2024 PIAA Class 4A Championship Preview: Lampeter-Strasburg (14-0) vs. Bonner Prendergast (11-2)

Class 4A Thursday 7 p.m.

(D-3) Lampeter-Strasburg (14-0) vs. (D-12) Bonner Prendergast (11-2)

Not many expected this. Statewide, the anticipation was for a Thomas Jefferson-Bonner Prendergast title clash, but the Pioneers of Lampeter-Strasburg crashed the party with a comeback 20-16 victory over Jefferson, after trailing 16-3 at halftime. Things were so bad for Lampeter-Strasburg that it was limited to a mere 11 yards of total offense in the half and just four plays in the second quarter. Pioneers’ senior quarterback Caileb Howse then put the team on his back and pulled them to a second-half comeback, rushing for one score and throwing for another. Lampeter-Strasburg kicker Peter Fiorello is a weapon, who booted 19- and 31-yard field goals. This is the first time for both Lampeter-Strasburg and Bonner Prendergast in the state finals. The Friars and St. Joe’s Prep, however, hold a unique distinction over the other 12 teams in the state championships this week—as the only two teams to have beaten a state finalist, District 12 5A champion Roman Catholic, this season. Bonner Prendergast’s only two losses this season have come against arguably the best two teams in the state, two-time Class 6A champion St. Joe’s Prep and District 12 6A runner-up La Salle. Undefeated Lampeter-Strasburg has not faced any team on its schedule comparable to Prep or La Salle. Can the Pioneers contain the Bonner Prendergast’s explosive tailback tandem of Saalem Frink and Mikhail Johnson, who combined for 326 yards and 6 touchdowns in the Friars’ overpowering 55-26 state semifinal win over District 11 champ Southern Lehigh? Who will match up with Bonner Prendergast’s West Virginia-bound 6-foot-3, 180-pound wide receiver/defensive end Jalil Hall? How will Lampeter-Strasburg deal with the Friars’ speed?