Grady Newhard knows what a difference a football season can make.

Last season, Newhard, then a junior, watched his team lose three of its final five games, and then the Bulldogs lost to Pen Argyl in the opening round of the district playoffs.

This season, the Bulldogs (7-3) have won their last four games and five of their last six, as they head into the District 11 Class 2A playoffs with plenty of impetus, hosting Palisades (7-3) in a season rematch Saturday at 6 p.m.

Northern Lehigh has handled its last four opponents, outscoring them, 132-40.

Newhard, the team’s leading rusher with 615 yards and 10 touchdowns, and his teammates are looking forward to the matchup.

“The end of the season ended as good as we could’ve hoped,” said Newhard. “We won our last four games of the season, setting us up with some good momentum. Our coaches always talk about peaking at the right time, and I believe we are doing that.

“We are a little banged up, but the guys that have had to replace the injuries have stepped up in a big way.”

On Sept. 12, the Bulldogs dropped a 28-14 decision to the Pirates, who broke a 14-all tie with a 96-yard kickoff return and a 46-yard scoring strike.

Bulldogs’ head coach Joe Tout again realizes there will be little room for error this time around.

“It was a very close game tied at halftime,” reflected Tout. “From our perspective, we played a poor second half giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown.

“Palisades also did a great job of converting on three third-and-longs. We also failed to convert on a first-and-goal from the 5-yard line in the second half, so again we feel like this is a very close match up, and the team that makes less mistakes will win the game.”

Along with Newhard, quarterback Garrett Smoyer has thrown for 1,420 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions, and Colin Karetsky leads an effective receiving corps with 33 catches for 522 yards and seven touchdowns. Ryan Zambo also has 29 grabs for 286 yards with four scores

Palisades, which has won its last two and three of its last four, is led by quarterback Jack Trickel, who has thrown for 1,919 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. Lincoln Cook has been his prime target with 65 catches for 1,054 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Max Woerner has rushed for 471 yards with six scores.

Newhard is confident the Bulldogs can reverse the trend from their last meeting, and believes the home crowd will certainly help.

“Palisades is a good team, and they were more physical than us,” said Newhard. “We made a few key mistakes the first time that really changed the outcome of that game. The momentum went their way, and we couldn’t get it back. It is great to have the home-field crowd behind us this Saturday.

Tout likes his team’s recent development, but is also well aware of the outcomes of any mistakes. He anticipates the familiar surroundings will help their cause.

“I couldn’t be happier with our progress,” he said. “We feel like the last three weeks have been the best three games that we’ve played this season, so we are looking for that to carry over into Saturday night.

“We were not sure if we would get another home game and we told our seniors last week if we won, we had an opportunity so again we love playing at our home field, and we feel like that is always a big advantage for us.

“We have been watching the film from the first game and are trying to pick up on the things we did wrong the first time so we do not make the same mistakes come Saturday. It’s win or go home.”