Bethlehem Catholic chose to stay aggressive in the closing seconds of its showdown with Nazareth last week, hoping to make one final play rather than settle for overtime.

But with the game tied and the Golden Hawks backed up in their own territory, that decision opened the door for a dramatic finish. Nazareth stripped Becahi quarterback Axel Burkart of the football in the waning seconds, setting up Owen Hall for a second chance at the game-winning kick.

Hall made no mistake the second time around, connecting from 27 yards as time expired to give the Blue Eagles a stunning 52-49 victory Saturday night at BASD Stadium.

The finish came after Becahi had rallied to tie the game at 49 on Carter Vassa’s 16-yard touchdown reception with 2:07 remaining. Hall had missed a 46-yard field-goal attempt with 10 seconds left, seemingly giving the Golden Hawks a chance to take the high-scoring thriller into overtime. Instead, Nazareth’s defense delivered the decisive play.

The loss was particularly painful for Becahi, which fell to 6-2 after surrendering a game-winning score on the final play for the second time this season. The Golden Hawks previously lost to Easton 20-14 on a touchdown pass as time expired.

“We had some busts in our coverages defensively that we have to get right moving forward,” Becahi head coach Joe Bernard said. “Our penalties finally caught up with us. You can’t make those mistakes against a quality opponent and expect a positive outcome.”

Despite the outcome, the Golden Hawks’ offense produced plenty of highlights. Vassa had a spectacular all-around performance, catching nine passes for 244 yards and a touchdown while adding 83 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. Burkart threw for 353 yards and two touchdowns, while Justin Martinez rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries.

Becahi totaled 537 yards of offense, but Nazareth’s opportunistic defense made the difference.

The Blue Eagles (7-1) struck first when Matt Leluga returned an interception 32-yards for a touchdown. Becahi answered almost immediately, with Martinez breaking loose for a 76-yard scoring run just 22 seconds later.

Vassa added a two-yard touchdown run to give the Golden Hawks a 14-7 lead after the opening quarter.

The teams continued trading scores in the second quarter. Nazareth’s Will Bacolo scored on a 4-yard run before Vassa ripped off a 62-yard touchdown run to put Becahi back in front. Burkart added a one-yard rushing touchdown, but Lance Zuercher scored from six-yards out in the final minute of the half to pull Nazareth within 28-21.

Becahi had a chance to add to its lead before halftime, reaching the Nazareth three-yard line. Rather than settle for a field goal, the Golden Hawks went for the touchdown, but Burkart was pressured into an incomplete pass.

That decision left Nazareth within one score at the break, and the Blue Eagles eventually took advantage.

After Armando Thom caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Burkart to extend Becahi’s lead to 35-21 in the third quarter, Nazareth answered with an 89-yard touchdown connection from Cooper Madson to Leluga. Bacolo’s third rushing touchdown of the night brought the Blue Eagles level at 35 heading into the fourth quarter.

Martinez scored from nine-yards out to put Becahi back in front, but Nazareth responded with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Luke DiPietro to Zuercher. Bacolo then found the end zone for the third time on a 14-yard run, giving the Blue Eagles a 49-42 advantage with just over five minutes remaining.

The Golden Hawks refused to go quietly. Burkart found Vassa for a 16-yard touchdown with 2:07 left, and Evan Schultz’s extra point tied the score at 49.

Nazareth’s final possession initially appeared to end the drama when Hall’s long field-goal attempt fell short. But Becahi opted to throw on its next play rather than run out the clock, and Jackson Medlar stripped Burkart from behind. Connor Nowroski recovered the fumble at the Becahi 10-yard line, setting up Hall’s decisive kick.

Madson led the Blue Eagles’ passing attack, completing 24 of 32 attempts for 361 yards and a touchdown. Leluga caught four passes for 160 yards and a score, while DiPietro hauled in 14 receptions for 148 yards. Bacolo powered the ground game with 134 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries.

The Golden Hawks have little time to dwell on the defeat. They host Liberty on Saturday at noon for an opportunity to clinch the City title.

“We will learn from our mistakes and move on,” Bernard said. “I trust my guys will be focused and ready for Liberty this Saturday.”