PIAA Class 4A Title Game Preview: Southern Lehigh

Tagged under: District 11, News, pfn, Playoffs

Cody Brady | December 3, 2025

SOUTHERN LEHIGH vs. TWIN VALLEY

PIAA District 11 – Class AAAA
League: Colonial
Head Coach: Phil Sams

OVERVIEW

Southern Lehigh knocked on the door of the state title game last year, coming up short in the semifinals to Bonner-Prendie. This season, they barreled through that door by holding on against a late Cardinal O’Hara rally. Now, they will face Twin Valley in a battle of two schools making their first-ever title game appearances. Coach Sams will be the first to tell you the season hasn’t all been perfection, but the Spartans have fought through some very tough games against upset-minded opponents like Lehighton, Shamokin, and aforementioned O’Hara.

How they got to the title game:

2025 Southern Lehigh Schedule

Key Players:

RB Sean Steckert – It’s impossible to talk about Southern Lehigh without first mentioning the game that Sean Steckert brings to the table. He is 89 yards from 3,000 yards for the season and has rushed for 41 touchdowns. Averaging over 8 yards per carry, it’s almost a guarantee every time he takes the ball that multiple defenders are required to bring him down.

QB Colton Sams – Only a junior, Colton Sams has completed 72% of his passes this year for 2,543 yards, 34 scores and only five interceptions. He has received excellent protection from his offensive line and is rarely caught in the backfield. Sams is a pass-first kind of quarterback who can survey the field quickly and accurately, getting the ball away to open receivers on time, but also having the discipline to throw the ball away if the play isn’t there.

WR Luke Kawczenski – Kawczenski anchors the receviing corps of this offense along with Darius Roman. Sams spreads the ball around fairly evenly to his top targets, and Kawczenski has amassed 46 catches for 666 yards and seven touchdowns.

WR Darius Roman – Roman and Kawczenski are a 1-A and 1-B punch for the Southern Lehigh passing game. Roman has caught 49 balls for 713 yards and nine scores entering this game and looks to be a threat in primetime.

Look out for:

Jack Pavis – The numbers aren’t gaudy for Pavis, but he’s a force on defense at the safety position and a ball hawk. With four interceptions and 60 tackles to his name, he could make a big difference in a key spot.

Dylan Gretz – Another stalwart on the defense, Gretz has recorded 7.5 sacks and 12.5TFLs, making him a constant threat to any quarterback who thinks they have time in the backfield.

TE/LB Jacoby Jacobs – From his linebacker spot, Jacobs has racked up 93 tackles and two picks. Offensively, when he gets the ball, he makes it count, scoring five times on 22 receptions.

Keys to winning-Offense: 

This almost feels like an oversimplification, but the key on offense is to get the ball in the hands of Sean Steckert and get him a few holes to plow through. The ground game opens the pass game and the Spartans don’t want to find themselves in a spot where Sams has to pass on every down. If they can keep it balanced and work in a few big throws to Roman, Kawczenski and/or Otto Young when the defense is expecting run, Southern Lehigh will be successful. That said, of all the games this week, this one feels like it’d be the most likely to turn into a track meet. If Twin Valley gets going early, Southern needs to match score for score and keep the pace.

Keys to winning-Defense:

Defensively, Southern Lehigh will look to create a turnover or two to keep their stellar offense on the field and Twin Valley’s off of it. The Spartans have recovered five fumbles and picked off 15 passes. A big play from Jacobs, Gretz, or Dariusz Lightner(4 INTs, 12TFL) could be the difference. Southern has given up 16 points per game coming into this title bout, but going up against a team like Twin Valley that averages 51 points per game, the defense needs to be stout early on and not get worn out by the Raiders.

Starting lineup:

Offense:

LT-Carter Giberson

LG-Gabe Bogart

C-Lucas Sutyak

RG-Cody Wesner

RT-Dylan Gretz

TE-Jacoby Jacobs

H-Jake Trembler

WR-Darius Roman

WR-Luke Kawczenski

WR-Otto Young

RB-Sean Steckert

QB-Colton Sams

Defense:

DE-Noah Hoppel

DT-Carter Giberson

DT-Dylan Gretz

DE-Lucas Sutyak

LB-Jacoby Jacobs

LB-Dariuz Lightner

Rover-Adam Fritts

Rover-Sean Steckert

CB-Samad Harriatt

CB-Luke Kawczenski

FS-Jack Pavis

Punt Returner:

Darius Roman

Kick Returners:

Sean Steckert

Luke Kawczenski

Punter:

Darius Roman

X-tra Point/FG Kicker:

Declan Walsh

Kick-Off Kicker:

Vasillis T.

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