#WissNation
Upper Dublin Wins Battle of Bethlehem Pike Over Wissahickon, 38-21
By: Michael Pietrangelo | August 24, 2024
Ambler - "The Battle of Bethlehem Pike" is a tradition that dates back to 1983 when the first "rivalry game" was held on Thanksgiving between Upper Dublin and Wissahickon.
2.3 miles separate the two schools so, these kids know each other. Upper Dublin's head coach Bret Stover played in the game, and his Cardinal team won 20-7. Fast forward 41 years later and Coach Stover is in his 22nd season at the helm and delivered another Victory. The Cardinals started the '24 campaign with a 38-21 victory and bragging rights until next season.
Upper Dublin struck first when running back Jordan Fields spun out of a would-be tackler and took the football 44 yards for the score. Matt Miller's PAT made it 7-0 with 6:20 to go in the first quarter.
Wissahickon didn't wait too long to settle the score as quarterback Nolan Pounds found wide receiver Aidan Wescott in the end zone for a 27-yard passing touchdown with 2:34 left in the first quarter. After a Ryan Kim PAT, the score was 7-7 which would also be the score at the end of the quarter as Upper Dublin began to march down the field.
The second quarter got underway with Upper Dublin moving the ball and with 8:26 to go in the half they were stopped by the Wissahickon defense and had to settle for a field goal as senior kicker Matt Miller connected from 20 yards out to increase the lead 10-7. Both Defenses held each other to a series or two then with only 47 seconds left in the half Nolan Pounds found Aidan Wescott in the end zone again for a 25-yard touchdown. Ryan Kim’s PAT made the score 14-10 which is how we would march into the half.
Upper Dublin received the kickoff to start the second half and after only a few minutes found paydirt again, this time quarterback Kevin Etkin found wide receiver Ryan O'Sullivan who was heavily covered but managed to sneak it past the defender. A Matt Miller PAT would make it 17-14 with 8 minutes to go in the third quarter. After a few back-and-forth series senior running back Ronald Sheperd carried the ball across the goal line with:36 left to go. After the Matt Miller PAT, the Cardinal lead was now 24-14 and the quarter would close out with the same score.
For the third time on the night Wissahickon's quarterback Nolan Pounds found wide receiver Aidan Wescott this time from 7-yards out. The Ryan Kim PAT made it 31-21 with 6:28 left to go. Less than a minute later with 5:40 left in the game Upper Dublin’s junior defensive end Benji Ravitz picked a Nolan Pounds pass out of the air and took it back 18 yards for the pick-six. Matt Miller would again connect on his PAT and the lead extended to 38-21.
Wissahickon would again try to find that magic juice but fell short as they were unable to find an open man. Upper Dublin would run out the remainder of the clock and secure their first victory of the new season and also the title of "Kings of Bethlehem Pike" for another season.
About the Author
