On paper, Catasauqua's football team arguably is one of the best or possibly the best prolific proficient teams this fall in the Lehigh Valley.

Through their first four games this season, the Roughies have amassed 1, 580 yards averaging 395 yards per game and have scored 205 points scoring 51.3 points per game. Defensively, Catty has issued 913 yards, an average of 228.3 yards per game, and allowed 63 points, an average of 15 points per game.

Their recent 58-14 bushwhacking of Salisbury improved their record to 4-0 and is one of a handful of undefeated teams in the area. They also are ranked as among the top five Class 2A teams in the state by several polls.

Yet, head coach Tom Falzone isn't ready to lead the way to print any postseason playoff tickets. Instead, he is looking for his team to play some complete games down the stretch and seek to avoid any possible pitfalls that plagued them in the district championship game against Pen Argyl last season.

Falzone does appreciate his team's effort in the win over Salisbury, but he will employ some cautious optimism over the next few weeks.

"It was good, but it wasn't as easy as it looked," said Falzone about his recent victory. "We were again strong on the offensive side, but sloppy on the defensive side. We weren't tackling the way we normally do and our special team kickoff and cover team wasn't what it should be. We did score 51 points in the first half and could have put another one in (the end zone), but we took three knees instead. We didn't want to run it up and we got another chance to put the twos (second team) in the game during the second half.

"It was, though, another interesting night."

Falzone noted how the seniors have volunteered to play on special teams, but he was worried about some of them playing all three phases of the game. Still, he doesn't have any answers why his team has had some mental lapses.

"I don't know what it is," stated Falzone. "We have to find ways to solve the problem. If we continue to have breakdowns, it will come back and bite us in the end."

The loquacious fifth-year head coach hopes that bite doesn't happen Friday night when his team will travel to Hellertown to meet Saucon Valley (3-1) who has won three straight games, the latest a 49-6 thumping of Palmerton last weekend.

"This will be tough," stressed Falzone. "It will likely be our most difficult challenge so far. They are a physical team like Palisades was and they have four or five senior lineman back. They looked rusty the first week when they lost to Pen Argyl, and we have watched our game from last year and all of their games from this year."

Saucon Valley again will be led by running back Nick Savant, who rushed for nearly 1,500 yards last season, and had close to 400 in their first four games. Quarterback Keith Mosher is back and has thrown for 388 yards and five touchdowns, and Josh Shuck and Mike Kane lead the receiving corps.

"They have some good skill people and their quarterback (Mosher) is very agile and can throw the ball down field. (Savant) is a bruising runner who runs very hard and (Kane) might be the best tight end in the league. We'll have to deal again with a big, experienced line and it will be a challenge.

"We'll be hoping to stop them to get the ball back to make some plays."

Offensively, Falzone believes might load the box to slow down Ra'Von Burton, who has rushed for 702 yards and scored nine touchdowns, averaging an astonishing 175 yards rushing per contest. If they do, the Roughies will turn to their air attack lead by quarterback Zack Bradley, who has thrown for 682 yards and 11 touchdowns.

"We'll look on how they (Saucon Valley) come out (defensively) and make our adjustments," said Falzone. "Teams have tried to slow down Ra'Von (Burton) and then we go to the air. He (Burton) just continues to keep running the ball hard. He got hit in the knee against Salisbury and he seemed to run the ball even harder."

Falzone added that his team is healthy and they reach the halfway point of the regular season, one that has been a traditional stumbling block. After Saucon, Catty will have their annual Slate Belt miniseries with Bangor and Pen Argyl, both teams who have temporarily halted their ways in the past. It also typically is a time when the Roughies have been plagued by injuries.

"We're good right now," Falzone said. "This is the time when we have been hit with injuries and our schedule. Going to Hellertown has always been tough for Catty teams in the past. Hopefully we'll be able to put up some points and shut them down this week."

If they do, it will hopefully result in a solid game on both sides of the ball.