Two unbeaten teams clashed Friday night at Lafayette College in Easton as the North Schuylkill Spartans met the Notre Dame-Green Pond Crusaders in a hard-fought, defensive struggle.
In the end, the Crusaders escaped with a 21-20 victory to remain undefeated on the season.
These teams are familiar foes with the Spartans winning a regular season game and a playoff game last season in the closing seconds of those games.
The tone was set early by both defenses, forcing long drives to stall and keeping big plays limited. Notre Dame struck first in the opening quarter when Jonathan Striba powered into the end zone from two yards out, followed by a successful kick from Mark Perone.
North Schuylkill responded in the second quarter on a short two-yard touchdown run by Caden McGraw, but the Spartans’ two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving them trailing 7-6 at halftime.
The Crusaders regained momentum in the third quarter. Quarterback Matt Bodnar connected with Aaron Gordon for an 18-yard touchdown, with Perone adding the extra point. North Schuylkill answered with an 11-yard run from Caden Mengel, who then tossed a two-point conversion pass to Luke Miller to tie the game at 14-14.
Notre Dame struck back quickly, with Bodnar finding Drew Boyd on a 26-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. Kicker Clemente Cintron converted the extra point to push the Crusaders ahead 21-14.
The Spartans weren’t finished. With just one minute left to play, Mengel connected with Miller for a 26-yard touchdown to pull North Schuylkill within one. A run attempt for the two-point conversion and the win fell short, leaving the Crusaders clinging to the one-point margin as time expired.
With the win, Notre Dame-Green Pond improves to 3-0 overall. The Crusaders will travel to Saucon Valley next week.
North Schuylkill drops to 2-1 and will look to bounce back at home next Friday against unbeaten Southern Lehigh in another key early-season matchup.
The tone was set early by both defenses, forcing long drives to stall and keeping big plays limited. Notre Dame struck first in the opening quarter when Jonathan Striba powered into the end zone from two yards out, followed by a successful kick from Mark Perone.
North Schuylkill responded in the second quarter on a short two-yard touchdown run by Caden McGraw, but the Spartans’ two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving them trailing 7-6 at halftime.
The Crusaders regained momentum in the third quarter. Quarterback Matt Bodnar connected with Aaron Gordon for an 18-yard touchdown, with Perone adding the extra point. North Schuylkill answered with an 11-yard run from Caden Mengel, who then tossed a two-point conversion pass to Luke Miller to tie the game at 14-14.
Notre Dame struck back quickly, with Bodnar finding Drew Boyd on a 26-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. Kicker Clemente Cintron converted the extra point to push the Crusaders ahead 21-14.
The Spartans weren’t finished. With just one minute left to play, Mengel connected with Miller for a 26-yard touchdown to pull North Schuylkill within one. A run attempt for the two-point conversion and the win fell short, leaving the Crusaders clinging to the one-point margin as time expired.
With the win, Notre Dame-Green Pond improves to 3-0 overall. The Crusaders will travel to Saucon Valley next week.
North Schuylkill drops to 2-1 and will look to bounce back at home next Friday against unbeaten Southern Lehigh in another key early-season matchup.
