These days, patience is the buzz word around the Catasauqua football program.

With new systems on both sides of the ball, the Roughies will take time to jell as a unit and take some lumps along the way.

The first trace of evidence was a 42-12 defeat at Bangor Aug. 24 to open the season. The Roughies had trouble getting in-sync most of the evening, and they found themselves down 35-6 at halftime.

Overall, Catty had 173 total yards, but they gave up 334.

“We have to look at everything we did,” said first-year head coach Mike McClarin. “We had mistakes and we knew they would likely happen.

“But we are learning a new system. Our kids played hard and they never gave up. It is going to be a process.”

Bangor did most of its damage on the ground, as the Slaters grinded out 274 yards and scored three of their seven touchdowns via their running game.

“They threw a lot of different things at us,” added McClarin. “I thought our kids responded to it. We know we have to make some adjustments, and our kids need to keep working. This will take time.”

The Roughies are running a triple-option offense, and they accumulated 97 yards rushing using five different ball carriers. Riley Reinhard was the team’s leading rusher with 35 yards on six carries and Wilquon Clemons had 24 on eight carries. Reinhard scored on a 27-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Senior Andrew Martinez started at quarterback after he was a receiver and also saw spot duty at quarterback last year due to injury. Martinez completed two of six passes for 76 yards, one a 71-yarder touchdown to Clemons.

“Andrew Martinez did a good job,” said McClarin. “He saw some things and reacted well to them. He is going to get better.”

Defensively, the Roughies will need to plug some holes. They allowed roughly an average of 40 points per game last season, most of the damage was done on the ground. Bangor followed suit in the opener.

McClarin noted the play of senior Brad Panto, who saw action at linebacker.

“Panto battled through some injuries all week, but he came through for us,” said McClarin. “He did a nice job out there.”

Despite the slow start, McClarin and his team remain upbeat.

“The kids now this will take some time,” he said. “They are very positive and anxious to prove themselves.”