It’s finally here. The last week of the regular season. It comes with still plenty at stake. Several teams are playing for playoff seeding. Some are playing for their playoff lives. Many are playing to pound their rivals.
Whatever the circumstances, Week 10 always seems to deliver plenty of surprises, stellar performances and cliffhanger finishes.
Before the rest of the regular season is put in the rearview mirror, here’s a look back at a few key moments from Week 9:
Colonial-Schuylkill League five things we learned in Week 9
1. Southern Lehigh’s sizeable advantage
Colton Sams makes an audible call at the line of scrimmage on Southern Lehigh’s first offensive play during Friday night’s game against Southern Lehigh.
He checks to a deep pass to receiver Luke Kawczenski for a 32-yard touchdown.
Sean Steckert hits a seam at the line of scrimmage, darts into the second level of the defense and finds a burst for a 42-yard touchdown run later in the first quarter.
Completions, yardage, touchdowns and records for Sams and Steckert.
They made it look easy much of this season as the Spartans roll into Week 10 at 9-0 for the second time in the last three years.
Sams, Steckert and every other skill player who has received headlines and accolades knows none of that success this season would be possible if not for the less familiar names: Carter Giberson, Dylan Gretz, Lucas Sutyak, Cody Wesner and Gabe Bogert.
They are the five offensive linemen working as one in the trenches to give Sams time to pass and holes for Steckert to run through.
They are invaluable according to those who know them best.
“They are the heart and soul of the team,” said Steckert, who is the program’s career rushing and touchdown leader. “We preach that every week. Without them, we wouldn’t have anywhere near the success we have had.”
Southern Lehigh amassed 522 yards on Friday night and scored on its first seven possessions. Coach Phil Sams’ club has had a few of those games this season where it appears easy, but it hasn’t been an easy ride. There were rough stretches in practice early in the season when the intensity and focus wasn’t up to standards. There were injuries.
But the chemistry within the team never wavered. Much of that has to do with the linemen willing to sacrifice for the better of the program under the guidance of assistant coach Ed Chromczak.
Giberson is a Division I recruit at 6-foot-4, 336 pounds. Gretz, Bogert, Sutyak (6-3, 292) and Wesner are juniors and will pave the way in 2026 for future standout running backs and wide receivers.
“They really care about the game,” said Colton Sams, who on Friday broke the career touchdown passes record and is closing in on the career passing yardage mark. “They make a huge difference on our team. They may not get notice from the media, but they deserve whatever they get.
“They come to practice every day with intensity, love each other. The records are cool, but that is not the goal of football. The goal is the team. Our goal is to win championships, not stat pad our guys.”
Sams and Steckert would trade their records and statistics for a Week 10 win over defending PIAA Class 3A champion and fellow unbeaten Northwestern Lehigh.
The Tigers have won the last five meetings, including last season’s 23-17 nail-biter in Center Valley.
The Spartans have sat on that game since despite taking the program to new heights last season with a second District 11 title and a trip to the state 4A semifinals.
If they are to move to 10-0 for the first time, those in the trenches will play a significant role.
“It’s a team game,” coach Phil Sams said. “It’s been awesome. Sean gets a record. Colton gets a record. It’s a record for everybody. It’s a record for Southern Lehigh, for the linemen. Everybody’s got a role on the team. We need them all.”
2. Panthers keep on clawing
It was 28-0 in a hurry Friday night. Southern Lehigh had four touchdowns. Saucon Valley had three punts, three penalties, three negative plays including a botched snap and a turnover.
But the young Panthers gave head coach Anthony Brinkley and his staff something to feel encouraged about. They kept fighting.
They scored twice in the second quarter and the second teamers punched one in the end zone in the fourth quarter.
They kept on battling instead of packing it in.
“I’m excited how together they are and the culture that we’ve built,” Brinkley said. “They let a freshman break it down postgame after getting in a varsity game for the first time, and they were talking about how much they love each other.
“So, I’m really proud of them for sticking together through all of that.”
Brinkley and his staff also are going to continue to be honest with a roster loaded with first-year starters and freshmen contributors.
That will be evident again on Monday.
“We’re going to tell the truth on film,” he added. “I’ve already told some of them guys that it may be hard to watch and they’ll probably cringe.”
Saucon Valley fans may have flinched hard when the Panthers lost three in a row to fall to 1-3 in the first month of the season. But they won four in a row before losing to one of the state’s best 4A teams. They are not going to pack it in now.
Freshman receiver Thomas Cahill is one of the many leaders and reasons for Saucon Valley’s progress. He set the District 11 freshman receiving yardage record with 880, passing Bethlehem Catholic’s Carter Vassa. He is tied with former Nazareth star Jahan Dotson for receptions by a freshman with 60.
3. Pen Argyl vs. Bangor
The 106th meeting between Slate Belt rivals Bangor and Pen Argyl is at 7 p.m. Friday at Paul Farnan Field at Bangor Memorial Park. Pre-game festivities begin Thursday with a parade from Pen Argyl High School at 6:30 p.m. to its community pep rally and bonfire at Weona Park at 7. There is no parking this year at the bonfire site, so those attending should park at the high school and parade down. There also will be school buses shuttling people to and from the bonfire site from 6 to 9. Pick-up and drop-off points are at Pen Argyl H.S. and Weona Park on South Main Street (Lookout Fire Company).
Tickets for the game can be purchased online at https://slaterathletics.org/main/ticketing/
Advanced general admission tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students, senior citizens and military. There is only one cash gate at the game, located near Bangor Pool. All cash tickets are $8.
Events at Paul Farnan Field at Bangor Memorial Park are livestreamed at https://fan.hudl.com/usa/pa/bangor/organization/19593/bangor-high-school/video
Bangor has won the last four meetings, allowing only 19 points in those contests. The Slaters rallied last year for a 14-13 victory after trailing 13-0.
4. Another Miller Time game
Senior running back Luke Miller set another North Schuylkill program record in Friday night’s 35-14 victory over Lehighton. He ran for 286 yards to give him 3,302 for his career, passing Josh Chowansky (3,257).
Miller has 2,009 yards this season, including a school-record 383 in Week 8 vs. Blue Mountain. He has 49 career touchdowns, three shy of the program record.
5. Colonial vs. Schuylkill
Northwestern Lehigh knocked off Tamaqua and North Schuylkill beat Lehighton for another split among the two leagues, giving the Colonial League a 13-12 lead entering the postseason. There are no Week 10 meetings among the leagues.
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
Colonial-Schuylkill League football standings
Team (Overall record); Division record; Points for; Points against
Red Division
Northwestern Lehigh (9-0); 7-0; 433; 110
Southern Lehigh (9-0); 7-0; 353; 118
North Schuylkill (6-3); 5-2; 330; 202
Blue Mountain (5-4); 4-3; 298; 207
Lehighton (4-5); 3-4; 229; 220
Jim Thorpe (4-5); 2-5; 202; 271
Pottsville (3-6); 2-5; 159; 236
Tamaqua (3-6); 2-5; 161; 256
Bangor (0-9); 0-8; 98; 368
White Division
Notre Dame-GP (9-0); 7-0; 407; 86
Palisades (6-3); 5-2; 269; 163
Northern Lehigh (6-3); 5-2; 279; 221
Pen Argyl (6-3); 5-3; 204; 220
Saucon Valley (5-4); 4-3; 232; 227
Palmerton (3-6); 3-4; 145; 255
Catasauqua (3-6); 2-5; 180; 291
Salisbury (2-7); 1-6; 121; 265
Wilson (0-9); 0-7; 63; 333
Blue Division
Schuylkill Haven (9-0); 8-0; 486; 114
Williams Valley (8-1); 7-1; 377; 120
Minersville (7-2); 6-2; 353; 140
Tri-Valley (6-3); 5-3; 291; 107
Marian Catholic (6-3); 5-3; 233; 218
Panther Valley (4-5); 4-4; 149; 236
Nativity BVM (4-5); 3-5; 175; 185
Mahanoy Area (1-8); 1-7; 54; 318
Pine Grove (1-8); 1-7; 68; 290
Shenandoah Valley (0-9); 0-8; 89; 360
Week 10 schedule (at 7 p.m.)
FRIDAY
Pen Argyl at Bangor
Northern Lehigh at Saucon Valley
Pine Grove at Williams Valley
Mahanoy Area at Shenandoah Valley
North Schuylkill at Pottsville
Minersville at Panther Valley
Tri-Valley at Schuylkill Haven
Lehighton at Jim Thorpe
Nativity BVM at Marian Catholic
Wilson vs. Notre Dame-GP at Lafayette
Tamaqua at Blue Mountain
Southern Lehigh at Northwestern Lehigh
Salisbury at Palisades
Palmerton at Catasauqua
