When Liberty’s Jaxon Barlok broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown reception from Antonio Fontanez in the fourth quarter of Liberty’s 2024 game against Bethlehem Catholic, the name jarred the memory banks of those who have been following Lehigh Valley football for a long time.
Barlok showcased plenty of speed on what proved to be the game-winning play in a 12-7 Hurricanes’ win.
During the postgame interview that night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium, the obvious question was: “Are you related to Tim?”
As it turned out, the Liberty speedster is the son of Tim Barlok, who had a memorable career playing for outstanding Bethlehem Catholic teams coached by the legendary Bob Stem in the late 1990s.
The older Barlok compiled 6,753 all-purpose yards, including 4,631 rushing with 63 touchdowns. As a senior in 1998, he carried 198 times for 1,535 yards and 23 TDs. He initially played at Bryant College in Rhode Island and returned to Bethlehem to play at Moravian before chronic back issues ended his career.
Jaxon Barlok’s 70-yard touchdown against Becahi in 2024 allowed his father to relive some of his own glory days under the Friday night lights at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.
The young Barlok followed up his breakout moment with a solid senior year for the Hurricanes, who went 8-4, won the Christmas City title, beat Freedom twice, including once in the District 11 6A quarterfinals.
However, an injury suffered while going up for a pass against Freedom in the playoff game prevented Barlok from playing against Easton in the semifinals, a game that turned out to be a 38-20 loss.
Former Bethlehem Catholic football standout Tim Barlok poses with his son, Jaxon, who had a standout senior football season at Liberty before an injury cut it short. (Contributed photo / Chase Barlok)
Barlok spent some time in the hospital with a pneumatocele in his lung, but is doing much better.
“It was a great season and even going back to the summer time, we had a lot of fun and worked hard,” Barlok said. “It was great to be together with the boys one last time. Me, Jake [Pukszyn], Gabe [Green], and Tone [quarterback Antonio Fontanez] grew up together and started out with the Bethlehem Steelers. It definitely sucked that I couldn’t play in the last game, but I knew we had guys who would step up.”
Liberty coach Shawn Daignault said Barlok not being able to play hurt his offense.
“Without him out there at Easton made a difference,” Daignault said. “He was always a threat in the middle of the field with Jake and Zyaire Davis being outside guys. Without that same threat in the middle, Easton could do some things differently with their coverages to take away our outside threats and outside routes. They didn’t have to worry about him down the middle because Jaxon was maybe the fastest kid on our team, although there are a few kids who may argue with that. His first few steps are as good as anybody’s. He gets on the defender quickly because he’s so explosive off the ball.”
Barlok finished his season with 34 catches for 474 yards, averaging 14.8 yards per catch, and three touchdowns.
“There’s no doubt that if he were on another team, he would have had a lot more catches, although he still had a lot for us,” Daignault said. “If we didn’t have the two of them, he would have picked up that load. But he also played well for us on defense as a cornerback after he played safety for us last year as a junior. He made legit contributions for us on that side of the ball, as well. He’s a physical tackler. If we had won the game against Easton, he was going to come back and play for us in the district final. But he had lost 10 pounds while he was in the hospital and needed time to recover and get back on the field.”
Daignault has no doubt that Barlok can play college football, but he wants to get 100% first.
“Right now, my best option is to go to a prep school,” he said. “I’m still figuring things right now, but I am already working hard in the offseason doing a lot of lifting.”
Whatever he does, his dad will be supportive. The two have bonded through football.
“There is no film out there of him because it was so long ago,” the younger Barlok said. “But I looked up his stats, and I know he was a damn good athlete. My dad has helped me look at prep schools and D2 and D3 schools. During the season, he told me to take it week-by-week and keep a good mindset and to come in every game ready to play.”
His dad was immensely proud of what his son accomplished.
“Jaxon was all about the team and helping others,” Tim Barlok said. “I couldn’t be prouder of him. It’s a shame he didn’t get the chance to show all of his skills. He had a lot more to give. I honestly believe 100% that he is a better athlete than I was, and he could have broken records. He didn’t get the opportunities that I did. I know he’s going to get an opportunity in college and he’s going to prove himself. He’s only about 50% of his ability right now. Once he gets more playing time and learns the game more, he’s going to be unbelievable. I see a lot of myself in him, including the cockiness. But he’s a great kid. Watching him play and score touchdowns was way better and more exciting for me than when I scored my own touchdowns.”
The young Barlok has a 3.7 GPA in the current quarter and has been strong academically through his time in the Bethlehem Area School District.
“His mom is a teacher and taught him how to go through school very well,” Tim Barlok said of Sara Pogue, who is a teacher at Nitschmann Middle School in Bethlehem. “He has a very good mother who taught him well. She deserves a lot of credit. Sarah’s husband, Andre, has also worked a lot with my son, and he has also had a big part in his life.”
Jaxon Barlok can’t wait to get back on the field.
“I just want to grind and open up a new chapter in my life and see what I can do on the field,” he said. “I feel like I have a lot of football left to play.”