Gut-wrenching overtime loss dashes Avonworth’s state title hopes in PIAA 3A final
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Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 4:34 PM
Northwestern Lehigh’s Eli Zimmerman scores the winning touchdown past Avonworth’s Billy Onyshko (13) and Jackson Krul during overtime in the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Luca Neal carries past Northwestern Lehigh’s Josh Wambold during the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Luca Neal scores past Northwestern Lehigh’s Josh Wambold during the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Noah Goetz reaches for a pass as Northwestern Lehigh’s Michael Lagowy defends during the fourth quarter of the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Luca Neal picks up a first down through the Northwestern Lehigh defense during the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Luca Neal carries for a touchdown against Northwestern Lehigh during the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Luca Neal scores during the third quarter of the PIAA Class 3A state championship game against Northwestern Lehigh on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Northwestern Lehigh’s Eli Zimmerman strips the ball from Avonworth’s Luca Neal, as Jaden Jones reacts during the third quarter of the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Luca Neal eludes Northwestern Lehigh’s Michael Lagowy during the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Luca Neal runs over Northwestern Lehigh’s Eli Zimmerman to score during the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Luca Neal scores against Northwestern Lehigh during the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Luca Neal (4) celebrates with Bryce Metz after scoring against Northwestern Lehigh during the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Jackson Krul catches a pass as Northwestern Lehigh’s Mason Bollinger defends during the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth head coach Duke Joncour reacts during the PIAA Class 3A state championship game against Northwestern Lehigh on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Cooper Scharding and Jack Crawford walk from the field as Northwestern Lehigh players celebrate after the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth seniors Nico Neal and Nik Engelmore accept the PIAA runner-up trophy after the Class 3A state championship game against Northwestern Lehigh on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth head coach Duke Joncour talks with his team after the PIAA Class 3A state championship game against Northwestern Lehigh on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Northwestern Lehigh’s Eli Zimmerman dives into the end zone to score over Avonworth’s Bryce Metz (23) and Justin Beck during the third quarter of the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Luca Neal fends off Northwestern Lehigh’s Michael Lagowy during the PIAA Class 3A state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
Avonworth’s Luca Neal scores during the third quarter of the PIAA Class 3A state championship game against Northwestern Lehigh on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Cumberland Valley.
MECHANICSBURG — Avonworth trailed by two touchdowns in the second half of a state championship game and rallied to force overtime.
It was a gutsy comeback, but one met with tears when Northwestern Lehigh scored a touchdown in overtime to defeat Avonworth, 36-33, in the PIAA Class 3A final Saturday at Cumberland Valley.
The Antelopes finished as state runners-up for the second time in five years, despite a 252-yard, four-touchdown effort by junior running back Luca Neal.
The last time they reached the finals, the Antelopes endured a lopsided loss in 2019. All championship losses are painful, but this heartbreaking ending surely stung differently.
“Overtime in the state championship, I don’t know if it gets any worse than that,” Avonworth coach Duke Johncour said. “It was a great game. I’ll look back on this with good memories. But it stinks to be on the losing end.”
Northwestern Lehigh (16-0) was the state runner-up last season, losing to Belle Vernon in the finals, but returned this season to win. Neal hoped Avonworth might do the same.
“We’ll be back next year,” he said.
In high school football overtime, each team gets four plays starting from the 10-yard line.
Avonworth had the ball first and settled for a 24-yard field goal by Calder Mahan after gaining just 3 yards. But the 33-30 lead was short lived. Northwestern Lehigh’s Eli Zimmerman ran 10 yards for a touchdown on first down, earning the District 11 champion its first state championship.
“It was a great, hard-fought game,” Johncour said. “It’s a shame one team had to lose, and unfortunately it was us.”
Zimmerman rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries. The Northwestern Lehigh running back was held largely in check in the first half but broke out with 80 yards and two scores after halftime.
Avonworth trailed 30-16 in the third quarter but rallied behind two touchdown runs by Neal, who shouldered an even larger workload with brother Nico sidelined with turf toe.
Neal cut Avonworth’s deficit in half by running 54 yards for a touchdown on a one-play scoring drive late in the third quarter. His tying touchdown was a 1-yarder in the fourth.
“Our kids are resilient,” Johncour said. “They just battle back. They believe in themselves. They competed. They made the plays when they had to.”
Mahan’s extra-point kick created a 30-30 tie with 4:32 left.
“I’m proud of my guys,” Neal said. “We didn’t give up when we were down. It shows our character.”
Neal scored on touchdown runs of 1, 18, 31 and 54 yards. He and his older brother had become a tough tandem in the playoffs, but Nico was relegated to the sideline Saturday.
“I don’t know if it worked out in our favor because his brother absolutely went off,” Northwestern Lehigh coach Josh Snyder said. “They’re different runners, but it probably would’ve given them a break here or there.”
Tied at 30, an interception by Avonworth’s Billy Onyshko stopped a potential winning drive by Northwestern Lehigh at the 31 with 1:18 left. The Antelopes neared midfield on their final possession before punting with eight seconds left.
In overtime, Neal was tackled for no gain on first down before gaining 3 on second. On third down, a shovel pass by Neal fell incomplete while trying to improvise, setting up Mahan’s field goal.
Northwestern Lehigh took over and found the end zone on first down. Zimmerman took a direct snap, ran to his right and got inside the pylon for the win.
“We had to put points up,” Johncour said, “and we only got a field goal out of it.”
The teams combined had six possessions in the first half, and they all resulted in points.
Northwestern Lehigh led 17-16 at halftime after kicking a last-second field goal. The 29-yarder by Seth Kern capped a half where the offenses shined. Each team scored two touchdowns and a field goal apiece before half.
A pair of third-quarter touchdowns less than two minutes apart let Northwestern Lehigh stretch its lead to 30-16. Zimmerman scored on a 1-yard run and Shane Hulmes ran five yards for another.
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Avonworth
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