Northwestern Lehigh vs. Scranton Prep

Recap

NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH 42, SCRANTON PREP 14

For the third consecutive season, District 2 Class 3A titlist Scranton Prep saw its season come to an end at the hands of the Northwestern Lehigh Tigers by the final score of 42-14. The Tigers, defending state champions, hurried and harassed Prep quarterback Will McPartland all evening long, putting a damper on the Cavaliers’ hopes of pulling the upset.

Prep’s woes began on their opening drive when McPartland overthrew a screen pass intended for his brother, Braedon, that was snatched out of the air by Braxton Lackatosh of the Tigers. Lackatosh broke two tackles along the sideline and raced 32 yards for the touchdown with 9:15 remaining in the first quarter. The Tigers led 7-0 before the offense had even touched the football.

It did not take Prep long to answer. Moving the football entirely by means of the ground game, Will McPartland powered over from two yards out. Tyler Bianchi’s extra point tied the game at 7 with 6:07 left in the opening period.

But the Tigers’ offense was impossible for Prep to stop all night long, particularly when they passed the football. Talented quarterback Shane Leh found Brady Zimmerman, his top target, with an 11-yard scoring aerial to put the Tigers on top to stay, 14-7, with 3:57 remaining in the first quarter.

After forcing the Cavaliers to punt, Northwestern Lehigh began another scoring drive. Aided by two penalties against the Prep defense, the Tigers moved the ball into the red zone where Leh found Shane Hulmes between three Prep defenders for a 10-yard touchdown toss. At that point, the Tigers had opened up a commanding 28-7 advantage.

The next two possessions by the Cavaliers ended with a punt and losing the ball on down with 1:26 left to play in the first half. The Tigers quickly scored again before the half as Leh connected with Michael Lagoey from 19 yards out to give the District 11 champions a 28-7 cushion as the teams headed to the locker rooms.

Northwestern Lehigh got the football to begin the action in the second half and immediately scored to extend their lead. This team Leh shoveled the ball to Zimmerman on a reverse action that fooled the Prep defense from 5 yards away. Chase Sukanick added another extra point to make it 35-7.

The Cavaliers, winners of their last three, still had a touchdown drive left in them before the clock on their season struck midnight. McPartland hit senior tight end Sean McCormack behind the Tigers’ secondary on a 4-yard pitch and catch to narrow the lead to 35-14 less than a minute into the final period.

After the teams traded punts, the Tigers added the coup de grace when Leh hit Zimmerman for the third time in the football game. Executing a beautiful play action fake, Leh feathered a 40-yard strike to Zimmerman behind the Prep secondary to finish the scoring at 42-14.

The Tigers will go on to face Shamokin in the semifinal round of the 3A tournament next weekend. Prep finishes their season at 8-6 after winning their fifth consecutive district title.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER

NW – Braxton Lackatosh 32-yd fumble return (Chase Sukanick kick) – Northwestern Lehigh 7-0

SP – Will McPartland 2-yd run (Tyler Bianchi kick) – Tied 7-7

NW – Brady Zimmerman 11-yd pass from Shane Leh (Sukanick kick) – Northwestern Lehigh 14-7

2ND QUARTER

NW – Shane Hulmes 10-yd pass from Leh (Sukanick kick) – Northwestern Lehigh 21-7

NW – Michael Lagoey 19-yd pass from Leh (Sukanick kick) – Northwestern Lehigh 28-7

3RD QUARTER

NW – Zimmerman 5-yd pass from Leh (Sukanick kick) – Northwestern Lehigh 35-7

4TH QUARTER

SP – Sean McCormack 4-yd pass from W. McPartland (Bianchi kick) – Northwestern Lehigh 35-14

NW –  Zimmerman 40-yd pass from Leh (Sukanick kick) – Northwestern Lehigh 42-14