CATASAUQUA – It was the first day of the holiday season, Thanksgiving. A day when two of the Lehigh Valley rivals go at it, before they eat their turkey with all the trimmings. The weather was also added to the holiday spirit, with snow falling most of the game.
Northampton and Catasauqua met for the 88th time at Alumni Field in Catasauqua. The Konkrete Kids have won seven straight games over their rival, the RoughRiders. Catasauqua’s last win was in 2002, winning 21-6, also at Alumni Field. The Roughies were hoping to start a new streak and end Northampton’s at the same time.
Konkrete Kid’s running back John Lambert had something to say about continuing his team’s streak. The senior had three touchdowns and a key fumble recovery, with about a minute left in the game to seal Northampton’s 22-17 win, and extend the K-Kids streak to eight games over the Rough Riders.
Lambert scored touchdowns in the first two possessions for his team. He did most of the grunt work on the first drive of the game, going 63 yards for a touchdown. After a Catasauqua punt, Northampton got the ball back again, this time driving 63 yards for the score on a Lambert one yard touchdown run.
Lambert, who rushed for 92 yards, was also his team’s MVP.
But, on the ensuing kickoff, Catasauqua’s Sa’Quon Burton went 85 yards for the Roughie touchdown, to bring his team to 15-7 with 6:50 left in the first quarter.
Catasauqua had another chance to score in the first quarter, with 1:25 left, but Nathan Falko fumbled the ball away at his team’s 5 yard line.
With 8:38 left in the 3rd quarter, Burton threw a 23 yard touchdown pass to senior Kyle Nyce, on the halfback option play to tie the score at 15 all. Burton finished with 40 yards rushing on the day. Nyce finished with 57 yard receiving and a touchdown.
With the team’s trading possessions, Lambert scored his third and last touchdown of the day, with 9:59 left in the game. The senior ran 11 yards for the score to extend Northampton’s lead to 22-15.
The game’s scoring ended as a bunch of Rough Rider defenders tackled Lambert in the endzone for a safety.
Catasauqua had one last chance with 1:21 left in the game, but Lambert recovered a Deontae Hill fumble at the Konkrete Kids’ 38 yard line.
Sa’Quon Burton was his team’s MVP. He threw a touchdown pass, ran a kickoff back for a touchdown and rushed for 40 yards.
Northampton finished the season 5-6 and now leads the series 54-30-4. Since 1975, the Konkrete Kids now lead the series 18-17-1. Catasauqua ends its season at 6-6.
