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Lenape's defense rises to occasion in win over Cherokee

At 6-foot-2 and 275 pounds, Tyler Steffa is an imposing cheerleader. He's a top two-way lineman, too. Steffa blocked, tackled, and led the postgame cheers as Lenape beat Cherokee, 17-13, in a pulse-pounding clash of school-district rivals and top-10 football teams on Friday night.

At 6-foot-2 and 275 pounds, Tyler Steffa is an imposing cheerleader.

He's a top two-way lineman, too.

Steffa blocked, tackled, and led the postgame cheers as Lenape beat Cherokee, 17-13, in a pulse-pounding clash of school-district rivals and top-10 football teams on Friday night.

"This is something I'll remember the rest of my life," Steffa said after Lenape's victory before a huge crowd at the Indians' home stadium in Medford. "This is what you play for."

Steffa raced back-and-forth in front of his teammates in the postgame huddle, leading a "L-E-N-A-P-E" cheer as the Indians celebrated an emotional victory on senior night.

Lenape (7-0), the No. 4 team in the Inquirer Top 25, took advantage of six Cherokee turnovers and got a huge boost from junior quarterback Matt LaJoie, who broke loose for a 71-yard touchdown run after the visiting Chiefs seized a 13-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.

"This game is circled on both schools' calendars," LaJoie said. "It's a huge win for us."

Cherokee (4-3), the No. 6 team in the rankings, rallied from a 10-0 deficit in the second half but couldn't overcome four lost fumbles and two interceptions.

"I don't think we've ever had more than four (in a game)," Cherokee coach P.J. Mehigan said. "Kudos to Lenape. They earned it. We didn't earn it."

Senior running back John Lovett led Cherokee's comeback with a pair of touchdowns, including a four-yard burst into the end zone that gave the Chiefs a 13-10 lead with 10 minutes, 55 seconds to play.

But three plays later, LaJoie faked a handoff to junior running back JoJo Kellum, skirted inside, and raced into the Cherokee secondary.

"All I saw was a patch of green," LaJoie said. "It was awesome."

Lenape coach Tium McAneney said LaJoie called an audible on the play.

"He checked and he went -- that's what he does," McAneney said of LaJoie.

Lenape's defense, which has allowed just 43 points this season, dominated the game with six takeaways. Junior safety Jake Topolski had two interceptions.

Other standouts included junior linebacker Mike Galaida and senior linebacker Sam Ballard as well as Steffa and junior linemen Jared Davenport, Aaron and Thomas KaiKai.

"Six turnovers, that's the key to the game right there," Steffa said.

McAneney had high praise for his defense.

"We think high school football begins with defense," McAneney said. "Those guys were flying around the ball."

Cherokee had two possessions late in the game with a chance to retake the lead but Lenape's defense turned the Chiefs away both times.

"We get six turnovers and we're still hanging on to win by our fingernails," McAneney said. "The kids played their hearts out."

Lenape's offense was opportunistic and also avoided major mistakes. The Indians did not commit a turnover.

LaJoie's 38-yard run on Lenape's second offensive play set up the game's first touchdown. LaJoie finished the drive with a four-yard scoring toss to Ballard on fourth-and-goal.

Ben Harris' 27-yard field goal after Davenport's fumble recovery made it 10-0.

Cherokee roared back in the second half behind Lovett, a Rutgers recruit, as well as senior quarterback Jake Bodine and senior tight end Steve Gervasi.

But the Chiefs' lone lead was short-lived as LaJoie broke free in a big play that echoed of his 67-yard touchdown pass to Topolski that rallied the Indians in the fourth quarter against Rancocas Valley earlier this season.

"It was like deja vu," LaJoie said.

Lenape's defense sealed the deal, as Topolski stopped one Cherokee drive with an interception and Acosta's quarterback sack snuffed out the Chiefs' last chance.

All that was left was for the 275-pound cheerleader to lead the chant as the Indians gathered under the goal post to celebrate one of their most emotional victories in recent seasons.

"We were the underdogs coming in," Steffa said. "Everybody says, 'Cherokee, the big bad Chiefs.'

"But we showed something about Lenape."

Cherokee 0 0 6 7 - 13

Lenape 7 3 0 7 - 17

L: Sam Ballard 4 pass from Matt LaJoie (Ben Harris kick)

L: Harris 27 FG

C: John Lovett 2 run (kick fail)

C: Lovett 4 run (Ethan McCarren kick)

L: LaJoie 71 run (Harris kick)

panastasia@phillynews.com

@PhilAnastasia

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