In a sport that has become increasingly complex, football remains – at its core – about who performs better at the line of scrimmage.
Bethlehem Catholic was better up front in Thursday night’s District 11 4A semifinal at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium, and that, for the most part, is the reason why the Golden Hawks will be playing Southern Lehigh for the district gold at 6:35 p.m. Thursday at Catasauqua’s Alumni Field.
The superior line play, particularly on defense, allowed second-seeded Becahi (8-4) to rally from deficits of 10-0 after one quarter and 24-13 at halftime and post a 34-31 victory in a physical, emotional, and often sloppy version of the Lehigh Valley’s “Holy War.”
The Golden Hawks scored 21 consecutive points to move in front 34-24 and withstood a late Vikings’ touchdown to get to the 4A district final for the fourth straight season. Becahi lost to ACCHS in 2022 and Southern Lehigh last year, but won the gold in 2023.
Becahi was able to advance despite losing a fumble on the opening kickoff and throwing three interceptions.
The hard-hitting, fiery game featured 19 penalties for 195 yards, including several personal fouls and an ejection.
Allentown Central Catholic’s Harry Restino makes an interception Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, against Bethlehem Catholic during a District 11 4A semifinal football game at BASD Stadium. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Interceptions by Harry Restino and Di’Quawn Leak late in the first half helped Central regroup after seeing a 10-0 lead vanish and turn into a 13-10 deficit.
The Vikings, who finished 6-6 under first-year coach Jake Reichard, scored twice in the final 3:24 of the first half as Treyvaughn Torres-Johnson and Patrick Cahill ran for touchdowns.
But ACCHS managed just two first downs on its first six possessions in the second half and a fumble recovery by Becahi senior Emery Oberholzer set up the Golden Hawks at the Vikings with 9:25 left in the third quarter and seemed to kickstart the game comeback.
“We stuck together because it wasn’t pretty in the first half,” Oberholzer said. “We made some adjustments in the locker room at halftime. We didn’t quit. But the most important part of this game was sticking together. After every touchdown they scored, they brought it back together and said, ‘Next play, next play.’ That’s what makes this team special. We kept on going.”
Four plays after Obeholzer’s recovery, Becahi scored on Axel Burkart’s 13-yard TD toss to Carter Vassa in the back of the end zone.
On Central’s next series, the Vikings went for it on fourth-and-5 at the Becahi 33.
But a sack of Cahill by Becahi’s Jon Jon Ayache resulted in a 9-yard loss and change of possession. Two plays later Cayden Vassa took off on a 38-yard run and two plays after that, he scored on a 5-yard and Becahi had the lead.
It all started, however, with the fourth-down stop.
Bethlehem Catholic’s Axel Burkart (holding helmet) stands for the national anthem along with several of his teammates before the start of the District 11 4A semifinal against Allentown Central Catholic at BASD Stadium. (April Gamiz / The Morning Call).
“We just trusted each other, and trusted the coaching staff,” said Ayache, a junior who joined his brother Emile in creating havoc on the defensive front. “From Day 1, they instilled in us to trust in them and to buy into the program. We’ve just got to build on this and go for the gold.”
After one of Becahi’s five second-half sacks ended another Central possession, Becahi extended the lead to 10 on a 17-yard run by Burkart, who again alternated with Cayden Vassa at quarterback. It was 34-24 with 9:44 left.
The Golden Hawks had two chances to put the game away on offense, but failed, including not being able to convert on fourth-and-2 in the final minute. Central took over and got the ball to Becahi’s 48, but first Caiden Charmant got Cahill for a 10-yard loss on a sack, and then Burkart got to Cahill on Central’s final play to pop the ball loose, and Oberholzer recovered at the Vikings 32 with 8 seconds left.
“I give both our OL and DL a lot of credit,” said Becahi’s first-year coach Joe Bernard. “We really put a lot of pressure on [Cahill], more than he has seen in a while. We really missed some opportunities because he’s so elusive and he’s good. We knew if we kept up that pressure, we’d have the opportunity to get some sacks, and we did.”
Bernard was also pleased with how Burkart and Cayden Vassa performed with their constant switching on offense.
“Switching and putting Axel at quarterback and moving Cayden to tailback gave us a big boost which we thought it would,” Bernard said. “They are used to doing what we do. It’s ironic, but we made the same switch in the first game against Central [a 28-24 win on Sept. 20] and we got the same type of results.”
While Cayden Vassa ran for 145 yards and passed for 71, Burkart rushed for 37 yards, passed for 29, and caught three passes for 40. He also played a key role at defensive end with a pair of sacks, including one on the final play.
Bethlehem Catholic’s head coach Joe Bernard walks the sidelines Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, against Allentown Central Catholic during a District 11 4A semifinal football game at BASD Stadium. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
At one point, there was either a flag or a player going down with an injury on almost every play, which, along with some lengthy conversations among officials, stretched the game to three hours.
Bernard was happy his team kept its composure, at least to an extent.
Allentown Central Catholic enters the field for the District 11 4A semifinal against Bethlehem Catholic at BASD Stadium (April Gamiz / The Morning Call).
“I was a little upset at the end because we had a bad penalty after I went out and talked to them,” Bernard said. “The officials allowed us to go and talk to our team, and we got a stand around penalty there, being stupid. But overall, I think we held our emotions in check more than they did. That was a big difference, too, because big penalties will kill you.”
Central’s Reichard said, “We talked a lot about penalties and just dumb penalties. I get physical and aggressive penalties, but we just have to keep our composure better. And again, that starts with me at the top. Some guys get it, some guys don’t. [Officials] are going to catch a reaction, or they’re going to catch you pushing off somebody. You just can’t give up free yards to a good football team.”
Central’s roster featured 30 kids who are in either 9th or 10th grade and several sophomores, including Tahir Edmondson, Jack MoDavis, Torres-Johnson, Lucas Hosak, and Bryson Baker made a big impact. Cahill, who was coming off a 474-yard, 5-TD passing performance against Jim Thorpe in the quarterfinals, also returns after throwing for more than 2,100 yards.
Bethlehem Catholic’s Rodney Brodie catches a pass Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, against Allentown Central Catholic during a District 11 4A semifinal football game at BASD Stadium. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
“I think we started eight or nine sophomores this year, and we have a good junior class with Patrick and some of our receivers and linemen back,” Reichard said. “Obviously, we’re losing a great group of seniors who I love. But if the kids who are going to be back took anything from the guys who are leaving us, guys who bought into a 38-year-old, first-year head coach who they didn’t know, I think we’ll be fine. Hopefully, they will take their example and work hard and lead like they do. If they do, I think we’ll be all right.”
Scoring summary
Allentown CC 10 – 14 – 0 – 7 — 31
Beth. Catholic 0 – 13 – 14 – 7 — 34
FIRST QUARTER
CC: Bryson Baker 29 field goal, 10:45
CC: Deon Johnson 10 run (Baker kick), 3:02
SECOND QUARTER
BC: Rodney Brodie 12 pass from Cayden Vassa (kick blocked), 10:24
BC: Antonio Salamoni 3 run (Aaron Geiger kick), 4:23
CC: Trey Torres-Johnson 15 run (Baker kick), 3:24
CC: Patrick Cahill 19 run (Baker kick), 0:25
THIRD QUARTER
BC: Carter Vassa 13 pass from Axel Burkart (Geiger kick), 7:37
BC: Cayden Vassa 5 run (Geiger kick), 3:45
FOURTH QUARTER
BC: Burkart 17 run (Geiger kick), 9:44
CC: Harry Restino 37 pass from Cahill (Baker kick), 1:12
Individual stats
RUSHING
Allentown CC (27 for 104): Patrick Cahill 11-(-10) TD; Deon Johnson 9-37, TD; Tate Shoemaker 5-65; Trey Torres-Johnson 2-12, TD.
Beth. Catholic (42-242): Cayden Vassa 22-145, TD; Axel Burkart 9-67, TD; Antonio Salamoni 8-26, TD; Justin Martinez 2-5; Team 1-(-1).
PASSING
Allentown CC: Cahill 16-30-0, 162 yards, TD.
Beth. Catholic: Cayden Vassa 6-11-2, 71 yards, TD; Axel Burkart 4-7-1, 29 yards, TD.
RECEIVING
Allentown CC: Luis Martinez 6-54; Di’Quawn Leak 3-27; Jack MoDavis 2-21; Tahir Edmondson 2-20; Harry Restino 1-37, TD; Lucas Hosak 1-5; Tate Shoemaker 1-(-2).
Beth. Catholic: Rodney Brodie 4-37; Axel Burkart 3-40; Cayden Vassa 2-10; Carter Vassa 1-13;
INTERCEPTIONS
Allentown CC: Restino, Leak, Edmondson.