DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
BERNE – Just 90 second into Friday’s sectional championship game, Wes Summersett hauled in a perfectly placed pass from Tytus Lehman to open the scoring, opening the gates for an offensive explosion that led to a team photo in the end zone with the coveted IHSAA trophy.
The Starfires defeated Hagerstown 42-14 for their fifth sectional title in the past seven seasons.
Coach Grant Moser’s team will head to North Miami for a regional rematch from last year, when the Stars beat the Warriors in Berne in 2024, 40-21.
The catch was a record-breaking one for Summersett, who eventually caught three more and finished with 119 yards receiving, breaking the school record for receiving yards in a season. The old record belonged to Drew Stutzman, who had 1,212 yards in 2020. Summersett will take 1,322 yards into next week’s game at North Miami.
Summersett’s third catch of the night went for 49 yards and another score, one of six touchdown passes on the night for Lehman, who was on fire, averaging over 20 yards per completion.
Lehman finished 18 of 29 with 369 yards. He gave way to Zaden Baumer once the game got to a running clock at 42-7 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Defensively, South Adams showed just how much better they were than the Tigers, dominating the line of scrimmage and holding Hagerstown to just 52 yards rushing and 167 yards in the air.
Kaleb Minger was exceptional defensively with five solo tackles, two sacks and an additional tackle for loss. He also had an interception in the second half.
Along with the Stars’ 369 yards passing, they also had 102 on the ground, with Lehman showing off his ability to tuck it and run, picking up 37 yards on five carries.
Summersett’s record-breaking night did not overshadow a fantastic set of catches by Derek McKean. Seemingly grabbing each of his eight receptions while also making the next move to break away from a defender, McKean finished with 175 yards and a touchdown.
Lehman hit Will Patterson three times and twice for scores.
The Starfires did not commit a turnover in the game.
SCORING SUMMARY
Quarter 1
10:34 – SA – Wes Summersett 42-yd catch from Tytus Lehman, Manny Juarez PAT Good, 7-0
4:23 – SA – Wes Summersett 49-yd catch from Tytus Lehman, Juarez PAT good, 14-0
Quarter 2
11:51 – SA – Will Patterson 16-yd catch from Tytus Lehman, Juarez PAT no good, 20-0
9:05 – H – Isaac Schmitz 10-yd catch from Graham Vinson, Cale Schmitz PAT good, 20-7
:11 – SA – Jax Wanner 4-yd catch from Tytus Lehman, 2-PT try good (Lehman pass to Colpaert), 28-7
Quarter 3
11:46 – SA – Derek McKean 32-yd catch from Tytus Lehman, Juarez PAT good, 35-7
10:33 – SA – Will Patterson 29-yd catch from Tytus Lehman, Juarez PAT good, 42-7
6:13 – H – Isaac Schmitz 4-yd catch from Graham Vinson, Cale Schmitz PAT good, 42-14
About the Author
