by Dean Beers of D11Football.com
Bethlehem, PA – It was homecoming for Bethlehem Catholic on an overcast Saturday afternoon, but Khaleel Artis put on his own show. Artis scored 4 touchdowns including a 62 yard touchdown to help Emmaus to a 49-14 win over the Golden Hawks.
Artis scored 3 touchdowns in the 2nd quarter, compiling 145 yards in the first half. He rushed for a total of 241 yards.
Early in the 2nd, Artis scored on a 1-yard run, rushing 8 times out of the 11 offensive plays the Hornets had, to tie the game at 7. Golden Hawks’ Connor Casey scored on a 27 yard touchdown run with 2:33 left in the first quarter, as Bethlehem Catholic (3-2) took the first lead of the game.
But after Artis’ 1-yard touchdown run, the Golden Hawks fumble the ensuing kickoff recovered by Emmaus (3-2). The next play Artis dashes for a 12 yard run as the Green Hornets take their first lead of the game, 14-7.
About two minutes later, on a 3 play, 77 yard drive, Golden Hawks’ Casey scampers for a 74 yard touchdown to the the game up at 14 a piece. Casey would end the day with 109 yards rushing. He also threw for 132 yards, completing 10 of 15 passes.
As the two teams traded punches, Emmaus’ Andrew Kerson (11/17, 215 passing) threw a 68 yard touchdown pass to Andrew Brown, giving Emmaus the lead again, 21-14. The Green Hornets would seize the lead for good with five minutes left in the 2nd quarter, as Artis adds his third touchdown of the game on a 62-yard run. Green Hornets lead 28-14.
Emmaus tried extending their lead on a 32 yard field as time expired, but the kick was no good.
After a good kickoff return for the Hornets to the Hawks 23, it took the Emmaus offense 2 plays to give themselves a 21 point lead. It would be another connection from Kerson to Brown (161 yards rec.), this time a 21 yard pass and catch, to extend the Emmaus lead, 35-14.
After an exchange of punts, very late in the 3rd quarter, Artis would close out his own scoring with a 6 yard scamper, for a 42-14 lead.
The Green Hornets would put the mercy rule into affect, with 3:40 left in the game on a Darren Smith 5 yard run. Smith would rush for 32 of his 40 yards, on the final drive of the game, making the final score 49-14.
Emmaus hosts Liberty (3-2) next Friday night, while Bethlehem Catholic hosts unbeaten Nazareth (5-0).
