KINTNERSVILLE — Palisades’ unbeaten start seemed in jeopardy in the first half of Friday night’s game.

But two big plays for touchdowns in the second half lifted the Pirates past Northern Lehigh, 28-14, and got them to 4-0 on the season.

“All our veterans are a lot of the skill players,” said Pirate head coach Bobby Smith. “We try to get the ball in their hands and when it happens it works.”

Junior Lincoln Cook made his team’s biggest play when he took back the second-half kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to put his team ahead for good, 21-14 just 18 seconds into the third quarter.

It was one of several big plays on the night for the Pirates, who had 10 plays go for 10 yards or more in the win.

“Big plays and missed tackles,” said Northern Lehigh head coach Joe Tout. “They wore us down. I felt good at halftime. I thought we were in a good spot. We pride ourselves on being a team that’s going to have more in the gas tank in the second half. That wasn’t the case tonight.”

After a 14-14 first half, the Pirates held Northern Lehigh scoreless in the second half and forced three-and-outs on the Bulldogs’ first two possessions of the second half.

While the kickoff return was a big momentum play for the Pirates, their next touchdown was a backbreaker.

Backed up in a third-and-long after a personal foul penalty, Palisades senior quarterback Jack Trickel found senior receiver Mason Schultz along the sideline. He raced 46 yards for a touchdown and a 28-14 lead with 5:45 left in the third quarter.

“We hold them and get a third and long; how we let a guy behind us is beyond me,” said Tout.

The Bulldogs (2-2) got in position to answer that score, marching from their own 15-yard line to the Pirate 7 in 13 plays. A Northern Lehigh penalty and a gritty effort from the Palisades defense helped maintain the two-score lead with 6:50 left in the game.

“That was critical not to score there,” Tout said.

The Pirates got the ball back at their own 10-yard line and never returned it, going nearly the length of the field in nine plays while bleeding the clock to seal the win.

Northern Lehigh had the lead twice in the first half.

The Bulldogs got the ball first and went 60 yards in seven plays, capped by Grady Newhard’s 20-yard touchdown run with 8:34 left in the first quarter.

The Pirates answered on their second possession, using a short field after an interception to go 29 yards in five plays. Senior Ashton Fitzgerald (13 carries, 68 yards) scored from four yards out to make it 7-7 with 2:11 left in the first quarter.

Northern Lehigh got the lead back with a 13-play drive that spanned 66 yards. Chris Frame broke free for a 6-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7 with 7:41 left in the first half.

The Pirates answered on their next possession when Trickel found Silas Day with a 27-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with 4:18 left in the second quarter.

“We’ve got to tighten up,” said Tout. “I did not take this team lightly. I think a couple of our guys did. We have some guys that like to walk the walk. We’ll watch the film. We’ve got some guys we’re banking on that we need to make plays, and that didn’t happen tonight.”

AERIAL ASSORTMENT … Five different Pirate receivers caught passes in the game and three of them accumulated over 45 receiving yards each in the contest. Schultz had one catch for 46 yards. Cook led the way with eight receptions for 75 yards. Day, another senior, pulled in two passes for 56 yards.

DOUBLE-THREAT TRICKEL … Pirate senior quarterback Trickel ran for 50 yards on eight carries while completing 14 of 23 passes for 196 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

BULLDOG BITS … Newhard led Northern Lehigh with 61 yards on 11 carries. Quarterback Garrett Smoyer ran for 47 yards on 14 carries while completing eight of 12 passes with one interception. Chris Frame ran for 41 yards on nine carries and caught three passes for 19 yards. Ryan Zambo ran twice for 40 yards and caught four passes for 20 yards.

WHAT’S NEXT? … Palisades will try to stay unscathed when it travels to Pen Argyl next Saturday. The Bulldogs will look to get back on track when they host rival Palmerton next Friday night.

Palisades 28,

Northern Lehigh 14

N. Lehigh 7 7 0 0 - 14

Palisades 7 7 14 0 - 28

NL - Newhard 20 run (Hanna kick)

P - Fitzgerald 4 run (Oglialoro kick)

NL - Frame 6 run (Hanna kick)

P - Day 27 pass from Trickel (Oglialoro kick)

P - Cook 97 kick off return (Oglialoro kick)

P - Schultz 46 pass from Trickel (Oglialoro kick)