HELLERTOWN — Northwestern wanted to get off to a quick start on offense. Defensively, the Tigers wanted contain Saucon Valley’s explosive running back.

They did both in a 49-28 win that knocked the Panthers from the ranks of the unbeaten and put a damper on their Homecoming.

“One of our points of emphasis this week was to get out to a fast start,” said Northwestern head coach Josh Snyder. “We felt like if we could get ahead and maintain a lead, we could get them uncomfortable offensively.

“I think our defense played outstanding against (Saucon Valley running back Ian) Csicsek. “We just bottled him up.”

The Tigers went to their passing game early as Justin Rodda caught the first of his three touchdown passes from quarterback Deven Bollinger on the third play of the game.

“He’s a really fast kid and he can take the top off of defenses,” Bollinger said of Rodda. “First drive of the game we took the top off the safety and from there it opened up a lot of things.”

Saucon Valley answered when fullback Christian Alling broke loose for a 75-yard run, but that would be one of just three runs over 20 yards Northwestern allowed in the game.

“We put a special Panther defense in where we went cover zero,” said Snyder. “We put an extra guy in the box and we said we don’t want them to big-play us.”

Northwestern responded with two touchdowns sandwiched between a Panthers’ three-and-out. Bollinger hit Rodda for their second score and then connected with Derek Holmes on a 19-yard pass with 5:26 left in the first half.

Csicsek, who had 311 yards against Wilson last week and came with 1,511 yards on the season, finally got going on Saucon Valley’s next possession. The senior carried six times on a seven-play drive that spanned 64 yards and ended with a one-yard Csicsek score.

Northwestern, which scored on all but one possession in the first half, got the ball back with 2:49 left in the half and went 71 yards in 11 plays, capped by Bollinger’s third touchdown pass to Rodda for a 28-14 lead with eight seconds left in the second quarter.

“I give credit to the line,” said Bollinger. “We had enough time against their great line. Everything is the offensive line. We had enough time to get the ball to the receivers and a lot of kids caught the ball tonight. It’s just a great overall win.”

The junior signal caller got great protection, and he played a nearly flawless game, completing 12 of 17 passes for 194 yards and five touchdowns, which ties his own school record for touchdowns in a game. He didn’t throw an interceptions and ran the ball 18 times for 116 yards.

“Deven’s been really locked in the last three weeks,” said Snyder. “He’s been laser focused.”

The Panthers opened the second half with a touchdown drive capped by a 13-yard Csicsek run. But the Tigers answered with the next two scores.

Bollinger ran for an eight-yard touchdown set up by Nick Henry’s 47-yard. Then, on his team’s next possession, he threw his fifth TD pass, a five-yard strike to tight end Derek Holmes for a 42-21 lead with 3:33 left in the third quarter.

Saucon Valley capped it’s scoring with Justin Kyra’s 26-yard touchdown reception with less than two minutes left in the game. The Tigers responded with a 47-yard Henry touchdown run with 1:07 left.

While Csicsek piled up 142 yards, he only got behind Northwestern’s defense once in the game and only visited pay dirt twice.

“I think we did really good stopping him and stopping the rest of their offense,” said Rodda. “We worked together as a unit and gang tackled.”

HAMMERIN’ HENRY ... Northwestern’s Henry ran for 156 yards on 18 carries as the Tigers had 298 rushing yards in the game.

PICK YOUR POISON ... The Tigers two-dimensional offense was on full display, with 40 rushing plays and 17 passes. The Tigers had success running the ball inside and outside and their passing game was effective underneath and over the top.