In a commanding display of football, Southern Lehigh triumphed over Blue Mountain with a score of 55-14 in the District 11 Class 4A semifinal held on Thursday. The Spartans, showcasing their offensive prowess and tenacious defense, are now headed to the district final.
Prior to the game, quarterback Sean Steckert and his teammates emphasized the need for a significant play at the outset. Although the initial kickoff did not go as planned, everything following that moment was in Southern Lehigh”s favor. Steckert opened the scoring with a remarkable 90-yard touchdown run, marking the first of his four touchdowns on the night.
Quarterback Colton Sams contributed further by throwing three touchdown passes, while the Southern Lehigh defense stifled Blue Mountain”s offense, allowing only 17 yards on the Eagles” first 13 plays. “That”s what got us the victory,” Steckert remarked, referring to the team”s energy and momentum. “We buried them right away.”
With this win, Southern Lehigh improved their record to 11-1 and will face Bethlehem Catholic (8-4) in the district final, set to take place at Catasauqua”s Alumni Field. This matchup will be a rematch of last year”s final, which Southern Lehigh won.
Steckert”s performance was stellar, as he rushed for 261 yards on just 13 carries. Sams completed five of his eight passes for 162 yards, with touchdown passes to Luke Kawczenski and Otto Young. The Spartans consistently kept the Eagles” defense guessing throughout the game. Blue Mountain”s head coach, Chuck Kutz, acknowledged the challenges they faced, stating, “They beat us in all facets of the game.” He noted the Spartans” balanced approach, which made it difficult for their defense to contain them.
Southern Lehigh executed their game plan efficiently, needing only nine plays to score three touchdowns on their initial three possessions. Steckert”s 90-yard scamper came just 21 seconds into the game. After a Blue Mountain three-and-out, Southern Lehigh quickly drove 75 yards for their second score, a 24-yard touchdown pass from Sams to Kawczenski. Following another three-and-out by Blue Mountain, the Spartans extended their lead to 21-0 with a 53-yard touchdown pass from Sams to Young.
The Eagles managed to find the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run by Carter Smith, capping off a 12-play, 66-yard drive. However, Southern Lehigh responded with another touchdown, this time a 3-yard run by Steckert, just before halftime, bringing the score to 35-7.
After halftime, Southern Lehigh”s defense continued to dominate, exemplified by an interception by Adam Fritts, which led to another touchdown by Steckert on a 39-yard run. The Spartans capped off the game with a 43-yard touchdown pass from Sams to Kawczenski, before Declan Walsh scored on a 20-yard run for the second-team offense in the fourth quarter.
Throughout the game, Southern Lehigh”s defense was relentless, effectively stopping Blue Mountain”s run game and limiting their passing opportunities. The Eagles struggled, converting just one of ten third downs. Dariuz Lightner showcased his defensive skills with four tackles for loss, while Jacoby Jacobs led the first half with seven tackles. “That”s an excellent football team,” said Southern Lehigh coach Phil Sams regarding Blue Mountain. “They are well coached every year. It was really impressive to do what we did tonight.”
With this victory, Southern Lehigh demonstrated their readiness for the upcoming championship match, signaling their intent to defend their title.
