{"id":21004,"date":"2025-10-31T17:41:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T17:41:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/21004\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T17:41:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T17:41:12","slug":"holy-war-ii-is-set-after-acchs-and-becahi-win-in-different-ways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/21004\/","title":{"rendered":"Holy War II is set after ACCHS and Becahi win in different ways"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few days before Bethlehem Catholic\u2019s District 11 4A football quarterfinal against Pottsville on Thursday, Golden Hawks coach Joe Bernard looked at the weather forecast and worried.<\/p>\n

Since Becahi depends a lot on its passing game, Bernard thought the heavy rain in the forecast might hinder his offense.<\/p>\n

As it turned out, the weather did affect the Golden Hawks, but not in the way you might think.<\/p>\n

A thunderstorm passed through Bethlehem about a half-hour before the scheduled 7 p.m. kickoff. It caused a 15-minute delay for the game\u2019s start and left Bethlehem Area School District Stadium relatively empty.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the downpour during warmups, it felt a little off,\u201d Becahi quarterback Cayden Vassa said. \u201cWe had to sit in the locker room, and wait. And then there was no crowd out here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The atmosphere and an upset-minded Pottsville team that played a lot better than its 3-7 record made things a lot tougher for the Golden Hawks than expected.<\/p>\n

\"BethlehemBethlehem Catholic\u2019s Axel Burkart catches a pass Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, against Pottsville during a District 11 4A quarterfinal football game at BASD Stadium. (April Gamiz\/The Morning Call)<\/p>\n

It was 14-14 entering the fourth quarter before Vassa connected with sophomore Armando Thom on a 78-yard touchdown pass to take the lead with nine minutes left. Then, after a defensive stop, Vassa\u2019s third rushing touchdown of the night clinched a 28-14 victory and punched second-seeded Becahi\u2019s ticket into the 4A semifinals, where it will meet longtime rival Allentown Central Catholic.<\/p>\n

In Allentown, the third-seeded Vikings rolled to a 52-21 win over Jim Thorpe behind a spectacular 474-yard, 5-touchdown passing effort by junior quarterback Patrick Cahill.<\/p>\n

The season\u2019s second Holy War \u2013 the name many use to describe the Becahi-Central rivalry \u2013 will be played Thursday night at BASD Stadium.<\/p>\n

Vassa, who has missed several games in the second half of the season due to injury, ran for TDs covering 68 and 20 yards and another from about a foot out.<\/p>\n

\"BethlehemBethlehem Catholic\u2019s Antonio Salamoni runs down field Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, against Pottsville during a District 11 4A quarterfinal football game at BASD Stadium. (April Gamiz\/The Morning Call)<\/p>\n

He ran for 162 yards, and he and Axel Burkart combined for 149 yards passing with Vassa getting 124 of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt good; it\u2019s good to be back,\u201d Vassa said after the Golden Hawks improved to 7-4. \u201cI came ready and started off the game pretty hot. But we needed to pick it up in the second half. Everyone in the playoffs is good. They\u2019re playing for their season. We\u2019re just grateful to be able to move on and get to practice again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pottsville made Becahi\u2019s fourth consecutive trip to the district semis a challenge.<\/p>\n

The Tide ran the ball well and used a lot of time doing it by running down the play clock before each snap. Max Clews ran for 71 yards and two touchdowns, and Andrew Allen passed for 136 yards. Shay Strencosky caught five passes for 78 yards.<\/p>\n

The game tied, Pottsville had a first down at the Becahi 14 as the fourth quarter began, but Burkart came up with a sack for a 6-yard loss on third down, moving the Tide back to the 13. A 30-yard field goal attempt missed. Two plays later, Vassa hit sophomore Armando Thom on a down-and-out, and he took it up the field along the sideline for a 78-yard, go-ahead score.<\/p>\n

\"BethlehemBethlehem Catholic\u2019s quarterback Cayden Vassa runs the ball down the field for a touchdown Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, against Pottsville during a District 11 4A quarterfinal football game at BASD Stadium. (April Gamiz\/The Morning Call)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sack was a big momentum-shifter, and it sparked the offense,\u201d said Burkart, who had two completions for 25 yards and two catches for 46. \u201cWe went right down and scored. I just made a play. I think the delay affected us in the beginning, but in the second half, we came out with a lot more momentum.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a three-and-out, Becahi put the game away with a 41-yard drive capped by Vassa\u2019s short TD run, and Thom\u2019s second interception of the night and his\u00a0 37-yard return led to victory formation for Becahi.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt great to put the game away,\u201d Thom said. \u201cI love football and I love defense even more, honestly. Obviously, in the playoffs, everyone comes to play. They don\u2019t want their season to end. We had to step it up in the second half and faced some adversity, but we came out with the win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pottsville might have left wondering what might have been had Clews not gone down with an injury in the third quarter that put him on crutches or a punt return for a touchdown that was negated by a block in the back.<\/p>\n

Becahi knows it will have to play better in the next two weeks if it\u2019s going to add to the program\u2019s 14 district titles. First up is Central. The Golden Hawks beat the Vikings 28-24 on Sept. 20 in Allentown.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe won the last game but I feel like we can put a better product out on the field, and it will be nice to have this one at home,\u201d Vassa said.<\/p>\n

\"AllentownAllentown Central Catholic\u2019s Patrick Cahill, seen playing against Bethlehem Catholic in September, threw for 474 yards and five TDs n a 52-21 win over Jim Thorpe in the District 11 4A quarterfinals on Thursday night. Cahill and the Vikings will get a rematch with Becahi in the district semis next week. (Jane Therese \/ Special to The Morning Call).
\nACCHS 52, Jim Thorpe 21<\/p>\n

The Vikings bounced back from a 49-14 loss to Whitehall in the regular-season finale and are back in the district semis after losing to Pottsville, 14-7, in last year\u2019s quarterfinals.<\/p>\n

Cahill completed 13 of 16 passes and connected with Luis Martinez for two touchdowns \u2013 one for 78 yards and the other 69 \u2013 and found Greg Tillman, Tahir Edmondson, and Harry Restino for one score each.<\/p>\n

Di\u2019Quawn Leak also blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cPatrick did a tremendous job of leading our offense with his quick decision-making, getting the ball out to our playmakers and avoiding unnecessary hits,\u201d said ACCHS coach Jake Reichard. \u201cHe is a student of the game. He is tough, composed, and the leader of our offense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cahill\u2019s performance was the second-best in Central history, behind only Brendan Nosovitch\u2019s 489 yards and eight TD passes in a 61-54 state playoff win over Valley View in 2011.<\/p>\n

Cahill connected with Edmondson for a 77-yard score and Restino for a 40-yard TD. But it was hardly a one-man show.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur offensive line and running backs did an outstanding job in pass protection, which allowed us to take advantage of our matchups with our talented group of receivers,\u201d Reichard said. \u201cDefensively, we made huge plays early. Deon Johnson made an incredible play in he first half tipping a pass to himself at defensive end for an interception. We also came up with a key fourth-down stop in our own territory. It was a complete team effort. We played consistent and complementary football. I\u2019m happy for the kids and the staff. They earned the opportunity to compete for another week.\u201d<\/p>\n

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