Nosovitch, Vikes leave local stage with all-time classic

FROM KEITH GROLLER

They have been playing together since the flag football team at St. Thomas More when they were in first grade.

On Friday night, Brendan Nosovitch and Kevin Gulyas were together again, doing what they have been doing for the last 11 years.

But they never did it better than this or in a more important setting.

The two Central Catholic seniors hooked up for a 23-yard touchdown pass — Nosovitch to Gulyas — with 31 seconds left for what proved to be the deciding score in one of the most amazing football games ever played in the Lehigh Valley.

CCHS beat Valley View 61-54 in the first round of the PIAA 3A tournament Friday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium in one that goes into the "Instant Classic" category for area football fans.

And besides it being undoubtedly one of the highest scoring state playoff games ever played — if not the highest — this offensive spectacular was the perfect way for Nosovitch and Gulyas to end the Lehigh Valley portion of their high school careers.

Yes, Central (8-5) will go on to play Shamokin in the state quarterfinals next Friday.

But that one, like a possible state semifinal rematch against Archbishop Wood the following Friday, will be played outside the Lehigh Valley.

So, too, of course, would be a potential state championship appearance on Dec. 16.

So, this was the last time Nosovitch and Gulyas will play in the Valley and they certainly left their mark on the record book and in our mental scrapbooks with their now famous brand of pitch-and-catch.

Their game-winning touchdown pass, coming on fourth-and-17, was their fifth TD connection of the night.

And, it was just a part of a breathtaking 487-yard, eight-touchdown passing performance by the South Carolina-bound Nosovitch, who added 38 yards rushing and another TD on the ground.

Gulyas caught nine of his passes for 220 yards.

"I realized earlier in the week that we were going to have to travel after this one and this would be the last game close to home," Gulyas said. "I wanted to give it my all one more time in front of a home crowd. It was just an awesome game."

Awesome is in the eye of the beholder, however, and the defensive coaches on both sides probably had other descriptions of this Black Friday beauty that the scoreboard compiling numbers as fast as store cash registers.

If you love offense, this may have been your all-time favorite.

Central Catholic played many of these types of neck-turners during its Lehigh Valley Conference schedule and every time the Vikings were in a close one against another LVC powerhouse, they came up just short.

This time, however, the Vikings found a way to get just enough stops — thanks to four Valley View turnovers — to hold on.

The final turnover was the biggest, a fumble recovered by Tad McNeely at the Valley View 34 with 2:33 left. One more time for Nosovitch and Gulyas to do their magic.

They didn't disappoint.

It came down to just making one more play than they did," Nosovitch said. "I like the kind of situations where you have to step up. Our offense was just rolling from the start tonight. Everyone was making plays. I have confidence in all of my receivers, We were confident we were going to score."

Nosovitch, who admitted he has been a little banged up in recent weeks and hasn't run the ball as much as he used to, ran for one first down. It still came down to fourth-and-17.

If the Vikings don't score, the game is still tied, but considering how well Valley View was running through the CCHS defense all night, there was no guarantee the Vikings were going to force overtime.

As it has so many times in this wonderfully strange season, the offense had to win it for CCHS and Nosovitch and Gulyas stepped up yet again.

"We didn't give up," Gulyas said. "That's what I'll remember most about this one. This is what happens when you have teamwork and you believe. 'Whatever it takes' has been our motto all season."

It took another spectacular play on this night.

"They had a safety over top, but I knew Brendan was still going to throw it," Gulyas said. "I just had to get there and make the catch. I dove it for it, although I don't think I really had to it. I just wanted to make sure I could secure it."

It was the 100th touchdown pass of Nosovitch's amazing career and the good news is that he'll get at least another game to add more to his staggering season and career totals. So will Gulyas.

Both said this was one of their best performances.

For Nosovitch, it was his second amazing playoff game at BASD. This was the scene of his epic 601-yard, seven-TD running and passing showcase against Wood in last year's state semis.

"This one was another great night here," Nosovitch said. "When I think about this stadium, I'll always think about these two games. And they will always be great memories."

http://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-groller-football-central-valleyview-2-20111125,0,7057028.column