From the time the gates opened, there was little doubt it was Catasauqua's night.

Nearly 90 minutes before kickoff against Palisades there was a makeshift tailgate party in the parking lot of the YMCA and the buzz had already infiltrated the air about the district title game at Alumni Field. Fans, young and old and players from the distant and recent past were present in anticipation of the first district title in 21 years.

There were signs on both sidelines, perhaps the most fitting being on the home side and stating, "11 hearts, one body."

Both sides of stands were filled and the line along the fence on the home side was more than a few lines deep.

Once Catty received the opening kickoff, the anticipated ending to the night was quickly justified.

The Roughies marched the ball down the field and quarterback Zack Bradley hit Jake Stopay on a 26-yard touchdown pass less than three minutes into the game.

When Palisades wide receiver Devin Ramsden was hit attempting an option pass on their first play from scrimmage, Catty's Paryss Marshall made a basket catch of the attempt.

From there, the Roughies continued their assault as Bradley hit Derrick Bond deep in the right corner of the end zone as he perfectly laid the ball to Bond, who leaped over a Palisades' defender to complete a 19-yard scoring strike, and the Roughies had a 13-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game.

From there, Catasauqua set the tone for the remainder of the night as they rolled to a 54-28 victory and taking their fifth PIAA District 11 Class 2 A crown in school history.

It was the first title since 1992, the last of three consecutive ones won by the Roughies under current assistant coach Ed Csencsits.

It also will mark the first time Catty will participate in the state playoffs, as there was no system in place for their first three titles and they weren't selected in 1992 to advance because of some snafus in the system.

The Roughies will meet Lake-Lehman, the District 2 champion, Friday night at Wyoming Valley West High School.

Until then, head coach Tom Falzone and his players will cherish the moment and finally extinguish any leftover embers from the shocking loss to Pen Argyl on their home field in the district final last year.

"It was a great weekend," said Falzone, who is in his fifth year of the program. "We all put so much work and time to get to this point. The town had to wait a long time to get another one of these.

"I'm just so happy for the kids. I told them that you don't get too many second chances at things in life and you have to take advantage of those opportunities. I also reminded them how it felt watching another team wearing the gold medals last year.

"It was great and also a little bittersweet seeing all of the seniors back from last year's team. I felt badly for them, because they should have also had a medal."

In recent weeks when the Roughies have won the toss, they have elected to take the kickoff instead of normally deferring the kick. Falzone was glad his recent strategy worked again.

"We have been getting a jump on teams and that happened here again," said Falzone about his team's fast start against Palisades. "The kids were really focused and anxious to go out and get started early."

However, Palisades, the fourth-seed who knocked off top-seeded and undefeated Pine Grove the previous week, didn't fold and responded with a 12-play, 74-yard drive of its own behind the running of tailback Christian Gretzinger, who rushed for 174 yards in the game and more than 1,500 yards this season. Gretzinger, who runs low to the ground on his 5-foot-8 frame, scored on a 1-yard sneak up the middle that narrowed the gap to 13-7 early in the second quarter.

But the Roughies quickly answered back when Bradley - who threw five touchdowns for 316 yards on the night - hit Stopay on their patent bubble screen for 28 yards. Ra'Von Burton then burst free on a 13-yard run followed by a five-yard scamper. On the next play, Burton appeared to be stopped in a pile of players, but he emerged and raced 24 yards into the end zone for a 20-7 lead.

Palisades again responded behind Gretzinger's running and moved the ball down to the Catty 30-yard line. But Jared Stephen and Rhaine Sziy ended the drive when they combined on a sack of quarterback Nick Sanders on third down.

Palisades' punter Sam O'Brien then boomed a punt that pinned the Roughies down at their own 2-yard line. But Catty appeared to end any possible Palisades comeback when they drove the ball 98 yards to a score, highlighted by Bradley's two passes to Bond, the latter being a deep sideline route that resulted in a 30-yard score and gave the Roughies a commanding 27-7 lead.

After Palisades failed to convert a fourth-down at midfield on its opening possession of the second half, Burton broke free on a 47-yard gallop around the end and the Roughies moved another step closer with a 34-7 advantage. Burton later had a 42-yard run around the end before he hobbled off the field and left the game early in the fourth quarter with a 148 yards rushing on 14 carries.

"As long as I had one leg left, I'm happy for this," joked Burton afterward. "After what happened last year, we were really focused on this game. We couldn't take anything lightly and we had to get this done.

"We wanted to come out and get a jump on them. But we still have some business to do."

Bradley, though, wasn't finished as he made two touchdown tosses look easy, hitting Marshall in stride as his teammate streaked 37 yards for a score. He later hit Marshall at midfield and he outraced a core of Palisades' defenders 32 yards to the end zone.

"We were all really locked in tonight," said Bradley. "We knew we had to give whatever we could out there. This feels great, and we have to keep going from here."

At the start of the fourth quarter and leading 54-21, the Roughies starters began leaving the field to the applause and appreciation of their fans. The players, however, did surround their head coach moments after the game and gave him the traditional Gatorade shower.

"It was great to see everyone supporting us," added Falzone. "Even though the Gatorade was ice cold, it felt good. This is for the town of Catty. Our goals were to win the league, districts, and Thanksgiving Day. We got two of them now, and being in the state playoffs is a bonus for us.

"We'll get ready for states and then Thanksgiving. It will be another busy few weeks ahead."