2023 Class 2A Title Game Preview: Southern Columbia

Tagged under: District 4, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

Dave Fegley | December 7, 2023

Southern Columbia Tigers

PIAA: Class 2A

District: 4

League: PHAC

Head Coach: Jim Roth (40th season)

Overview: Southern Columbia is playing in a state-record 22nd PIAA Championship game. The Tigers are looking to extend their all-time best title total to 14 which would include a seventh consecutive state championship. Southern’s streak of six in a row entering is the most in PIAA history. There are seven teams making a return trip to the state championship from last year. However, the SCA vs Westinghouse game that will be played at 1:00 on Friday afternoon is the only 2023 PIAA Championship that is a rematch from last year.

How They Got Here: Southern Columbia went 9-1 in the regular season, which included an undefeated slate in PHAC Division 2, with the starters only giving up one rushing touchdown in total. In the past seven games since the Tigers lone loss, the defense has allowed a total of just seven points in the first half of games combined. The offense has rushed for 4,563 yards on the year.

The Tigers beat North Penn-Mansfield in their playoff opener in Mercy Rule fashion. Then, Southern had to try and avenge a regular season loss to Mount Carmel Area. The Tigers got revenge, beating the Red Tornadoes 43-0, to advance to the District 4 Class 2A final. In the final, Southern shut out Troy to win a record 31st District 4 Championship.

In the state quarterfinals Southern beat Bald Eagle Area, a team ranked 3rd in PFN’s Class 2A rankings, and followed it up last week with a lopsided win over Dunmore. In the last two state playoff games, Southern didn’t allow any points throughout the first three quarters in either contest. They are looking to have one final showing that makes it a long day for the other team’s offense.

2023 SCHEDULE:

KEY PLAYERS: 

DT/K/P Isaac Carter: From stuffing the run and sacking the quarterback, to kicking and punting, along with everything in between, Carter’s role will again be vital against the Bulldogs. The part of his game that seems to get overlooked the most is his ability to pin teams deep on punts to shift field position.

LT/RT Dylan Stine & John Quinton: Southern Columbia’s least experienced squad coming into the season was their offensive line. With Westinghouse having experienced pass rushers, it will be important for Stine and Quinton to control them off the edges as the tackles.

ATH Louden Murphy: The Tiger senior has emerged as the squad’s most explosive weapon. Murphy has scored every way possible and has tallied more than 30 TDs on the year. Will he come up with the defining play in this year’s state final like now Maryland freshman Braeden Wisloski did in the last two for SCA?

ILB’s Garrett Garcia & Dominic Fetterolf: These two have been the leading tacklers for the Tigers and have accounted for more combined tackles than any other duo in the program’s history. Garcia also leads the offense withh nearly 1,700 rushing yards. Defense wins championships, and these two control the middle for defensive coordinator Andy Mills.

HB Carter Madden: The senior suffered a broken bone in his foot during the preseason. Last year, he was a starting linebacker and a rotational back on offense. This year with his recovery, the coaching staff wanted to keep him fresh going one-way. He earns every yard that he gets on offense. On a third down play, he could be called upon to move the sticks.

OFFENSIVE KEYS TO WINNING: Take care of the football. In their lone loss this season, the Tigers turned the ball over five times. Other times throughout the season, penalties have stalled drives. As long as SCA can limit mistakes, they should be able to score points on most of their drives. Senior QB Blake Wise has thrown for 1,187 yards and 10 touchdowns. None of those TD tosses have come in the previous four weeks, but if given the opportunity there may be a play at Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Stadium on Friday afternoon that could result in a throwing score and momentum for the Tiger fans to cheer on the black and gold.

DEFENSIVE KEYS TO WINNING: Don’t give up the big play. Southern is expecting to see more of an offensive attack like they saw against Bald Eagle Area. The Bald Eagles primarily threw the football. Last week against Dunmore, and in the district title win over Troy, the Tigers had to stop power running schemes. The defense has proven to be more than capable of stopping anything that the opposition calls. Look no further than someone like senior Colden Bloom who gets in the mindset of shutting down the opponent the second that he awakes each Friday when he makes his weekly trip to Elysburg’s Sheetz.

Starting Lineup:

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews