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Northwestern Lehigh heading back to Cumberland Valley for some unfinished business.

Tagged under: District 11, District 4, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 30, 2024

Eli Zimmerman sets new rushing records and ties the school school record for touchdowns in a hard-fought battle with Danville Friday night.

BERWICK- Since walking off the field last December at Cumberland Valley on the short end of a 38-7 defeat at the hands of Belle Vernon. The goal of the Northwestern Lehigh Tigers was to get back to PIAA 3A championship game and earn redemption. The mission to make it to the championship game is complete.

On a frigid night at historic Crispin field in Berwick, The Tigers took care of business by defeating an undefeated Danville Ironmen squad, the District 4 champions by a score of 31-14 and will face District 7 champion Avonworth (12-3) at Chapman field on Saturday, December 7th at 1 p.m. Avonworth knocked off Penn Cambria 16-6 Friday.

The football team will go for the trifecta for gold medals as both, the girls and boys soccer teams won a state championship earlier in the season.

The Tigers took the opening kickoff and Eli Zimmerman, who rushed for a single-game school record of 346 yards, returned it to the Northwestern 36 yard line, then proceeded to go on a 64 yard in seven plays capped off by a 17 yard quarterback sweep by Shane Leh down the right sideline to give the District XI champions a 7-0 lead with just 2:35 taken off the clock. The entire drive was via the ground game.

Danville was forced to punt on their first drive and got a favorable bounce on a short punt that should have went for 17 yards ended up being a 42 yard punt pinning Northwest at their own 3. Zimmerman who carried the ball 34 times on the night, took a hand half on a sweep right, then cut-back against the over pursuing Ironmen defense and cut back left finding nothing but open green turf a cruised in for a 95 yard score with 6:46 left in the opening quarter and a Seth Kern PAT made it a 14-0 game.

Danville cut the lead to 14-7 late in the quarter when quarterback Madden Patrick hooked up with Cole Duffy for a 43 yard touchdown pass. Duffy was able to outmaneuver Michael Lagoway to make a great catch a long the sidelines and find his way into the end zone with just a minute left in the quarter.

The Tigers again drove deep into Danville territory on their next possession, but a couple of holding calls and a bad snap near the goal line forced a 34 yard field goal attempts by Kern that went wide right.

The game was delayed for a while due to an injury to Danville’s two-way star Chase Miller with about nine minutes left in the half and had to be taken off the field by stretcher.

Kern connected on a 20 yard field goal for Northwestern on the last play of the first half to make it a 17-7 going into intermission

“When you have high expectations coming into the season, it’s tough to make it back to the championship game the second time around.” Coach Josh Snyder stated. “I’d be lying if I told you sincerely think it was the mission of this team to get back there again this year.” He concluded.

Danville received the second half kickoff and mounted an impressive drive, but Zimmerman playing in the defensive backfield, intercepted a Patrick pass and sped down the sidelines for a 79 yard pick six on a third down play for the Ironmen the score 24-7 with 9:50 remaining in the third quarter.

Zimmerman surpassed Brett Snyder’s single-season yardage record with 2,557 yards and tied Dalton Clymer’s single season touchdown record with 35 after his two scores Friday night.

Danville had their chances as the drove inside the Northwestern five yard line, but one drive was stopped on a fourth and goal quarterback keeper by Patrick came up a yard short of the end zone. The second time was when there was a mix-up on a hand-off in the backfield and was recovered by the Tigers.

Running back Bo Sheptock became the first player at Danville to top the 2,000 yard mark on the season.

Kern, not only place-kicked but also had a two yard touchdown run of his own in the fourth quarter to make it 31-7 with 4:35 remaining.

Another Patrick to Duffy touchdown on a 29 yard pass closed out the scoring making the final 31-14 with just 2:16 left in the contest.

The Tigers out-gained the Ironmen on the ground 416-145. Quarterback Shane Leh was 5-of-7 passing for 41 yards on the night.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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