PEN ARGYL - Consider it another challenge met.

Staring at a two-score deficit entering the final quarter for the second time in three weeks, Northern Lehigh needed to respond.

The Bulldogs answered emphatically, scoring on the first play of the fourth quarter en route to a 26-14 win over Pen Argyl on Saturday.

“It feels great,” said Bulldogs’ sophomore quarterback Garrett Smoyer. “It’s a team effort to score 26 points in that last quarter. It was good.”

Smoyer hit Chris Frame on a deep pass down the sideline for a 74-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, with Anthony Hanna adding the extra point to make it 14-7.

Frame struck again on the third play of Pen Argyl’s ensuing possession, picking up a fumble and racing 43 yards for a score to cut the Bulldogs’ (2-1) deficit to 14-13 with 10:04 to play in the fourth.

“I’m not sure who forced it, but definitely a good job on them,” Frame said with a smile. “And it just flew right into my hands.”

The momentum stayed with Northern Lehigh. The Bulldogs forced a three-and-out on the next Green Knights (1-2) possession, and capped a 60-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Smoyer to senior Zane Roth to give the Bulldogs their first lead at 19-14 with 3:13 to play.

The drive also included a first down run with a relentless second effort by Grady Newhard on third-and-two from the NL 48-yard line, and a 22-yard scamper by Ryan Zambo on an inside reverse.

On the play before Smoyer found Roth open in the end zone, Isaac Raber converted a clutch fourth-and-one with a one-yard surge.

A 27-yard interception return for a score by junior Kaden Quinones on the third play of Pen Argyl’s next possession sealed the win. Colin Karetsky had a pick on the Green Knights’ final offensive play.

“I was happy for Zane Roth offensively to get that last touchdown and then Kaden Quinones to have that interception,” said Bulldogs’ head coach Joe Tout. “Those are good kids that stuck with us in our program. I’m glad that in a big game, they came up big for us.”

The Green Knights got the ball to start the second half and possessed the ball for nearly five minutes before Raber forced a fumble and Noah Herring recovered at the Pen Argyl 45-yard line.

But four plays later, Rocco DeCesare recovered a fumble on a fourth-and-three from the 37 to give the ball back to the Green Knights.

“Usually you’re typically looking at that when you don’t feel you’re playing real well in the first half, you get that turnover. That’s exactly what you want,” said Tout. “It didn’t pan out. Credit to our guys; they didn’t put their heads down. They just plugged away. And finally, stuff started to break our way.”

After forcing a punt on the ensuing Pen Argyl possession, it didn’t take long for Tout’s team to breakthrough, with Smoyer and Frame connecting for the touchdown on the third play of the drive.

“I saw it was there,” said Smoyer. “They kept biting in on our runs, and it opened up the pass game. I saw him (Frame) put his hand up, and it was wide open. It helped us get momentum back.”

“Yeah, we’ve been playing for like over 10 years, I’d say, with each other. So our chemistry is definitely down pat,” added Frame. “And I mean, if I’m open, he’s definitely going to get it on me because of our chemistry.”

COMEBACK KIDS ... Northern Lehigh also faced a 14-0 deficit Week 1 against Lehighton, and rallied for a 15-14 victory.

SPLASH PLAYS ... Smoyer, making his first start of the season after dealing with an injury, finished 5-of-10 passing for 123 yards and two scores. Frame had two grabs for 100 yards and a touchdown. The passing plays were impressive in a game played during a driving rainstorm. “Everybody talks about rain, and you can’t throw in the rain,” said Tout. “It’s tougher for the defense, because the offensive guy knows where he’s going. The defensive guy’s got to cut off of that. So a lot of times, it benefits you when you’re throwing into rain, especially bad field (conditions). And this field held up. It’s a good surface. But usually, you typically think, ‘Oh, you can’t throw.’ A lot of times, it benefits you to throw.” Frame also had 43 yards rushing on 11 carries.

KNIGHT TIME ... Caiden Faust scored with 5:22 left in the second quarter to give Pen Argyl a 6-0 lead, and Mason Soos had a 15-yard touchdown run later in the quarter to push the Green Knights’ lead to 14-0. Faust carried 23 times for 74 yards, and Soos added 16 carries for 57 yards. Soos also passed for 53 yards.

Northern Lehigh 26,

Pen Argyl 14

Northern Lehigh 0 0 0 26 - 26

Pen Argyl 0 14 0 0 - 14

Scoring summary

PA - Faust 8 run (conversion failed)

PA - Soos 15 run (Soos run)

NL - Frame 74 pass from Smoyer (Hanna kick)

NL - Frame 43 fumble return (pass failed)

NL - Roth 16 pass from Smoyer (run failed)

NL - Quinones 27 interception return (Hanna kick)