When Northwestern Lehigh and Avonworth met in last season’s PIAA 3A championship, the Antelopes had as many pass attempts (three), and more completions (two), on trick plays as starting quarterback Carson Bellinger had in the entire game.
It took just one play to show that Saturday afternoon’s rematch wasn’t going to be a rerun of last time.
The Tigers lined up in their traditional man-to-man, single-high safety coverage that dared Avonworth coach Duke Johncour to put his faith in his quarterback instead of a running attack that compiled over 3,000 yards on more than seven yards per carry on the way to the state title.
Johncour happily obliged.
“When you see their coverage and they’re playing single coverage on our guy, both of our guys, we said we’re going to start in this set and see how they defend it,” Johncour said. “We have two studs out there – Luca Neal and Jaden Jones – and a good quarterback.”
Bellinger surpassed his yardage total from last season’s matchup by nearly 40 yards on a 53-yard strike to Jones down the right sideline on the team’s opening offensive play that set the tone for the rest of Avonworth’s dominant 31-7 victory.
“It was super important,” Jones said of his team’s first play going for a touchdown. “We got all the momentum, our confidence went up, and I just think it helped everyone get better and get focused on the game.”
Jones, who already holds multiple Division I offers as only a sophomore, is a big reason why the Antelopes were able to double their passing output from a season ago and use that development to emerge as the best 3A team in the state.
“Last year, our quarterback was good, but he was a little hesitant. This year, he really stepped and we just got the job done,” Jones said. “We worked on it in the offseason and our passing game, I think, is one of the best in the state now thanks to our quarterback and coaches.”
Johncour knows to thank his sophomore receiver as well, who came into the season with zero career receptions and ended it with over 1,000 yards on just 33 receptions.
“We had him for two games last year, and he made plays last year as a freshman. He’s something special,” Johncour said. “When the ball is in the air, it’s his. They double covered him on the one, and he came down with it. He had unbelievable catches all day. He’s just a talent all around.”
Whether it was Shane Leh, Kemurry Morgan, double teams or more, Bellinger found a way to get his star wide receiver the ball. His 36-yard acrobatic catch that Johncour referred to didn’t just convert a 3rd-and-12, but also set up Neal’s second of three touchdowns on the game to extend Avonworth’s lead early in the second quarter.
That catch, in many ways, symbolized how the Antelopes changed a 36-33 overtime loss 364 days ago into a 31-7 victory on the same field against the same, previously unstoppable, opponent.
Within the scope of the game, that one play turned a potential punt on fourth-and-long into a two-touchdown lead that created a feeling of desperation and helplessness for a Northwestern Lehigh defense that is used to anything but points being put up against them.
But, it was more than just one play. It was also one player.
One player who changed the entire complexion of Avonworth’s offense from a methodical, ground-and-pound bully into an explosive aerial assault that not even the Tigers, winners of 31 games in a row, could hope to contain.
And while it took more than one play to end that incredible streak, it only took one to prove that Avonworth’s redemption, and first state championship in program history wouldn’t have to wait much longer.
Because of one play, and one player, it was an inevitability. An inevitability that, according to Johncour, showcased the beauty of high school athletics.
“They love each other. We preach family all the time, and they stay together and play together. They grew up together, and that’s what it’s about,” Johncour said. “Days like this are what high school football is all about. A community team, staying strong together, and coming through and pulling out a state championship.”
Derek Bast is a freelance sports reporter who can be found on Twitter/X at @derek_bast or reached by email at derekbast11@gmail.com.
