The Northwestern Lehigh High School football team didn’t need to rely entirely on film of Avonworth playing unfamiliar competition to prepare for Saturday afternoon’s PIAA Class 3A championship game at Cumberland Valley High School.

It will be a state final rematch as the Tigers posted a 36-33 overtime victory over the Antelopes in last season’s 3A state final.

In last year’s classic championship, it was a rushing showdown between Northwestern’s Eli Zimmerman and Avonworth’s Luca Neal. Zimmerman racked up 117 yards and three touchdowns on the ground and Neal recorded 252 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the 2024 matchup. Unfortunately for the Tigers, Zimmerman is now at Bloomsburg University and Neal is still suiting up for the Antelopes.

Neal has taken on more of a receiving rol

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