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Bonner-Prendergast Brings Home First-Ever State Title

Tagged under: District 12, District 3, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| December 6, 2024

In a battle of two first-timers to the state title game, it was Bonner-Prendie that was able to capitalize on four turnovers, turning a once neck-and-neck affair into a 40-14 blowout over Lampeter-Strasburg.

A week after tearing it up against Southern Lehigh, Bonner got it going on defense early. Mick Johnson stopped Dom Brown for no gain on a 3rd and 2, forcing the early punt. Offensively, the Friars had early success getting to the edge. Noel Campbell had a very successful scramble up the middle for 14 yards, as well, moving the ball near the red zone. From there, he connected along the outside with Jeremiah Coleman on a 4th & 9 to extend the drive. From there, it was three straight doses of Mick Johnson until he scored from a yard out on third down.

It didn’t get any easier for Lampeter. Khallil Holley got in the backfield, registering a sack on Caileb Howse for a short loss. On the next play, Howse’s pass bounced off the helmet of Emory Fluhr into the arms of Brett Johnson. After a personal foul moved the ball down to the Lampeter-Strasburg 28, Saalem Frink cut up the middle for gains of 8 and 17. He then took it in from a yard out to push the Friars; lead to 14-0 with 2:37 remaining in the first quarter.

Two losses on back to back plays squelched the next Pioneers drive. Mick Johnson got Dom Brown for a short loss and then Howse was clobbered in the backfield for a loss of 17. Peter Fiorello’s punt would sai 63 yards and be downed on the Friars 1-yard line.

After finally getting Bonner to go three and out, the Pioneers took over in plus territory at the 30. Two plays later, Caileb Howse hooked up with Dom Brown on a wheel route for the touchdown, cutting the deficit to 14-7. The defense stood tall on the ensuing drive, again forcing a quick punt and giving the Pioneers offense good field position at its own 46. Howse, on a designed draw play up the middle, broke off 21 yards to the Bonner 33. Brown completed the drive with a 6-yard touchdown, going around the left side and in. Midway through the second quarter, the score was now tied at 14 all.

Danny Wichler had a key pass breakup, batting down a ball on third down, forcing a third consecutive kick from the Friars. The Pioneers quickly moved 15 yards from their own 25 to the 40, but things began to unwind from there. Cole Morano and Collin Murray met at the quarterback, sacking Howse for a loss of five. Howse’s next throw went to Jeremiah Coleman, setting up Bonner-Prendie near midfield. Noel Campbell Jr. then completed his longest pass of the night, a 41-yard catch and run to Jalil Hall. Hall found himself wide open and nearly cruised into the end zone. Johnson cleaned things up on the next play, scoring from four yards out and putting the Friars back on top 21-14 with 31 seconds left in the half.

Rather than go into the locker room down seven, the high-octane hurry-up offense went back to work for the Pioneers. For the third time in the half, though, Howse misfired and Jeremiah Coleman took this one the distance, 75 yards to pay dirt with no time left on the clock.

The nightmare scenario had arrived for Lampeter-Strasburg. Bonner-Prendergast had scored twice in the final 31 seconds of the first half and would now receive the opening kickoff in the third quarter. Campbell promptly hit Coleman for a gain of 30 on a ball down the far sideline, marching the Friars to the Pioneers 35. Fortunately for Lampeter, they were able to hold on a 4th & 7 call. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to climb back into the game with their next possession, going three and out.

Bonner-Prendergast then engineered a nine play drive with stellar plays from the usual stars. Mick Johnson gained 14 on one his toughest runs of the evening, refusing to be brought down. Campbell on a designed keeper broke off 14 more yards and a personal foul moved the ball into Lampeter territory at the 43. Two plays later, Johnson bounced off one and then escaped the ankle tackle of another Pioneer, moving 25 yards to the 4-yard line. Two plays later, he ballooned the Friars lead to 34-14 with just under four minutes left in the third.

The Pioneers gained just two yards on their next drive, but things were finally looking up when Saalem Frink fumbled crossing into Lampeter territory. However, on the next play, Lampeter-Strasburg coughed it up to Jeremiah Coleman who took it further into Lampeter territory at the 32. Johnson put the finishing touches on the game when he scored from six yards out to make the score 40-14.

Mick Johnson ended his night with 111 yards on 24 carries, scoring four times. The Friars scored on all five trips into the red zone and converted two of their three fourth downs.

“It feels unreal. There’s a lot of people rooting for us,” said Mick of the title victory, “I know coach Jack wanted this for a long time and I’m just happy that we are the team to give him it.”

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