Throughout the season, Whitehall’s offense has been potent and consistent. Too often, the Zephyr’s defensive effort often has gotten overlooked.

Against Pocono Mountain East in the District 11 Class 5A championship, Whitehall’s defense rose to the occasion at the right time.

The Zephyrs’ defense shut down the Cardinals and held them to 69 yards in the second half, as they rolled to a 35-21 victory. They gained their sixth district title in the last 10 years. Whitehall dropped a 22-17 decision to East Stroudsburg South district final last season.

“I’m proud of our defensive effort in the second half,” beamed Whitehall head coach Andy Marino. “Our defense has been getting better every game. We had a revolving door at linebacker, but we have found our rhythm the last few games.

“Our offensive line took over the game in the second half. We dominated the line of scrimmage.”

Senior running back Justin Hussett carried the bulk of the offensive load for the Zephyrs, running for 137 yards on 21 carries with a touchdown. Hussett credits a more disciplined approach this season.

“I feel like I’ve been running the ball really well this season,” said Hussett. “I’ve been more patient and trusted my blockers, which has helped me find better lanes and make big plays.”

Hussett saw a difference after halftime.

“In the second half, the difference was our energy and execution. The offensive line did their thing, and we just kept our foot on the gas. Everyone locked in and finished strong.

Hussett also relished bringing the district title back to Whitehall.

“Winning another district title means a lot,” gushed Hussett. “After that happened last year, we came back hungry and focused. All the offseason work, especially those long sessions at THY paid off in a big way.”

Zephyrs’ junior quarterback Tanner Dogmanits, who completed 12 of 14 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown and ran for 75 yards with a score, watched his team refocus after halftime.

“No, we didn’t lose any confidence,” stressed Dogmanits. “East is a good team, and we knew that it was going to be a close game because it was the championship. In the second half, we controlled the speed of the game, which was ideal for us.

“We took time off the clock with our run game, and stopped their offense.”

Senior defensive lineman James Hopkins also cherished the outcome. He also appreciates a tight team bond.

“It was really big and felt great, especially after last year’s heartbreak,” reflected Hopkins. “I’m proud of this team and the hard work they put into accomplishing that goal.

“Our team really showed grit and determination. We really fought through all the adversity, and it just shows how much our team trusts one another.”

Whitehall (10-2) will meet District 12 Roman Catholic (8-3) Friday at home at 7 p.m.

It will be yet another test for the gritty Zephyrs.

“Roman Catholic is an explosive team,” said Marino. “We look forward to playing them.”

“We know Roman Catholic is a very good team, so we have to look at film early and have to stay locked in at practice,” added Dogmanits.

ZEPHYRS ZITES: Whitehall’s last appearance in a state game was 2023 when they lost to Delaware Valley, 56-20, in an opening-round game ... Dogmanits has thrown for 2,172 yards with 23 touchdowns and five interceptions, and he has rushed for 493 yards with 11 touchdowns ... Hussett has rushed for 561 yards with seven touchdowns ... Hopkins has 28 tackles and three sacks ... Braidyn Delvalle and Iskander Blanco share the team lead in tackles with 43, but Delvalle missed the PME game with an injury ... Blanco and Henry Schultz each had seven tackles against PME ... Roman Catholic routed Olney, 48-0, in their title game, and they have won four-straight ... Roman Catholic quarterback Semaj Beals has thrown for over 2,000 yards.

PREDICTION: Whitehall truly has a balanced team in both sides of the ball, and the Zephyrs have depth. They have shown plenty of moxie with their second-half stints, and they can’t be counted on early. It will be a different look with a Philadelphia Catholic League team, but we have to keep riding the Whitehall wave. A cheesesteak from SMP Mini-Mart (maybe some fries, too) from the Dogmanits brothers sounds good … ZEPHYRS, 28-21.