The Emmaus football team has little time to sulk as it prepares for a its next encounter of the 2018 campaign against a rugged Bethlehem Catholic squad that is 6-2 overall and 4-2 in league play.

Coach Joe Henrich’s Golden Hawks are playing clutch football down the stretch. Last week they were tied 7-7 at half against Easton. The Golden Hawks dominated play in the second half and scored the last 21 points to win going away 28-7, their third straight win.

The team boasts an awesome running combination, along with competent offensive and defensive line play. Perhaps the most impressive trait about the Golden Hawks are that they value the football. Through eight games they’ve offered up only four picks and have lost just two fumbles.

Quarterback Zamar Brake directs Bethlehem Catholic’s offense with consistency. He threw two interceptions against Easton, but has thrown only two others all season, compared to 10 touchdown passes while accumulating 1,185 yards.

Bethlehem Catholic has two quality running backs in Tavion Banks and Zaheer Seabrooks. Banks is averaging 5.6 yards per carry and is coming off one of his better games of the season, when he gained 140 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns against Easton. He’s also scored 13 touchdowns this season. Seabrooks has been virtually unstoppable this season, averaging 8.5 yards and gaining 800 yards in just 94 carries. He breached the Red Rover defense for 159 yards on 15 runs and one touchdown for a 10.6 yards per rush average.

The Golden Hawk passing attack cannot be taken for granted. Matt Stianche (17.4 yards per catch) is the leading catcher. He’ll have support from Nathan Palanica and newer threat Joseph Peacock.

Defensively, the Golden Hawks are good tacklers and deceptive in their coverages. They were dominant against Easton, holding the Red Rovers to an anemic 27 yards on 16 carries in the rushing department. Paul Carreras and Brandon Lysick led that way last week and Emmaus (7-1) will need to put a hat on them and take good blocking angles to slow them down.

Kick off is set for 7 p.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.