SOUTHERN COLUMBIA | TIGERS PIAA DISTRICT 4
CLASS 2A
HEARTLAND DIVISION 3 2021 SCHEDULE
Tough slate ahead of Tigers
Aug. 27 Berwick Sept. 3 at Bloomsburg* Sept. 10 Loyalsock* Sept. 17 at Wyoming Area Sept. 24 Mount Carmel* Oct. 1 at Wyomissing Oct. 8 at Central Columbia Oct. 15 Hughesville* Oct. 22 at Selinsgrove Oct. 29 at Danville *-PHAC-3 GAME
2020 RESULTS (12-0)
BY KURT RITZMAN
R
eally, Southern Columbia’s football program has nothing left to prove. There is, however, one more target that the Tigers have their eye on this year in addition to the annual goal of hoisting a trophy in Hershey in early December. Playing arguably one of the toughest schedules of any small school team in the state, Southern does have a chance to break another record: Most consecutive wins in Pennsylvania history. Southern enters the season with 60 consecutive victories dating back to the start of the 2017 season. Seven wins to start this season would snap Clairton’s record of 66, set from 2009-13. “I didn’t know about that,” said senior running Gavin Garcia, who was the Class 2A Player of the Year in 2020. “That’s another goal to aim for. I’d like to be the team to do that.” Getting there won’t be easy. Before playing Central Columbia on Oct. 8 — the game that could set the record — the Tigers will have to get through Berwick on the opening Friday night, Bloomsburg, Loyalsock, 2019 3A state champion Wyoming 58
BRAEDEN WISLOSKI
Area, rival Mount Carmel and 2020 3A state finalist Wyomissing. Southern also closes the season with games at Selinsgrove and at reigning District 4 3A champ Danville. The Tigers haven’t lost a regular-season game since a setback to Mount Carmel in 2011. If anyone can emerge through that gauntlet unscathed it might be Southern. After graduating four players who landed at Big Ten schools and another who went Division I for wrestling in 2019, the Tigers steamrolled to a 12-0 shortened season in 2020, outscoring their opponents 457-116. Winning that state title was important for the younger players on the team. “Obviously, there’s always a little pressure,” Garcia said. “After winning last year — there were still some doubts about our team — a lot of the pressure is gone. We didn’t
AUGUST 2021 | INSIDE PENNSYLVANIA GAME NIGHT
2020 STAT LEADERS PASSING C-A Int TD Yds Liam Klebon 30-53 3 9 688 RUSHING Att Yards TDs Gavin Garcia 109 1,906 30 Wes Barnes 82 775 8 B. Wisloski 50 504 13 RECEIVING Rec Yards TDs Jake Davis 6 189 3 Jake Rose 6 116 1 Gavin Garcia 8 166 2
W W W W W W W W W W W W
Bloomsburg 41-0 at Warrior Run 67-0 at Loyalsock 50-20 Mount Carmel FF at Hughesville 56-7 Lewisburg 42-7 at Central Columbia 52-3 D4 2A Semifinal Line Mountain 49-7 D4 2A Final So. Williamsport 49-14 PIAA 2A Quarterfinal Richland 57-30 PIAA 2A Semifinal Bishop McDevitt 42-13 PIAA 2A Final Wilmington 42-14
KICK OFF YOUR PARTY with Tailgating Supplies From
Tues.-Weds. 10-5, Thurs.-Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-5 Closed Sun. & Mon.
Decorations • Tableware • Balloons and More!
www.careedparty.com • 570-743-6704 Colonial Village Plaza • Shamokin Dam
