Eastern PA’s Top Teams in 2020: Southern Columbia Tigers

While there is some uncertainty regarding when or even if the 2020 high school football season will start in Pennsylvania, we must go as it will until told otherwise. With that, I thought it would be a good time to start previewing some of the state’s top teams entering this upcoming season. To start the series off, we look at one of the most dominating programs in Pennsylvania history, the Southern Columbia Tigers. <ul> <li><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Jim Roth</li> <li><strong>2019 Record: </strong>19-0 (Class-AA Champions)</li> <li><strong>Points Per Game: </strong>55.8</li> <li><strong>Opponents Points Per Game:</strong> 5.1</li> </ul> Southern Columbia enters 2020 with a 48-game winning streak, putting together three straight seasons of undefeated football. The last time the Tigers lost was back on December 10th, 2017 to Steel Valley in the Class AA State Championship game by a final score of 49-7. Since then, however, it’s been nothing short of pure dominance out of Jim Roth’s program in Catawissa. After three-straight seasons of 16-0 football, the Tigers enter 2020 with at least 11 games on their schedule; <strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/southern-columbia-area-tigers-(catawissa,pa)/football/schedule.htm">2020 Schedule (Per MaxPreps)</a>:</strong> <ol> <li>at Berwick</li> <li>vs Bloomsburg</li> <li>at Loyalsock Township</li> <li>vs Wyomissing</li> <li>vs Wyoming Area</li> <li>@ Mount Carmel</li> <li>@ Wyomissing</li> <li>vs Central Columbia</li> <li>@ Hughesville</li> <li>vs Selinsgrove</li> <li>@ Danville</li> </ol> The Tigers schedule does feature some quality matchups but for a team that has won 48-straight and outscored their opponents by nearly 50-points per game last season, it is also a favorable matchup for them as well. One would think due to their track record the Tigers won’t skip a beat in 2020 but they never lost as much pure talent as they did this offseason but only time will tell. <strong>Notable Losses: </strong>As just noted, Southern Columbia sent multiple seniors from their 2020 class to Power Five football programs and specifically all Big Ten programs. Among those losses include wide receiver Julian Fleming (Ohio State), running back Gaige Garcia (Michigan), linebacker Connor Holiday (Michigan State), and quarterback/linebacker Preston Zachman (Wisconsin). On paper, it would seem that that is a lot to lose for Southern Columbia, and it truly is. But for the Tigers, it’s just another chapter in a long history of success under Jim Roth. For a program that has won 10 state championships, the most in Pennsylvania history, you can’t bask in the glory of the past. You always have to turn the page and focus on what’s ahead. <strong>Notable Returners: </strong>Returning for the Tigers include running back [player_tooltip player_id="27651" first="Gavin" last="Garcia"], the younger brother of Gaige Garcia. The younger Garcia last season rushed for 1,700-yards and 28 touchdowns over the course of 103-carries last season as a sophomore. A tremendous runner, Garcia has great speed and vision and could be the next Southern Columbia player to be among Pennsylvania’s elite. He currently holds an offer from Bowling Green while also being a standout wrestler, much like his brother as well. Also returning for Southern Columbia includes probable back up running back Brandon Heim who rushed for 307-yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries last season, <strong>Biggest Question Mark: </strong>At least from an outside perspective, the biggest question mark for the Tigers entering this season is at starting quarterback. According to their <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/southern-columbia-area-tigers-(catawissa,pa)/football/roster.htm">updated roster on MaxPreps</a>, the only quarterback listed is sophomore Greyson Shaud (6-foot-0 170-pounds). The class of 2023 quarterback did not record any passing stats last season for the Tigers. If they were to need another quarterback, it seems likely that senior Ian Yoder would get the nod as he was listed as a quarterback <a href="http://www.scatigerfootball.org/team/varsity-roster/">on their 2019 roster</a>. Another spot to mention in terms of question marks is the wide receiver position. Last season, Julian Fleming and Gage Garcia (mostly Fleming) made up over 90% of the Tigers receptions and receiving yards, their leading returning receiver is [player_tooltip player_id="27651" first="Gavin" last="Garcia"] with three receptions for 31-yards. They have plenty of wide receivers on the roster but it will be intriguing to see which receiver becomes the new No.1 man for the Tigers. That being said, the success of the wide receivers of course comes all back to the play of the quarterback. <strong>Overall Outlook: </strong>Based on their recent success and overall track history, it’s hard to go against Southern Columbia in any game. They are simply on a run over the last few years that is hard to replicate and believe. All in all, not many high school football programs across the country can put together the string of success that Southern Columbia has. While they have notable question marks at quarterback and wide receiver, the Tigers are deep on depth defensively and their offense will be just fine even with an average passing attack. [player_tooltip player_id="27651" first="Gavin" last="Garcia"] is a tremendous running back and will most likely make up most of the success of the offense in 2020. At the end of the year, expect to see the Tigers at the top of the Pennsylvania Athletic Heartland Conference as well as the top of the AA class, also they’ll most likely due it once again in an undefeated fashion. If the season does happen and the state does allow it, expect to see the Tigers back in Hershey for an opportunity at another state title.