HELLERTOWN — Northern Lehigh didn’t flinch.

Amid turnovers, momentum swings and a playoff-like atmosphere, the Bulldogs steadied themselves and delivered in every phase when it mattered most.

Junior quarterback Garrett Smoyer threw for 165 yards and a touchdown, ran for another score, and the Northern Lehigh defense came up with several critical stands to hold off Saucon Valley 21-13 on Friday night.

The victory capped the regular season at 7-3 for the Bulldogs, who have won four straight and five of their last six heading into the District 11 Class 2A playoffs.

“This felt like a playoff atmosphere tonight,” said Northern Lehigh head coach Joe Tout. “We talked all week about wanting to win all three phases — offense, defense and special teams. I thought we did that. Playing with the lead was huge, and when we needed stops, we got them.”

Smoyer said the Bulldogs wanted to close the regular season strong and keep building confidence heading into November. “I think it was a big night going into the playoffs,” he said. “We needed to build some momentum, so this is a big win for us. They’ve beaten us several times over the years — they’re a good team — and this gives us confidence.”

The teams traded turnovers early before Smoyer put Northern Lehigh on the board late in the first quarter. After a punt set the visitors up in good field position, the Bulldogs marched 49 yards, and Smoyer punched it in from a yard out. Anthony Hanna’s extra point made it 7-0 with 52 seconds left in the opening frame. Saucon answered less than a minute later when Braden Rohn sprinted 49 yards to tie the game, but Northern Lehigh regrouped and controlled the tempo from there.

A bizarre play midway through the second quarter — when Rohn fumbled after colliding with an official — set the tone for the Bulldogs’ next scoring drive. Northern Lehigh churned out a 40-yard march that drained more than four minutes, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from Grady Newhard to make it 14-7 with 23 seconds left before halftime. That possession featured a clutch fourth-down completion from Smoyer to Colin Karetsky and two other third-down conversions.

“We knew we’d have to throw to set up the run this week,” Tout said. “They were loading up to stop the run, and I thought Garrett really responded. He didn’t flinch. Even after an interception early, he came right back and led us.”

Smoyer said the team has rallied to fill the void left by injured junior playmaker Chris Frame. “Especially with one of our best players down, a lot of other guys have stepped up — including me,” he said. “It’s about taking what’s there, those little dink-and-dunk plays that add up to the big one down the field.”

Saucon Valley (5-5) opened the second half with a 13-play, 70-yard drive that ended with another Rohn touchdown — a 16-yard run — but a missed extra point kept Northern Lehigh ahead 14-13. The Bulldogs’ defense did the rest. Saucon forced two turnovers in the third quarter, but each time Northern Lehigh’s defense stiffened — stopping the Panthers on downs and then forcing a punt early in the fourth.

After a series of stalled drives on both sides, Northern Lehigh’s defensive line took over. Lineman Bill Slattery spearheaded a pivotal sequence, recording a sack and crashing into the backfield to setup another sack that buried Saucon at its own 2-yard line and flipped field position. The likes of Slattery, Bryce Nance, Dawson Newhard and Chase Gall dominated down the stretch.

“Our D-line is a bunch of studs,” said Karetsky. “It made our job in the secondary easy today. They got pressure almost every time. Those guys were incredible. Our defense played as a group today, and that’s what we really needed — and we got it.”

Moments later, the Bulldogs capitalized. Smoyer hit Karetsky down the sideline for 15 yards on second-and-12, then connected again on a 30-yard strike for the game-sealing touchdown with 4:35 left. Hanna’s PAT pushed the lead to 21-13. Saucon’s final drive ended with an interception by Paul Porbenski, and the Bulldogs closed the game by grinding out three first downs to run out the clock.

Smoyer finished 18-for-26 passing for 165 yards while adding 46 yards on the ground. Karetsky caught 10 passes for 118 yards and the decisive touchdown. “Garrett and Colin have really developed that trust,” Tout said. “They’ve gotten that confidence where they’re saying, ‘Coach, throw it to me.’ You love to see that.”

Karetsky said Smoyer’s composure and the team’s offensive chemistry have been key. “Garrett’s been playing great,” he said. “He’s making the right reads, and our coaches have been putting us in the best spots to make plays. Those long drives come from everyone doing their job.”

Northern Lehigh totaled 279 yards of offense — 165 passing and 114 rushing — behind a balanced effort. “I think we’re peaking right now,” Tout said. “We’ve had adversity, but our kids have really bought in. We feel good about where we are heading into the playoffs, and tonight showed what we can do when we play complete football.”

With confidence, balance and belief, Northern Lehigh will enter the postseason looking every bit like a team built for November.

The win also secured a home playoff game for the Bulldogs next week.

RECORD NIGHT … Rohn led the Panthers with 51 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while throwing for 100 yards on 14-of-23 passing. Freshman receiver Thomas Cahill caught seven passes for 62 yards, setting both the District 11 freshman record for receptions in a season — previously held by Jahan Dotson — and Saucon’s single-season school record with a 17-yard grab before halftime. The Panthers (5-5) will advance to the District 11 Class 3A playoffs.

Northern Lehigh 21,

Saucon Valley 13

No. Lehigh 7 7 0 7 - 21

Saucon Vy. 7 0 6 0 - 13

NL - Smoyer 1 run (Hanna kick)

SV - B. Rohn 49 run (Sanders kick)

NL - G. Newhard 1 run (Hanna kick)

SV - B. Rohn 16 run (kick failed)

NL - Karetsky 30 pass from Smoyer (Hanna kick)