The Eastern Conference Class AA championship features the defending champion North Schuylkill (8-3) taking on Northwestern (8-3), who aren't as familiar with the post-season as the Spartans team. Both teams picked up impressive wins in the semifinals last week, with the Tigers clubbing Nanticoke 50-21 and the Spartans downing North Penn 28-6.

The Spartans come in to Tigers Stadium having put together an impressive streak of wins. North Schuylkill was at 4-3 this season when it went on to win three straight regular season games to finish at 7-3 and gain the number two seed in the Eastern Conference field. Their streak started with a win over Mahanoy Area that gave the Spartans momentum down the stretch. For Northwestern head coach Josh Snyder, having the game at home is a big plus for his team.

"I think it's huge, getting the first seed," said Snyder. "It's great for our seniors to have another opportunity to play in Tigers Stadium and I know they want to go out on top. They've done a great job leading our team all year and they want to come out and win a championship."

A key for North Schuylkill has been the play of both their offensive and defensive lines this season. Last week, the Spartans defense surrendered just 109 yards of total offense against North Penn and on the season, they've allowed an average of just under 15 points per game.

"North Schuylkill teams are always big, physical and they play downhill and are tough kids," said Snyder.

Early in the season, North Schuylkill was using an option offense, but found that it just wasn't working. Coach Wally Hall changed things up to use his big offensive line more effectively and geared his offense to run straight ahead, relying on his linemen to open holes. The change worked and the offense started to find success.

Running back Auston Hummel picked up a career-high 186 yards against North Penn on 23 carries. Hummel, who is a senior, is the featured back on the Spartans offense, but wasn't available to play in last year's Eastern Conference playoffs due to an injury.

Northwestern has used its ground game with Harry Hall getting the majority of the work. Like Hummel, Hall also set a career-high last week with 237 yards rushing on 17 carries.

Hall's numbers could have been much larger, but the first team got some needed time off late in the game against the Trojans.

On the season, Hall is now over the 1,500 yard mark, quite an accomplishment for a sophomore running back.

Defensively, the Tigers haven't gotten the respect that they deserve. None of the Tigers defensive members were chosen to the Colonial League's first team in the recent list of All-League players.

Outside linebacker Taylor Breininger, who has three interceptions and four fumble recoveries on the year, was voted onto the second team defensive unit as was Richardson for his play as a defensive back. Breininger had a fumble recovery that he returned 31 yards for a touchdown last week against Nanticoke.

Guard Mackenzie Storm was the only member of the Northwestern offense voted onto the All-League offensive first team. Center Jacob Najarian, tackle Christian Snyder and tight end Justin Betz along with Hall and Richardson were all voted onto the second-team unit.

Snyder knows that facing the defending Eastern Conference champions will be a tough test for his team, but believes the Tigers are up to the task.

"They're a good football team," he said. "I'm sure they would have liked to get to districts too, and sometimes, like us, you play with a little chip on your shoulder because you just want to prove yourself. So it should be a good matchup."