HS Football: Turnovers plague Blue Mountain in shutout loss to Southern Lehigh
Bllue Mountain's Brody Foose is brought down after a nice run during Friday's game at Southern Lehigh (Photo by Brook Koch-Guers).
CENTER VALLEY — In a game against a tough opponent, turnovers can be fatal flaws.
Such was the case for Blue Mountain in its Schuylkill-Colonial Red Division opener Friday night against Southern Lehigh.
The Eagles turned over the ball three times and the Spartans converted all three into touchdowns en route to a 28-0 victory.
Southern Lehigh, the defending District 11 Class 4A champion, improves to 2-0 while Blue Mountain falls to 0-2.
The Eagles’ first turnover came on their first offensive play as Jacoby Jacobs stepped in front of a Cohen Kirby pass eight seconds into the game.
Sean Steckert scored on a 1-yard run five plays later and Southern Lehigh had a 7-0 lead just 2:13 into the contest.
Steckert finished with 142 yards rushing and two touchdowns, both of which came after the Southern Lehigh defense produced a turnover.
The teams exchanged three-and-outs before Jack Pavis caught a tipped pass and returned the interception to the Eagles’ 23. Steckert scored three plays later to put Southern Lehigh up 14-0 with 2:17 left in the first quarter.
Blue Mountain’s third miscue came midway through the second quarter when Evan Przyuski pounced on an Eagles’ fumble near midfield. Six plays later, Colton Sams connected with Darius Roman for a 10-yard touchdown that put the Spartans up 21-0 at intermission.
Sams was 15-of-19 for 127 yards as Southern Lehigh compiled 303 yards of total offense.
Southern Lehigh’s final score came in the third quarter after Steckert returned the kickoff 35 yards, then broke off a 33-yard run. Jacobs’ 11-yard run made it 28-0 three minutes into the third quarter.
Blue Mountain produced just 52 yards of offense in the first half and finished the game with 117 total yards. Brody Foose rushed for 86 yards on 16 carries. Kirby was just 2-for-12 for 12 yards and the Eagles had just seven first downs.
The loss was Blue Mountain’s first road defeat in 11 games dating back to Oct. 14, 2022, at Saucon Valley. It was the first time the Eagles were shut out since falling 14-0 to Bethlehem Catholic in the 2023 District 11 Class 4A playoffs.
