Zephyrs snap three game losing streak Thursday night.
BETHLEHEM- The Whitehall Zephyrs coming off a disappointing loss Saturday night to Allentown Central Catholic, had little time to put that game behind them and prepare for another big EPC South football game at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium against the Liberty Hurricanes, bt in the end Whitehall got the job done with an exciting 23-20 overtime win Thursday night.
Whitehall received the opening kickoff, only to go three-and-out and punted the ball to the Hurricanes, but their initial drive ended on a football just outside the red zone.
The Zephs would take advantage of the opportunity as the drove to the 36 yard line of Liberty. Quarterback Trey Dogmanits handed the ball to his brother Talon, on what looked to be an end-around, instead, Talon tossed the ball to WR Jack Kocher who waltzed into the end zone for a 7-0 lead after Andrew Deutsch made the extra-point with 7:32 left in the first quarter..
Liberty would cut the lead to 7-6 with under a minute left ion their second drive as RB Gabriel Green would cap off a drive as he scored from six yards out, but the PAT was no good .
Midway through the second quarter, Liberty would take the lead at 12-7 as quarterback Caden Vermuelen would find WR Jahsi Cole in single coverage for a 24 yard score, but the try for a two-point conversion was no good with 7:38 left in the half.
A one yard run by RB Dalton Wickel of Whithall with 1:10 left in the second quartet gave Whitehall the lead going into the locker room at 13-12 as their try for two was also no good.
Liberty would take the second half kickoff and drove down to the Whitehall 12, but a 29 yard field goal attempt went wide right leaving the score at 13-12.
Whitehall would be forced to punt the ball back late in the quarter and this time the Hurricanes capitalized on the opportunity as they took a 20-13 lead when Vermuelen connected with Jacob Pukszyn for a 24 yard touchdown with 1:10 left on the clock.. Vermuelen ran the ball for a successful conversion.
A 16 yard pass from Trey Dogamits to Jack Kocher would tie the game at 20for Whitehall with just 6:52 left in regulation.
The Zephyrs would get another chance to put the game away with just under five minutes left, but could not convert and Liberty got the ball back at their 21 with 3:45 left. They dove to the Zephyr 39 where they faced a fourth and ten situation and a Vermuelen pass came up short with just four seconds left. Whitehall took a knee and forced overtime.
Whitehall won the option in the extra session. and decided to go on defense. Liberty got the ball at the ten and on the first play a great defensive play by the Zephyr defender stripped a possible go-ahead touchdown. After two straight runs put the ball on the three and facing a fourth down, Liberty lined up for a field goal attempt, but the Hurricanes ran a fake pass and Whitehall had it read perfectly and the pass was incomplete..
Whitehall now got a chance to end the game also from the ten. Three straight runs moved the ball to the six where Andrew Deutsch nailed the 23 yard field goal giving the Zephyrs the win 23-20.
Whitehall improves to 5-4 with just one game left, for the "Cement Belt Trophy against 7-1 Northampton next Friday night at Al Erdosy Stadium. Northampton (7-1) will be at East Stroudsburg North Friday night. Liberty (2-7) will close out their 2023 season against ""Christmas City" rival Freedom next Saturday. The Patriots will be at EPSD Stadium Friday facing Emmaus.