WHITEHALL – Whitehall’s quarterback Quinn Wentling passed for 149 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Zephyrs over Southern Lehigh (4-2) in the District 11 5A semifinals at Zephyr Stadium Sunday afternoon.
This year we have seen teams forfeit games due to COVID-19 and play games almost any day of the week to get games in. Whitehall was one of those schools with a COVID-19 case. They couldn’t practice all week and had to practice one day to prepare for the District playoff game. With all these challenges, Whitehall (4-3) faced this week, they overcame the odds and won 42-34 and will face Pocono Mountain East (1-3) for the 5A District title.
On a day when it felt like an August day, Whitehall struck first. Nigel Linton capped off a 10-play drive with a three-yard touchdown run. Connor Fenstermaker’s kick was good and Zephyrs led 7-0.
Whitehall’s Nigel Linton scores from 3-yards out. 7-0 Whitehall over Southern Lehigh. 8:40, 1st quarter @ZephyrAthletics @whitehall_hs @zephyr_nation15 @ZephyrsFootball @solehispartans @SLHSspartans @slspartannation @solehighsd @epafootball pic.twitter.com/UHjgjJSqQP
— D11Sports (@D11Sports) November 8, 2020
Southern Lehigh answered their drive with a 12-play, 67 yard drive. Logan Shorb scored from 10-yards out . Ayden Scharper’s PAT was good. With 3:21 left in the first quarter, we were tied at seven.
Southern Lehigh’s Logan Shorb goes in from 10-yards out. Tied at 7. 3:21 1st quarter @ZephyrAthletics @whitehall_hs @zephyr_nation15 @ZephyrsFootball @solehispartans @SLHSspartans @slspartannation @solehighsd @epafootball pic.twitter.com/qpqwgiIGmX
— D11Sports (@D11Sports) November 8, 2020
With 22 seconds left in the first quarter, Wentling hit Ryan Kovalchick for a 40-yard touchdown pass. Zephyrs led 14-7 as the quarter wound down.
Whitehall’s Quinn Wentling hits Ryan Kovalchick for a 40-yard TD pass. Whitehall lead Southern Lehigh 14-7. End of 1st quarter @ZephyrAthletics @whitehall_hs @zephyr_nation15 @ZephyrsFootball @solehispartans @SLHSspartans @slspartannation @solehighsd @epafootball pic.twitter.com/gPCccdw5cl
— D11Sports (@D11Sports) November 8, 2020
Shorb added his second touchdown of the first half. This time from 12 yards out with 10:34 left in the half. We were tied at 14.
Southern Lehigh’s Logan Shorb goes in from 12-yards out. Tied at 14. 10:34 2nd quarter @ZephyrAthletics @whitehall_hs @zephyr_nation15 @ZephyrsFootball @solehispartans @SLHSspartans @slspartannation @solehighsd @epafootball pic.twitter.com/RT83cF13el
— D11Sports (@D11Sports) November 8, 2020
With under a minute to go in the first half, Damonte Foreman scored from two yards out and the Zephyrs went into halftime leading 21-14.
Halftime: Whitehall 21, Southern Lehigh 14 @ZephyrAthletics @whitehall_hs @zephyr_nation15 @ZephyrsFootball @solehispartans @SLHSspartans @slspartannation @solehighsd @epafootball Whitehall scores right before halftime. pic.twitter.com/9SajPKe97R
— D11Sports (@D11Sports) November 8, 2020
Southern Lehigh started the second half off with an 80-yard drive capped off by Shorb’s third touchdown of the game. The game was tied at 21 with 6:19 left in the third quarter.
Southern Lehigh’s Logan Shorb goes in from 3-yards out. Tied at 21. 6:19 3rd quarter @ZephyrAthletics @whitehall_hs @zephyr_nation15 @ZephyrsFootball @solehispartans @SLHSspartans @slspartannation @solehighsd @epafootball pic.twitter.com/lVGGwYX7Ab
— D11Sports (@D11Sports) November 8, 2020
The Zephyrs answered right back. Wentling found Anthony Sabbagh for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Whitehall went back up 28-21.
Whitehall’s Quinn Wentling hits Anthony Sabbagh for a 35-yard TD pass. Whitehall leads 28-21 with 3:45 left in 3rd quarter. @ZephyrAthletics @whitehall_hs @zephyr_nation15 @ZephyrsFootball @solehispartans @SLHSspartans @slspartannation @solehighsd @epafootball pic.twitter.com/GfAWUglIBE
— D11Sports (@D11Sports) November 8, 2020
With 13 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Nigel Linton broke free and went 64 yards for the score. Whitehall led 35-21.
Whitehall’s Nigel Linton goes 64-yards for the score. They lead 35-21 with 13 seconds left in 3rd quarter. @ZephyrAthletics @whitehall_hs @zephyr_nation15 @ZephyrsFootball @solehispartans @SLHSspartans @slspartannation @solehighsd @epafootball pic.twitter.com/tL4OykP1EW
— D11Sports (@D11Sports) November 8, 2020
Southern Lehigh cut into Whitehall’s lead. JC Rizzuto found Jayden Henry for the 13-yard touchdown pass. The kick was no good and the Zephyrs led 35-27 with 8:49 left in the game.
Southern Lehigh’s JC Rizzuto hits Jayden Henry for a 13-yard TD pass. Whitehall leads 35-27 with 8:49 remaining in game. @ZephyrAthletics @whitehall_hs @zephyr_nation15 @ZephyrsFootball @solehispartans @SLHSspartans @slspartannation @solehighsd @epafootball pic.twitter.com/lUBLYRkVsn
— D11Sports (@D11Sports) November 8, 2020
Whitehall’s Tommy Bushkirk hauled in an eight-yard touchdown pass from Wentling to seal the win for the Zephyrs.
Whitehall’s Quinn Wentling hits Tommy Buskirk for a 8-yard TD pass. They lead Southern Lehigh 42-27. 3:34 left in the game. @ZephyrAthletics @whitehall_hs @zephyr_nation15 @ZephyrsFootball @solehispartans @SLHSspartans @slspartannation @solehighsd @epafootball pic.twitter.com/RtBYVIsuHJ
— D11Sports (@D11Sports) November 8, 2020
Sunday, November 08, 2020 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
Southern Lehigh | 7 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 34 |
Whitehall | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
FIRST QUARTER
WH: Nigel Linton 3-yard run (Connor Fenstermaker kick) 8:40
SL: Logan Shorb 10 run (Ayden Scharper kick) 3:21
WH: Ryan Kovalchick 40 pass from Quinn Wentling (Connor Fenstermaker kick) 0:22
SECOND QUARTER
SL: Shorb 12 run (Ayden Scharper kick) 10:34
WH: Damonte Foreman 2 run (Connor Fenstermaker kick) 0:50
THIRD QUARTER
SL: Shorb 3 run (Ayden Scharper kick) 6:19
WH: Anthony Sabbagh 35 pass from Wentling (Connor Fenstermaker kick) 3:45
WH: Nigel Linton 64 run (Connor Fenstermaker) 0:13
FOURTH QUARTER
SL: Jayden Henry 13 pass from JC Rizzuto (Connor Fenstermaker kick failed) 8:49
WH: Tommy Buskirk 8 pass from Wentling (Connor Fenstermaker kick) 3:34
SL: Tyler Houser 34 pass from Rizzuto (Ayden Scharper kick) 1:34