With a few flips and flops of the football in their favor, Catasauqua easily could have a 3-0 record as they begin the fourth week of the season Friday night.

But, then again, that can be the difference between an established team and one seeking to become one.

Instead, the Roughies will take their 1-2 overall record down to Hellertown to meet high-powered Saucon Valley, which continues to seek control of the Colonial League. With the crucial win over league contender Southern Lehigh last week, Saucon Valley kept its mark unblemished with a 3-0 record.

Catty coach Phil Dorn, though, can take some positives into the matchup after a 36-20 defeat to Palisades last week.

The Roughies stayed within striking distance of the Pirates all night long and pulled to within 29-20 and appeared to be gaining momentum.

But two costly fumbles deep in Palisades' territory - one at the Palisades' one-yard line proved to be the difference in the end. After Catty closed to within 29-20, Palisades responded with a definitive 16-play, 72-yard drive that accumulated over 10 minutes and gave the Pirates a 16-point cushion with just over a minute left in the game.

"We wanted to move more up tempo in the second half and we are having success with it," said Dorn. "We got the ball down to the one and then we ended up fumbling. We have been putting the ball down on the ground too much and we have to change that.

"We have been right there with teams, but we have to eliminate our turnovers. That has been the difference for us. The effort was there for us again, and we battled and fought up front."

Dorn continues to be impressed with the play of both starting quarterbacks Cristian Burker and Brandon Keks, whose combination as the team's signal caller has been effective. Against Palisades, Burker completed 9 of 17 passes for 206 yards with a touchdown and also scrambled for 21 yards, while Keks was 4 for 8 for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Jake Kober caught 7 passes for 143 yards with a pair of touchdowns, and Ricky Houser hauled in four passes for 114 yards.

"Both quarterbacks continue to play well," said Dorn. "Cristian (Burker) did a great job getting the ball down field and he also ran well. Brandon (Keks) also was very effective when he was in there. We'll look at both of them in practice and probably take both of them into the game this week.

"Jake Kober had an outstanding game on offense and he was all over the field on defense again for us. Ricky (Houser) also continues to get it done for us every week."

Dorn also has been impacted by the play of his offensive line. Since the preseason, the Roughies have lost four linemen to injuries and another to a transfer out of the school system. He noted that a freshman and little-used reserve saw playing time against Palisades last week.

"It is a real credit to these kids playing up front," stressed Dorn. "When you lose that may lineman four weeks into the season, it can be tough. But we're not making excuses. It's part of the game and it gives the other kids the opportunity to play. It really has been a next-man-up attitude for us."

That philosophy will be needed when the Roughies meet Saucon Valley this weekend.

Quarterback Zach Thatcher has been a two-way threat for the Panthers as he's thrown for an average of 123 yards and has ran for more than 70 yards per contest.

Running back Evan Culver has run for more than 120 yards a game and tight end/defensive end Mike Kane is regarded as one of the best at his position in the area. Devon Fontanez has been the Panthers' leading tackler.

Saucon Valley did win a 39-36 shootout over Salisbury in their opener and then came back and humbled Northern Lehigh, 35-6.

"They (Saucon Valley) went right at Southern Lehigh and had two touchdowns taken off the board due to penalties," noted Dorn. "They have an explosive offense with a quick tailback and a quarterback who is a double threat. They can come at you in a number of ways."

Despite a mismatch on paper, Dorn believes his team will be in the hunt, as they have been within striking distance in both defeats.

"We'll just go at it," said Dorn in preparation for the game. "This will be a huge challenge for us, but we have to go out and execute. We want to be at the top of the league. We're really close. We'll go out there and battle like we always do and we have to continue to execute.

"If we continue to get a stronger effort and do the right things, we'll be all right."