The 2021 Emmaus football program is on the cusp of creating glorious lifetime memories this Friday night.

The Green Hornets are one win away from claiming the school’s first-ever District 11 title. Standing in their way is Freedom, who defeated Emmaus in this same game three years ago for their first and only district championship.

In the season’s second game the Hornets beat Freedom 13-6 and the Emmaus defense was the difference. It was the first evidence this year’s defensive squad would be a real good one for head coach Harold Fairclough. If the Hornets can contain the Freedom rushing attack this Friday night, they have a good chance to win the district championship.

That won’t be easy. The Patriots bludgeoned Northampton into submission 21-9 in their District 11 Class 6A semifinal, thanks to the running of quarterback Brian Taylor and running backs Jalen Fletcher and Kyle Johnson.

Taylor gained 143 yards on 13 carries, although nearly half of it came on one run - a 64-yard touchdown. Even without the long run, Taylor averaged 6.5 yards per carry.

Fletcher and Johnson each gained 65 yards on 11 and nine carries, respectively, for 273 yards on 33 carries and three touchdowns total. All the more impressive was that Fletcher is a backup to starting tailback Deante Crawford, who was out due to injury. Crawford has carried the ball 217 times for 1,397 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. He is expected to play in the championship game.

More than stats, the Patriots ability to run the ball in the fourth quarter won the semifinal game. The Konkrete Kids had closed to 14-9 and appeared to have momentum. But the Patriots ran at, and through, the Northampton defense time and again. When Fletcher scored on a 5-yard touchdown late in the fourth, Northampton was all but finished.

Any solid running attack starts up front, and the Freedom offensive line controlled the scrimmage line in the game’s later stages. The Patriot passing attack is typically used as a menace for the rushing attack. Taylor was not good against Northampton, tossing three interceptions. But overall the Patriot passing game can be effective.

The Freedom defense had a fine year. In their 10 regular season contests and two postseason games, only twice have the Patriots given up 21 points. Unlike the Nazareth and Parkland playoff games, the Hornets may not be able survive another bad first half in this one.

The District 11 championship is scheduled for Friday night at Whitehall High School. Kickoff is 7 p.m.