Lampeter-Strasburg hopes to join Manheim Central, Lancaster Catholic as PIAA champs
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Lampeter-Strasburg rarely trailed during the regular season but to reach their first PIAA championship game the Pioneers have needed to pull off a pair of impressive comebacks the last two weeks.
First, in the state quarterfinal (and District 3 Class 4A championship) against Wyomissing, quarterback Caileb Howse converted a clutch fourth-and-13 pass on the final drive to set up the tying touchdown and PAT with 28 second left in regulation.
Once in overtime the Pioneers blocked a field goal attempt – the first against Wyomissing all season — then won it on the next play when Peter Fiorello booted his third field goal for a 30-27 win.
In the state semifinals the Pioneers trailed 16-3 at half before Howse sparked them to a 20-16 victory.
“They just don’t quit,” Pioneers coach Victor Ridenour said of his team. “It’s been that way for a long time at L-S, even before I was there. Our kids just don’t know how to surrender. They just keep getting after it.”
The Pioneers (14-0) will get after it for the final time this season Thursday at 7 p.m. at Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field when they meet Bonner-Prendergast for the Class 4A championship.
It will be the second of six championship games this week, with Port Allegany (14-0) and Bishop Guilfoyle (14-1) kicking things off Thursday at 1 in the Class 1A championship game.
Only one defending champ has made it back to Mechanicsburg, St. Joseph’s Prep, which has won the last two Class 6A championships, five of the last six and six of the last eight.
The Hawks (10-2) have won seven straight games since a 35-34, four-overtime loss to Philadelphia Catholic League rival La Salle College. St. Joe’s other loss came in the season opener to St. Edwards of Ohio.
The Hawks face Pittsburg Central Catholic (12-2), which is bidding for its fifth title and first since 2015. St. Joseph’s Prep has won eight times in 10 championship appearances. It last lost in the 2021 title game to Mount Lebanon.
Only one other team from last year’s championships returns, Northwestern Lehigh, which lost to Belle Vernon in the Class 3A title game. The Tigers (15-0) haven’t lost since. They’ll face Avonworth (12-3), which is making its second title game appearance; it lost to Southern Columbia 74-7 in Class 2A in 2019. This is Northwestern Lehigh’s second appearance in a championship game.
One other District 3 team has reached Week 16: Bishop McDevitt. The Crusaders (13-2) are in the championship game for the third time in four years. They lost to Aliquippa 34-27 in 2021 and beat the Quips the next year, 41-18.
McDevitt beat Exeter 48-14 in the state quarterfinals (and District 3 championship) before holding off Pine-Richland 28-14 last week.
McDevitt faces Roman Catholic (11-4), which has reached the championship game for the first time. The Cahillites finished the regular season 6-4 with losses in Weeks 9 and 10 to Catholic League rivals St. Joseph’s Prep (48-20) and La Salle College (35-16). Their other losses came to Bonner-Prendergast (38-30) and Dematha Catholic of Maryland.
After facing that regular season gauntlet Roman has breezed through the postseason, winning its five games by an average of 33 points.
The only match-up of unbeatens comes in Class 2A where Central Clarion (14-0) faces Troy (15-0). Neither team had won a PIAA Tournament game before this season.
In Class 1A, Port Allegany (14-0) meets Bishop Guilfoyle (14-1). Guilfoyle is playing in the championship game for the sixth time and has lost only once. It’s last title came in 2021 over Redbank Valley. Port Allegany is playing in its first championship.
Lampeter-Strasburg had never won a state playoff game before this season, losing each of its previous three semifinals.
The Pioneers are led by Howse, the Outstanding Back and Offensive Back of the Year and a first-team defensive back in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Their other all-league picks include Linebacker of the Year Emory Fluhr, also a first-team tight end; running back Dominick Brown; center and long-snapper Carson Zook; guard Hudson Crutchfield; two-way first-team lineman Collin Shelley; Athlete and linebacker Danny Weichler; defensive end Jai Steberger; defensive back Christian Nolt; and Fiorello, as placekicker.
The Pioneers are the fifth Lancaster-Lebanon League program to play for a championship following Wilson, Conestoga Valley, Manheim Central, and Lancaster Catholic. Only the Barons and Crusaders have won.
The Bulldogs were the first team from the league to make it to a state championship game, in 1989.
Lancaster Catholic won the 2A championship in 2009 and 2011, both under Bruce Harbach, who’s currently the head coach at Schuylkill Valley.
Manheim Central has made four title-game appearances, winning its only title in a classic: It beat Pine-Richland 39-38 in two overtimes in 2003. The Barons lost in their most recent appearance, 2018, against Penn Hills.
Wyomissing was a state champ in 2012 but it was not a member of the Lancaster-Lebanon League at the time. It is the only Berks team to win a state football champion.
This is the PIAA’s 36th state tournament; the first was played in 1988. The inaugural champs were Pittsburgh Central Catholic (4A), Berwick (3A), Bethlehem Catholic (2A), and Camp Hill (1A).
Last year’s champions: St. Joseph’s Prep (6A), Imhotep Charter (5A), Aliquippa (4A), Belle Vernon (3A), Southern Columbia (2A), and Steel-High (1A).
Southern Columbia will see its string of seven straight championships officially come to an end Friday when Central Clarion and Troy kick off.
The Tigers had a rare offseason, finishing 7-5. They opened the season with a 35-21 loss at Wyomissing and lost Heartland Conference league games to Mount Carmel, Danville, and Mifflinburg. They were ousted in the District 2 semifinals by Troy, 69-28.
Lancaster-Lebanon League teams in PIAA finals
| Year | Class | Team | Opponent | Result |
| 2024 | 4A | Lampeter-Strasburg | Bonner-Prendergast | |
| 2018 | 5A | Manheim Central | Penn Hills | L, 36-31 |
| 2011 | 2A | Lancaster Catholic | Tyrone | W, 17-7 |
| 2009 | 3A | Manheim Central | Selinsgrove | L, 10-7 |
| 2009 | 2A | Lancaster Catholic | Greensburg Central | W, 21-14 |
| 2004 | 3A | Manheim Central | Thomas Jefferson | L, 56-20 |
| 2003 | 3A | Manheim Central | Pine-Richland | W, 39-38 2 OT |
| 1991 | 3A | Conestoga Valley | Strong Vincent | L, 29-20 |
| 1989 | 4A | Wilson | Upper St. Clair | L, 12-7 |
Championship match-ups, schedule
| 6A | St. Joseph’s Prep (10-2) | Pitts. Cent. Cath. (12-2) | Saturday, 7:00 |
| 5A | Roman Catholic (11-4) | Bishop McDevitt (13-2) | Friday, 7:00 |
| 4A | Bonner-Prendergast (11-2) | Lampeter-Strasburg (14-0) | Thursday, 7:00 |
| 3A | Avonworth (12-3) | NW Lehigh (15-0) | Saturday, 1:00 |
| 2A | Central Clarion (14-0) | Troy (15-0) | Friday, 1:00 |
| 1A | Port Allegany (14-0) | Bishop Guilfoyle (14-1) | Thursday, 1:00 |