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Hittin’ The Road with Travelin’ Matt – State Finals (The Final Chapter)

Tagged under: District 10, District 11, District 12, District 3, District 4, District 6, District 7, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| December 1, 2025

Each week Travelin’ Matt traverses Pennsylvania attending the hottest high school football games and best matchups in the Commonwealth.  Follow his exploits each week as he documents his journey from Week Zero to the Pennsylvania State Football Finals!

 

Thursday, December 4

1A #1 Clairton (14-1) vs. #2 Bishop Guilfoyle (13-2)

4A #1 Twin Valley (14-0) vs. #2 Southern Lehigh (14-1)

 

Friday, December 5

2A #1 Southern Columbia (14-1) vs. #2 Farrell (13-2)

5A #1 Roman Catholic (11-3) vs. #2 Bishop McDevitt (12-2)

 

Saturday, December 6

3A #1 Avonworth (14-0) vs. #2 Northwestern Lehigh (15-0)

6A #1 LaSalle (12-1) vs. #2 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (13-1)

 

ROUNDTRIP – 166 MILES

 

16 action-packed weeks of Pennsylvania High School Football have taken me across the Commonwealth to 53 games this season while driving more than 5400 miles to chase my passion.  From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and everywhere in between (and even New Jersey for six games) I’ve seen the best our state has to offer in football teams, players and coaches.  What a thrill it’s been to have you along for the ride from the warm late summer games through the cold early winter contests.

The 2025 season came to a close with 6 State Championship matchups held at Cumberland Valley High School over three days.  For more than a decade, myself and a group of high school friends have met every year at the State Football Finals and we make a mini-vacation of it attending all of the games while also enjoying each others’ company with plenty of meals and beverages at local restaurants in between.  While Hershey was home for so many years Cumberland Valley has proven to be a more than capable host over the past several seasons.

Going into the title games I had already viewed livve 7 of the 12 teams competing during the regular season and many of the finals faceoffs were compelling with excellent storylines.  Two first-time champions were crowned this year (3A Avonworth and 4A Southern Lehigh).  We also had some traditional powers capture state titles again in Clairton and Southern Columbia.

Here’s a brief recap and highlights from each game…

 

1A Clairton dominates Bishop Guilfoyle 35-3

For the third time in State Finals history District 7 Clairton faced off with District 6 Bishop Guilfoyle.  In their previous two meetings, BG had defeated the Bears but this time around Clairton left no question which team was taking home the trophy.  Clairton head coach Wayne Wade secured the 5th Stat

 

 

 

 

 

2A Southern Columbia rolls Farrell 43-22

For the 15th time District 4 Southern Columbia raised the trophy at the State Finals adding another piece of hardware to their already-stuffed prize chest.  The Tigers capped another stellar championship season with a perfect performance on both sides of the ball.  Southern Columbia piled up 352 yards rushing on the day fueled by a three-touchdown performance by Grady Garcia and two more tallies by Brayden Andrews.  On defense, the Tigers stymied District 10 Farrell all day holding the Steelers to negative 28 yards rushing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3A Avonworth gets first title in 31-7 victory over Northwestern Lehigh

In a rematch of the 2024 3A State Title game District 7 Avonworth enacted their revenge on District 11 Northwestern Lehigh with a 31-7 win to take home the golden trophy.  The Lopes found success through the air on this day as quarterback Carson Bellinger tallied 249 passing yards with Jaden Jones hauling in 187 of that total including one tally.  A steady ground attack for Avonworth was paced by running back Luca Neal who accounted for 118 yards and three touchdowns.  Avonworth finished the season a perfect 15-0 marking the only state title team to post an unblemished record.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4A Southern Lehigh wins title with 43-21 win over Twin Valley

In a battle of unbeatens, District 11 Southern Lehigh garnered their first-ever State title with a convincing 43-21 victory over District 3 Twin Valley.  The Spartans rode their show horse Sean Steckert all night as the senior running back carried 37 times for 300 yards and four touchdowns to pace the state champs.  Southern Lehigh quarterback Colton Sams was super-efficient going 13 for 17 and 146 yard passing with two touchdowns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5A Roman Catholic raises trophy with 28-6 win vs. Bishop McDevitt

In another rematch of a 2024 State Final, District 12 Roman Catholic upended District 3 Bishop McDevitt 28-6 to win their first state title.  Roman Catholic forced four turnovers against McDevitt on the day to set the tone on a game that saw senior quarterback Semaj Beals go 18 for 25 and 232 yards with three touchdown passing and a rushing touchdown.  The Roman Catholic passing attack featured Temple-bound Eyan Stead who hauled in nine passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

 

 

 

 

 

6A LaSalle College proves too much for Pittsburgh Central Catholic in 34-20 victory

District 12 LaSalle College picked up its second State Title with a 34-20 win against District 7 Pittsburgh Central Catholic.  The Explorers five-star do-everything wide receiver/defensive back Joey O’Brien was the story on this night as the Notre-Dame bound athlete hauled in 10 catches for 99 yards and on defense intercepted three passes including one he returned 95 yards for a tally to seal the game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a year it’s been and thank you for following my travels all season!  Follow along next year as Travelin’ Matt takes you on another PA High School Football journey!

 

 

2025 SEASON RECAP – 5431 TOTAL MILES (53 GAMES)

 

Week 0

North Allegheny 28 – Woodland Hills 26

LaSalle College 23 – Pittsburgh Central Catholic 6

McKeesport 51 – Delaware Valley 24

Westinghouse 22 – Steel Valley 12

Elizabeth Forward 28 – West Mifflin 14

 

Week 1

Northern Highlands 27 – Holy Spirit 12

Ocean City 32 – Oakcrest 0

Bergen Catholic 22 – East St. Louis 21

IMG Academy 35 – Winslow Township 14

Abraham Lincoln 43 – Germantown Academy 34

LaSalle College 42 – Malvern Prep 35

 

Week 2

Pocono Mountain East 45 – Scranton 0

 

Week 3

Jim Thorpe 35 – Tamaqua 27

Shamokin 43 – Jersey Shore 42 (2OT)

Easton 35 – Bethlehem Catholic 9

 

Week 4

Schuylkill Haven 48 – Minersville 38

Parkland 42 – Nazareth 6

North Pocono 24 – Abington Heights 10

Bethlehem Catholic 28 – Allentown Central Catholic 24

 

Week 5

Chester 78 – Chichester 7

Lansdale Catholic 20 – West Catholic 14

 

Week 6

Vaux Big Picture 18 – Kenisngton 12

Southern Columbia 21 – Mifflinburg 14

LaSalle 31 – St. Joe’s Prep 20

 

Week 7

North Schuylkill 42 – Blue Mountain 21

Berwick 63 – Williamsport 19

 

Week 8

Parkland 53 – Whitehall 7

Susquehannna Townwhip 24 – Trinity 14

Harrisburg 27 – Central Dauphin 0

 

Week 9

Marian Catholic 41 – Nativity 14

Northwestern Lehigh 36 vs. Southern Lehigh 28

Bethlehem-Liberty 42 – Bethlehem-Freedom 14

 

Week 10

Downingtown West 20 – Spring-Ford 16

Dunmore 27 – Riverside 7

LaSallle 24 – St. Joe’s Prep 14

Minersville 35 – Pen Argyl 27

 

Week 11

Southern Lehigh 55 – Blue Mountain 14

Shamokin 37 – Jersey Shore 0

 

Week 12

Southern Lehigh 49 – Bethlehem Catholic 28

Southern Columbia 42 – Troy 0

Aliquippa 21 – McKeesport 12

Richland 14 – Bishop McCort 7

 

Week 13

Southern Lehigh 30 – Shamokin 27

 

Week 14

SCFCA Schuylkill County All-Star Game (South 50 – North 0)

Twin Valley 28 – Aliquippa 24

Bishop McDevitt 31 – Peters Township 28

Pittsburgh Central Catholic 32 – Harrisburg 14

 

Week 15

Clairton 35 – Bishop Guilfoyle 3

Southern Lehigh 43 – Twin Valley 21

Southern Columbia 43 – Farrell 22

Roman Catholic 28 – Bishop McDevitt 6

Avonworth 31 – Northwestern Lehigh 7

LaSalle College 34 – Pittsburgh Central Catholic 20

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