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Southern Lehigh Scores 28 Unanswered in Stunning Victory Over Pottsville

Tagged under: District 11, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 8, 2024

Southern Lehigh was down and out in this game, trailing 34-13 with :47 to play in the first half. That all changed when Sean Steckert bounced off a would-be tackler on his way to a 46-yard touchdown with nine seconds left, cutting the deficit to 34-20. He’d have even more stellar plays down the stretch as the Spartans marched back.

Early on, it was all Pottsville. Fresh off defeating Allentown Central Catholic on the road, the Crimson Tide were no stranger to being the road team. Juleon “Juju” Bainbridge was the first half weapon of choice. On the first drive alone, he ran six times for 65 yards and a touchdown. One of those runs was a 31-yard scamper down the far sideline right after Darius Roman had brought down Andrew Allen in the backfield. Bainbridge scored his first of four touchdowns on a 14-yard carry untouched up the middle. The extra point was missed, but Pottsville led 6-0 with 7:38 left in the first quarter.

The Spartans responded quickly. Andrew Olesh took it on the first play from scrimmage and made a great cut to his right for a gain of 16. Sean Steckert’s first carry went for 22, as he shook off multiple tacklers to advance into Pottsville territory. Colton Sams hit Luke Kawczenski deep over the middle for 25 and Steckert finished the drive with the 1-yard touchdown plunge. With 5:35 left in the opening quarter, the Spartans had a 7-6 lead.

The Tide turned their next possession into points. Tsirell Curry, who missed last week due to a targeting call in week 10, came up with a 20-yard catch over the right side, which moved the ball over midfield. Pottsville was aided by a personal foul and then a defensive pass interference, moving the ball inside the red zone. Andrew Allen called his own number from seven yards out, going over the left side and getting in for the score.

Trailing 13-7 and facing a 4th & 3 at their own 33, Spartans head coach Phil Sams elected to go for it. The ball was coughed up and Jacob Filiac recovered, allowing the Crimson Tide to take over on Southern Lehigh’s 32. Bainbridge turned a little pass in the flat into a 26 yard gainer and then scored from a yard out on the next play, extending the Pottsville lead to 20-7 with just over 11 minutes to play in the half.

The Spartans countered by engineering a 10 play, 66-yard drive. Sams and Kawczenski connected on a deep corner route that they had missed on twice before. This pickup was good for 26 yards and setup Steckert for a 10-yard touchdown rush. Steckert impressed all night, showing his ability to make quick cuts and find holes, avoiding contact again and again.

However, Pottsville scored the next two touchdowns of the game. Juju Bainbridge would finish the half rushing 25 times for 171 yards and four scores. His third touchdown was a 15-yard escape up the middle and dive into the end zone. On the ensuing Spartans drive, Avery Maroukis and Logan Kessler recorded sacks of Sams. Andrew Olesh also took a heavy hit from DE Maxwell Clews, knocking him out of the game. These forced a punt from deep in Southern Lehigh territory and gave Pottsville its second best starting field position of the night, near midfield. A Spartans personal foul moved the ball closer and Bainbridge scored from five yards out to make the margin 34-13.

Despite the demoralizing spot they found themselves in, the Spartans were determined to get back in the game. A roughing the passer call moved the ball from their own 26 to the 41 with under a minute to play in the half. Sams would then find Steckert for the 46-yard touchdown that started to swing the momentum pendulum in the other direction, as Steckert bounced off a defender and completed the scoring play.

Steckert remarked on the play, “We knew we had to get a score before the half. Whenever you take that shot, whatever happens happens and it’s just amazing how it happened.”

By halftime, Juju Bainbridge had 196 offensive yards and four scores, proving to be the cowbell of the Crimson Tide offense and then some. Andrew Allen was 10/11 for 102 yards, able to connect at will with his receivers. Sean Steckert was a respectable 10-66 with two scores for Southern Lehigh, but his team still trailed by two scores.

This contest became a true tale of two halves. The aggressive playcalling by coach Sams that didn’t payoff in the opening quarters paid major dividends the rest of the way. On 4th & 2 from their own 25, the Spartans again went for it. This time, Steckert blasted through the line for 40 yards, flipping the field and providing a huge spark for his team. He finished off the drive from ten yards out, cutting the deficit to 34-27 with 6:44 to play in the third.

The running attack that allowed Pottsville to build a 21-point first half lead was squelched nearly completely following halftime adjustments. Lucas Sutyak and Dylan Gretz chased down Andrew Allen on a 4th & 4 call at the Spartans 34, forcing him to throw incomplete for the turnover on downs.

From there, Sean Steckert continued to have himself a night. He picked up 16 on a run up the middle, and eventually capped a ten play drive with a score from a yard out. In a tough turn, the extra point went off the right upright; with 10:16 left in regulation, Pottsville still led 34-33.

More risk was rewarded for Southern Lehigh. The surprise onside kick went to the Spartans and they took over on the Crimson Tide 45. A sack by Maxwell Clews helped squash the drive. Steckert eventually came up short on 4th & 2 at the Pottsville 24, allowing the Tide to take over with 5:51 to go. Bainbridge converted a 4th & 1, but that would be the last first down of the night for Pottsville. After punting the ball away, Southern Lehigh had 2:30 and 84 yards to traverse.

The first play from scrimmage went deep over the middle to Talon Hite. A heave down the right sideline was hauled in by Bryan Tobin. Then, like he did in the first half, Sean Steckert scored with nine seconds left, willing himself into the end zone from two yards out and completing a comeback that seemed so unlikely late in the second quarter.

Steckert talked about his offensive line’s effort: “We had so many injuries throughout the year and so many people stepped up. It just felt like we had our starting offensive line.”

Steckert finished his night in spectacular fashion. He carried 36 times for 222 yards and three scores. Through the air, he accounted for three grabs, two touchdowns, and 64 yards, giving him 286 total offensive yards and five scores. Sophomore Colton Sams completed 15r of 25 throws for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Juju Bainbridge was held to 15 yards in the second half after racking up 171 and four scores in the opening two quarters.

Southern Lehigh now faces Bethlehem Catholic for a DXI 4A championship. The two will clash next Thursday night in Catasauqua at Alumni Field. Kickoff is set for 6:30.

Read more at LSVSports.com

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