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Southern Lehigh advances to their first-ever state semifinal by defeating Juniata in a 4A playoff.

Tagged under: District 11, District 6, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 24, 2024

Behind a 38-point first half barrage Southern Lehigh cruises past Juniata in a PIAA 4A quarterfinal contest.

SHAMOKIN- Because of an early season snowstorm wreaked havoc with the scheduling of the PIAA state playoffs on Friday, the game between Southern Lehigh Spartns and the Juniata Indians was pushed back to Saturday after at Kemp Memorial Stadium. That delay didn’t seem to bother the Spartans as the rolled up a comfortable 38-0 by halftime en route to a 45-7 thrashing of the Indians before a moderate crowd to advance to their first-ever trip to the semifinal round.

It was a complete victory on both sides of the ball as the Spartans out-gained the Indians 398-181, including 234 via the ground attack, which was led by running back Sean Steckert, who had 219 yards on 22 carries and four touchdowns. Quarterback Colton Sams threw for 162 yards on 11-of-17 passing and three scoring passes on the afternoon.

The Spartan defense forced a turnover on the Indians opening drive near midfield. Southern Lehigh then capped off the drive with a 15 yard touchdown pass to Sams to Luke Kawczenski to make it 6-0 exactly one minute into the game.

Southern Lehigh would then make it a 12-0 game, when Steckert cashed in from three yards out at the 6:01 mark of the opening quarter. That drive began with another Juniata turnover. That scored remained heading into the second twelve minute period.

The second quarter looked promising for the Indians as they methodically moved the ball deep into the Spartans territory. With the ball sitting on the five yard line, Javier Lopez was pushing his way to the goal line, when linebacker Dariuz Lightner stripped the ball away and the Spartans recovered inside their own one. A seven play drive ensued that Steckert finished off with a 15 yard run making a 19-0 with 9:01 left.

On the next Southern Lehigh possession, Kawczenski outworked the Juniata defensive back on the right side of the end zone for an eleven yard score to make it 25-0 with still 5:41 still remaining. Kawczenski caught 3 passes for 71 yards and the two scores.

After forcing another Juniata turnover, Steckert just needed one play, on a toss to the left side, out-raced the defense for a 41 yard score increasing the led to 31-0 at the 2:46 mark. Juniata was only giving up 34 points in the playoffs.

The Spartans were not yet finished as with just 21 seconds left before halftime Bryan Tobin caught a well-placed one yard fade route from Sams to make it 38-0 going into the locker room.

“I know we forced a lot of turnover in last couple of games, how many? I am not sure of, but the defense is playing outstanding and the offense is taking advantage of those turnovers.” Coach Phil Sams said of his teams’ effort Saturday.

With a running clock throughout the second half, Steckert would get his last score of the game from four yards out late in the third quarter as Sams began to use substitutes in the final quarter.

Juniata would avoid the shutout with a 58 yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Ehrenzzeller to Connor Boreman with 8:10 left in the game closing out the scoring. Juniata finishes their season at 9-4 coming off a huge win over Shamoking last week.

Southern Lehigh (12-2) will now face District 12 champions Bonner-Prendergast Friars (10-2) at a site and time TBA. The Friars defeated Pope John Paul II 35-7.

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