations throughout Allentown and the Lehigh Valley. In all, 49 amateur sports will be contested today through Sunday, the most popular being boys and girls basketball…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Liberty’s Latimer out to prove he belongs with best **The all-area linebacker was not all-state or heavily recruited, but he’s in the Big 33 game.

You do not need to be an all-state player or get a scholarship to a big-name college to get selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic. Liberty linebacker Horvin Latimer is proof of that. But he was an easy sell to the Pennsylvania coaches, who believe Latimer is capable of…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Locals stars out to win Big 33 game **Liberty’s Horvin Latimer and Devin Street, Freedom’s Jermel Lee to lead state against Ohio.

Freedom’s Jermel Lee rolled over, smacked the floor and said to Liberty’s Devin Street, “I’m going home.” Street had just remarked how Liberty beat Freedom twice last season, including 28-14 in the District 11 Class 4A final en route to winning the PIAA Class 4A Championship. “I…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Track & Field
The Morning Call

FLYING HIGH **The Parkland boys track team has dominated with 81 straight dual-meet triumphs and 10 straight league titles.

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 →
Basketball
The Morning Call

Four area teams in D-III hoops dance **NCAAs: DeSales, Muhlenberg and Moravian women, Bulldog men prepare for national tourney.

The DeSales men’s and women’s basketball teams, the Muhlenberg and Moravian women’s teams, are all NCAA Division III Tournament-bound. The DeSales men and women and Muhlenberg women earned automatic berths by winning their conference tournaments over the weekend. The Moravian…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Gonzalez, Moncman best in Pa. **Sweet ‘Canes: Liberty duo named 4A player and coach of the year. Brown, Mateo and Clark also named first-team.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Opportunistic and lucky ** According to its coach, Bethel Park has been fortunate to get to 15-0. ** PIAA CLASS 4A CHAMPIONSHIP HERSHEYPARK STADIUM 7 TONIGHT

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

GW has history on its mind ** PIAA mark: Trying to beat Liberty today to become first Philly Public League team to win a state playoff game.

Liberty today tries to extend its winning streak to 13 games and prevent a Philadelphia Public League team from achieving history. Liberty (12-1), coming off a 28-14 win over Freedom for the District 11 title last Saturday, plays District 12 champion George Washington (10-1) in…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Hurricanes ready for more trench warfare **Liberty’s offensive linemen to face formidable task vs. George Washington’s defensive counterparts.

Liberty has dominated 50 out of 52 quarters it has played this season. The only two quarters it has not owned was in the first half against North Penn. Blocking assignments were missed and it caused the high-powered Hurricanes to stay out of sync and trail 20-0 at halftime. Levi…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Running for a title **Liberty and Freedom, with standout rushing attacks, are playing for highest stakes in series history.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

ALBANY 6-3, 5-0 (Northeast Conference) Beat Monmouth 35-17 Justin Peterson (Palmerton) Fr. RB 6-0, 225. Game: 1 solo tackle, 1 assisted, 1 forced fumble. Season: 5 catches, 25 yards, 1 TD; 1 solo tackle, 3 assisted tackles, 1 forced fumble. BOSTON COLLEGE 5-3, 2-3 (Atlantic…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Improved K-Kids still battling

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

ALBANY 3-3, 2-0 (Northeast Conference) Beat Central Conn. St. 24-22 Justin Peterson (Palmerton) Fr. RB 2-0, 225. Game: Two catches, 16 yards; one assisted tackle. Season: Three catches, 18 yards, one TD; two assisted tackles. BROWN 2-2 (Ivy League) Lost to Holy Cross 41-34…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Kids, Hornets ready to play for 1st place ** LVC’s two unbeatens not surprised to be where they are 1 month into the season.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Freedom needs a signature win

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Emmaus faces major test tonight vs. Easton **The unbeaten Green Hornets take on the Red Rovers, whom they haven’t beaten since 1981.

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 →
Other
The Morning Call

Becahi-CCHS game hopes to regain luster

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Melosky doing just fine so far

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

TEAM-BY-TEAM CAPSULES

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Orlando relishing last chance ** Eastern promises: Liberty graduate hoping to finally beat a team from western half of state.

Joey Orlando always just found a way. He was a two-way starter on a Liberty football team last season that had an All-American linebacker in Brendan Beal, who’s now at the University of Florida on a scholarship. There also was Ahkeem Smith, now at Temple on a scholarship. But…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Melosky excited about “big challenge’ he faces ** Nazareth’s new football coach hoping to instill pride in the program.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Speed to Burn ** Nazareth senior sprinter Kevin Kroboth, a football player in his first year of track competition, has put up the area’s fastes sprint times.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Four LVC football players are heading to Altoona ** Orlando, Hamscher, Davis and Carter will play in East-West All Star Game.

Liberty’s Joey Orlando and Whitehall’s Matt Hamscher are both getting one last opportunity to make standout plays on both sides of the ball. And Emmaus’ Joe Davis, who enjoyed trying to rip the helmet off offensive players, gets one last chance to try and make an impact on…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Basketball
The Morning Call

A hoops dream “This is where I wanted to be right now …I’m just very thankful for where I am. I’ve been very blessed.” TOM BRENNAN, ESPN analyst ** Once an NCAA Cinderella, Tom Brennan’s living a fairytale as an ESPN analyst.

With the NCAA Basketball Final Four beginning today, Phillipsburg native and ESPN analyst Tom Brennan realizes the heat gets turned up in the studio where he works. Especially when he and fellow college basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb are on the set together. “He’s the young…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Basketball
The Morning Call

Burke and Rarick help Bulldogs feel the Payne ** Behind its dynamic guards, DeSales sends Richter to first Sweet 16.

DeSales didn’t have to pack its bags for the opening two rounds of the NCAA Division III women’s tournament. But the Bulldogs need to prepare those the suitcases now. Sensational junior guards LeighAnn Burke and Kim Rarick helped see to that against Salem (Mass.) State in a…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Basketball
The Morning Call

Tenacious D, friendly rim sweet music for DeSales ** Bulldogs end NCAA skid, holding off Muhlenberg on Rarick’s huge 3-pointer.

A game of one tenacious defensive stop after another got final separation on a 3-point from the corner by DeSales junior Kim Rarick that bounced once, twice and then hung on the rim before falling through the nets. You can call it a lucky bounce, but it was just a good player…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Trojans’ Morgans is a mastermind ** The Morning Call coach of the year is enjoying another great season. ** Coach of the Year

Parkland coach Jim Morgans is a former offensive tackle and nose guard from Louisiana College who describes himself as having been just an average player. The same cannot be said of his coaching. He won two PIAA Class 3A titles in an eight-year span at his alma mater, Central…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Parkland puts together season to remember ** The 15-0 Trojans prove themselves to be cream of area’s crop. ** Team of the Year

Parkland is one win away from a perfect 16-0 season and its first PIAA Class 4A championship since 2002. Win or lose against powerful Pittsburgh Central Catholic Saturday night at Hersheypark Stadium, Parkland has already surpassed the accomplishments of any other team in the…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Hard to keep up with Trojans’ Clark ** The 6-4 receiver uses his size, speed, leaping ability to beat defenders to the ball.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Liberty-Freedom rivalry reaches pinnacle Saturday ** With playoff spots up for grabs, both teams have a lot on the line.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot on the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

It could be a night to remember

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

ARMY 3-4 (Independent) Lost to Central Michigan 47-23 Marcus Millen (Easton) Sr. DE 6-0, 228. Game: Played. Season: Two solo tackles, one assist. Jake Walsh (Liberty) Jr. DT 6-3, 269. Game: Played. Season: No stats. BOSTON COLLEGE 7-0 (Atlantic Coast Conference) Beat Notre Dame…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot on the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Emmaus no easy foe for Liberty

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

LVC teams can make a statement

It’s Validation Week in the Lehigh Valley Conference. Thrill-a-second Whitehall (2-0) and high-scoring Freedom (2-0) both play their toughest opponents. The circumstances couldn’t be any better for both. Whitehall, coming off a 31-28 double-overtime win over Northampton, plays…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Basketball
The Morning Call

East Stroudsburg comes up short again vs. California ** A 94-83 loss, ESU’s first in seven games, drops team to 0-11 vs. Vulcans.

East Stroudsburg rallied with dunks, 3-pointers and 3-point plays, and precision from the free throw line. But the Warriors couldn’t prevent California University of Pennsylvania’s “Gardner” from planting himself inside the paint and scoring at will Saturday afternoon at Koehler…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Other
The Morning Call

DeSales still n it despite blowout

DeSales College has to move forward and forget its stinker Tuesday night in Madison, N.J. Losing 72-38 to FDU-Florham was bad — really bad — considering the Bulldogs were just 1-for-16 on 3-pointers and 15-for-56 overall from the field for 27 percent shooting. Also bad is that…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

‘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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot On the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Easton, Holley rout Becahi ** Red Rovers jump out to a 37-0 lead and coast on Holley’s 3 TDs. ** EASTON 44, BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC 27

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Bortz is a cut above the rest ** A cut on his elbow resulted in surgery, pain and him missing almost two years of football. Now, he’s back.

Phil Bortz is back to running with power and back to cherishing every single down as if it could be his last. Bortz is a senior football player, who starts at fullback and outside linebacker for Parkland High, which enters the final regular-season weekend 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot on the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hurricanes blow down Easton ** Liberty knocks vaunted Rovers from ranks of unbeatens. ** GAME OF THE WEEK: LIBERTY 17, EASTON 7

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot on the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot on the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Kids overpower Patriots ** Northampton takes control by converting on fourth downs. ** NORTHAMPTON 28, FREEDOM 21

Northampton coach Teko Johnson wasn’t too quick to delete one particular e-mail from his inbox this week. He enjoyed knowing whom it was from and everything it suggested. “I got an e-mail this week from the coach at Colorado, and it was, “Are you willing to take a risk, are you…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Parkland punishes Freedom ** Hard-hitting “D’ leads the way as Trojans overpower Patriots. ** Game of the week: Parkland 27, Freedom 7

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Gnall leads Red to Classic victory ** The former Whitehall High quarterback leads team into range for the winning FG. ** McDonald’s Football Classic

Finally, after a mostly frustrating game of overthrown passes, Whitehall quarterback Mike Gnall settled down. Less than a minute remained. Game tied, first-and-10 with 43 yards to go for a touchdown Thursday night at Nazareth’s Andy S. Leh Stadium. Pressure? Not for Gnall, who…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Track & Field
The Morning Call

Returning stars abound on area track teams ** Parkland, Liberty, Northern Lehigh, Becahi boast some of the best. ** Boys Track and Field Preview

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Wit and wisdom at Liberty ** ‘Canes’ distinguished staff combines heavy dedication with a decidedly light touch. ** PIAA 4A Title Game: Liberty vs. McKeesport – 7 p.m., Saturday, Hersheypark Stadium

They made jokes, lots of them. They will do so again tonight, and maybe even on Saturday before making the first-ever trip to Hershey for a Bethlehem Area School District team to play for a PIAA football championship. Pressure, you see, is easier to deal with when you share…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot on the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot on the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot on the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot on the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Ready for an LVC showdown ** This is the game Liberty has been waiting for ** Game of the week — Easton vs. Liberty – 7 tonight – BASD

Getting mentally up for Dieruff on Sept. 16 at J. Birney Crum Stadium was no problem at all for Liberty, even though the Hurricanes knew they had major advantages on both sides of the ball. Liberty played Dieruff with the same tenacity it expects to have against Easton (5-2,…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot On the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot on the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Liberty, Bethlehem Catholic gearing for showdown ** But each has another tough opponent to try to get through first.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Johnson knows getting win over Stem won’t be easy ** Northampton coach has yet to beat Phillipsburg’s new head coach. ** LVC Football

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Freedom’s Neely to go to…drum roll…Michigan State ** Confident rising senior, who has 18 career sacks, expects to play defense for the Spartans.

Freedom High defensive star Colin Neely reeled off a long list of people whom he wanted to thank for helping him earn a scholarship to Michigan State. Then, the rising senior thanked the person who was most responsible for the strenuous work he has done on and off the field over…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Track & Field
The Morning Call

Her coaching is a thing of beauty ** Erika Smith is trying to transform Allen’s track program into one of the elites.

Erika Smith is a former Miss Pennsylvania contestant, but don’t let her astonishing looks fool you. She’s more than just glamorous. When her school day as an English teacher at Dieruff ends, she prefers to tie up her hair, throw on sweats and head across town to J. Birney Crum…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Track & Field
The Morning Call

Area’s best ready for Relays ** Many local track and field athletes will be on stage at Penn Relays. ** Penn Relays

Southern Lehigh seniors Justin Babich and Mike Snowden will try to lead the Spartans to another memorable Penn Relays finish at Franklin Field. Meanwhile, two first-time participants, distance runners Sam Luff of Emmaus and Tyler McCandless of Northampton, will try to achieve…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Roeder ready to take the reins of Freedom football program ** Ex-Becahi assistant succeeds Jim Morgans as mentor of Patriots.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Sources: Roeder new Freedom grid coach ** Some Patriot players allegedly unhappy with decision, plan to meet with principal.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Kushner to join Newell at N.C. State ** The two Becahi standouts sign letters of intent. Easton’s Goulbourne is West Virginia-bound. ** Ntional Letter of Intent Day

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Easton ends up top dog ** The Red Rovers tore up opponents en route to a memorable season. ** Morning Call Football Team of the Year

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot on the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hurricanes mirror Moncman’s demeanor ** Liberty’s coach has instilled his tough style into his players, setting up the sub-regional title game. ** Liberty Hurricanes vs. Easton Red Rovers – 7 Tonight – Cottingham Stadium, Easton

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot on the Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Easton’s in; Liberty, Emmaus are knocking on the door ** Playoffs beckon heading into the final weekend of LVC action. ** LVC Football

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot On The Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Liberty, Easton ready to battle for undefeated mark ** Both teams tuned up for tonight’s clash with big wins last week.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot On The Gridiron

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Playoff spots tough to come by — just ask Emmaus ** With the inclusion of two other districts, a team has to be almost perfect to make it.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hot On The Gridiron

COLLEGE BUCKNELL 3-3, 1-1 (Patriot) Lost 14-13 to Lafayette Mike Cangelosi (Nazareth) Sr. 6-0, 197. Game: Three carries, 19 yards; one catch, 24 yards. Season: 10 carries, 69 yards, TD; four catches, 37 yards. DELAWARE 5-1, 4-0 (Atl. 10) Beat Hofstra 20-19 Sean Bleiler…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Going undefeated in the LVC won’t be easy ** Easton and Liberty have a shot but play tough opponents tonight. ** LVC Football

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HOT ON THE GRIDIRON

COLLEGE BUCKNELL 3-2, 1-0 (Patriot) Lost 32-25 to Penn (2OT) Mike Cangelosi (Nazareth) Sr. 6-0, 197. Game: seven carries, 50 yards, one touchdown. Season: seven carries, 50 yards, one TD; three catches, 13 yards. DELAWARE 4-1, 3-1 (Atlantic 10) Bye Sean Bleiler (Parkland) Sr.…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Northampton rides the running of Kline to victory ** He runs for 139 yards and five scores in a 35-14 win over Freedom.

Northampton didn’t use any trick plays. The Konkrete Kids just ran over Freedom. Northampton’s defense didn’t need to stunt or disguise its fronts or coverages. The K-Kids just mercilessly blitzed and bulled forward. It was a theme that has recently become familiar for Freedom,…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Searching for the light ** For Dieruff’s Nick Davis, life, at times, has been unbearable. But he is persevering and trying to earn his diploma.

Dieruff High senior linebacker Nick Davis has racked up 275 tackles the last three seasons and is on pace for another 100-plus-tackle season. “The kid gets crazy, crazy out there,” said Dieruff coach Keith Brader. “They just can’t stop him. “He is so hard-nosed. He is the best…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Easton going for win No.700 (but who’s counting?) ** Easton, that’s who. So the fact that some disagree changes little. ** LVC Football

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Central Catholic gets early test with Downingtown ** Several other LVC teams open with tough non-league foes.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

It’s only June, but the juices are flowing ** All-Star game may not be as intense as a mid-season clash, but both teams want to win.

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 →
Track & Field
The Morning Call

Stern leads Parkland to title ** The sprinter wins a gold and silver and leads a relay to silver. ** LVC Boys Track

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 →
Track & Field
The Morning Call

Becahi’s Carter is out to make an impression ** The senior sprinter wants to do better at states, get a scholarship. ** Boys Track

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 →
Basketball
The Morning Call

DeSales exacts revenge upon Delaware Valley ** The Bulldogs’ 80-50 win makes up for an earlier loss to the Aggies. ** College Basketball

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Locally, two big guys headed to Big East ** Freedom’s Ryan Ehrie (6-6, 297) and Northwestern’s Jake Figner (6-5, 290) sign letters of intent.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Liberty gets another shot at a big win vs. Becahi ** The Hurricanes haven’t beaten the Golden Hawks since ’84.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Hinkle and Vikes look to snap streak vs. Becahi ** The seniors have yet to taste victory against their arch rivals.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Towers of power ** It’s safe to say that Becahi’s Kyle Newell (6-4) and John Bedics (6-6) and Ryan Ehrie (6-7) of Freedom are reaching new heights.

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 →
Track & Field
The Morning Call

Parkland’s Kleintop is three-times golden ** He wins the long and triple jumps and leads off the 400 relay.

Allen’s Eugene Clay jumped up and exclaimed, “Yes!” His teammate, Desroy Miller, said joyfully, “Wow,” to a close bystander. You’d have thought that the Canary juniors had won their races. But Miller was second in the 100-meter dash and Clay second in the 110 high hurdles in the…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Track & Field
The Morning Call

D-11 track meets still one day ** Some want today’s 2A finals and Thursday’s 3A event spread out. ** District 1 Track & Field Previews

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 →
Track & Field
The Morning Call

Putting his best shot forward ** Freedom’s Tyler Jones is a sizable softie. Just ask his twin sister Amy. ** Local Track

Freedom two-sport senior Tyler Jones may look imposing at 6-3, 280 pounds, but his twin sister Amy says he’s really a teddy bear. “He doesn’t cry at movies or anything,” Amy said. “He’s just one of those brothers who you get along with. Maybe, it’s because we are the same age…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Track & Field
The Morning Call

Javelin ace Crocus to vie at Penn Relays ** Pole-vaulter Birckhead also will test a field of excellent athletes.

Two defending PIAA Class 3A track and field champions, Beth Crocus of Freedom and Liberty’s Lauren Birckhead, will head the list of local athletes who will compete in the 109th Penn Relays today at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. An intriguing question is: Will both try to peak…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Track & Field
The Morning Call

On track without a track ** They practice on the streets and sometimes even in a cemetery. Still, the Bethlehem Catholic sprinters deliver.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

After tough start, Parkland was unstoppable ** The Trojans lost their opener, then won 14 straight, culminating with a state title. ** Team of the Year

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Austin’s powers are prolific ** Parkland’s Austin Scott is about to wrap up a season for the ages. ** PIAA Class 4A Football Championship

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Parkland, Bethlehem Catholic survived real scares ** But each pulled out wins to keep Friday’s ‘Dream Game’ alive.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Parkland can’t be caught looking toward Becahi ** The Trojans have looked ahead the last three years and lost in the first round.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Trojan linemen are a pushy bunch

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Rice sends booming message to Becahi teammates ** The Golden Hawks fullback does what is necessary to win.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Rovers will make playoffs if they beat Trojans again ** Easton has beaten Parkland in each of the last three years — and four out of six.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Life in the balance ** Austin Scott learned a big lesson in 2000. Now, he is working on becoming just as productive off the football field as on it.

Austin Scott seemed to learn more from playing hide-and-seek and tag as a youngster than most kids. That’s because he concentrated on being elusive and running fast. “I used to get away any way that I could,” said Scott. The Parkland High senior tailback has returned from a knee…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Freedom waits for close call to go its way ** Patriots, charged up to play Parkland, have lost twice on the last play of the game.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Dieruff, Liberty shooting at big guns ** Playoff lives are on the line when the Huskies face Becahi and the ‘Canes take on Parkland.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Red Rovers in the market for a win ** Thinking playoffs, Easton figures it can’t afford to lose. It faces 5-1 Liberty tonight.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Playoff spots could be lost this weekend ** Losses could end the dreams of a few teams who were hoping for playoff berths.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Liberty intercepts with seconds left to stymie Dieruff ** Jeremy Kittek’s pickoff stops a Huskies rally from 12 points down.

The Liberty defense was being attacked by air and surrendered a first down to Dieruff on fourth-and-11 with less than two minutes to go at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. Pop, pop, another first down for Dieruff. But junior defensive back Jeremy Kittek intercepted…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Liberty vs. Allen is a clash of unbeatens ** Each has rolled to a 3-0 start. Liberty is looking to ground Allen’s air attack.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Can Golden Hawks soar over new LVC? ** Becahi could be the cream of the 12-team league. But watch for Parkland, Freedom.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Sitting down together again

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 →
Basketball
The Morning Call

Baker’s decision bewilders Broncs ** A starter at Division I Rider, he has come home to attend ESU.

Rich Baker worked his whole life to become a Division I basketball player, and when the opportunity came, he earned a starting position in the backcourt of the Rider Broncs of the Metro Athletic Conference. But now Baker is again searching for the right college situation. Rider…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Parkland runners have their way at MVC meet ** Stern, Clemmer, relays earn golds, but Easton’s Lattimore hurts her head in freak accident.

A freak pre-race injury left one of the area’s top girl sprinters bruised in the face and woozy despite about a 10-minute period to recover. Danielle Lattimore of Easton was nowhere near her blazing self in the girls 400-meter finals in Wednesday’s Mountain Valley Conference…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Track & Field
The Morning Call

Erin Cadden hurdles to victory in MVC track championships ** Parkland senior wins gold in the 300 and sets a record in the 100.

Parkland senior Erin Cadden could not wait to exchange her track cleats for dancing shoes Tuesday following the Mountain Valley Conference track and field championships at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. The anxiety seemed reasonable, considering that Cadden had…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Big plays help Zephyrs topple Trojans ** A sack and punt return for a TD help Whitehall win, 16-7; snaps 4-game skid vs. Parkland.

More than just one game was on the line Friday night before a Homecoming crowd of 7,600 at Parkland High’s football stadium. Both Parkland and Whitehall needed to win in order to remain tied with Easton for first-place in the Mountain Conference Valley Division and extend…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Easton scores early and often vs. Freedom ** Red Rovers put the Patriots through 37 plays of misery in an MVC Valley Division shutout.

The Easton Red Rovers have turned Friday night football games into hammer time. They bring it all, suffocating opponents with a quick-pursuing defense and rolling up points behind an offense that clicks running and passing. Good opponent or mediocre, it hasn’t mattered. The…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

Nazareth dominant in 28-7 win over Freedom ** Dionne Jones kicks an extra point for Blue Eagles, the first female player ever at Nazareth.

Dionne Jones wanted to score just as much as Freedom, only her one point put her into the Nazareth record books. As for Freedom, scoring one touchdown was far from enough in a Mountain Valley Conference crossover game that Nazareth dominated en route to a 28-7 victory Friday…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

High School Football: Opening Night — Let’s get it on! ** New-look Trojans are out to prove that they are the area’s elite for 2001.

“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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Pressure seems to be on Parkland, Melosky ** There’s high expectations for Trojans, despite a new coach and the loss of QB Lane to basketball.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

Cavalier Rob Moylen healthy and ready to end career on positive note ** The East Stroudsburg linebacker leads Cavs into Thanksgiving Day game

East Stroudsburg’s Rob Moylen had a right shoulder separation and he was playing an uncomfortable position last Thanksgiving Day when the Cavaliers played crossbridge rival Stroudsburg. Moylen had been a linebacker since he first began to understand how to really play the sport,…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

PARKLAND DOESN’T WANT HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF VS. EASTON LAST YEAR’S 7-6 FIRST-ROUND LOSS TO THE RED ROVERS IS REMEMBERED BUT NOT DWELLED ON BY THE TROJANS.

It’s a score that continues to be talked about because it was an upset last year that halted Parkland’s undefeated season and continued Easton’s postseason run. Easton 7, Parkland 6. “It was the toughest night I ever played in my life,” said Easton senior defensive lineman Larry…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

PARKLAND’S MASSAQUOI HAS MATURED INTO LEADER THE PLAYER, WHO LEADS THE TROJANS BY EXAMPLE, ALSO LEADS THE TEAM INTO THE MVC TITLE GAME.

Tim Massaquoi made Michigan his college choice before the high school football season kicked off, ending speculation over which Big Ten program he’d choose and allowing him to concentrate on scoring touchdowns for Parkland this season. But in nonleague games against Emmaus and…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

EASTON PREPARED FOR REMATCH WITH TROJANS EASTON’S 7-6 UPSET IN LAST YEAR’S DISTRICT 11 CLASS 4A PLAYOFFS IS STILL FRESH IN THE MIND OF BOTH TEAMS.

Matt Loebsack has been looking for The Look all week, and the Easton High quarterback said it’s almost the same look of desire and eagerness his teammates had the last time they played Parkland. ‘It’s not quite as much, but it’s starting to come around,’ Loebsack said Wednesday…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

GOTTA HAND IT TO BECAHI IT’S EXACTLY WHAT DIERUFF DOES HUSKIES, ALREADY FACING A MUCH STRONGER FOE, DIDN’T HELP MATTERS BY TURNING THE BALL OVER EARLY AND OFTEN.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

FREEDOM, PARKLAND BATTLING FOR DISTRICT 11 SUPREMACY TROJANS LOOK TO GAIN THE TOP SEED IN THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN WHILE THE PATRIOTS LOOK FOR THEIR FIRST.

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 →
Football
The Morning Call

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEWS BEHIND QUARTERBACK TERWILLIGER, CAVALIERS STARTING TO WIN AGAIN THE ALWAYS IMPROVING JUNIOR HAS LED EAST STROUDSBURG TO A 4-2 START.

His movement in the pocket is swifter, his throws crisper, his ability to read defensive coverages even better, but the thing that has East Stroudsburg quarterback Jim Terwilliger gloating most is in the Cavaliers’ 4-2 record. Six weeks into last season East Stroudsburg was 0-6…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

BOOMING FUTURE A YEAR AGO, PARKLAND HIGH’S GREG KNAUSS HEARD MORE POPS FROM HIS JNEE THAN FROM A BOWL OF CEREAL. A YEAR LATER, AND ANOTHER KNEE INJURY LATER, HE’S KICKING BETTER THAN EVER.

His team was nursing an eight-point lead over rival Whitehall with just 2:51 remaining last Oct. 9. Parkland kicker Greg Knauss was summoned by coach Rich Sniscak to attempt a 47-yard field goal. Make it and victory in the Mountain Valley Conference football game that had…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

PARKLAND HAS QUITE A BIG GRAY AREA JOHN GRAY, A 275-POUND LINEMAN, HAS BEEN OPENING UP HUGE HOLES FOR RUNNING BACKS THOMAS AND SCOTT.

He pulled on an off-tackle running play and kept raging through the hole, boiling with anticipation as he neared a seemingly helpless defender. Smack! Just like that, Parkland High senior John Gray “pancaked a linebacker,” Trojans coach Rich Sniscak said, remembering the…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

WHITEY’S EAGLES ROLL OVER THE PATRIOTS, 14-0 NAZARETH SEEMS PRIMED TO SUCCESSFULLY DEFEND THEIR MOUNTAIN VALLEY DIVISION TITLE.

‘You can always dream,” said Nazreth coach Whitey Williams, answering whether he was ready to win a state title with the Blue Eagles. But why not? Nazareth is 4-0, having used its defense to beat the snot out of its last two opponents both shutouts. And now the Blue Eagles head…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

NAZARETH QB CANGELOSI RIGHT AT HOME UNDER CENTER AFTER BEING A RUNNING BACK, THE JUNIOR HAS THE BLUE EAGLES AT 3-0.

Whitey Williams, the first-year Nazareth football coach, believed junior Mike Cangelosi had the talent to play quarterback just by looking at him. ‘He has that sparkle in his eye,” Williams said. A look that says ‘He is a competitor,” Williams said, ‘And he has great character.…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

LIBERTY IS UNBEATEN AFTER TWO GAMES BUT FACES A STIFF CHALLENGE IN NAZARETH ‘CANES, UNDER NEW COACH MONCMAN, WILL KNOW HOW GOOD THEY ARE AFTER TONIGHT.

Have you heard the rumbling sound around Liberty High School? It’s the football team stampeding. Have you noticed the two wins and zero losses? That’s the result of playing up to potential. Do you believe Liberty is really that good? It will be time to find out when the…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

OFFICIAL WORD OUT OF EASTON: MCGURN TO SIT OUT 6 WEEKS SENIOR IS SUSPENDED FOR VIOLATING THE SCHOOL’S DRUG-AND-ALCOHOL POLICY.

A season thought to be lost for Easton High running back YaYah McGurn may not be lost after all. It all depends on whether McGurn can stay drug- and alcohol-free, something the star running back, who gained 1,002 yards last season, has admitted he’s had trouble doing in the…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

JOHNNY ON THE SPOT FREEDOM HIGH SENIOR JOHNNY SANTIAGO HAS THE UNENVIABLE TASK OF SUCCEEDING DAVE WALTERS, WHO GRADUATED AFTER SETTING SCHOOL RECORDS FOR YARDS RUSHING (1,410) AND TOUCHDOWNS (18).

Johnny Santiago has run the ball one way since he began playing competitive football for the Bethlehem Saints at age 6. ‘When I get the ball I look for the hole,” said Santiago, a senior tailback at Freedom. ‘I just want to run through (the defender ), right through his back.…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

TROJANS’ MASSAQUOI GETS ONE MORE YEAR TO SHOWCASE SKILLS PARKLAND STANDOUT IS A TOP-NOTCH ATHLETE WHO WILL DECIDE BETWEEN PENN STATE AND MICHIGAN FOR COLLEGE

It was the final drill of Parkland High’s exhausting varsity morning football practice, and many of the players were running half-speed. That had head coach Rich Sniscak disgruntled. ‘We’re 45 minutes over schedule, so I know you won’t make it because you’re mentally weak,”…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

BEHEMOTHS ABOUND THROUGHT THE CONFERENCE HUGE LINEMEN ARE PLENTIFUL, LED BY 6-FOOT-6, 260-POUND NEWSOME OF STROUDSBURG HIGH.

Eugene Newsome discovered his love of football by playing tackle football at a young age on gravel in Stroudsburg. “I had a lot of scrapes on my knees,” Newsome said. But he continued playing and enjoyed every crunching play. “I just love to hit,” Newsome said. “A lot of people…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →
Football
The Morning Call

PARKLAND, EMMAUS IN LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN * THE TROJANS HAVE MOVED ONTO THE MVC, ABANDONING THE GREEN HORNETS AND THE EPC.

Every year, Emmaus or Parkland — many times both teams — seem to have a swimmer that’s All-Water, that is someone able to swim many events extremely well. This high school swim season it’s Parkland junior Chris Johnson, a key member on the Trojans’ 200 and 400-yard relay’s that…

· Andre D. Williams

Read on mcall.com →