Bethlehem Catholic lost the last two years to Southern Lehigh in the District 11 4A championship game.
In 2024, the Spartans went on from that win to reach the state semifinals.
Last year after beating the Golden Hawks, Phil Sams’ team won it all behind fantastic performances by running back Sean Steckert and quarterback Colton Sams, among others.
This year, once again, Southern Lehigh is one of the strongest teams in the Lehigh Valley and the state.
But the Spartans are in 5A, opening up a path in 4A.
The team perhaps best positioned to take advantage of that is Bethlehem Catholic.
The Golden Hawks are 6-1, with their lone loss being a last-play defeat to Easton. They are coming off one of the most impressive wins of the season, a 49-17 rout of Freedom.
Senior quarterback Axel Burkart threw for 414 yards and five touchdowns and also ran for one.
That win gained statewide attention and moved Becahi into the top 10 in Class 4A.
The Golden Hawks are ranked No. 10 ahead of Saturday night’s showdown with Nazareth, another 6-1 team.
Several other Lehigh Valley-area teams have maintained their position in the state rankings. Northwestern Lehigh remains No. 1 in 3A, with Notre Dame-Green Pond right behind at No. 2.
Southern Lehigh remains ranked No. 4 in Class 5A and Parkland holds steady at No. 5 in 6A.
Palmerton, which was ranked No. 10 in 3A, dropped out of the rankings after losing to Notre Dame-Green Pond 49-6.
Class 6A
Rank. Team; District; Record; Previous
1. Pittsburgh C.C. (7); 7-0; 1
2. Harrisburg (3); 7-0; 2
3. State College (6); 7-0; 3
4. St. Joseph’s Prep (12); 4-1; 4
5. Parkland (11); 6-1; 5
6. Bishop McDevitt (3); 6-1; 6
7. Downingtown East (1); 6-0; 7
8. Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1); 6-0; 8
9. Wilson-West Lawn (3); 6-1; 9
10. Pennridge (1); 7-0; 10
Teams to watch: Central Bucks West (1) 6-1, Central York (3) 5-2, Manheim Township (3) 6-1, Nazareth (11) 6-1, Roman Catholic (12) 4-2, Spring-Ford (1) 6-1.
Class 5A
Rank. Team; District; Record; Previous
1. Pine-Richland (7); 6-1; 1
2. Imhotep Charter (12); 6-1; 2
3. Springfield-Delco (1); 7-0; 3
4. Southern Lehigh (11); 7-0; 4
5. Twin Valley (3); 7-0; 5
6. Penn-Trafford (7); 7-0; 6
7. Upper St. Clair (7); 7-0; 7
8. Chester (1); 7-0; 9
9. Strath Haven (1); 6-1; NR
10. Exeter Township (3); 6-1; NR
Teams to watch: Garnet Valley (1) 5-1, Great Valley (1) 7-0, Northern York (3) 6-1, Solanco (3) 6-1, Thomas Jefferson (7) 5-1, West Allegheny (7) 5-2.
Class 4A
Rank. Team; District; Record; Previous
1. Shamokin (4); 7-0; 1
2. West York (3); 7-0; 2
3. Bonner-Prendergast (12); 4-3; 3
4. Pope John Paul II (1); 6-1; 5
5. South Fayette (7); 6-1; 6
6. North Pocono (2); 6-1; 4
7. Montour (7); 5-2; 7
8. Dallas (2); 7-0; 8
9. General McLane (10); 7-0; 9
10. Bethlehem Catholic (11); 6-1; NR
Teams to watch: Blue Mountain (11) 6-1, Cardinal O’Hara (12) 4-3, Cathedral Prep (10) 5-2, Pottsgrove (1) 6-1, Shikellamy (4) 6-1.
Class 3A
Rank. Team; District; Record; Previous
1. Northwestern Lehigh (11); 7-0; 1
2. Notre Dame-Green Pond (11); 7-0; 2
3. Avonworth (7); 6-1; 3
4. Scranton Prep (2); 6-1; 4
5. Propel Braddock Hills (7); 5-2; 5
6. Hopewell (7); 6-1; 6
7. Mount Carmel (4); 7-0; 7
8. Hickory (10); 6-1; 8
9. Elizabeth-Forward (7); 7-0; 9
10. Archbishop Wood (12); 6-1; NR
Teams to watch: Athens (4) 6-1, Belle Vernon (7) 6-1, Cambria Heights (6) 7-0, Highlands (7) 6-1, Wyomissing (3) 4-2.
Class 2A
Rank. Team; District; Record; Previous
1. Bishop Canevin (7); 7-0; 1
2. Southern Columbia (4); 6-1; 2
3. Seton LaSalle (7); 7-0; 3
4. Dunmore (2); 7-0; 4
5. Richland (6); 7-0; 5
6. Farrell (10); 5-1; 6
7. Westinghouse (8); 6-0; 7
8. Bloomsburg (4); 7-0; 9
9. Ligonier Valley (7); 7-0; NR
10. Mount Union (6); 7-0; NR
Teams to watch: Apollo-Ridge (7) 6-1, Bellwood-Antis (6) 5-2, Greenville (10) 6-1, Karns City (9) 6-1, West Catholic (12) 6-1.
Class A
Rank. Team; District; Record; Previous
1. Bishop Guilfoyle (6); 6-1; 1
2. Clairton (7); 5-2; 2
3. Washington (7); 6-1; 3
4. Steelton-Highspire (3); 5-1; 4
5. Wilmington (10); 6-1; 5
6. Williams Valley (11); 6-1; 6
7. Shenango (7); 6-0; 8
8. Fort Cherry (7); 6-1; 9
9. Homer-Center (6); 6-1; 10
10. Montgomery (4); 6-1; NR
Teams to watch: Cambridge Springs (10) 7-0, Jeannette (7) 6-1, Keystone (9) 6-1, Line Mountain (4) 6-1, Mercyhurst Prep (10) 5-2.