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Northwestern Lehigh roars out in second half to devour Trinity and advance to third straight championship

Tagged under: District 11, District 3, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 29, 2025

Unanswered 35 point run to start the second half keys victory for the Tigers and earn a rematch in the 3A championship.

READING- It was a tale of two halves Friday night for the defending state 3A champions from New Tripoli, the Northwestern Lehigh Tigers. The team were looking like they were going through the motions in the first half. Uncharacteristic penalties, missed 4th down opportunities that allowed the District 3 champions Trinity Shamrocks to hang around to forge a 13-13 tie at halftime. The Tigers roared out in the second half and scored 35 points leading to a 48-13 win and advancing to their third straight 3A championship game.

The Tigers (15-0) will face Avonworth Antelopes (15-0) for the second year in a row at Cumberland Valley. Last year Northwestern outlasted Avonworth 36-33 in an overtime thriller. The Tigers have won 31 consecutive games coming into the state final game. That game will be played Saturday December 6th at 1:00 PM. Avonworth defeated Penn Cambria Friday night 31-15. The Antelopes are out of District 7, WPIAL 3A Section 1.

The game started positively for the Tigers at Don Thomas Stadium at Exeter Township high school, as on the opening drive for the Shamrocks, quarterback Mason Boyer fumbled the ball near midfield Shane Hulmes recovered the ball. The drive resulted in a nine yard touchdown run for Braxton Lakatosh, the two-point try came up short leaving the score 6-0 just 2:32 into the contest.

Trinity, came back to tie the score at six on the following drive, that was aided by a couple of big penalties against the Tigers. The drive culminated with a Brandon Harris touchdown run from seven yards, the point-after was blocked leaving the score tied at 6-6.

The Shamrocks then made a defensive stand stopping the Tigers on a fourth down attempt, that lead to a dozen play drive culminating in a 16 yard touchdown pass from Boyer to Maddox Jarzynski for a 13-6 lead with 2:34 left in the first half. Boyer was 11 for 22 passing for 96 yards in the game and the one touchdown with zero picks, but was harassed much of the second half by a tenacious Tiger defense.

It did not take long for Northwestern to respond, as a pass interference call on the Shamrocks et the Tigers up at Trinity’s 23 yard line. The Shane Leh connected with Michael Lagowy in the flat, Lagowy avoided several would-be tacklers for a touchdown tying the score at 13 as the game hit intermission.

Northwestern started with the ball to begin the third quarter at their own 20, and just 5 plays later, Leh found a wide-open Hulmes on a fade route for a 12 yard score. On the drive Lah hooked up with Brady Zimmerman for a 30 yard completion and then Zimmerman had a 13 run on the drive setting up the scoring play.

After forcing a the Shamrocks to punt on their next possession, Leh and the offense waisted little time scoring again on a seven play drive. This time Leh hooked with Lagoowy from 23 yards out, who made a catch over the defensive back of Trinity making the score 27-13 with 4:22 left in the quarter. Leh ended the night by throwing for 196 yards on 12 of 14 passing and 3 scores. Lagowy caught 5 passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns, Zimmerman was on receiving end of 3 completions for 66 yards.

Lakatosh, the took a hand-off round the right side and raced down the sidelines for a 43 yard score making the score 34-13 with 2:57 left still in the third quarter. He finished the night with 155 yards rushing and three scores on 12 touches.

With just over nine minutes left in the contest, Lakatosh scored again, this time down the left side and out-raced the defense for a 38 yard score making it 41-13.

Zimmerman had an eight yard touchdown run to end the scoring with 5:23 left in regulation solidifying his teams trip into the state finals. The Tigers will attempt something never been done by a District XI team–Earning back-to-back state championship titles.

Brandon Harris led the Shamrocks with 108 yards rushing on 24 carries and the one touchdown. Jarzynski was the leading receiver with 4 catches for 41 yards and he had the other score for the District 3 champions, who finished their season at 11-4

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