The Whitehall football team’s journey this season was at times a roller coaster ride, filled with plenty of highs and lows, but they reached the pinnacle last Friday evening in Bethlehem as they became the District 11 5A champs, defeating Southern Lehigh 35-14 for the title.

What began in the summer when the Zephyrs emerged as victors at Penn State and Lehigh, helped lay a successful foundation that carried them through some tough times, which ultimately brought them a district championship, establishing them as the first team to win a D-11 5A championship within the newly formatted PIAA classification brackets.

It’s their first district title since 1997, and head coach Brian Gilbert saw a spark of something special when they began to find a way to win the passing camps they attended in August.

“We’ve been talking about it since the summer, and it’s a lot of hard work; we had a lot of ups and downs and a lot of adversity, but this team overcame them and this is what happens,” said Gilbert.

They did it the same way as they had all season, striking for big plays as Kasai Harrison and Dez Boykin had two touchdowns apiece, each one covering at least thirty yards as the Zephyrs rolled up 219 yards through the air on their way to the title.

Harrison now has five touchdowns in their last three games, emerging as the team’s secret weapon.

“I didn’t know it was going to happen this week,” said Harrison who was sporting a gold medal around his neck. “They told me to play hard, so I played hard, and I got open.”

Harrison’s first score was a 39-yard screen pass that knotted the score at seven. This was after the Spartans stopped Tavion George on a 4th and inches at their own 16-yard line, but Whitehall’s defense forced a three-and-out and they took over again at the Spartan 39-yard line.

On their first play from scrimmage, Gilbert found Harrison on the bubble screen, and the senior receiver got loose for a 39-yard score.

With that completion, Gilbert became Whitehall’s single season passing leader. He needed 63 yards to eclipse Chad Schwenk’s mark of 2,163 set in 1998. His earlier 42-yard connection with Harrison on their first possession of the game set the stage for accomplishing the feat on the TD pass.

The senior signal caller finished the game with 219 yards on just seven completions, including three TDs.

Harrison’s other touchdown came on a sweep as he navigated some heavy traffic en route to a dazzling 54-yard score.

“On that one, I just saw the cut back, so I just cut back and outran everybody,” said Harrison.

Zach Gilbert knew how important their summer was in establishing chemistry with his receivers, and while he said that some may have described their success at these camps as a fluke, he knew they could duplicate that in the regular season. And with his offensive line giving him time, he delivered to a talented cast of skill players that ultimately brought them a championship.

“Our O-line has done a tremendous job, the best O-line in the area, and our defense played great tonight,” said Zach Gilbert. “It was an awesome victory.”

One of his main targets this year has been Boykin. Boykin was instrumental in the helping them win the championship, catching four balls for 105 yards against the Spartans. With those four receptions, he now owns the single season record for catches, passing Tyler Artim for the top spot. Boykin’s now at 68 for the year.

Boykin’s first touchdown proved to the backbreaker. He cut across the middle on a clear route and everyone in white started chasing No. 3, but to no avail. His 70-yard touchdown gave them a 28-14 lead midway through the third quarter and effectively shut the door on the Spartans.

“I knew I had to get it. It was key to get it,” said Boykin.

Zach Gilbert said that after falling short of a playoff berth last season, they were determined to correct that this season.

“After last season, and the disappointment, I just told Dez that next year we’re going to make some noise,” said Zach Gilbert. “Starting in May, June and August, we were out there throwing just me and him until it was dark out.”

That proved to be a potent combo throughout the season, extending all the way through to the championship game.

The game began with Southern Lehigh chewing up yards on the ground as Luke Strauss was slashing his way through the line. They were able to turn their first possession into six points as they marched 65 yards in 17 plays, capped by a Strauss 10-yard run.

That would be Southern Lehigh’s formula the rest of the game as they relied on their running attack, gaining 224 yards on the ground, with Strauss getting the lion’s share of the carries for 158 yards.

However, the Spartans hurt their own cause with penalties, committing numerous offsides infractions that stalled drives. During the third quarter as they were mounting a drive, they were flagged for a series of penalties that had them facing a 2nd and 30 at their own 41-yard line. But they were able to overcome that hole, converting on 4th and 7 that eventually led to a Strauss 23-yard run.

That TD drew them within seven points of the Zephs at 21-14 with 6:56 left in the third quarter. It also injected life in both the team and their fans, and Bethlehem School District Stadium was now alive with the hopes of a Spartan victory.

With the Spartans seizing the momentum after that score, Whitehall looked to one of their dynamic playmakers and dialed up that clear route on third down which Boykin turned into a 70-yard score.

“That was a big third down play,” said Gilbert. “We got stuffed; we had a penalty, and then on third down Zach hits Dez down the middle and it was awesome.”

From that point, the Zephs defense threw up a brick wall and they walked off the field as district champions.