READING – Northwestern saved some of its best football of the season for the second half of its PIAA Class 3A semifinal against Trinity. The Tigers outscored the Shamrocks 35-0 after halftime on their way to a 48-13 victory, punching their ticket to the state championship game for the third straight season.

“We know how tough it was to get there the first time. So to get back there for the third straight year is difficult to fathom,” said Northwestern head coach Josh Snyder. “I know when I’m older and I’m retired I’ll really look back and realize how special this run was. I’m just so proud of our program and of our community and all the players who have played for us over the last 14 years. They have all played a part in that.

“I have an amazing coaching staff. We do it the right way. We earned another week of practice in December, so we’re going to get back to work and let it rip at Cumberland Valley next Saturday.”

The Tigers and Shamrocks were tied 13-13 at halftime. Northwestern struck first, taking advantage of an early Trinity fumble recovered by Ethan Steigerwalt at the Shamrocks’ 42. Five plays later, Braxton Lakatosh powered in from nine yards out to make it 6-0 after a failed two-point try.

Trinity answered with its best stretch of the night, scoring on back-to-back possessions to take a 13-6 lead with 2:34 left in the second quarter. The Shamrocks leaned heavily on 6-1, 230-pound sophomore Brandon Harris, who carried 17 times for 82 yards and a touchdown in the opening half. A 10-play drive capped by a seven-yard Harris run tied it, and an 11-play march finished with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Mason Boyer to Maddox Jarzynski put Trinity in front.

But as they often do—especially with the ball coming out of halftime—the Tigers answered late in the half. Northwestern needed just three plays to score, with Shane Leh going 3-for-3 for 65 yards on the drive. He connected with Michael Lagowy in the corner of the end zone for a spectacular 23-yard touchdown grab to make it 13-13.

“Getting that score right before the half was big. And we knew coming out at half with the ball that we had a chance to generate some momentum,” said Leh. “We got the passing game going. We have a ton of weapons and we know good things happen when we get them the ball in space. And then I have to give a ton of credit again to our offensive line. They gave me all the time in the world to do my thing back there.”

It was all Tigers from there.

Northwestern opened the second half with a six-play, 72-yard drive, with Leh finding a wide-open Shane Hulmes on a throwback pass to make it 20-13. On their next possession, the Tigers went 59 yards in six plays, with Leh and Lagowy hooking up again—this time from 22 yards—to push the lead to 27-13.

The Tigers’ third possession of the quarter lasted just one play, as Lakatosh exploded for a 43-yard touchdown to extend the margin to 34-13 heading to the fourth.

Northwestern’s defense dug in during the third quarter, forcing two punts and holding Trinity to just 65 total yards in the period.

“I thought our defense played pretty good overall in the first half, too, except for third down. They were converting time and time again on third down in the first half. But I knew our defensive coaches would figure it out at the half,” Snyder said. “Then our defense settled in, and we were getting those stops in the second half.

“I thought our guys also got more comfortable tackling their big running back in the second half. We were ripping at the ball too much early, and he was carrying guys. But in the second half we went lower on him, and that made a difference at first contact.”

The Tigers’ offense stayed in rhythm in the fourth quarter. Lakatosh broke another big run—a 39-yard score—to extend the lead to 41-13. After Trinity fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Northwestern went 34 yards in six plays, with Brady Zimmerman scoring his 20th total touchdown of the season on a seven-yard run to put the game into the mercy rule with 5:27 remaining.

STAT LINE ... Leh finished 12-of-14 for 197 yards and three touchdowns. Over his last two games, Leh is 29-of-33 for 421 yards, eight TDs and zero interceptions. Lakatosh rushed for 155 yards, averaging 12.9 yards per carry, with three touchdowns. Lagowy led the receivers with four catches for 70 yards and two scores.

SECOND-HALF SHUTOUT ... Northwestern’s defense allowed just 64 yards in the second half and minus-one yard in the fourth quarter.

THE FINAL ... Northwestern has now won 31 straight games and returns to the Class 3A state championship for the third consecutive season. The Tigers will face unbeaten Avonworth in a rematch of last year’s overtime title game won by Northwestern. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. next Saturday at Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley High School.

Northwestern 48, Trinity 13

Northwestern  6 7 21 14 — 48

Trinity  6 7 0 0 — 13

NW — Lakatosh 9 run (run failed)

T — Harris 7 run (kick failed)

T — Jarzynski 16 pass from Boyer (Amatucci kick)

NW — Lagowy 23 pass from Leh (Sukanick kick)

NW — Hulmes 11 pass from Leh (Sukanick kick)

NW — Lagowy 22 pass from Leh (Sukanick kick)

NW — Lakatosh 43 run (Sukanick kick)

NW — Lakatosh 39 run (Sukanick kick)

NW — Zimmerman 7 run (Sukanick kick)