ROAR: The Story of the Southern Columbia Football Tigers

[ Marching band playing, cheerleaders chanting ] -If Jim Roth coached 40 more years and lost every single game, went 0-10 for 40 years, he would still have a winning record.

-The Tigers of Southern Columbia!

[ Crowd cheers ] [ Indistinct conversations ] [ Locker doors shutting ] -[ Crying ] I'm so sorry!

I'm sorry, man.

-This is a team that they're expected to win a state title year in and year out.

I can't imagine the pressure that adds.

These are kids.

At the same time, they do know the history of the program, and they don't want to be the team that loses a game.

They don't want to be the first team that doesn't win a state title.

And when they sign up, I think they know that, and they're willing to take it on.

-The community embraces Southern football.

-Do it again!

-Just a way of life in a small community.

-The overall size of the district and population has gone down a little bit, and, as a result, our enrollment's gone down.

For the first time, we will not have a freshman team, and all of our freshmen will be coming up to varsity because our numbers are down to the point where we need the freshmen to come up.

If you don't make any effort to learn more about what you're doing, you will have issues.

I'm sure.

Again, you can't get enough reps, both mentally or physically, to get this stuff down.

-Go!

Hold him up.

Hold him up.

Come on, "Pickles"!

Dig him out.

Hold your ground, "Tokey"!

-We're probably doing less than a lot of the other programs.

We like to think that we're very efficient with time... ...because I've learned over the years that younger coaches or younger guys sometimes are about practicing too long and trying to do too much, and... We're going to start the afternoon at 1:30, and we will be done by 3:00.

Our plan is always to play 16 weeks.

That's a long season.

That's another half-season, compared to somebody that plays 10 games.

-Let's go, Isaac.

Boom!

-Oh, that's a boomer.

[ Whistle blows ] -Hey, if you want to kick it in the end zone every time this year, and we don't have to cover it, that's fine.

[ Marching band plays ] He's always been a soccer player.

-It's really difficult because I had a passion for both sports.

So, I made the decision just to kick and play soccer because soccer's been my love since I was young.

Like any good program, there's a standard that you have to meet, and if you don't meet that, it's disappointing.

-"State champs" on 3.

-1, 2, 3, state champs!

-Everybody knows all the wins and the victories and the fanfare for the, you know, the current teams.

I don't think a lot of people knew about the past and some of the struggles that they had had.

-In 1980, you had to be talked in to accepting an assistant coaching job at Southern Columbia because the program was so bad, they were thinking about dropping the program.

1984, he took over as the head coach.

The Southern Columbia Tigers have become a Pennsylvania state power.

[ Applause ] -I can certainly tell you when I went to the winless Southern Columbia Tigers in 1980, I never expected to be standing here today.

-What you see on the sidelines is kind of who he is.

This guy doesn't get frazzled.

-Probably a lot more emotional than what most people see.

I'm not a rah-rah guy.

When you have a losing program, sometimes you develop a culture where you're looking for excuses instead of looking for solutions.

When we started and turned this thing around, we were looking for solutions.

-Coach Roth established an offense that... -Hynoski gets the call.

Southern Columbia, touchdown.

-...is almost near impossible to defend.

-When you work the Wing-T, it's a system.

-That was the system that I wanted to try to go to because it incorporated three running backs.

We're running a system that people don't see a lot, so they have a lot more trouble defending it.

-They even have their young linemen when they're, like, playing peewee football, running their system.

So, by the time we got to high school, it was like second nature to us.

-Obviously, we want to run, like, spread offenses like other schools, but, like, we're just going to listen to our coach.

We're going to listen to what he tells us to do because he knows how to win.

He's been doing this for years.

We haven't.

-I love to throw the ball all over the field, but at the end of the day, Coach Roth knows the way to win.

We've been winning.

I'm not a self-centered player.

I do whatever it takes to get the win.

-We try to approach every year like we have something to prove.

With what they've done, they really shouldn't have a chip on their shoulder.

But we're trying to create one because you need that edge.

-Just working hard at practice every day, pushing them, pushing the other kids.

I think we'll be a pretty solid team this year.

[ Indistinct shouting ] -Got to stay awake.

-Come on, "Barnsey"!

-No!

No!

[ Whistle blows ] -Huddle up.

Huddle!

-Aah!

People mess with me first.

Sit around and take it.

-I think Wes is a feisty kid.

I mean, he's a wrestler.

-He's mean in good reason.

Like, he's mean, mean.

Listen.

I'm 30 years old, and I don't want to stand in front of him.

-No!

[ Laughter ] [ Crowd cheers ] [ Whistle blows ] -I mean, he's probably one of the toughest... -I just threw up.

Yeah, I'm good.

-...pound for pound... -Blow.

-...toughest football players I've known.

-Am I good?

Hell, this is numbing, too.

-Cut it up!

Cut it up!

-Too late, too late, too late.

Get up, get up, get up.

[ Whistle blows ] -He's throwing punches.

-I know.

I know.

-You guys don't do anything about it, either.

-Shh-shh!

Come here.

Come here.

Come on.

Don't be ridiculous.

-You know, sometimes he'll get to the point where we got to calm him down.

His emotions get the best of him.

-I think he likes taking on that character.

It's kind of like maybe a WWE wrestler a little bit.

I know the coaches probably don't like it.

-He has a lot of fire, and it's good.

Sometimes, it might not be good.

-Come on, Wes.

We need you, bud.

-Hey, listen.

Like I said -- listen.

That fire is good, but don't let it... don't let it screw you up.

-When I put a helmet on or wrestling shoes, it's -- yeah, I get in a different mind-set.

Whenever when I was little, my dad always telling me, like, you're not friends like, when you're playing.

Like, you just go hard and play.

Play every snap, every match like it's your last.

-What's a big key for you this year?

Is it staying healthy and being productive?

-Yeah, definitely staying healthy and getting as many plays as I can get in.

So... -And then, of course, opening with Berwick, I think it's going to be a challenge for us in Week 1, and it's just going to be a great atmosphere.

-It would be a great win for us.

They're the program.

They're the program around here.

Southern's the program, and we want to knock off the top dogs.

It's as simple as that.

-So, you go into every season with kind of preconceived notions, and Garrett Garcia was going to be our defensive player of the year.

-Garrett Garcia, 205 tackles last year.

He is an all-stater.

-Starting on defense.

We just need to make sure that we are playing with our heads in the game.

First game, opening game -- we don't want to be sloppy and give them any kind of early opportunity.

[ Fans chanting ] [ Knocking rhythmically on door ] -Isaac Carter, an all-state kicker, a junior, will kick it off for Southern Columbia, and the 2022 high school football season is under way.

-So, it was the first kickoff of the year, and you want to get that tackle, start off the game right, and I'm sprinting down, trying to get it, and... -Knee pull for Garrett!

-What did you do?

What did you do?

What did you do?

What did you do?

-[ Groans ] -We saw Garrett Garcia go off, favoring a leg.

-They did the "Lach" test, and my whole knee, like, was almost like Jell-o.

I still wanted to go back, and I asked to tape up and play, but... [ Crowd cheers ] Just the realization that the whole year is over.

-Has the snap, back to throw, pump-fake, fires.

"Wilk" has it for the touchdown!

Berwick 14, Southern Columbia 0.

-The Garrett Garcia injury I think just kind of shocked the entire team.

-The Southern Columbia Area Tiger marching band is proud to present to you this year's marching show.

-Win or lose, play every snap like it's your last.

You hear me?!

Do you hear me?!!

-Like, he has a standard for everyone on our team.

He expects you to do your job, and I think that's what a great leader does.

-Both teams come out to start the third quarter.

Just as the ref gets ready to blow his whistle, lightning strike and then another one, another one, and another one.

-This could be a benefit for us because we've been sitting around so long.

I mean, there's certainly no momentum effect anymore.

It's like a new game.

The only problem is, we got to outscore them by a couple touchdowns.

-Took about two hours in total till both teams came back.

-Everybody just needs to focus on doing your job, playing your position to the best of your ability for the next two quarters.

We can come back and pull this thing out.

They should have a doubt in the back of their mind if they can hold onto this.

Don't give them an opportunity.

-So, after about an hour-and-45-minute delay, we're under way.

-...led by number 3, Wes Barnes.

-Tigers!

-There's the inside reverse.

Madden has it at the 20, the 15, the 10, the 5, and a touchdown for Carter Madden of 30 yards out.

A staple of the Wing-T offense, the inside reverse.

Off the right side, has running room over the 35, the 40, and he breaks open at midfield.

Braeden Wisloski, who goes the distance, 73 yards.

-Southern looked like a completely different beast in that second half, scoring six touchdowns.

-The give on the play and a huge hole off the left side.

Wes Barnes, 44 yards for the score.

-Wes Barnes goes 44... -Call goes to Wes Barnes -- break free!

35, 30, far sideline, 20, 15, 10, 5, and a touchdown, Wes Barnes.

The final again tonight, Southern Columbia 42, Berwick 27.

-You were involved in one of the most amazing games in the history of the program, without a doubt.

[ All cheering ] [ All shouting ] -"State champs" on 3.

-1, 2, 3, state champs!

[ Birds chirping ] -Do you want to work another linebacker, like Krebs, or do you put a d-back in?

-For outside linebacker, you mean?

-Yeah.

And have him get out in coverage.

You know, if they give us spread and keep Dom and maybe Carter Madden inside.

-It sucks, but life throws you curveballs, you just kind of deal with them.

Nothing I could do about it now, really.

-Southern Columbia for most has always been a single-A school.

You know, they did move up to double-A the last 8 years.

They're double-A by only a handful of students.

In fact, they may come back to single-A in enrollment.

-And the PIAA wants to make them triple-A.

Their argument is, "We don't want to see this," which I think is a very good argument.

-The PIAA is the governing body over high school athletics in the state of Pennsylvania.

We're an organization that is to promote fairness, and that's what our rules are put in place to do.

-The PIAA has rules that would like to see teams that are successful move up.

-If a team garners enough success points and has the number of transfers -- for football, it's three -- then if they have those two pieces combined in a two-year cycle, then they will be moved up a classification.

-The success part of it bothers me because I don't think you should be punished, which some would consider it to be, for being successful.

-I'd say our rebuttal to that is you're successful.

You're overly successful.

Playing in a higher class, you're getting to more even competition and what these kids are going to go on to the collegiate level.

You know, we would love to see them voluntarily upgrade.

All schools have that option.

I think it would be good for the program.

I really do.

But, you know, again, it all comes down to, you know, right now their choice of remaining in 2A.

-To move up to triple-A, back in the day when we were playing single-A and winning, people said we should bump up to double-A.

And my thing was, we don't have any unfair advantages.

We aren't doing anything that is illegal.

We don't have any advantages above other teams.

If we're a non-boundary school, if we're we're Southern Columbia Charter, and we can recruit kids from all over, and you say, "You should be playing at a higher level," I understand your argument.

-A non-boundary school, these private schools that you don't have to live in the district, the vast majority of those kids are coming from other local or sometimes out of state into those private schools.

-There's a lot of Southern Columbia football haters out there.

A lot of people feel you can't win and do it honestly.

-I hear it all the time.

"Oh, yeah, but they cheat.

They recruit."

-You know, a lot of people hide behind that.

A lot of people -- it's an easy thing to say.

"Oh, they recruit."

-But they don't recruit.

But people do come to them.

It's one or two a year.

-When you have a very winning program, you just become like a natural draw.

And sometimes people start moving their kids into that district.

They may know that, you know, when the kids are in third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade.

-Yeah, I was in fourth grade.

I lived up in Tioga County and went to Williamson.

And they didn't have a football program.

And we ended up picking Southern just mainly for wrestling, too, so I could have two good programs behind me.

Yeah, started coming here from fifth grade on.

I see the tradition and the fan base and everything that goes around Southern Columbia in all sports.

And why wouldn't you want to be a part of it?

So, yeah.

-You got it, you got it, got it.

-After a while, you know, you can say, "Well, they're doing this.

They're doing that."

Make up all reasons why they're successful, other than they're very, very good at what they do and they work hard at what they do.

-You know, hey, other programs, get better, get better.

-Most people have that game circled on their calendar.

That's their Super Bowl.

That's their state championship, when they play Southern.

-I mean, that would make their season.

That would make their decade if they could beat Southern Columbia.

-The legacy that people have built, it's something you can't ruin.

-The champs are here!

-Got a good team right here, but we're ready.

We're ready.

-Fumble.

And it's going to be recovered by the Lancers.

-Oh, no!

-And Hill takes it from 37 yards out for the Loyalsock touchdown.

-They're just running right up the middle.

-Yeah, well, I know.

So, we're going to go two backs, and we're going to take the chance on pass.

We'll play a zone on pass.

-As Gee's back to pass, he looks.

He fires, and it's going to be complete for the touchdown.

-That was a good catch.

-Andrews for a Loyalsock touchdown.

-If you don't play with more desire, you lose this football game, because right now that team is outplaying us 110%.

-This is an embarr-- you're embarrassing yourselves, and you're embarrassing the program.

-So, I was there shooting the first half, and I remember I have to leave the game at halftime.

So, I'm leaving the game.

And I have Southern Columbia fans going, "Where are you going?

It's not over yet."

-We've been here before.

We've been here before.

-This ain't nothing.

-This ain't nothing.

-Justin Van Fleet, the head coach for Loyalsock, hears that.

He leaves his team, walks back to me as I'm walking to my car, and he goes, "It's over.

We've got this."

-Inside the 5 is Jaylen Andrews.

He's across the 20.

-Oh, no.

-Moving across the 30.

He's across the 35, a footrace, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5.

-Wow.

-96 yards for a touchdown.

-I just kept getting the same cramp in my leg, and it was fine.

I was playing through it.

And then, in the third quarter, both my legs were just done.

I couldn't run.

I couldn't do anything.

I can't go in, bro.

Like, both my legs just keep cramping, bro.

I can't do anything.

I want to play, but I just can't, bro.

-Hand-off going to Barnes.

And fumble!

Another turnover.

-The Lancers of Loyalsock win this one big, going away, as they defeat the Tigers of Southern Columbia.

-Right now, the only thing that matters is what we do moving forward, because we can't change the outcome of this game.

Can't change it.

It means nothing more than a blemish on our schedule, which obviously we don't get a whole lot.

We're not used to it, don't like it.

We're a lot better team than what we showed here tonight.

All right?

Bring it in.

Come here.

-Yo, word.

-Get in tight.

-Everyone be quiet.

-Yes, sir!

-"State champs" on 3.

-1, 2, 3, state champs!

-I mean, when you lose in a program like Southern Columbia, you just have to think about, like, the people like, before you, because I thought it was my fault, obviously, and... -There's nothing you can do to change that.

It's over.

Let's go.

-It's not your fault.

It's a team.

-I just think that we couldn't get off the field on defense, and we turned the ball over 5 times.

-We couldn't tackle.

-Gave up a kickoff return.

Huh?

-We couldn't tackle, and their game plan was, I mean, they removed Wes by formation.

-And what they did inside is where not having Garcia hurts.

-It's a shame, but whenever Southern Columbia loses a football game, it's newsworthy.

We dropped them from our number-1 spot, and that was the first time that Southern Columbia wasn't our top-ranked team since the final rankings in the 2014 season.

-Back to punt for the Tigers... [ Marching band plays ] -Go, Wes!

[ Whistle blows ] -Aah!

-Go to the table.

Go to the table.

-[ Groaning ] Aah-aah!

-Go to the table.

-It's a Tiger first down, ball marked on the 45-yard line of the Ironmen.

-Aah!

It's broke.

I can pop.

-Hold it.

Relax.

-What's a big key for you this year?

Is it staying healthy and being productive?

-Yeah, definitely staying healthy and getting as many plays as I can get in.

So... -You don't care!

That's why we're losing by 21 points!

You know the last time a team in this program lost even two games?

We're not tough enough.

Wake up!

Every person has to reach inside, and you got to decide what you want to do with the rest of your season.

-"State champs" on 3.

-1, 2, 3, state champs.

-The way we lost in that game and just the way we played overall, that was the most frustrating point.

I don't get angry too often, but yet I care a lot more about things than what I may show at times.

See, she's already starting to go faster on the way back.

[ Laughing ] She's smart enough to know.

-Yo, he said we were losing this weekend.

-Ms. Cree, are you coming to the game tonight?

-I'm gonna watch it on TV.

-You guys are watching game film?

-Yeah.

-In class?

-Yes.

That's what I usually do, even though I'm the kicker.

I just like watching it and seeing what we can do better.

-Yeah, this is my notebook, my football notebook.

I write all... Every time I watch film, I write the plays down.

And I just started writing down the plays and writing down some notes about it.

And it's kind of helped me understand more about the game and how to attack each and every team because it's, you know, a really complex game.

So... -He is a genius.

Like, he has 100 in every class.

We have a good, friendly competition between both of us because I'm number two and he's number one in our class.

-2016, we were a blue-ribbon school.

We are proud of our academic accomplishments, as well as our athletic accomplishments.

[ Students screaming ] [ Marching band plays ] -I think our one assistant coach, Rick Steele, found it on the field.

It said, "Mount Carmel Red Tornadoes, 2022 state champions."

It's really a game we need at this point after the two losses that we suffered and the way we played in those games.

-Most important regular-season game in -- pfft!

-- forever.

-It's a huge rivalry, where there is a lot of respect for that program.

We're rooting for them every game of the year except one.

-It's all mental from this point.

Give it your all, we'll win this.

This is the biggest game you will ever play!

Let's go!

[ All cheering ] -Go!

-Go!

[ Crowd cheers ] -And when we're going on set, you guys got to get to the line and get set.

[ Whistle blows ] -Take over this game right here, right now, all right?

Let's go!

[ Crowd cheers ] -Touchdown, Red Tornadoes, 67 yards up the right side.

[ Crowd cheers ] And that will do it.

I'm expecting in about a month from now, these two teams to meet in the District IV championship.

-We'll see them in November.

We'll see them in November.

Remember this.

That's not going to happen next time.

Y'all got me?

Y'all got me?!

-Yes, sir!

-"State champs" on 3.

-1, 2, 3, state champs!

-How are they going to respond to this adversity?

Because what they're facing this year hasn't been seen at Southern in I don't know how long.

-It almost seems like it's routine, where it's become the expectation to get to the state championship every year.

And, you know, this is it.

They're done.

-That changed the whole, the whole aspect of the season.

-Wes Barnes, if you noticed, he was the first person in line to go out and shake hands with Mount Carmel.

It was almost like a sign of, "Okay, I wasn't on the field for this game.

We didn't play our best, but we're going to see you again."

-One interesting story from this past year was Isaac Carter.

So, he's a soccer player for Southern Columbia.

So, their program unfortunately lost early in districts.

-After we lost in the district semifinals for soccer, it was heartbreaking.

I remember the next day at practice, like, I think I ripped someone's head off.

Coach Mills went up to me and said, "Do you want to play a position?"

I was like, "Yeah, whatever I can do to help the team out."

-And he was practicing.

I'm like, "What's he doing?"

"Well, he said he wants to play now."

I'm like, "Okay."

-I put a lot of work in the off-season.

And when you're 5-3 and not knowing that, you're -- like, all that work may have not paid off.

Whenever I have a sense of doubt in my mind, I know I can rely on God to help me get through a challenge.

God puts obstacles in your way, and if you get through them, you strengthen yourself.

I think that's great, what He does.

He doesn't just give it to you.

You have to actually go out and prove yourself and get over those obstacles.

-Listen.

Just want to tell you one thing before this first playoff game.

There is nothing we can do about any failures or losses that we had during the regular season.

Nothing you can do about it now.

I don't look at this stuff, but I'm told we're not even listed as an honorable mention on some of these rankings in the state.

If every one of you decides to kind of start playing this game with a chip on your shoulder, that you have something to prove, you know, and a little more of an angry manner, demeanor, it would go a long way.

First playoff game -- it's got to happen right now.

[ Cheers and applause ] -All right, so, it's seniors' last home game.

Let's make this moment real, all right?

We're going to get out here and punish these kids.

I don't think I was ever that hyped for a game.

I don't think any of us were that hyped for a game.

-Yeah.

I mean, I've always loved to play football, especially with my friends.

So, I went out and I just -- as soon as I got that first hit...

I was like, "Oh, my gosh, I missed this."

So, yeah, and I'm here today and I'm trying to help the team win.

-Southern Columbia, 3 losses in the regular season, something very rare.

-There has to come a point where someone says, "This isn't going to happen again."

-We're going to see for the first time in six weeks, Wes Barnes.

-We were really concerned, like, "How is he going to be able to play with a major ligament gone in your elbow?"

And then he had to wear that big brace on there.

-When we lost to Mount Carmel, he told me.

He said, "I'm coming back.

It's the right time to come back."

And look what happened when he came back.

-Hand-off is up the middle to Wes Barnes.

He's across the 50, across the 40, the 30, the 20, the 10, and a touchdown.

What a start -- Wes Barnes, 58 yards.

Welcome back, Wes Barnes.

-At the time, when he first started to play, we didn't know how good he was going to be.

He hadn't played a regular position in years.

After two and a half, three days of practice, he went out and played like he was just playing the game all along.

-It's nostalgic, because I played in junior high, and I just -- I just love this game, especially playing with these guys because I've been friends with them for a long time.

-Nothing fazed him.

So, then once he played through that game, we knew, you know, he's good to go.

[ Whistle blows ] -So, the hand-off.

It's gonna be a fake, and it's gonna be a fumble.

And it's recovered by the Tigers.

Isaac Carter recovers the fumble.

-Honey.

Good.

Kids watching this, drink your honey.

-Back to pass, he's gonna run.

He's gonna fire.

-Oh, boy!

-Intercepted by Wes Barnes.

A one-handed interception, and Wes Barnes is gonna take it 26 yards for the touchdown.

-That's why I came back, to play both sides and play with my guys for the last ride.

So, yeah.

-Mount Carmel Area next.

-Mm-hmm.

-District championship.

So, just how motivated are you guys to come back and play them?

And obviously you missed that first game.

-Yeah, definitely motivated.

They didn't see me on the field that game.

So, I think it's going to be a lot different.

We'll see how it goes, and we're confident.

So... -That's all I needed.

Thanks.

-Yep.

[ Clock ticking ] -Tonight is at the Silver Bowl, and Mother Nature brought us some snow.

It's a football atmosphere.

This battle between these two powerhouses.

And as District IV Class AA championship games go, they don't get much bigger than this.

-That game was crazy.

That's the craziest game I've ever played in.

[ Sirens wailing ] -I know we're going to play better than we did the first time we played them.

Win or lose, you're going to remember this game for a long time.

How do you want to remember how you played?

Are you ready?

-Yes!

-Are you ready?!

-Yes!

-"Team" on 3.

1, 2, 3... -Team!

-Listen.

You should be thinking right now and during this game about Mount Carmel, Loyalsock, and Danville.

Take it out on these guys right now.

[ All cheering ] -He got fired up.

That's the first time I had seen him get fired up before a game.

-Two receivers, either side.

Once again, motion.

Spears will throw it again to Varano.

Steps inside.

He goes to the end zone.

And he'll get in for the touchdown!

Mount Carmel Area jumps on top here in this District IV Class AA championship game.

Carter standing on what I think is his own 35.

High snap.

Good athletic ability to pull it down.

He's gonna take off with it, and he's gonna get the first down.

What a play by Isaac Carter.

-Isaac!

Isaac!

-That was not a scripted play.

But it ends up being a defining play of the season by a lot of accounts.

-And they went down, and they scored.

-Barnes around the left side.

He's got some opening running room, and he'll take it into the end zone for the touchdown.

-It's so demoralizing to Mount Carmel.

Up to that point had played a great football game.

And then from there, it just seems like they couldn't recover.

-Defense!

Defense!

[ Whistle blows ] -Mount Carmel now with eight men in the box.

And they will get it around to Wisloski, trying to run the jet around the right side.

And he does get down the sideline.

Still tiptoeing.

Now he'll cut it back.

To the 20, to the 10.

And he's got the speed, and he's gonna take it in for another Southern Columbia touchdown.

Wow.

-District champs!

District champs!

-That was a huge, huge moment, something I'll remember for a long time.

Yes!

Yeah, baby!

Yeah, baby!

That's a freakin' good one.

-This was their best coaching year ever.

The main thing?

Getting in the players' minds that the coaches still believe in us.

They're not giving up on us.

[ Indistinct shouting ] [ Crowd cheers ] -Go, bring it in.

-We got it.

-Hell of a game, brother.

-It's not over yet.

It's not over.

Business ain't done yet.

-We knew that yeah, beating Mount Carmel was great, but you know what's even better?

Proving everyone wrong and winning the state championship.

[ Crowd cheers ] -Bishop Guilfoyle was the reigning Class A champs.

They had moved up in classification.

So, that was a game between two reigning state champions.

[ Whistle blows ] [ Whistle blows ] -The way Braeden did it, it was like it was supposed to happen.

-That was the play of the year.

-Rother in motion.

Kiesewetter back.

And he actually hands the ball off to Wyandt.

A nice play there -- first-down run inside the 30.

-Oh!

-Taken away by Braeden Wisloski!

He's gonna go 75 yards!

He's gonna take it.

He stripped the ball, and Braeden Wisloski to the house!

There goes the hand.

And the Tigers lead 27-7 with 6: 24 left to play.

I cannot believe what I just saw, Dave.

-Playmakers make plays, right?

Let's go.

-You have what could have been a 21-14 game now being a 28-7 game.

And from that point, it was over.

-Gabriel?

-We're here because of what the defense has done the last three weeks.

Just take it a notch higher.

[ Whistle blows ] -Shoved out-of-bounds by Isaac Carter, and he just leveled him.

-Isaac Carter has just been I think the MVP so far.

-He was a game wrecker.

-You don't see that often from the kicker, but that just shows his strength.

-It's my senior year.

I got nothing to lose.

So...

I'm not coming back again.

So... Just got to let it all out there.

-Touchdown.

[ Whistle blows ] -They're never going to tackle me tackling like that.

Start hitting me in the legs, or I ain't going down.

-And that's gonna do it.

-Let's go, man.

-Not finished yet.

-Let's go.

Let's go.

-Yes, sir.

-Going for number 13, guys.

Great job.

[ All shouting ] -"State champs" on 3.

-1, 2, 3, state champs!

-It's awesome.

I don't think anybody expected us to be in the state championship this year.

-I think there was a lot of doubters and hey, I was one, and, you know, this is why they're the program they are.

And this is why Jim Roth, winningest coach in PA, is one of the best at it.

-Coming off an elbow injury like that, most kids just wouldn't want to play the rest of the season.

The things he did for the team -- not for him, for the team.

He just wants to play that bad and win that bad.

It's amazing.

-Nice job, kid -- one more.

-Yes, sir.

-Their coach did a good job of building that program over a four-year period.

-And I think they expected to win because they had rolled over everybody they had played all season long.

-What really impresses me is they just are relentless, and they're fast.

-If there's two guys in the backfield, they're running the football.

Did not throw a single pass out of a 2-back set.

-One more game.

-One more game.

-[ Chuckles ] -I've missed one state-championship game, and it was against Rochester.

And I happened to be in New York City.

My father was at Memorial Sloan Kettering having surgery for his cancer, and that was the only game I missed.

And, you know, we were following it.

He was even asking me for updates on the game.

-This is what we live for.

-This season's been like the Knoebels Phoenix, with all the ups and downs.

But through all the twists and turns, you've ridden to the best around.

When Wes got hurt and broken, it made lots of people sad.

But now he's back, leading the way.

I don't know about you, but I'm sure glad.

There's a new sheriff in town.

Isaac Carter is his name.

His passion and his leadership has brought a new spirit to our games.

It was hard losing Garrett.

He's a force we wish we had, but he'll be back next season, which makes Tiger Nation glad.

The table is set for victory.

The menu has been well-planned.

We're having bulldogs for lunch tomorrow.

Their season the Tigers will can.

No matter what the outcome, you make us proud as you can be.

But come Friday afternoon in the Valley, it's only gold that you will see.

So, go get that 13th title.

Bring it home to SCA.

Play hard, God bless, have fun.

And let's go all the way.

[ Cheers and applause ] -It is why everybody plays the game.

Very few guys in the state anywhere, period, but in the state of Pennsylvania get to play in a state-championship game.

When you realize there's 500-plus schools, right?

There's a ton of programs, and very few people get this opportunity.

You got this opportunity because of what you did, because of what people before you did.

There's a lot of tradition.

There's a lot of pride.

One simple phrase, guys -- a lack of respect.

Make them pay for it.

Let's go.

-Let's go!

[ Marching band plays ] [ Whistle blows ] -Hand-off inside to Taylor.

And he's got room, and he'll score.

[ Crowd cheers ] Impressive second possession for Westinghouse.

-In the first half, I was a little too hyped up a little bit, and you can tell because of that dumb penalty.

-Isaac Carter trying to chase him down, and they'll get him down at the 35-yard line.

And a penalty flag.

-That was a late hit.

-So, we will get one more play.

[ All shouting ] -Get out!

Get out!

Get out!

Get out!

Get back.

-Hey!

-Right, right.

Okay?

So, all the ref is saying is he called out 43.

He didn't flag you.

He said your hit was the one.

So, just remember that.

We can't go without you.

-Be smart.

-I remember Colden Bloom got in my face and says, "Bro, stop with that hype stuff.

You got to do your job."

-Just do your job, and everything takes care of itself.

Control your gap, get a pass rush, and then get up and celebrate.

That's all you got to do.

That's all -- that's the only three things you got to do, all right?

All right?

-That really stuck into me.

And I was like, "That's what a good teammate says to you when you're down."

-I need help with that kid when I'm dying like that.

I can't keep up.

I'm -- I'm dying.

-What changed in that game was they realize you can't run east-west on them.

When they started going north-south, that changed the whole complex of the game.

-Hand-off -- he breaks through.

He's out at the 50.

He's still going.

What a run by Braeden Wisloski!

-Yeah, that was definitely a Wisloski game.

That was a Braeden Wisloski takeover the game.

-Third down.

-And here's a hand-off to Wisloski again, and there he goes!

He will score untouched from the 38-yard line.

[ Cheering ] Morsillo.

Here comes the pressure, screen.

This is to Taylor.

He'll get the first down and more, and he's still going.

Look at this!

Look at this down the near sideline!

Taylor will score.

How about that?

Third down and 22 from the Southern Columbia 39.

-Southern doesn't throw the ball.

That was not in the scouting report.

-I haven't seen Southern Columbia throw a pass yet in the second half.

-But when they needed it, they got it.

-Wise is back to pass.

He fires.

It's gonna be caught for a first down by Braeden Wisloski.

He makes a spin move, and he's gonna go!

He's into the end zone!

A 61-yard touchdown!

-Did I tell you?!

Did I tell you?!

-Yeah.

-Huh?!

Huh?!

-Especially with all the media and all the hate that I got throughout the year, it just felt nice to know that all of it didn't matter because at the end of the day, we made the play.

-What did I tell you, man?

-You told me.

-I told you.

-You told me.

-Yep, keep it up.

-Defense!

Defense!

-Looking for Sincere Smith.

Pressure's coming.

Morsillo's got to run it.

He fumbles the football, and Southern Columbia's got it.

-Yeah!

[ All cheering ] -They kept coming.

Every time Southern kind of took a two-score lead, Westinghouse came back.

-We got ourselves a game.

3:08 to go.

Barnes, Wisloski.

Here's Barnes.

They'll feed him, to the 40.

Bounces outside, gets a block to the 25, 20, 10, 5, and knocked out-of-bounds.

-Put this ball in the end zone, and send these guys packing.

-Be physical!

-Hand-off's gonna go to Carter Madden.

He's going to get inside the 5, and he's gonna get into the end zone!

9-yard touchdown run, Carter Madden!

-Everything led up to that point, and nothing mattered before that.

-When fantasy becomes reality.

Southern Columbia, the most improbable state championship in their storied history.

-It is probably their toughest state-championship win, but probably one of the most rewarding.

-You guys persevered today.

I'm gonna tell you right now, this is, of all of our titles, this is right up there with any of the teams that we beat.

That's a heck of a football team you put away today.

A couple losses, everybody had you written off.

They're at home watching you on TV right now.

Heck of a job.

[ All cheering ] [ All chanting ] -"State champs" on 3.

-1, 2, 3, state champs!

[ Crowd cheers in background ] -Just accomplished -- that's really it at this point.

My head's pounding, my arm's done.

I don't know what else to do right now, but...

I'm just gonna go celebrate.

-Cherish this one forever.

Forever!

[ Both laugh ] -Really emotional because we worked so hard for this, and everyone doubted us, coming in with 3 losses in the regular season.

I just think I can't thank God any more for putting me in this opportunity with my team and just blessed our team, and He helped us win.

[ Crying ] I'm sorry.

-No, it's okay, man.

-Just really emotional because I love my team so much.

-This year Southern Columbia faced so much adversity.

They had so many injuries, the 3 losses.

You know, they faced so much throughout the year.

Winning the state championship, you thought, okay, you know, it was done.

-Shortly after the game, of course, we were notified of this, you know, TikTok post.

-Two underclassmen from Southern Columbia posted something that was a trend on TikTok.

There's music tied to it.

-You know, in that rap song, there's a racial slur.

-The PIAA stepped in.

Southern Columbia stepped in.

-We addressed it accordingly, following the school handbooks and athletic handbook.

You know, we don't tolerate any type of harassment or racism.

-I talked to them in school.

I was like, "Yeah, you guys made a mistake, but I love you guys.

You guys are my teammates."

Everyone makes mistakes.

I know that with my faith that you can't hold grudges.

You can't judge people.

-Everyone makes mistakes.

And, again, we try to learn from these mistakes and try to move past them.

-And I think that one event shouldn't be labeled as everyone.

-All of us have been playing together since we were 11, 10 years old, sometimes even younger than that.

-It's a brotherhood.

It's more than a team.

-The mind-set is it's not about you.

It's about each other.

-Growing up, I looked up to the older kids.

Like, you want to be a state champion.

It's a standard.

Hey!

Good throw!

[ Sirens wailing, horns honking ] -My first love was football, so, yeah, I'll definitely miss it -- the tradition, chemistry, everything that I moved here for.

-The atmosphere, people coming out and watching us.

I've been playing my whole life.

Loved it my whole life.

Playing with my boys -- I'm gonna miss it.

-So, they wrapped you up with toilet paper?

How was it?

-This is a dinner of state champions.

-I wasn't going to play this year.

And what brought me back to playing was these guys.

What we did today, I wouldn't trade for the world.

And I love that you guys continue to support us.

5-3?

Wow.

You know, here we are today.

So... -These will be my brothers for life, definitely, because we suffer through a lot.

A once-in-a-lifetime experience, definitely, to show what a group of people can do if they put their minds to something.

-When we had, you know, a 26-game losing streak, this -- my cousin said, "Don't you get sick of all that winning?"

Like, "No."

[ Laughs ] You never know when it'll disappear.

[ All cheering, horns honking ] -I'd like to thank the whole Tiger community and everybody that backs us for just making this that much more special and making it feel like we actually did something good for the community.

[ Applause ] I love them.

[ Applause ] -We're alive to witness something that's probably never going to happen again in high school sports in Pennsylvania.

[ All cheering ] -"State champs" on 3.

-1, 2, 3, state champs!

[ Whistle blows ] - Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh