If the statistics hold true, Friday night’s showdown between state powers Southern Lehigh and Northwestern Lehigh will be a slugfest.
Spartans running back Sean Steckert is averaging 9.2 yards per carry. The Tigers’ duo of Braxton Lakatosh and Chase Sukanick have combined for 11.6 yards per attempt.
Spartans quarterback Colton Sams has completed 73.8% of his 141 passes for 11.1 yards per attempt. Tigers QB Shane Leh has completed 69.5% of his throws for 12.4 yards per attempt.
Southern Lehigh has punted only 13 times. Northwestern Lehigh has booted it away just seven times.
It is no wonder both teams are 9-0 entering the regular-season finale at Tiger Stadium.
It is no wonder both teams had eyes on each other since last year’s Week 10 meeting, especially the Spartans after losing 23-17 to extend their losing streak in the series to five games in a row.
“The season has flown by,” senior Luke Kawczenski said. “It feels like [the season opener vs. Quakertown] was yesterday.
“But the Northwestern game is always marked. Being able to go week by week and knowing we have a goal to beat Northwestern at the end is just a great working point to have.”
Friday’s winner will have to work for everything it gets.
Northwestern Lehigh (110) has allowed the third-fewest points in the Colonial-Schuylkill League, much of which has come in JV time. Southern Lehigh (118) is fifth.
Northwestern Lehigh (433) has scored the second-most points among the 28 league teams. Southern Lehigh is tied for fifth (353).
Southern Lehigh has committed only two turnovers and has a plus-10 turnover ratio. Northwestern Lehigh is a plus-6.
It will be interesting to see how long both defenses sit in a 3-0 look with all the firepower on both sides in the running and passing games. Left with time, Sams and Leh will pick apart opposing secondaries.
“We know what Northwestern is,” Southern Lehigh coach Phil Sams said. “They’ve been to back-to-back state championship games. We have to control ourselves. We can’t be worrying about everybody else. We have to worry about our execution and what we do as a team.
“Northwestern wants to win, too, right? They are game planning for us, too. I think it’s going to be a great football game between two very good teams.”
Southern Lehigh, which is ranked first in The Morning Call’s Colonial-Schuylkill League top 10 and first in the state in Class 4A according to Penn.live, has a size advantage. Carter Giberson and Lucas Sutyak are much bigger than anyone on Northwestern Lehigh’s starting offensive and defensive fronts.
Northwestern Lehigh is second in the CL-SL top 10 and second in the state in 3A to Avonworth, which it beat in last year’s PIAA final in overtime.
Colonial-Schuylkill League Week 10 picks
Nativity BVM (4-5) at Marian Catholic (6-3): The Colts are looking to secure a District 11 Class A home playoff game. The Green Wave will take any playoff game. If coach Billy O’Gurek’s crew gets their running game going again and continues to generate turnovers (area-best 26 takeaways), they should get that home playoff game. Marian Catholic 31-12
Pen Argyl (6-3) at Bangor (0-9): The Green Knights are jockeying for playoff position and their first seven-win season since 2016 (9-4). The banged-up Slaters would love to salvage their season again by beating their rivals for a fifth consecutive year. Pen Argyl 20-7
Northern Lehigh (6-3) at Saucon Valley (5-4): The Bulldogs need their running game to play keep-away from the Panthers’ passing attack, especially if Chris Frame does not play again. The Panthers are the No. 4 seed in the 3A playoffs. The Bulldogs would love to be the 2A fourth seed. Northern Lehigh 22-14
Minersville (7-2) at Panther Valley (4-5): The Panthers are bidding for their first .500 season since 2009. Dante Carr and the Battlin’ Miners are looking to lock down the third seed in the 2A playoffs. Minersville 28-7
Lehighton (4-5) at Jim Thorpe (4-5): Blake Roberts needs three receptions to break Zach Hunsicker’s school career record (114). If he, Jayse Lawrence and the Indians passing game are complemented by Lucas Croizier and the running attack, they’ll beat their rivals who have won five of the last seven meetings. Lehighton 21-20
Wilson (0-9) vs. Notre Dame-GP (9-0): The Crusaders are looking to stay healthy and sharp ahead of the district 3A postseason. The Warriors are looking to build on something for next season. Notre Dame-GP 42-7
Tamaqua (3-6) at Blue Mountain (5-4): The Eagles have won four of their last five games and are prepping for a 4A home game. They’ll have to contain Terrence McDowell to make it five out of six. Blue Mountain 35-13
Southern Lehigh (9-0) at Northwestern Lehigh (9-0): Shane Leh. Colton Sams. Sean Steckert. Mason Bollinger. Weapons galore. Maybe a hero will come from the list of those often in the shadows. Carter Giberson? Shane Hulmes? Northwestern Lehigh 27-21
Salisbury (2-7) at Palisades (6-3): The Pirates are looking to do their part to secure a top-3 spot in the 2A playoffs. The banged-up Falcons would love a Week 11 game, but they’ll need a stellar performance to win this one. Palisades 28-7
Palmerton (3-6) at Catasauqua (3-6): Injuries are a factor here. The Rough Riders’ offensive playbook is minimized if QB Aiden Reilly doesn’t play. The Blue Bombers don’t have one of the region’s best offensive linemen in Logan Anthony. The Rough Riders don’t have a playoff berth locked up yet. That should be motivation enough. Catasauqua 21-19
Last week: 10-0
Season: 85-10
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
