Northern Lehigh 40, Notre Dame 33 — Quick Summary
The Northern Lehigh football team battled Notre Dame to a 40-33 home win in an instant classic on Friday night.
The Bulldogs took the lead with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by senior AJ Jimenez.
Turning points: The home team secured the victory when senior defensive lineman Jayden Krempasky forced a fumble and senior defensive tackle Sam Frame picked it up and returned it 35 yards as the clock expired at Notre Dame.
Senior fullback Ethan Karpowich rushed for two yards on fourth-and-1 to keep Northern Lehigh’s winning offense down midfield.
After Karpowich ran for a 3-yard touchdown with 4:47 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Bulldogs a 33-27 lead, Notre Dame responded immediately on the first play of the next drive when junior Dan Darno found junior wide receiver AJ. Lozano for a 59-yard touchdown pass. But Karpowich blocked the extra point to keep the game tied at 33-33 with 4:29 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Better performance: Senior Quarterback Nick Frame rushed for 187 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries for the Bulldogs. The quarterback ran for a 61-yard touchdown on the second play of the game. Frame also completed 6 of 10 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown. He also had an interception on defense.
Jiménez rushed for 73 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, including the game-winning touchdown in the final 20 seconds.
Karpowich ran for a touchdown and blocked the key extra point with 4:47 left in the fourth quarter.
Northern Lehigh tight end/defensive end Austin Smyth caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Frame on a fourth-down play in the second quarter. The senior also came down with an interception and returned it 47 yards to the Notre Dame 11-yard line to set up the Bulldogs’ second touchdown of the game. He also recovered a fumble at the Northern Lehigh 5-yard line to stop a Notre Dame scoring opportunity with 22 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Darno rushed for 106 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 13 carries. The quarterback completed 10 of 19 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns to go with a pair of interceptions.
Lozano caught two passes for 89 yards and both went for touchdowns.
Notre Dame junior wide receiver James Wisecarver had three catches for 82 yards and a touchdown for the Crusaders.
What does it mean: The Bulldogs improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Colonial/Schuylkill League Red Division. They will receive Tamaqua next Friday.
The Crusaders fell to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in the Red Division. They’re hosting Jim Thorpe next Friday night.
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Josh Folck can be contacted at [email protected].