SLATINGTON – There was no hesitation for Southern’s high-octane offensive engine on Friday Night as the Tigers put the pedal to the metal right from the starting line in a 42-6 rout in the PIAA Class 2A Eastern Final at Northern Lehigh High School.
Southern Columbia (15-0) will play in their 17th state championship game and going for a state record nine state championships. The Tigers will face Wilmington out of District 10 a 27-6 winner over Steel Valley. The Tigers beat Wilmington 48-0 in last year’s Class 2A title game.
The game got off to a slow start with both teams trading punts. The Tigers’ high-octane offense scored on three straight possessions to take a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Southern’s star running back, Gaige Garcia, ripped off a 67-yard touchdown run with 9:04 left in the first quarter. The Tigers defense forced a Burrs’ punt on their next possession.
They drove right down the field and capped off the drive with a 10-yard run right up the middle by Garcia with 5:08 remaining in the first quarter. The Tigers went for the two-point conversion. Stone Hollenbach hit Julian Fleming in the corner of the end zone for a spectacular one-handed catch and a two-point conversion.
After a bad punt by West Catholic, the Tigers had good field position. Hollenbach found Preston Zachman for a 14-yard touchdown pass with 49.6 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Tigers were clicking on both sides of the ball. On defense, Max Tillett intercepted a pass to setup the next score. Hollenbach went to Fleming for a 12-yard touchdown with 11:44 left in the first half.
The Tigers’ offense sputtered the rest of the half and went into halftime leading 28-0.
Southern Columbia came out at halftime and took control of the game. The Burrs’ had to punt on their first possession of the second half. Two plays later, the Tigers Ty Roadarmel went 51 yards for a touchdown.
The combination of Hollenbach to Fleming connected again. This time it was a 25-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone to make it 42-0 with 6:11 left in the third quarter.
West Catholic scored the final touchdown of the game. Tre Johnson hit Seth Degree for a 62-yard touchdown pass with 4:08 left in the third quarter.
| Friday, November 30, 2018 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
| Southern Columbia | 21 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 42 |
| West Catholic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
First quarter
SC – Gaige Garcia 67 yard run (kick failed) 9:06
Southern Columbia’s Gaige Garcia goes 67-yards for TD run. 1st Quarter 9:06 @SoCoTigerSports @BlackDiamondSN pic.twitter.com/o8uuIveqJ0
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) December 1, 2018
SC – Gaige Garcia 10 yard run (Julian Fleming pass from Stone Hollenbach) 5:08
Southern Columbia’s @gaigegarcia23 up the middle for the 10-yard run. 5:08 left in 1st Quarter @SoCoTigerSports @BlackDiamondSN pic.twitter.com/980aUGBRkZ
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) December 1, 2018
SC – Preston Zachman 14 yard pass from Stone Hollenbach (Ethan Dunkelberger kick) 49.6
Southern Columbia’s QB @HollenbachStone hits @ZachmanPreston for the 14-yard TD pass. 49.6 seconds remaining in 1st Quarter @SoCoTigerSports @BlackDiamondSN pic.twitter.com/o7P89CJU9v
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) December 1, 2018
Second quarter
SC – Julian Fleming 12 yard pass from Stone Hollenbach (Ethan Dunkelberger kick) 11:44
Southern Columbia’s QB @HollenbachStone hits @julian_040 for the 12-yard TD pass. 11:44 remaining in first half. @SoCoTigerSports @BlackDiamondSN pic.twitter.com/s5NV1Q7G7a
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) December 1, 2018
Third quarter
SC – Ty Roadarmel 51 yard run (Ethan Dunkelberger kick) 9:35
Southern Columbia’s @RoadarmelTy 51-yard TD run. 9:35 3rd Quarter @SoCoTigerSports @BlackDiamondSN pic.twitter.com/XO8uEdqgSk
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) December 1, 2018
SC – Julian Fleming 25 yard pass from Stone Hollenbach (Ethan Dunkelberger kick) 6:11
Southern Columbia’s @HollenbachStone throws a 25-yard TD pass to @julian_040 6:11 3rd Quarter @SoCoTigerSports @BlackDiamondSN pic.twitter.com/8ugw394yAK
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) December 1, 2018
WC – Seth Degree pass from Tre Johnson (kick failed) 4:08
