What’s the difference between 6-3 and 3-6? The wise-guy answer is three wins.

But what separates teams with those records with equal ability has nothing to do with anything tangible or physical.

“The difference is they have a program,” Catasauqua coach Joe Henrich said after Pen Argyl won Saturday’s matchup 37-20 to improve to 6-3. They have been running the same system. The kids have been in it for years, and they believe in their system.”

The Rough Riders are in Year 2 of the Henrich era. They were 3-8 last season. They are 3-6 this year with at least two games remaining.

The school has been through numerous head coaches since Tom Falzone took them to a District 11 Class 2A championship in 2013 before leaving for Nazareth.

Catasauqua won 12 games total in the next seven years under several coaches after Falzone left. That led to the next level of program decline when parents took their kids to other schools.

Alum Travis Brett won 20 games in a three-year stretch before stepping down after the 2023 season.

It is not surprising then that there is perhaps still uncertainty among the players that Henrich and his staff are in it for the long haul.

“We’re a team that hasn’t quite built that program, that real belief of what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, how you work in order to accomplish it,” Henrich said. “We’re facing the same challenges [as Pen Argyl]. Both teams have issues with numbers, practice, etc. But we’re a step behind. It’s Year 2. We’re still just a place where we’re not a program where we have that genuine belief in your heart and your gut that you’re going to go out and work to win.”

The players’ trust in the coaches is building, according to Henrich. So, too, is the system they are working to run. That was evident Saturday against Pen Argyl when Catasauqua played without quarterback Aiden Reilly for the second time in three weeks.

The Rough Riders didn’t have to scrap what they do offensively. They just made adjustments based on the strengths of backup Cadeo Estronza.

That is progress.

“From where we came from, the stability of this program for how many years with three, four, five coaches,” Henrich said. “It takes a little bit of time for these guys to believe we’re going to be here so they can buy into this process.

“But our offseason was way better. Our weight room attendance was way better. We got way stronger. Our football IQ has gone up. But we’re just not there yet. That’s hard to say to kids. They want to be there, but we’re not there yet. They want wins. They want it to happen. Building a program, a structure, a way of doing things with expectations, a certain mentality of the work, the grind, that isn’t built overnight.”

Catasauqua scored a touchdown to get within 8-6 then got an interception and was driving last Saturday at Pen Argyl. But two negative plays and two penalties squashed the drive. The Green Knights then drove 75 yards for a touchdown to regain control of the game for good.

That is the difference between 6-3 and 3-6.

Starting tailback Tray Dunn didn’t play until the second quarter. He wasn’t a factor until the second half, when he ran for 154 of his 163 yards. The Rough Riders already were in catch-up mode by that point.

But there were signs of progress with the Catasauqua offense as a whole in the second half even without the injured Reilly, who also missed several games last season.

“Of course that hurts,” Henrich said of the inconsistency at quarterback. “You can’t hide from that. It’s hard to get into a rhythm without it. It’s hard to build a system the way you want it.

“We had to work get [Dunn] to be more of a downhill runner. When he is, he is dangerous. He does add an element of size and strength, but as you saw today he has the ability to run in the open field as well.

“It’s about finding that consistency. I believe he’s getting better. The offensive line is getting better being able to sustain blocks a little bit more with that mentality. With those things, it just opens things up even more.”

Catasauqua may not have the record this season to show progress, but as long as the trust and commitment continue to blossom, the future looks bright.

Colonial-Schuylkill Week 9 stat heroes

(in alphabetical order)

Ryan Bonham, Wilson: Rushed for 50 yards and made four tackles against Palisades.

Brody Breiner, Panther Valley: Completed 18 of 23 passes for 248 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 148 yards and a score in win over Mahanoy Area.

Thomas Cahill, Saucon Valley: Grabbed 11 passes for 197 yards and a career-high three touchdowns against Southern Lehigh.

Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic: Rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns, caught two passes for 15 yards, made nine tackles and intercepted a pass in a victory over Pine Grove.

Tray Dunn, Catasauqua: Ran for 163 yards and two touchdowns against Pen Argyl.

Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl: Rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown, caught three passes, made a career-high 16 tackles, five for loss, and forced a fumble in a win over Catasauqua.

Elijah Garriga, Salisbury: Made a team-high 11 tackles, including two for loss, against Northern Lehigh.

Kyden Hauser, Lehighton: Caught a career-best 10 passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns against North Schuylkill.

John Hull, Notre Dame-GP: Equaled his career high with a game-high 14 tackles, two for loss, in a victory over Palmerton.

Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh: Caught a 60-yard touchdown pass and made a game-high 13 tackles, three for loss (two sacks), in a win over Tamaqua.

Lucas Hurd, Bangor: Rushed for a career-high 172 yards and two touchdowns against Jim Thorpe.

Cole Lazorick, Jim Thorpe: Ran for 140 yards and a 57-yard touchdown and threw for two scores in a win over Bangor.

Terrence McDowell, Tamaqua: Rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns against Northwestern Lehigh.

Tyler Price, Marian Catholic: Ran for 57 yards and a touchdown, caught a 12-yard pass, made 13 tackles and intercepted two passes, returning one for a TD, against Pine Grove.

Colton Sams, Southern Lehigh: Completed his first 12 passes and 13 of 14 overall for 266 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Saucon Valley.

Bill Slattery, Northern Lehigh: Registered a team-high 13 tackles, four for loss (two sacks), in a victory over Salisbury.

Jack Trickel, Palisades: Completed seven of 10 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns in a victory over Wilson.

Jacob Walkowiak, Palmerton: Made a team-high six tackles against Notre Dame-GP.

Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com

https://www.mcall.com/2025/10/21/catasauqua-football-teams-progress-continues-even-if-wins-do-not/