Southern Lehigh’s offense was advertised to be a tough out for any defense. Bethlehem Catholic and the EPC found that out first hand during last week’s District 11 4A championship at Catasauqua.

The Spartans ran for 282 yards and broke open a 28-21 halftime lead with three straight scores in the second half to runaway with the 4A crown for the second straight year over the Golden Hawks.

Solehi star running back Sean Steckert showed why he’s a 2,000-yard rusher, totaling 277 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns to steal the show, as Becahi had no answers on slowing down the Spartans ground attack.

“They did a nice job up front running the football and we didn’t go a good enough job stopping it,” said Hawks’ head coach Joe Bernard. “They played very well and executed very well. My hats off to them.”

It was another slow start for the Hawks in the postseason and this time they couldn’t dig themselves out an early hole, as they trailed 20-7 in the second quarter before making a push just before half.

Cayden Vassa punched in a seven-yard run with 1:51 left in the half to make it 20-14, but Solehi answered just over a minute later when Colton Sams threw his second touchdown of the game to Otto Young for a 40-yard score to put them ahead by two scores.

Beca answered quickly when Axel Burkart, who took over for Vassa as the starting quarterback in the second quarter, threw a 17-yard touchdown to Vassa with four seconds left in the period to give Beca a jolt of momentum going into the intermission.

Solehi (12-1) padded their cushion again to open the second half, going 63 yards on nine plays, capped by a one-yard Steckert score. That was the only touchdown of the period to put the Spartans ahead 35-21.

Beca tried their hand at staying in the game, but were hurt by penalties.

The Hawks had a 48-yard reception negated by a personal foul call in the third quarter as they trailed by two scores. Beca was in the redzone trailing by three scores, but a Jack Pavis interception sealed Beca’s fate.

Vassa finished the night with 54 passing yards and a touchdown, to go along with a rushing and receiving score.

Burkart was 9-for-17, throwing for 168 yards and two scores, as well as the fourth quarter interception.

The Spartans didn’t commit a penalty on 62 offensive snaps, while Becahi was snake bitten with seven penalties for 67 yards.

The Hawks finish the season 8-5 in Bernard’s first year at the helm and return plenty of underclassmen to next year’s team.

“I thought our kids bought in to what we were trying to do,” said Bernard. “The senior leadership was great and they played hard. I’m proud of this group of seniors and I’m going to miss them.”