When senior quarterback Luke Spang left last Friday night’s District 11 semifinal game with an injury late in the first half, the Parkland High School football team knew that classmate and running back Trey Tremba would need to step up for the Trojans to have any chance of winning.

The Army commit took control of the game both offensively and defensively in helping lead the top seed, Parkland (12-0 overall), to a 21-14 victory over the fifth seed, Emmaus, last Friday night in a District 11 6A semifinal round game at Parkland Area School District Stadium.

Tremba rushed 33 times for 220 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the second half to put his team back out in front on the scoreboard. He also had the game-sealing interception to stave off the Green Hornets’ (6-6) final drive looking to tie back up the game. Tremba also proved to be the senior vocal leader, talking to backup quarterbacks Osmany Guzman and Blake Nassry.

“I knew that I needed to step up and the line made great blocks for me,” said Tremba. “I just told myself this would be the hardest second half I have played in my life, and everybody worked hard to get the win. I was talking to them (the backup quarterbacks) before each play, making sure they knew what to do. At the end of the day, we’re EPC champs and we knew that we had heart and would get the job done.”

Spang actually opened up the game’s scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run with 4:09 left in the first quarter. Josiah Williams of Emmaus answered with a 15-yard touchdown run just 0:49 into the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7, which is what the game would be heading into halftime.

Tremba then, took control of the game for his team in the second half. He punctuated a 73-yard drive with a 29-yard run for the only score of the third quarter. After the Green Hornets tied the score again on yet another rushing touchdown by Williams early in the fourth quarter, Tremba returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards and then finished off the job with a 48-yard touchdown run to put his team back on top, 21-14, with 9:22 remaining.

The Green Hornets got the ball back two more times with chances to score points, but could not. They went three-and-out on their next possession and then, after a defensive stop of Parkland, got the ball back with 0:33 remaining, but Tremba sealed the deal with an interception.

“Our defense really stepped up,” Tremba said. “We knew we’d have to hold them in the second half. They made the plays.”

Parkland will now play the team that most fans expected in the district final as they will take on the second seed, Nazareth, this Friday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium, in a rematch of a week four matchup during the regular season on Sept. 15, where the Trojans pulled out a 31-24 victory. Aside from this most recent game with Emmaus, that was the closest margin of victory for Parkland all season long.