Konkrete Kids' Lambert dashes through snow and Catty in 22-17 win

FROM KEITH GROLLER

It was the last game of John Lambert's season, and Northampton High career, and he finally got what he's wanted — the chance to play in snow.

While many found themselves shivering their way through Thursday's traditional Catasauqua-Northampton football game at the Rough Riders' Alumni Field, Lambert turned it into his winter wonderland — well, pre-winter wonderland.

Lambert ran for three touchdowns including an 11-yarder with 9:59 left that proved to be the game-winner as the Konkrete Kids posted a 22-17 win over Catasauqua in the 88th meeting of suburban rivals.

"I always wanted to play in snow and it finally happened," Lambert said after rushing for 94 yards. "It was fun. It was a little slippery, but we pushed through with short, choppy steps."

The two teams battled the conditions as well as each other and delivered an entertaining, spirited contest that at least warmed hearts on both sidelines.

While the Konkrete Kids increased their series lead to 54-30-4 and won for the eighth straight time, this was Northampton's closest margin of victory in their current streak.

"This is how this game should be. … a real nail-biter," Northampton coach Bob Steckel said. "It was a great football game. Both teams have great kids and both played their butts off. Our guys fought hard from the first snap to the last one, and, fortunately, they came out with a win."

It looked like it would be an easy one for the K-Kids when they opened a 15-0 lead less than five minutes into it.

Lambert dashed through the snow for a 63-yard TD on Northampton's third play from scrimmage.

The K-Kids stopped Catty on its first possession and scored again with a 63-yard drive that was aided by one of four 15-yard penalties assessed against the Roughies and a 33-yard pass from Patrick Cook to Jordan Smith.

Lambert not only scored the touchdown, but flipped to Tony DiClemente for the two-point conversion for a 15-0 lead that had thoughts of a mercy-rule rout dancing in some heads.

"Down 15-0, I heard the groans everywhere. … here we go again, another blowout coming," Rough Riders coach Tom Falzone said. "But we kept preaching to our guys that we're still all right. I don't know why, but we've had a lot of slow starts this year. Then it kicked in."

Immediately.

Sa'Quon Burton returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.

And from that point on, Catty was in the game to stay.

Getting scrappy defense, including two interceptions by Joe Thieme, Catty eventually tied it in the third quarter.

Two plays after a fumble recovery, Burton, who was saluted as the Roughies' MVP, threw a 24-yard option pass to Kyle Nyce for the score. He also ran in the two-point conversion.

"Sa'Quon sparked us and really got the crowd into the game," Falzone said. "We tied it up and we had a shot. In fact, we had several shots. Things just didn't go our way."

Even after Northampton went back in front with a 10-play, 50-yard drive capped by Lambert's TD run, Catty had four more possessions, and all four ended in Northampton territory.

The best chance was a possession that began at the K-Kids 35 after Lambert was tackled for a safety.

Catty picked up a first down at the 21, but a one-yard gain, two incompletions and a sack ended that Roughies' threat and then a fumble — fittingly recovered by Lambert — sealed it with a little more than a minute to go.

"John's been a warrior all year for us," Steckel said of Lambert, who was saluted as Northampton's MVP after the game. "With Chad Fenon being out, we knew we'd have to lean on John today and he answered the call."

Northampton finished 5-6 and will return several experienced offensive linemen next season. Steckel said he wanted to get more kids out for the program, and hoped Thursday's win would spark some enthusiasm within the school.

But mostly, he wanted the win for a group that had to deal with considerable adversity that kept the K-Kids from realizing their goals.

"Hopefully these kids can take some life lessons out of this season," Steckel said. "Things don't always go your way or the way you expected them to go in life, but you've just got to keep battling."

Falzone's team, which finished 6-6, took away some lessons as well.

"This was an experience these kids are going to remember," Falzone said. "Today our kids fought a much bigger school, they fought the conditions and they fought through some real questionable calls. This game will be talked about. We always said we wanted to have a game to remember us by, and I think people will remember how we played in this one."

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