K-Kids win 22-17 in Turkey Day rivalry

By Dean Beers, D11football.com

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 in showing to be in holidays spirits, 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 7 straight games over their rival, the Roughies. Catasauqua’s last win was in 2002, winning 21-6, also at Alumni Field. The Roughies were hoping to start a new streak, but end Northampton’s at the same time.

Konkrete Kid running back John Lambert had something to say about continuing his team’s streak. The senior had 3 touchdowns and a key fumble recovery, with about a minute left in the game to seal Northampton 22-17 win, and extend the K-Kids streak to 8 games over the Rough Riders.

Lambert scored touchdown in the first 2 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 1 yard touchdown run. The touchdown was set up by a Roughie 15 yard personal foul penalty and a Patrick Cook to Jordan Smith 33 yard pass to the Rough Rider 8 yard line. Cook finished the game, completing 5 passes in 9 attempts, for 109 yards, with 2 interceptions.

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 within 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’s 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 on a bunch of Rough Rider defenders tackling a 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 Kid 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 now lead the series 18-17-1. Catasauqua ends its season at 6-6.

http://www.d11football.com/news/11/26/k-kids-win-22-17-in-turkey-day-rivalry/