2024 PIAA Class 3A Title Game Preview: The Northwestern Lehigh Tigers
Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News, pfn
Brian "Hollywood" Ptashinski | December 6, 2024
Avonworth v Northwestern Lehigh
PIAA Class 3A Title Game
Saturday, 1pm
Northwestern Lehigh Tigers
PIAA District 11
Schuylkill Colonial League – Red
Head Coach Josh Snyder
Outlook: After going 15-0 for second consecutive season Northwestern Lehigh looks to capture their first state championship in football.
The Northwestern Lehigh Tigers football team looks to join the school’s boys and girls soccer teams by capping off an unbeaten season Saturday in the PIAA state 3A title game against Avonworth Antelopes at Chapman field at Cumberland Valley high school at 1 p.m. Both soccer teams attained the gold medals earlier this fall by going 28-0.
How did they get to the title game: Northwestern coached by Josh Snyder dominated the Colonial/Schuylkill League and rolled though the District XI and state playoffs to make it to the finals in 2024. Last year their season ended at “The Chap” 38-7 to a strong Belle Vernon team.
Week 1 Northwestern 47 Wilson 0
Week 2 Northwestern 56 Northern Lehigh 7
Week 3 Northwestern 55 Bangor 7
Week 4 Northwestern 50 Blue Mountain 8
Week 5 Northwestern 42 Lehighton 7
Week 6 Northwestern 49 North Schuylkill 7
Week 7 Northwestern 35 Pottsville 0
Week 8 Northwestern 55 Jim THorpe 0
Week 9 Northwestern 51 Tamaqua 0
Week 10 Northwestern 23 Southern Lehigh 17
Week 11 Northwestern 40 Saucon Valley 12
Week 12 Northwestern 56 North Schuylkill 7
Week 13 Northwestern 49 Conwell-Egan 7
Week 14 Northwestern 34 Scranton Prep 0
Week 15 Northwestern 31 Danville 14
Key Players/Keys to winning;
Northwestern is led by RB Eli Zimmerman has amassed 2,557 yards this season, including a school single-game record of 346 yards against Danville. He also has returned six punt returns for touchdowns this season.He also has 24 touchdowns rushing. QB Shane Le a junior has completed 99 of 170 passes for 1,472 yards and 21 touchdowns and has only thrown 4 picks in 2024. His primary target Mason Bollinger also a junior has caught 37 passes for 523 yard and six scores. Landen Matson a senior hauled in 17 receptions for 368 yards and 4 touchdowns,
On defense Eli’s brother Brady Zimmerman leads the team in tackles with 92 with six of those for losses and has 26 solo tackles. Shane Hulmes is second on the team with 80 tackles with 37 solo take-downs and has 12 tackles for losses on the squad.
This season for the Tigers has been dedicated to the memory of number “53” Tucker Wessner, who was just off his sophomore year and was tragically killed in an accident in the off-season. You can see that number everywhere around this squad Jerseys, flags, hats etc.
Starting lineup:
| 2024 Offensive Depth Chart |
| Left Tackle Colton Popp 62 Braidon Berk 74 |
| Left Guard Jackson Bailey 64 |
| Center Jerry Gornicz Nolan Koehler 58 |
| Right Guard Jared Meek 52 Jackson Huber 75 H |
| Right Tackle Boyer Reicha 55 Maddox Hurdle 77 |
| TE Shane Hulmes Josh Warnbold 21 Brendan Miller 80 |
| RB Zimmerman 4 Seth Kern 19 Evan Wagstaff 45 |
| QB Shane Leh 12 Mason Bollinger 10 MT |
| FB Mason Bollinger Brady Zimmerman 8 |
| H Landen Matson 13 Michael Lagowy 11 |
| X Michael Lagowy 11 |
| 2024 Defensive Depth Chart |
| DE Bryer Reichard 55 Jared Meck 52 Bradon Berk 74 |
| NT Jackson Huber 75 Ethan Steigerwalt 50 |
| OLB Mason Bollinger 10 Landen Matson 13 Brady Zimmerman 8 |
| MLB Shane Hulmes Josh Wambold 21 Brendan Miller 80 |
| Stack LB Brady Zimmerman 8 Josh Wambold 21 Brendan Miller 80 Mj Boring 17 Evan Wagstan 45 |
| C Michael Lagowy 11 Seth Kern 19 Mason Bollinger 10 |
| S Eli Zimmerman 4 Shane Leh 12 |
| punter Josh Warnbold 21 |
| kicker Josh Wambold 21 Seth Kern 19 |
Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews
