A quick look at the stats from Friday night’s Colonial League football game between Notre Dame-Green Pond and Northern Lehigh would give the impression that the Bulldogs picked up a pivotal win against the previously unbeaten Crusaders.
Coach Joe Tout’s team outgained Notre Dame 196-137 on the ground, nearly doubled up the Crusaders in first downs and saw star player Chris Frame rack up over 100 yards on the ground and 62 more through the air.
However, Jonathan Striba’s 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game, Drew Boyd’s punt return for a touchdown later on and Clemente Cintron’s powerful leg in the punting game propelled Notre Dame-GP to a 40-21 win at Northern Lehigh High School in Slatington on Friday night.
Faustie Capobianco’s big night on the ground didn’t hurt either.
The senior entered the game with just three carries for 22 yards but found success in the run game with a 40-yard touchdown on the team’s opening drive. Faced with a crucial 4th-and-1 from midfield late in the game, Capobianco did more than just move the chains with a 50-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 40-21 and put the game on ice.
The typically pass-heavy Crusader offense relied more so on the running game despite starting running back Aaron Gordon’s absence as Capobianco’s pair of touchdowns and another by junior running back Jason Frederick paced an offense that racked up more rushing than passing yards for the first time all season.
Bodnar still managed to impress with 102 yards through the air and a perfect 13-yard strike to Alex Clark for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Up next
The Crusaders improved to 6-0 on the season with the win while Northern Lehigh dropped to 3-3. Notre Dame returns to action next Saturday against Pen Argyl while the Bulldogs take on Wilson Area.
Derek Bast is a freelance writer who can be found on Twitter/X at @derek_bast. He can be reached by email at derekbast11@gmail.com.
NOTRE DAME-GP 40, NORTHERN LEHIGH 21
Notre Dame-GP: 13; 13; 7; 7 — 40
Northern Lehigh: 7; 14; 0; 0 — 21
ORDER OF SCORING
First quarter
NDGP: Jonathan Striba 82 kickoff return (Clemente Cintron kick); 11:47
NDGP: Faustie Capobianco 40 run (Cintron kick failed); 9:01
NL: Chris Frame 5 run (Anthony Hanna kick); 0:56
Second quarter
NDGP: Alex Clark 13 pass from Matt Bodnar (Cintron kick); 10:55
NL: Chris Frame 5 run (Hanna kick); 8:42
NDGP: Drew Boyd 12 punt return (pass failed); 4:07
NL: Garrett Smoyer 1 run (Hanna kick); 0:06
Third quarter
NDGP: Jason Frederick 19 run (Cintron kick); 2:10
Fourth quarter
NDGP: Capobianco 50 run (Cintron kick); 8:38
