The Cement Bowl Trophy is headed back to the east side of the Lehigh River as Northampton scored 34 second-half points, including 27 in the final quarter, to down Whitehall 41-10 last Friday at Zephyr Stadium.

While the final score was lopsided, the Zephyrs led for a good chunk of the first half including 10-7 at halftime.

Cole Richards started the scoring by knocking through a 35-yard field goal to cap the opening drive of the game to give Whitehall an early 3-0 lead.

The K-Kids claimed their first lead of the game when Gavin Taff found Tymir Williams open on a deep post for a 29-yard connection early in the second quarter.

Tanner Dogmanits capped off an 11-play 70-yard drive with a 6-yard keeper with 1:48 left in the first half to give the Zephyrs the lead they took into the intermission.

The K-Kids took the opening possession of the second half and scored 5 plays later when Taff hit Cameron Hersch near the Northampton sideline and Hersch was able to turn up field and scamper into the end zone for a 38-yard catch and run TD.

Whitehall had a chance to reclaim the lead on the very next drive, facing a crucial 4th and 1 from the Kids’ 35. Senior captain Gavin Grell knifed through the line and made the tackle in the backfield to turn back the threat. Grell described the play, “I saw the tackle go down. I’m thinking to myself, ‘This is the time to make a play.’ It was kind of like slow motion for me. I just read my assignment and made the play.”

Still, the game was only 14-10 as the third quarter expired.

With the game still in the balance, the K-Kids leaned on the legs of QB Taff. He ran 6 times for 63 yards on an 11-play 89-yard drive that culminated in his taking the ball in from 10 yards out for the score.

The final nail in the coffin came courtesy of the Northampton defense. With Whitehall driving deep into K-Kids’ territory down 21-10, Devlin Chevere caused a fumble that Zander Rickert recovered and took 90 yards to the house.

Chevere, playing with a cast after breaking his thumb in Northampton’s season-opening win over Pennsbury, explained what happened on the big play, “I just came in and set the edge. I put my shoulder right on his thighs and tried to make the tackle and ended up forcing the fumble. Zander scooped it up and took it 90 yards. It was a great play by him.”

Taff reflected on bouncing back from last year’s 45-44 loss in the regular season finale to the Zephyrs, “It feels so great. That overtime loss last year, the whole team was regretting it. We used that energy tonight and put it all out onto field. It feels good to hoist that trophy again.”

NHS 0 – 7 – 7 – 27 – 41

WHS 3 – 7 – 0 – 0 – 10

Rushing – N: Taff 13-70 1 TD, Billy Stuhledreher 18-67, Spencer 2-44 1 TD, Williams 1-23, Hess 2-10 1 TD, Stanchock 2-2 W: Tanner Dogmanits 16-93 1 TD, Bird 10-19, Herrera 4-17, Schmeckenbecher 2-11, Troxell 4-4, Blanco 4-3

Passing – N: Taff 8-11-0 129 2 TD, W: Tanner Dogmanits 16-26-0 172

Receiving – N: Hersch 5-65 1 TD, Williams 4-54 1 TD, Dylan Stuhldreher 1-6, Billy Stuhldreher 1-4, W: Talon Dogmanits 9-71, Warnken 4-64, Bird 2-16, Schmeckenbecher 2-5, Brigidi 1-16