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District 12 champion continues their mastery over District XI, as La Salle devours Easton.

Tagged under: District 11, District 12, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 22, 2025

La Salle college Explorers picks up where St. Joe’s Prep left off and ends Easton’s 13 game win streak and advances to PIAA state semifinals in convincing fashion.

BETHLEHEM- Not since 2015, has a District X champion knocked off a District 12 titleist that year Parkland took down the Explorers 16-13 in overtime that propelled the Trojans to make it the state title game, where the eventually lost to Pittsburgh Central Catholic in Hershey in the 4A championship.

Since then, La Salle never made it back to the state playoffs as St. Joe’s Prep ran off eight straight victories against teams from Lehigh Valley, including Parkland, Freedom and Nazareth most recently. The only competitive game was Freedom who dropped a 24-21 decision in 2021.

Friday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium the undefeated Easton Red Rovers took their shot end the drought and make it to the 6A semifinals, but the trend continues as a 28 point second quarter outburst by the Explorers ended any hope for the Rovers as La Salle advances to face North Penn next week by a count of 49-7.

The game started off promising for the Red Rovers, after taking the opening kickoff at their own 16, Easton was able to drive the into Explorer territory, as quarterback Cole Ordway orchestrated a mix of run and pass plays that kept La Salle off balance and using up over half the quarter. The drive did stall and Easton punted the ball and put the Philadelphia Catholic League team backed up deep in their own end of the field, but a 43 yard pass play from Missouri-commit Gavin Sidwar to Owen Johnson moved them up to near midfield. Easton tighten up on defense and stopped a fourth-down attempt. The first quarter ended in a 0-0 tie,

In the second quarter that is where things changed, a 19 yard touchdown pass from Sidwar to Johnson made it 7-0 with 7:50 left in the quarter on a fourth-and-six call as Johnson eluded several tackles on his way to the end zone.

Then just nine seconds later on the ensuing kickoff, the Easton returner would cough up the ball and JP Oates of La Salle scooped up the loose ball and returned it 15 yards making the score 14-0, that seemed to have taken the wind out of the Red Rover sails.

“We did come out like we should have, Sidwar said after the game, We didn’t match their intensity in that opening quarter.” He concluded

Running back Ahzir Nelson scored from five yards out at the 3:26 mark of the quarter making it 21-0 followed by a 30 yard touchdown pass from Sidwar to Oates on a quick hitch to the sidelines were Oates was covered one-on-one and out maneuvered the defender on his way to scoring with 1:24 left till halftime and a 28-0 lead.

La Salle received the second half kickoff and only took them just over two minutes to score again as Desmond Ortiz scored the first of his two scores from a yard out making it 35-0.

Easton managed to get on the scoreboard with a 50 yard touchdown pass from Ordway to Sean McPeek with 8:46 left in the third quarter making it 35-7. Ortiz the scored his second touchdown making it 42-7 with under a minute left in the quarter.

With much of the backups in for the Explorers, Jarae Dial scampered in from 20 yards closing out the scoring with 5:30 left in the contest.

Even with the loss, Easton’s season is not over as a Thanksgiving Day game with rival Phillipsburg (NJ) will take place at Fisher Stadium on the campus of Lafayette University at 10:30 AM. The Stateliners dropped a 41-20 decision Friday night to Ramapo in the New Jersey North Division Group 4 state semifinals.

Next up for the 11-1 Explorers next week against 12-2 North Penn Knights, who defeated Pennridge Friday Knight 21-14 to advance to PIAA State 6A semifinals at a site and time TBA.

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