SLATINGTON – Notre Dame Green Pond won the toss and elected to take the opening kickoff. Good choice.
Two plays were key in the Crusaders’ win Friday night against Northern Lehigh 40-21 at Bulldog Stadium. Jonathan Striba took the opening kickoff and went down the sideline for an 82-yard kickoff return. Late in the second quarter, Northern Lehigh had to punt near their end zone. But the punt went straight up in the air. Drew Boyd got the ball on the bounce and took it 14 yards for a Notre Dame score. Notre Dame capitalized on opportunities.
In the first quarter, the Crusaders jumped out early. Striba’s 82-yard kickoff return and Faustie Capobianco’s 40 yard run put Notre Dame up 13-0 with 9:01 left in the first quarter.
Northern Lehigh’s running game started to eat up the clock and Chris Frame finished the 13-play drive with a five-yard touchdown run. Anthony Hanna’s kick was good and the Crusaders held a six-point lead, 13-7 with 56 seconds left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, both team’s offense’s shined, combining for 27 points. Matt Bodnar hit Alex Clark on a perfect throw for the 13-yard touchdown pass. Boyd added a 14-yard punt return for the Crusaders.
Frame got his second five-yard touchdown run with 8:42 left in the quarter. Garrett Smoyer added a big touchdown run with six seconds left right before halftime.
Notre Dame went into halftime leading 26-21 over Northern Lehigh. “It was a close game at halftime and we had to make adjustments,” said Head Football Coach Phil Stambaugh. “We expected a tough game and we knew they are well coached team.”
The second half it was the Crusaders defense that shined along with the running game.
“The message at halftime was, we opened the door and we better close it,” said Stambaugh. “Our team did that. That 21 did not move the second half and that was a credit to our defense that they made the adjustment.”
Jason Frederick got the only score of the third quarter. His 19-yard run put the Crusaders on top 33-7 with 2:10 left in the third quarter.
Faustie Capobianco’s 50-yard run put the dagger into the Bulldogs.
What’s next:
Notre Dame will travel to Pen Argyl next Saturday and try to remain unbeaten. Northern Lehigh will look to rebound next Saturday at Wilson Area.
Notre Dame-GP 40, Northern Lehigh 21
| Teams | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| Notre Dame GP (6-0) | 13 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 40 |
| Northern Lehigh (3-3) | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
1st quarter
NDGP: Jonathan Striba 82 yard kickoff return (Clemente Cintron kick good) 11:47
NDGP: Faustie Capobianco 40 yard run (Clemente Cintron kick failed) 9:01
NL: Chris Frame 5 yard run (Anthony Hanna kick good) 0:56
2nd quarter
NDGP: Alex Clark 13 yard pass from Matt Bodnar (Clemente Cintron kick) 10:55
NL: Chris Frame 5 yard run (Anthony Hanna kick) 8:42
NDGP: Drew Boyd 14 yard punt return (pass failed) 4:07
NL: Garrett Smoyer 1 yard run (Anthony Hanna kick) 0:06
3rd quarter
NDGP: Jason Frederick 19 yard run (Clemente Cintron kick) 2:10
4th quarter
NDGP: Faustie Capobianco 50 yard run (Clemente Cintron kick) 8:38