Both teams struggled on offense.
Late in the first half Jared Kochenash of Allentown Central Catholic intercepted Robbie Kressler’s (Saucon Valley) pass with 2:28 to go in the first half. The Red team drove ten plays to setup a 19-yard field goal by Gregory Scott of Southern Lehigh. The Red team would go into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
Wilson Area coach Bret Comp’s Gold team struggled on offense all night. With 3:57 to go in the third quarter the Gold team’s offense finally got it going, Kyle Harbridge of Easton Area ripped off runs of 9 and 53 yards during this drive. Harbridge capped off the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run with 1:52 to go in the quarter. Alex Toma’s (Phillipsburg) extra point gave the Gold team a 7-3 lead.
Harbridge talked about the drive, “It was wide-open on the long run. The line did a great job getting me in the secondary. On the touchdown run Robbie did a great job getting the end to commit, which opened up the hole for me.”
The game would get interesting late in the fourth quarter. The Red team drove 75 yards to the Gold two yard line. The Red team was facing a fourth down and goal when Catasauqua’s Devin Malarchik got the hand off and tried to run straight up the middle. Aaron Chamberlain of Northampton made the big stop for the Gold team with 2:28 to go in the game. The Gold team took over on downs.
Phillipsburg’s Matt Santini said the goal line stand was “…intense”.
Chamberlain talked about the play, “That was awesome. I saw him coming and hung on and my teammates came in and piled on.”
The Gold team would run out the clock and hold on for the 7-3 win. The Gold defense limited the Red team to 121 rushing yards and 49 passing yards.
Harbridge led the Gold team with 78 yards rushing and the game winning touchdowns.
