MECHANICSBURG — It took just one play to see how much different this year’s Avonworth offense was from the one-dimensional unit Northwestern Lehigh faced in last year’s state championship.

The Antelopes hit for a long touchdown pass on their first play from scrimmage and went to the air every time they needed a big play in a 31-7 win over defending state champ Northwestern in the PIAA Class 3A championship game.

After running mostly a wildcat offense in last year’s state title game, Avonworth (15-0) relied much more heavily on their passing game Saturday at Cumberland Valley High School, with senior quarterback Carson Bellinger throwing for 248 yards.

“We knew they had it in the arsenal,” Tiger head coach Josh Snyder said of the Lopes’ passing game. “[Running back] Luca [Neal] played receiver all season long, minus last week. We knew No. 6 (Jaden Jones) could go get it. He made plays.

“I thought we did pretty well against the run. Every time they got in trouble, they threw a 50-50 ball and they completed 100 percent of them. We stuck in there in the second half and got a couple turnovers. We just couldn’t get our offense going.”

Jones, a 6-foot-3 sophomore who missed most of last season with an injury, caught seven of Bellinger’s nine completions for 187 yards and a score.

Jones hauled in a 53-yard touchdown pass on his team’s first play from scrimmage, and caught five passes of 10 yards or more. Four of his catches came on third downs, and allowed his team to keep the chains moving.

“He’s special,” Bellinger said of Jones. “You saw it today. I can put it up in the air, and he’ll go get it anywhere. He’s a great player.”

The Avonworth defense forced a three-and-out to get its offense the ball near midfield. The first play wasn’t predetermined, but if Jones was left in single coverage, the Antelopes planned to get him the ball right away.

“We were just going to come out and see what they were giving us,” said Bellinger. “We got a 1-on-1 with our guy, and he went and made a play. That was good to start out. It was huge. The three and out by the defense was phenomenal. Then to go like that is really a spark.

“They don’t play a lot of two-high safety. They like to pack the box to stop the run. We knew coming into it we would be able to take advantage of match ups that we had.”

The Tigers answered the opening score, driving 87 yards in 11 plays with Braxton Lakatosh running in from two yards out to make it 7-7 with 5:11 left in the first quarter.

That was the only score a stout Antelope defense allowed, as it forced three-and-outs on the Tigers’ next two possessions.

Avonworth’s defense surrendered just 187 yards to a Northwestern Lehigh offense that was averaging more than 400 per game. It also came up with stops after each of Avonworth’s four turnovers.

“They have an outstanding defense across the line, and across the back end,” said Snyder. “I thought there were a few plays for us where we could get some traction. We had a breakdown or two here or there. They brought a lot more pressure than we’ve seen them bring. They were pretty good across the front. We ran every play on my play sheet, and still only managed one touchdown.”

Avonworth head coach Duke Johncour sent more pressure than he had all year in an effort to keep Tiger quarterback Shane Leh from getting comfortable. The senior, who was playing in his third straight state title game, didn’t have time in the pocket Saturday while going 12-for-28 for 139 yards with one interception.

“Defensively, we were able to minimize the big play,” said Johncour. “We decided to put in some scheme to put pressure on their quarterback and not give him time back there. When he has time he’s unbelievable. When we did give him time he made some throws, but it was a good game plan by us.”

Avonworth scored on its next four drives, and took the lead for good on its second possession, going 73 yards in six plays, including a 46-yard scamper by Neal that set up his 8-yard touchdown run for a 14-7 lead with 1:52 left in the first quarter.

Neal ran for 123 yards on 21 carries, and scored three times.

He carried the ball just once on a 5-play touchdown drive early in the second quarter that was aided by a 36-yard third-down catch by Jones. Neal ran in from 9-yards out one play after the Jones catch for a 21-7 lead with 9:41 left in the first half.

“They threw probably five or six 50-50 balls to [Jones] and he caught every one,” said Snyder. “Some of those were third down and really long. We’ve got to make plays in those situations.”

A 23-yard Calder Mahan field goal made it 24-7 late in the first half.

Northwestern (15-1) forced turnovers on both of Avonworth’s first two drives after halftime, but the Antelope defense didn’t allow the Tigers to move past midfield after either turnover.

Avonworth capped the scoring on an 8-yard run by Neal with 9:01 left. A 37-yard catch by Jones two plays before the score converted a 3rd-and-18 to keep the drive alive.

IT ENDS AT 31 ... The Tigers won 31 straight games before Saturday’s loss, including last year’s state title game when they beat Avonworth in overtime. Their last loss came on Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field against Belle Vernon in the 2023 state title game.

TIGER STATS ... Lakatosh led Northwestern with 46 yards on 12 carries. Four Tiger receivers caught three passes each in the loss, with Shane Hulmes (44 yards) and Mason Bollinger (43 yards) leading the list. Lakatosh and Brady Zimmerman led the defense with seven tackles each. Lakatosh also had a sack.

ROLE REVERSAL ... Just like the Tigers did last year, Avonworth came into this season after a loss in the state title game, but also with the knowledge that it was capable of going all the way. And just like the Tigers did a year ago, the Antelopes got it done while going unbeaten.

A WORTHY ADVERSARY ... The Lopes’ postgame celebration looked and sounded a lot like the one that took place on that same field a year earlier when Northwestern was the victor. “We preach family all the time,” said Johncour. “They stay together and play together and grew up together. That’s what it’s about. Days like this are what high school football is all about, a community team staying strong together and coming through to pull out a state championship.” The state title and unbeaten season are both firsts in the history of Avonworth High School.

Avonworth 31,

Northwestern 7

Avonworth 14 10 0 7 - 31

Northwestern 7 0 0 0 - 7

A - Jones 53 pass from Bellinger (Mahan kick)

NW - Lakatosh 2 run (Sukanick kick)

A - Neal 8 run (Mahan kick)

A - Neal 9 run (Mahan kick)

A - Mahan 21 FG

A - Neal 8 run (Mahan kick)