Southern Lehigh, Sean Steckert Run Over Twin Valley for 4A State Title

MECHANICSBURG, Pa.—The Southern Lehigh Spartans won their first state championship in program history on Thursday, Dec. 4, defeating Twin Valley 43-21 in the PIAA 4A classification behind 37 carries, 301 yards and four touchdowns from senior running back Sean Steckert.

Rushing offense was the name of the game in the first half, with Twin Valley running back Drew Engle breaking loose for a 39-yard carry on the Raiders’ first play from scrimmage. Fellow back Lucas Myers found pay dirt four plays later on a 20-yard tote.

Southern Lehigh responded in kind as Steckert reeled off a 46-yard carry on his second touch. The only Spartan to log a touch on the opening drive, Steckert pulled Southern Lehigh even with an 11-yard touchdown carry.

The Raiders and Spartans then traded 15 play drives, chewing up 7:44 and 8:00 of clock, respectively. Twin Valley went home empty-handed, their field goal try blocked, allowing Southern Lehigh to pull ahead 10-7 on a 24-yard kick. Then it was Twin Valley receiver Dominic Summers’ turn to break loose, coming wide open on a post pattern and racing 64 yards for the score. 

Raiders Fade

However, a Raiders’ unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the touchdown was assessed on the kickoff, allowing the Spartans to bring the ball out to midfield with 2:19 remaining in the half. Steckert snatched the lead back with another huge run, bouncing out of contact as he rumbled 27 yards to the end zone.

The Spartans began to pile on in the third quarter, with quarterback Colton Sims finding Otto Young for a 40-yard touchdown. Southern Lehigh got the ball back two plays later when Adam Fritts intercepted a tipped pass, setting up a six-yard touchdown for Steckert.

Engle made it 30-20 with a four-yard touchdown run, but the Raiders’ deficit remained at two scores after they kicked an extra point instead of going for two. Southern Lehigh went for it on fourth-and-6 at the Raiders; 43-yard line early in the fourth quarter and converted, setting up a 30-yard touchdown catch from Young.

Twin Valley’s Ben Grundy picked off a pass in the end zone with five minutes to play, giving the Raiders a chance at a comeback, but Fritts snagged his second interception of the evening on the next play to put that chance to bed. Steckert crossed the 300-yard mark on his final carry, punching in a two-yard touchdown to seal the win.