SHENANDOAH — A season that brought winning football, a rivalry trophy and a home district playoff game back to Shenandoah Valley ended Friday night as Northern Lehigh defeated the Blue Devils, 42–23, in the District XI Class 2A semifinals at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The second-seeded Blue Devils finished 7–4, recording seven victories after consecutive 0–10 seasons. Third-seeded Northern Lehigh improved to 6–5 and advances to face top-seeded Schuylkill Haven in the District XI Class 2A championship on .
Northern Lehigh Builds First-Half Lead
Northern Lehigh built its advantage with several long touchdown runs, scoring 22 points in the opening quarter and taking a 35–14 lead into halftime. Chris Frame scored three rushing touchdowns for the Bulldogs, while Garrett Smoyer added two.
Smoyer opened the scoring with a 23-yard touchdown run, and a successful two-point conversion gave Northern Lehigh an 8–0 lead.
Shenandoah Valley answered when Ethan Bench connected with Gene Sinkus for a 10-yard touchdown pass. Sam Mentusky’s extra point brought the Blue Devils within 8–7.
The Bulldogs responded with two long scoring runs. Smoyer broke loose for a 66-yard touchdown before Frame added a 60-yard score. Anthony Hanna converted both extra points, giving Northern Lehigh a 22–7 lead after one quarter.
Mike Elchisak helped Shenandoah Valley cut into the deficit in the second quarter with a 7-yard touchdown run. Mentusky’s kick made it 22–14.
Northern Lehigh then added a defensive touchdown when Chase Gall returned an interception for a score. The extra point failed, leaving the Bulldogs ahead 28–14.
The Bulldogs immediately regained possession on an onside kick. On the next play, Frame scored on a 48-yard touchdown run, and Hanna’s kick extended the advantage to 35–14 before halftime.
Blue Devils Add Safety and Fourth-Quarter Touchdown
The only scoring of the third quarter came from Shenandoah Valley’s defense. Joel Nunez tackled Smoyer in the end zone for a safety, trimming Northern Lehigh’s lead to 35–16.
Frame scored his third rushing touchdown on a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter. Hanna’s extra point pushed the Bulldogs’ lead to 42–16.
Shenandoah Valley added a final touchdown when Bench found Todd Seiger for a 36-yard scoring pass. Mentusky converted his third extra point to complete the scoring at 42–23.
Shenandoah Valley Finishes With First Winning Season Since 2012
For the Blue Devils, the final result closed a season that marked a significant step forward for the program under head coach Dave Bench.
After going winless in both 2024 and 2025, Shenandoah Valley opened 2026 by snapping a 26-game losing streak with a 56–6 victory over Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech. The Blue Devils went on to record their first winning season since 2012 and earned the No. 2 seed in the district bracket.
Their regular-season finale provided another milestone: a 21–12 victory over Mahanoy Area on October 30, reclaiming the Damato-Szematowicz Trophy with their first win over the Golden Bears since 2012.
Friday’s semifinal was Shenandoah Valley’s first District XI playoff game played since 2012, when the Blue Devils faced Williams Valley. Shenandoah Valley also qualified in 2019 but forfeited that matchup.
Shenandoah Valley’s 2026 season ends with seven victories, a winning record, a rivalry trophy and the return of District XI playoff football to its home field.
Northern Lehigh vs. Shenandoah Valley Final Score
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Lehigh (6–5) | 22 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 42 |
| Shenandoah Valley (7–4) | 7 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 23 |
Shenandoah Valley vs. Northern Lehigh Photo Gallery
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