Southern Lehigh, Wilson showed character, heart just to get here
Southern Lehigh came into this season with a mostly inexperienced roster, a few injuries and its first six games against eventual playoff teams.
Coach Phil Sams’ Spartans started 0-6. They could have quit; instead, they won four games in a row to qualify for a Week 11 game for the 14th consecutive year.
Southern Lehigh (4-6) visits Whitehall (3-6) in Friday’s District 11 Class 5A semifinal.
“I’m so proud of the kids,” Sams said. “To start off 0-6, they easily could have quit. I’ve seen it before. The kids have been the biggest difference. They’ve believed. They’ve shown resilience. The schedule was tough, but we offer no excuses. We should have played better.”
At about the time Southern Lehigh started to right the ship, Wilson’s boat began to rock. After a 5-0 start, coach Chris Labatch’s Warriors lost three in a row by a composite 122-20 score.
Wilson handled five struggling teams, including Southern Lehigh, but then wavered when it came to the meat of its schedule.
Just when it appeared the Warriors were going down the same path the Spartans did early on, they did something for the first time all season.
“We finally got over the hump being able to compete and beat a very good football team,” Labatch said of a Week 10 win at 3A power Notre Dame-Green Pond.
Wilson needed that victory to secure the No. 4 seed in the district’s 4A tournament. It visits Northwestern (10-0) in Friday night’s semifinal.
“This team had trouble competing against teams picked over top of us,” Labatch added. “[Last Saturday’s win over Notre Dame-GP] did wonders for our confidence this week. The kids were mentally prepared to battle.”
Wins in the final two regular-season game secured Wilson’s first winning season since 2010, the last of seven in a row under Bret Comp, a current assistant.
For Southern Lehigh and Wilson to remain in the postseason, they will need to reverse trends against their opponents.
The Zephyrs have eliminated the Spartans three times in the previous five district tournaments. The Tigers roughed up the Warriors in a Week 6 mercyrule game between 5-0 teams.
Stellar defense will be required
for Southern Lehigh and Wilson.
The Warriors were down 17-0 and on the verge of being run out of the stadium last Saturday by the rival Crusaders. But Damian Simpson’s kick return for a touchdown stemmed the tide and quarterback Cayden Stem reversed course after a three-interception first half.
“He said, ‘We got it fixed, Coach. We’re good,’ ” Labatch recalled of Stem. “There was no panic.
“When we were down 17-0, I was worried that was how the Northwestern, Pottsville and Bangor games went. They smacked us and we weren’t able to recover.”
Stem threw three second-half touchdowns and a conversation two weeks earlier between assistant coaches Herm Stein and Vince Spina and the Warriors’ defensive players hit home.
Wilson was passive for much of the season. The group reacted tentatively to what was happening. The last two weeks, there was more of what the Warriors coaches were looking for.
“The guys’ mentality needed to change,” Labatch said. “In practice, we played through the whistle, even double whistles. We wanted them to decide that if they were going to go for a pick and didn’t get it, so be it. Just so they were aggressive.”
There was tentativeness all over the field for Southern Lehigh, which had first-year varsity starters on both sides of the ball.
Sophomore quarterback James Wisecarver was thrust
into the spotlight. Tyler Rizzuto, Jimmy Durham, Jack Inglis, Avery Koser and Blaze Curry were inserted into key skill positions on offense.
The results early on were mixed at best thanks to mental mistakes, turnovers and a lack of confidence. Injuries to veterans Alex Schafer and Tyler Houser further complicated things.
The second-half collapse in a Week 6 loss at Pottsville seemed to seal Southern Lehigh’s fate. Instead, Sams’ bunch regrouped and played four solid quarters in a Week 7 win over rival Saucon Valley.
“These kids in the offseason worked so hard,” Sams said. “That’s why it was so disappointing. I felt bad that it wasn’t clicking. Saucon Valley was the big turnaround. We told them starting that week that every game they were playing was for their [playoff ] lives.
“They had to put it out there. I told them that if they didn’t win tonight, there was a good chance they were done after Week 10. Some kids who hadn’t played varsity before didn’t know what it took to win. We finally had effort against Saucon Valley for four quarters.”
Southern Lehigh held off Blue Mountain for a second win in a row, then handled Lehighton and Salisbury to finish the regular season.
It will take the Spartans’ best efforts to beat the athletic Zephyrs. It will take the Warriors’ best efforts to reverse their fortunes against the Tigers.
Likely? No, but then again,
Southern Lehigh and Wilson were left for dead weeks ago.
Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@ mcall.com
District 11 football playoff preview capsules
CLASS 2A SEMIFINALS MINERSVILLE (6-4) AT NORTHERN LEHIGH (7-3) When/where: 4:10 p.m. Saturday at Bulldog Stadium, Slatington Last meeting: The teams have never met
District titles: Northern Lehigh has three (1999, 2003, 2010). Minersville has one (2003 in Class A).
At stake: A berth in the 2A final against the Catasauqua/ Palmerton winner Nov. 13, site and time TBA
What to look for: Minersville has 556 rushing yards in 10 games vs. 2,402 passing yards, so the Northern Lehigh secondary will be tested by senior QB John Adams’ elusiveness and ability to find receivers under pressure. The Bulldogs are more balanced offensively, but will look to run right at the Battlin’ Miners, who gave up big TD runs to Palmerton QB Matt Machalik in Week 9. Prediction: Northern Lehigh 41-21
CATASAUQUA (7-3) AT PALMERTON (8-2) When/where: 7:10 Saturday in Palmerton
Last meeting: Palmerton won 42-8 on Sept. 24
District titles: Palmerton has one (1993). Catasauqua has four (1990-92, 2013)
At stake: A berth in the 2A final against the Minersville/Northern Lehigh winner Nov. 13, site and time TBA
What to look for: If the Rough Riders don’t tackle better than they did in the first meeting, not much will change. Machalik and Co. turned negative plays into huge shifts of momentum in what became a mercy-rule contest. Catasauqua also needs to block better against Palmerton’s swarming, aggressive defense. Prediction: Palmerton 29-20
CLASS 3A SEMIFINALS TAMAQUA (3-6) AT NORTH SCHUYLKILL (9-1) When/where: 2 Saturday in Ashland
Last meeting: North Schuylkill won 55-7 on Oct. 22
District titles: North Schuylkill has seven (1986, 1995-96, 2009, 2015, 2018, 2020). Tamaqua has one (2019)
At stake: A berth in the 3A final against the Jim Thorpe/Notre Dame-GP winner Nov. 13, site and time TBA
What to look for: It’s been a tough year for the Blue Raiders. It won’t end any better unless they can run the ball and keep the Spartans’ explosive, efficient offense off the field and generate a few short fields via turnovers. Prediction: North Schuylkill 42-7
JIM THORPE (6-4) AT NOTRE DAME-GREEN POND (7-2) When/where: 7:05 Saturday in Bethlehem Township
Last meeting: Notre Dame-GP won 49-21 on Sept. 27
District titles: Notre Dame-GP has two (2015-16). Jim Thorpe has none
At stake: A berth in the 3A final against the Tamaqua/North Schuylkill winner Nov. 13, site and time TBA
What to look for: The Olympians put together a good second half of the regular season. They used their size up front on both sides of the ball. They have reduced the number of turnovers and penalties. They are playing the way Mark Rosenberger hoped back in August. The Crusaders are trying to regain the momentum they had through the season’s first six weeks. QB Collin Quintano returned in last Saturday’s home loss to Wilson. They’ll need a better defensive performance in order for Quintano and the offensive weapons to have a big day.
Prediction: Jim Thorpe 28-21
CLASS 4A SEMIFINAL
WILSON (7-3) AT NORTHWESTERN (10-0) When/where: 7:10 Friday at Tiger Stadium, New Tripoli
Last meeting: Northwestern won 42-6 on Oct. 6
District titles: Wilson has three (2005-06, 2008). Northwestern has two (1995, 2002)
At stake: A berth in the 4A final against the Central Catholic/ Pottsville winner at 7 p.m. Friday, site TBA
What to look for: The Warriors will show more fight. They displayed grit just to get to this point, so don’t expect another rout that is determined in the first quarter. But controlling Tigers QB Justin Holmes, Cade Christopher and Co. will be difficult. Prediction: Northwestern 27-16
CLASS 5A SEMIFINAL SOUTHERN LEHIGH (4-6) AT WHITEHALL (3-6) When/where: 7 Friday in Whitehall
Last meeting: Whitehall won 42-34 on Nov. 8, 2020
District titles: Whitehall has five (1986 1989, 1997, 2016-17, 2020). Southern Lehigh has one (2019) At stake: A berth in the 5A final against the East Stroudsburg South/Wyoming Valley West winner at 7 p.m. Nov. 12, site TBA What to look for: The Spartans are streaking, having won four games in a row after an 0-6 start. But those four victories came against nonplayoff teams. The Zephyrs, who have lost six in a row after a 3-0 start, are getting healthier and have athleticism and size on their side. Southern Lehigh’s best chance will be to control the ball and create turnovers.
Prediction: Whitehall 27-7
EASTERN CONFERENCE CLASS 4A FINAL
SAUCON VALLEY (5-5) AT BANGOR (6-4)
When/where: 7 Thursday at Bangor Memorial Park
Last meeting: Saucon Valley won 26-22 on Oct. 1
What to look for: The Slaters’
1-2 punch of Eric Striba and Kael Godshalk are rolling. Opponents know they are coming, but have had trouble a lot this season stopping the program’s first pair of 1,000-yard rushers. Credit goes to the evolving offensive line, too. The Panthers are banged up and have struggled to score points since QB Dante Mahaffey went down with an injury.
Prediction: Bangor 28-13