The Emmaus football program puts out the welcome mat this week for Bethlehem Catholic this Friday night.

The Golden Hawks (2-3, 2-3 EPC) have battled the Hornets in some competitive football games over the last few years. Becahi coach Kyle Haas is in his first year as the Hawk football coach after serving in 2016 as the program’s interim coach. His troops are coming off a 28-21 win over Liberty last Friday night at BASD Stadium.

Offensively, quarterback Jared Richardson will be at the controls for the Golden Hawks. He’s coming off a fine performance against the Hurricanes when he hit 19-of-27 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. The senior does a good job reading defenses and has athletic talent, making him a viable threat. He’s thrown for nearly 3,000 yards in the Becahi career with 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. This year he’s also gained 224 yards on 37 carries as a runner, scoring four touchdowns. Junior Zyaire Morris lines up with Richardson in the backfield. The running back averages about four yards per carry.

Junior Jaiden Ellis-Lahey has emerged this season as a top Hawk receiver. Catching three passes in limited action last year, Ellis-Lahey has already grabbed 29 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns. He’s coming off the best game of his career against Liberty, catching 10 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. The second of those two touchdown passes proved to be the game-winner.

Tied at 21-21 in the fourth period, Ellis-Lahey caught a 43-yard strike from Richardson and took it to the house. Eric Wert and Jamel Clements also have good hands.

The offensive line features seniors Justin Kanyuk and Aydan Kirby. Kanyuk is the real deal and is committed to the University of North Carolina. Juniors Mekhi George, Eli Thompson and Mark Mulhern also see time in the Becahi forward wall.

Bethlehem Catholic’s defense can be moved and scored on. Whitehall dropped 49 points and Nazareth racked up 42 on the Hawks this season, although against lesser opponents Becahi proved capable.

The strength of the Hawk defense is probably in the linebacker corps Seniors Ethan Shelton, Kyle Melson and Tyriek Rivera and juniors Zyaire Clements and Izzy Ramos-Dobbins have been known to strike people. The defensive line features Mulhern, Thompson and George and is developing. The secondary includes senior Luis Cordero and juniors Eric Wert, Rahmel Terry, Luke Thomas and Clements.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at EPSD Stadium.