Stroudsburg wins on comeback, goal-line stand

BETHLEHEM – It was a battle of unbeatens at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium Saturday night as Quarterback John Jakobsen hit Marcello Riccardi for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 7:40 left, putting Stroudsburg (8-0) up for good. Stroudsburg’s defense forced five turnovers and had a late-game, goal-line stand with 4:40 remaining to win over Bethlehem Catholic (7-1) Saturday night, 23-19.

“Our defense played awesome tonight,” said Stroudsburg Head Football Coach Jim Miller. “I can’t ask for any more from our defense.”

Stroudsburg’s Jeremy Caraballo intercepted a Julian Spigner pass to setup the first score of the night. Stroudsburg drove down to the Becahi six-yard line but had to settle for a Nico Ruiz 23-yard field goal with 38 seconds left in the first quarter.

Bethlehem Catholic got a break on a punt when the ball hit a Stroudsburg player and Joe Smith recovered the ball on Stroudsburg’s 31.

Mike McDaniel ran the ball four straight times for 31-yards and capped off the drive by leaping into the end zone for a three-yard touchdown run putting Becahi up 7-3 with 4:11 left in the first half.

On Stroudsburg’s next possession, running back Gerald Douglas broke free for a 47-yard run to Becahi’s 23. Douglas had runs of seven, one, four and nine yards for a Stroudsburg touchdown. Stroudsburg went ahead 10-7.

“Our game plan was to go right at them with Douglas,” said Miller.

Bethlehem Catholic returned the kickoff to their 29 with 58 seconds left in the half. No problem. Spigner engineered the drive completing 5 of 6 for 71 yards including a 36-yard touchdown pass to Michael McDaniel with two seconds remaining in the half to give the Golden Hawks a 13-10 lead.

At the start of the third quarter Stroudsburg came up empty on their first two drives. Becahi’s McDaniel intercepted a Jakobsen pass and a missed Ruiz 40-yard field goal. The Golden Hawks went up 19-10 on an amazing 80-yard run by Freddie Simmons.

Stroudsburg cut the lead to three when Quintin Small intercepted a Spigner pass and returned it 24-yards for the score with 2:01 left in the third quarter.

“Quintin had a couple of interceptions this year already, “ said Miller. “He was in the right place at the right time to pick it off.”

On the kickoff Simmons took it 90-yards for the apparent score, but it was called back because of a penalty.

With 10:58 remaining in the game, Stroudsburg’s defense came up big again, recovering a Bethlehem Catholic fumble.

Stroudsburg drove down to Becahi’s 27. The Mounties were facing a fourth down-and-20 when Riccardi got behind the defense. Jakobsen hit him for the 27-yard touchdown pass with 7:40 left in the game. Stroudsburg led 23-19.

Bethlehem Catholic drove deep in Stroudsburg’s territory, but the defense came up big on fourth down and short to stop McDaniel from crossing the goal line with 4:40 remaining in the game.

“Our defense has a lot of heart,” said Douglas. “They are the pride and joy of Stroudsburg football.”

The Golden Hawks had one more shot to win the game late, but an incomplete pass from Spigner to Simmons ended the Golden Hawks chances for an undefeated season.

Douglas finished the night with 171 yards rushing on 35 carries and one touchdown.

“This win means everything for our team,” said Douglas. “Everyone doubted us and to come down here and compete with the LVC teams was huge for us tonight.”