Bethlehem Catholic head football coach Kyle Haas had those unexplainable, uneasy feelings about his team’s chances against Emmaus.

Something just wasn’t right.

The result was a 42-12 loss to the Hornets last Friday.

“I thought we might have been a little too confident about being 3-1,” he reflected. “We came out thinking that could carry us.

“It was like we weren’t ready to play. They are really good, and we came out flat. We also need to work on our special teams as we have had trouble making an extra point. We didn’t have the same kind of focusing we had against Nazareth and Liberty.

“Our offense does need to pick up its pace. Our defense didn’t play like it had the past few weeks.”

Jacob Sutton rushed for 75 yards and Rahmel Terry added 51 for the Golden Hawks. Quarterback Luke Thomas struggled, completing seven of 20 passes for 36 yards with three interceptions.

Thomas has been hobbled with a foot injury since the Nazareth game three weeks ago.

“He has a gimpy foot, and it has limited his mobility,” added Haas. “We want him to be a pocket passer. It is just a matter of making him comfortable.”

The Golden Hawks (3-2) will host unbeaten Northampton (5-0) Saturday afternoon in a rare, 3 p.m. kickoff.

Northampton enters the contest off a 35-0 victory over East Stroudsburg South, many thought a close game that would decide the East Penn Conference (EPC) North title. This will be the first EPC South meeting for Northampton this year.

Haas saw their latest victory as a deflated one.

“East Stroudsburg South isn’t as good as they were last year,” said Haas. “This will be a good football game. Northampton has a great junior class, and I know many of them well. It will be a matter of how we can match up.

“They will run the ball, and we have to be disciplined. They can get a great push on either side of the ball. It will be about getting some kind of rhythm for us.”

NOTES AND PREDICTION: Haas faced his former club in the season opener last year, and the Golden Hawks suffered a 17-14 defeat ... Northampton’s defense has been dominant, allowing 18 points and pitching two shutouts ... Eric Wert, Beca’s leading receiver, didn’t have a catch last week ... Haas believes if his team can capture this game and the following two games against struggling Easton and Parkland. That would put the Hawks at 6-2 with Freedom and Allentown Central Catholic ahead. But Haas wants his team to take a “1-0” mentality the rest of the way if they win ... Northampton could still have a contender for EPC North title, as Pleasant Valley began the weekend 5-0 ... This is a true character test for the Hawks. They need to have a big bounce back after some stellar showings. Hawks will need to stop Northampton’s Caden Henritzy, who ran for 141 last week. Emmaus’ Tylik Harvis has 130 on the ground against the Hawks ... This should go down to the end, but will have trouble maintaining their flight ... Thomas’ performance will be the key, along with Beca’s running game ... Haas owes me another cheesesteak and some pierogies ... NORTHAMPTON, 35-24.