Allentown Central Catholic High School football team wins PIAA Class AAA first-round game

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

Brendan Nosovitch entered the weekend needing eight touchdown passes to reach 100 for his storied high school football career.

As it turns out, the Central Catholic High School all-state quarterback needed just as many to keep his team alive in the PIAA playoffs.

Nosovitch delivered as usual, throwing eight touchdowns and running for another score to lead the defending state champion Vikings to a wild 61-54 Class AAA first-round victory over Valley View at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.

"This was a crazy game," said Nosovitch, who completed 22 of 34 passes for 495 yards. "The receivers made huge plays all night. It's a great feeling to be back in the state playoffs."

The Vikings (8-5), who have won six in a row after a 2-5 start, take on Shamokin next weekend in the state quarterfinals.

"Offensively we're clicking right now," Central Catholic coach Harold Fairclough said. "These guys have been playing together for a long time skill wise. They know a lot of the weight is on their shoulders and they're responding."

Senior wide receiver Kevin Gulyas, an all-state selection last season along with Nosovitch, caught nine balls for 225 yards and five TDs, including the 23-yard game-winner on fourth-and-17 with 31 seconds left.

"I love those situations -- fourth-and-17 when you have to step up," said Nosovitch, a University of South Carolina recruit. "You have to make a play and I saw Kevin come open and he made a great catch."

The Vikings defense secured the win when defensive end Jeff Gulyas, sacked Valley View quarterback Liam Callejas on first-and-10 from the Central Catholic 23 as the clock ran out.

"They're huge up front and they run the ball well," Fairclough said. "We knew we had to get a few stops here and there. Unfortunately, we didn't get as many as we'd like, but our guys kept battling and my hat goes off to them. We made it to the next round."

Valley View (11-2), the District 2 champs, ran for 535 yards as the two teams racked up 1,210 yards of offense.

The Cougars had three players go over the 100-yard rushing mark, including Tyler Phillips, who scored three touchdowns.

Phillips ran for game-high 184 yards on 18 carries. Tyler Kapinus had 15 carries for 159 yards and TD and Pat Jeffers added 143 yards on 17 carries with a score.

Valley View, which gave up just 69 points all season coming in, had no answer for Nosovitch and the Vikings receivers.

Jalen Snyder-Scipio had 200 yards on eight catches, including a pair of TDs and Noah Robb caught a 27-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Central Catholic struck first as Nosovitch hit Snyder-Scipio with a 63-yard strike on the Vikes second possession.

The Cougars responded in a hurry as Phillips dashed 33 yards for his first TD run of the night.

Nosovitch answered with his second TD pass to Snyder-Scipio on a 5-yard slant to make it 14-7.

Phillips got the Cougars even three plays later with a 57-yard touchdown run.

Two plays after the ensuing kickoff, Nosovitch connected with Gulyas for 65 yards and his first TD of the game. Gulyas now has 108 catches, 1,882 yards and 24 TDs on the season.

Nosovitch went over 3,000 yards passing for the second-straight season when he and Gulyas connected on their second touchdown -- a 12-yarder that made it 33-21 Vikings with 4:44 left in the first half.

"I'm just glad these guys are on our side," Fairclough said. "This team has taken heat all year in the media but they kept battling and we're playing in the second round of the state playoffs."

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