Avonworth’s valiant effort falls short in OT thriller loss to Northwestern Lehigh

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

Jared Samuel | December 7, 2024

The Avonworth Antelopes came into their state title appearance with a 12-3 record.  If you look more closely, their losses were to 4A powers Aliquippa and Thomas Jefferson and then there was the loss to Beaver on the last week of the regular season.  Then came the playoffs, which saw the Antelopes get big revenge against Beaver and then hold their last 3 opponents to a total of 12 points.  The momentum certainly was strong and building for Avonworth.  Would they be able to continue this roll and snag an elusive title at the Chap?

Avonworth left it all on the field.  Not one drop was left in the tank.  Facing a daunting Northwestern Lehigh offense, the Antelopes did not flinch and traded blow for blow in the first half as there were 5 lead changes.  As the second half unfolded, Avonworth overcame a fumble to storm back after being down 2 touchdowns to tie the game with under 5 minutes left.  In OT, the Antelopes scored first with a field goal but could not stop Northwest Lehigh’s Eli Zimmerman on a 10-yard TD run to end the game as they lost to the Tigers 36-33.  Avonworth Junior WR/RB Luca Neal ran the ball 32 times for 181 yards in a valiant effort that fell just short of victory.

Avonworth got on the board first on an 8-play 68 yard drive when Neal scored on an 18-yard run.  The PAT missed and the Antelopes led 6-0 with 8:54 left in the 1st quarter.  Northwestern Lehigh answered right away on a 9-play 71 yard drive as RB Eli Zimmerman used the wildcat formation to score on a 1-yard run, and the Tigers then led 7-6 with 5:11 left in the 1st period.

It was then Avonworth’s turn as they used a 6-play 59 yard drive that was capped on a highlight reel 31-yard run to paydirt from Neal as the Antelopes took the lead 13-7 with 2:26 still to play in the 1st quarter.  The Tigers responded yet again to take the lead with a 12-play 71 yard drive as QB Shane Leh hit TE Shane Hulmes for a 7-yard score to make it 14-13 with 9:13 left in the 1st half.

The Antelopes went right back down the field on their next drive and scored on a 28-yard field goal that capped a 12-play drive and Avonworth retook the lead 16-14 with 2:44 left in the half.  The Tigers then got a terrific kickoff return to the Avonworth 42 yard line and converted their own field goal, this one from 30-yards out, the retake the lead at halftime at 17-16.

Northwestern Lehigh took the second half kickoff and executed a 11-play 69 yard drive.  Zimmerman scored on a 1-yard run to cap the drive and the Tigers increased their lead at 23-16.  Disaster then struck for the Antelopes on the ensuing drive as Neal fumbled and the Tigers recovered it at the Avonworth 32.  The Tigers only needed 5 plays to get another score, a Hulmes 1-yard run, to increase their lead to 30-16 with 5:47 remaining in the 3rd quarter.  

The 2 teams then exchanged possessions, and Avonworth took over at their own 46.  Neal then electrified the Chap as he ran left and down the sideline for a 54-yard score and the Antelopes drew closer at 30-23 with 1:42 left in the 3rd period.  The Avonworth defense then stood tall and forced a 3-and-out for the Tigers.  On the ensuing possession, the Antelopes used their newfound momentum on a 14-play 57 yard drive that ended on a 1-yard Neal run to glory to tie the score at 30 with 4:32 left in the final quarter.  The Tigers were then able to drive into Avonworth territory but were stopped when DB Billy Onyshko intercepted a pass at the 31.  Avonworth’s drive stalled and they ended up punting the ball away with 8 seconds left, and the Tigers kneeled it out to go to overtime.  Avonworth had the 1st possession in overtime and got a 24-yard field goal to go ahead 33-30.  Unfortunately for the Antelopes, Eli Zimmerman scored on a 10-yard run on the next play to win it for the Tigers 36-33.   

The Antelopes certainly have nothing to be ashamed of with such a valiant effort, and they do have a core group coming back next year so there is certainly hope on the horizon.  Congrats to Avonworth on a terrific season and best of luck going forward into next year!

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