If there's one thing that Bethlehem Catholic hopes they can take into this week's PIAA 3A first round playoff game, it's experience of being there.

The Golden Hawks (11-1) open play Friday night at J. Birney Crum Stadium against District 2 champion Crestwood at 7pm.

It'll be a similar test of uncertainty playing against the Comets (12-0), who defeated Berwick 35-19 last week to move on.

Berwick, of course, is the same school that defeated the Hawks last season in the first round of the PIAA playoffs by a 29-27 margin.

Head coach Joe Henrich knows his group will face some challenges this week dealing with a big and physical front line from the Comets.

"They're a very physical team and they run a single-wing offense that you don't see anymore," Henrich said. "They're going to try and physically beat you up. They just come at you with bodies all the time. We're going to have to be disciplined this week."

The Comets have a propensity for scoring, as they've eclipsed the 50-point total six times this season, including a 71-13 win over Wyoming Area in week five.

They average 388 yards rushing a game and have scored 81 touchdowns this season. Their lead back is senior Frank Aigeldinger, who has rushed for 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns heading into this contest. Senior quarterback Jay Popson also is in the mix, as he's accumulated 850 yards and 18 TD's. this season.

Popson has actually ran for more yards than he's thrown (750) this season, attempting only 62 passes this year.

"They pull a lot and try to gain bodies on either side of the line of scrimmage," Henrich said. "They try to out-number and mosh you. We can beat them, but we have to match their physicality, secure the football and be disciplined and not make any stupid mistakes like we did last year against Berwick."

Henrich knows he can't mimic the size of Crestwood in practice this week, nor can he compare it to any other opponent this season, since the Comets are certainly the biggest team up front the Hawks will play.

But he's banking on the experience from last year's loss at JBC to hopefully be a catalyst.

"It's very similar to what we faced last year against Berwick," he said. "They want to run the ball like Berwick, but I think we're a little bit stronger and more physical than we were last year. I think it's going to be a heck of a football game."