Varsity Football Rebounding from Struggling Season Start

Alex Baca, Staff Reporter

October 4, 2012

Spartan football players take the field.

The 2012 Southern Lehigh High School varsity football team got off to a slow start this season, losing their first three games, despite the fact they were picked to win the league championship in several pre-season polls published by local newspapers.

In their season opener, Southern Lehigh faced the Northern Lehigh Bulldogs, losing 33-7.The following week, The Catasauqua Rough Riders handed the Spartans their second loss of the season, 49-8. The Spartans then fell against the Bangor Slaters, 41-14, the following week.

“I do not feel good about the struggling start of the season,” Coach Steve Schrader said, “Whenever we are involved in something competitive it does not feel good to lose. Our team needs to compete with a better mental attitude going into the game.”

On September 21st, the week after Bangor, the Spartans played against the Northwestern Lehigh Tigers. The Spartans had their first win of the season when they creamed the Tigers 46-10. That night, the team went from being dominated to a team that now dominates.

At Southern Lehigh’s Homecoming game, in a shocking upset, the Spartans defeated the previously undefeated Pen Argyl Green Knights 28-20 in their homecoming game. With under a minute to go, Travis Edmond intercepted a pass on the goal line to clinch the win for the Spartans.

The Spartans hope to continue their winning trend.

“If our team continues to work hard within our system and continues to improve upon their talent then the season will take care of itself,” Schrader said with a positive attitude.

About the Contributor

Alex Baca, Web Editor

In his senior year as web editor, Alex Baca helped revamp our website and made sure that our online community stayed well-informed on all things Southern Lehigh. Alex joined The Spotlight staff as a freshman; however, he took a break from journalism his sophomore year and rejoined his junior year as a staff reporter.

“I love having informative conversations in the pub lab and interviewing people,” Baca said.

Next year, Baca plans to study cartography, which is the science of drawing maps, at Northampton Community College. He would eventually like to transfer Temple University to accomplish his dream of becoming a cartographer.

Outside of The Spotlight, Baca participated in wrestling for all four years of high school and played football for two years. In his free time, Baca likes to watch television, listen to music, surf the internet, and work out.

“I love [wrestling] and I plan on participating in club wrestling after high school,” he said.

Baca will miss seeing his friends, and his sociology class, but he looks forward to having more free time.

“Freshmen and sophomores, [get ready to] push yourself,” he said. “Juniors, get ready to relax.”