Over the years, the Catasauqua-Northampton Thanksgiving Day matchup has had its share of close games and blowouts for both teams. Currently, Northampton has dominated the series with 11 consecutive victories, winning 58-14 last year.

However, through all of the 101 contests, there has only been one overtime game, and it was won by Northampton, 18-12, in 2001. And there was some more significance behind it.

Konkrete Kids’ sophomore quarterback Billy Haydt scored on a one-yard sneak to give Northampton an 18-12 win before the usual overflow crowd of about 6,000 at Northampton’s Al Erdosy Field.

If you were there, it was a classic.

Haydt’s score came on his only snap of the game at quarterback. He replaced senior Colin Burger, who carried nine yards around left end to get the ball to the 1 on Northampton’s first and only overtime possession.

Catty, under head coach Ed Csencsits, took a 6-0 lead in a tight game into halftime when Jordy Miller hit Ryan Gemmel with the duo’s first of two touchdown passes. Northampton turned the ball over four times in the opening half, but Catasauqua couldn’t capitalize.

Northampton rallied to tie the game when Jon Oplinger turned a fumbled snap on a punt into a 26-yard run for a touchdown two minutes into the second half. Less than two minutes later, Oplinger scored again, breaking loose on a 40-yard touchdown scramble.

Catasauqua rallied to tie the game when Miller hit Gemmel for their second combined score in the fourth quarter.

The Rough Riders, who kept Northampton’s size advantage off its game with a multiple-look passing attack that registered 34 attempts, drove down to Northampton’s 33-yard line in the extra period with the winning score seemingly within their sights.

But Northampton’s Nick Milkovits intercepted a Miller pass to end Catty’s overtime possession.

Northampton outgained Catasauqua, 125-82 on the ground, while Catasauqua won the air battle over Northampton, 176-43. Catasauqua had the first down advantage, 14-8, and Northampton had four turnovers to Catasauqua’s one.

Despite the drama of the overtime game, it wasn’t a banner year for either team. Both teams ended their seasons with identical 2-10 records.

The following season, Catasauqua has an eight-game turnaround with a 10-3 record, while Northampton struggled again with a 2-10 mark.