With destiny staring them in the face, the Zephyr football team seized the moment and walked away champions last Saturday night.

By virtue of their 45-3 win over Northampton Area High School on a chilly night at Al Erdosy Stadium, the Zephyrs claim a share of the Lehigh Valley Conference football title.

Not since 2005 can a Zephyr football team call themselves league champions, but on this night, the gridiron gang from Whitehall made sure that champions would be part of their 2012 legacy.

It was something they addressed in preparation for the last game, and head coach Brian Gilbert said his team wanted to leave an imprint on this season. They also had the added incentive of maintaining control over the trophy that's riding on the outcome of this game between these foes separated by the Lehigh River.

"They knew that going in, that the Cement Bowl trophy and a share of the league title were on the line," said Gilbert. "Winning it was really a great feeling. It really says a lot about our players, bouncing back after two losses in their first five games."

Senior receiver Nick Sommer said that with everything at stake the team was determined to get on that bus after a win. He also said that the ring of LVC football champs sounded great, adding it was especially gratifying to the seniors, a group of kids who have been playing together for a long time.

"A lot of our seniors have been playing together since middle school, and we get to end it with an LVC championship," said Sommer. "It was a great feeling."

While Northampton only had one league win this year, the Zephs knew the Kids would be ready to play. There was a lot riding on the game, and the Zephs needed to take care of business to claim a share of the championship.

"That was a big motivation for us," said Sommer. "It's a big rivalry game and the coaches kept pushing us all week, telling us what was at stake."

The Zephs can now look forward to the District XI AAAA playoffs with an opening round game against Delaware Valley High School this Saturday.

The beginning of game against the K-Kids didn't go as planned, or at least follow the script that Gilbert emphasizes every time they take the field. They're fast start was derailed by Northampton who forced a three-and-out, then promptly marched down the field, connecting on a 27-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

The Zephs responded on their next series, striking for a big play, as quarterback Nick Shafnisky hit Nick Sommer in the corner of the end zone, taking a 7-3 lead.

Sommer said he got loose on a wheel route as the cornerback bit on the out move, freeing Sommer for the 20-yard touchdown. The play's success hinged upon what they saw from the defense, taking advantage of some of the K-Kid's tendencies during their preparation.

"It was something we thought we could get," said Sommer. "It worked out for us."

It was Sommer's sixth TD catch of the season, raising his yardage total to 772 for the year. The rapport between Shafnisky and Sommer has been brewing since their days playing flag football in Hokey.

"It's just been all that playing time we've had," said Sommer. "There's a lot of chemistry between us."

That TD pass was preceded by a 29-yard run by Shafnisky who finished the game with 111 yards on the ground, including a score. The senior QB finished the regular season with 992 yards on the ground to go along with 1,366 through the air.

Even with that score, Gilbert believed his team wasn't quite in sync. Whether is was the disruption of practice from Hurricane Sandy , or the eerily quiet venue that was void of school bands, the team didn't get its feet under them until later in the contest.

"We felt we didn't play a great first half," said Gilbert.

Once the Zephs got rolling they made the most of their chances, especially through the air. Shafnisky's three completions went for touchdowns. In addition to Sommer's TD grab, Shafnisky hit with James Wah for a 29-yard score, and Zach Delp got free for a 28-yard scamper.

While the offense may have sputtered a little, their defensive effort remained a constant. They held a proficient Kids offense to just 81 total yards, effectively silencing their big-play potential.

"Our defense played great the whole night," said Gilbert.

That effort was led by Thomas Ritter, Jacob Kerchner, John Johnson and Jacob Wygant who kept the Kids bottled up at the line of scrimmage. They also picked off quarterback Nick Cook twice, with Delp and Saquon Barkley doing the honors.

Gilbert said that the Zephs finished the year strong, rising to each challenge. They were able to capture the title, overcoming a tough loss at home to then Trojans, and closing out the year with five consecutive wins.

"We had a really good season," said Gilbert. "We were happy with the way we finished."

Sommer said the focus is now on the playoffs, trying to earn a district crown to go along with their LVC title.

"This is just one step in the process," said Sommer. "We made districts, and that was one of our goals, so now we also want to win that, too."