Reaching a state championship game is just a dream for most high school football players.

Playing in three state title game seems more like a fantasy.

Northwestern senior Shane Leh and his teammates lived out that fantasy over the past three seasons.

“Everyone wants to make a state championship or even get to the state playoffs,” said Leh, Northwestern’s starting quarterback the past three years. “In my opinion, before starting, that’s kind of a lofty goal.

“As the games went on it kept coming closer and closer. We kind of figured it out, winning state playoff games and winning a state championship [in 2024]. It kind of came natural for us.”

It came natural not only because of the talent on the roster, but also because the team loved the game and played together. Winning became a culture. A habit.

“Our senior class and the senior class before us, everyone loved football,” said Leh. “That was another key to our success was the love for the game. Everyone loved it and wanted to keep winning.”

At the center off all those wins was Leh, the team’s calming presence.

He had his best season statistically as a senior. But it was his leadership that stood out most, and what helped earn him the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Football Player of the Year award.

“It’s a real honor, and I’m super-excited I won this award,” he said. “But I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. I always have to give credit to my teammates because my success depends on their success. That’s what it’s all about.”

As quarterback, Leh had to be a leader when he earned the starting role as a sophomore in 2023. This season, with some new players stepping into starting roles, his leadership was needed even more.

“He’s not a guy who is going to get in someone’s face,” said Northwestern head coach Josh Snyder. “He leads by example with his mannerisms. He has a quiet confidence. He never gets real high or real low. In the biggest games he played his best football.”

In 2025, Leh led the most potent offense the Tigers ever put on the field.

His team set school records in points scored (692), passing yards (2,897) and total yards (6,568).

This fall, Leh set single-season records for passing yards (2,660), completions (160), attempts (234), completion percentage (68.4) and passing touchdowns (31).

Only three of his throws were intercepted. He also ran the ball 69 times for 286 yards and four touchdowns.

Leh holds Tiger career records in passing yards (6,070), passing touchdowns (79), completions (403), completion percentage (64.6) and attempts (624).

He led his team to a 15-1 season in 2025, and a 46-2 record over three years, including three straight unbeaten regular seasons. The Tigers’ only losses the past three seasons have come in state title games.

His football career will continue next fall at Marist University. It began in Barto Township in the Upper Perkiomen area.

Leh was introduced to the game by his father, Shawn. They threw the pigskin around in the back yard, with Shane trying to mimic catches by Odell Beckham or make scrambling throws like his favorite team’s former QB, Ben Roethlisberger.

Leh started playing quarterback in the Upper Perk youth leagues in second grade before moving to Northwestern in middle school.

“It was a big transition,” he said. “This community and my teammates welcomed me with open arms. It’s been smooth sailing ever since. Northwestern just made me one of their own. I’m not ‘homegrown’ as they say, but they turned me into a homegrown person and welcomed me in their community and family.”

When Leh looks back on his high school career, he thinks of great plays and games — his two touchdown runs in the state semifinal in 2023 and Eli Zimmerman’s touchdown to seal the 2024 state title.

He holds other memories just as fondly. Ones that didn’t result in wins or titles, but brought his team closer together.

“After games we play music and party it up in the locker room,” he said. “Those are fun memories of just hanging out with your teammates after a big win.

“Practice too. We practiced our tails off this year and took it seriously. But we also knew how to have fun while doing it. That’s another huge memory, every single practice. You have to cherish all the moments.”

An entire community cherished many of those moments along with the players.

“If you go to a Tiger football game, they know how to pack the stands,” said Leh of the fan base. “I see posts on Facebook hyping us up. They wait after the game to see us and congratulate. Even after a loss. Both times we lost in the state championship, when we came back the stadium was packed for the medal ceremony.”

It’s been close to a month since Leh and his teammates took the field together for the last time.

“It was very emotional,” Leh said. “This is the sport that introduced me to Northwestern, and some of my best friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life. Looking back on it, I’m starting to see what we accomplished and the things we’ve done here at Northwestern.

“I’m super proud of it. Losing in the state championship stinks, but the legacy my senior class leaves is awesome, and the relationships we’ve built. I’m really glad I got to do it with this group.”