Here’s an in-depth preview of L-L League Section 5 football for upcoming 2025 season | High School Football

Here is everything and anything you need to know about Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 5 football for the upcoming 2025 season.

Things are status quo in Section 5, as we tee up Year 2 of the current 2-year scheduling cycle. There could — could — be some big changes coming in section alignment circles for 2026. But we’ll cross that bridge later. 

For now, Schuylkill Valley will be out to defend its section crown from last fall, when the Panthers made it back-to-back championships; it was an outright title in 2024 after a shared crown in 2023 for SV, which has fit in quite nicely since joining the L-L League in 2022. 

Section 5 also produced a district finalist last fall; Lancaster Catholic was the runner-up in the District 3 Class 2A bracket, and the Crusaders are set to return one of the most electrifying players in the league in 1,800-yard rusher Brandon Way, who is a DI blue-chipper. 

In all, five of the eight teams in Section 5 went to the postseason in 2024. It would be no surprise if this race once again produced a photo finish. Buckle up. 

Here is the Section 5 preview, with teams and players listed alphabetically. 

Annville-Cleona’s Luke Wentling, Hudson Sellers and Amari Santos during the Lancaster-Lebanon League Football Media Day in Lancaster on Friday August 1, 2025.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

ANNVILLE-CLEONA DUTCHMEN

PIAA: Class 3A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 285-299-8 dating back to 1967. The Dutchmen will play their 600th gridiron game in Week 8 vs. Pequea Valley, as they look to inch closer to 300 dubs this season. A-C is one of three L-L League pigskin programs sitting on 299 losses, along with Elco and Hempfield. The Dutchmen have captured eight L-L League section championships, the last was a Section 5 tri-title in 2023.

Annville-Cleona head coach Matt Gingrich during Lancaster-Lebanon League football media day at LNP offices in Lancaster on Friday Aug. 2, 2024.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

COACH: Matt Gingrich (11th season, 58-46 overall).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Greg Keener (OL-DL), Tim Love (OL-DL), Joe Shay (D-coordinator, RB-LB), Joe Heckard (RB-LB), Drew Speraw (WR-DB).

2024 RECAP: 3-4 Section 5, 4-6 overall. No playoff trip the Dutchmen, who had gone postseason dancing the last two years, and four times in the previous six seasons.  

2025 SCHEDULE: 8-16 Palmyra, 6 p.m. (scrimmage); 8-22 Biglerville, 7 p.m.; 8-28 @ Hanover, 7 p.m.; 9-5 Littlestown, 7 p.m.; 9-12 @ Hamburg, 7 p.m.; 9-19 @ Columbia, 7 p.m.; 9-26 Kutztown, 7 p.m.; 10-3 @ Lancaster Catholic, 7 p.m.; 10-10 Pequea Valley, 7 p.m.; 10-17 Schuylkill Valley, 7 p.m.; 10-24 @ Berks Catholic, 7 p.m. 

CIRCLE IT: A-C gets a trio of YAIAA programs in the non-con portion right out of the gates, all featuring three of the best nicknames in all of District 3 — Canners, Nighthawks, Thunderbolts. Dig that. Dutchmen have a long bus ride to Hanover in Week 2, and that’s a Thursday tilt, continuing A-C’s tradition of wedging a yearly Thursday game in there. Section 5 opener at Hamburg in Week 4 will set the tone for the race, which is usually packed with plenty of twists and turns. Pay attention. 

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Veer. 

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-3. 

KEY PLAYERS LOST: WR-DB Aidan Blauch, C-DE Preston Bomgardner, WR-DB Dominic Casciotti, WR Jack Getty, OG Alex Hemperly, QB-DB Bryce Keller, TE-LB Ivan Kreider, RB-DE Jonathan Shay (Section 5 Outstanding Lineman of the Year; Section 5 Defensive Lineman of the Year; Pennsylvania Football Writers All-State selection; Mini Max award winner; Manheim Touchdown Club co-Player of the Year), OG Malacai Victa. 

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: RB-LB Devon Englehart, OG-DT Kadavin Ginting, K Cian Soliday, OG Blaine Leitz, WR-DB Jonathan Moran, TE-DE-P Max Ortwein, QB-DB Lane Peters, RB-LB Hudson Sellers, OG-DT Jaxon Speece, C-LB Luke Wentling. 

KEY NEWCOMERS: TE-DE James Garney, C-LB Isaac Morse, WR-DB Jaylyn Moyer, RB-DB Yama Navarro, OT-DE Jordan Nickens, WR-DB Logan Radocha, RB-DB Danny Shay, OT Dan Shuey, DT Dom Smith, RB-DB Maddox White. 

OUTLOOK: The first thing that jumps out like a sore thumb is the key-players-lost list. Gone is rugged RB-DE Shay, a crackerjack 2-way standout, all-state performer, and one of the best athletes to ever come through A-C. He’ll be missed. The Dutchmen must also replace three stalwart O-line sluggers, and find a new QB and a reliable, durable lead-back in their option game. Sounds like a lot, but there are some key pieces due back. A-C has a knack for doing more with less. 

CRYSTAL BALL: Some newbies, yes. But also a lot of familiar names and faces. Englehart can run the ball; Moran is a major 2-way flank threat; Sellers and Wentling can clean things up from their ‘backer slots; Ginting, Leitz and Speece know their way around a line of scrimmage; and Peters has taken some snaps in the past, and he’s set to steer A-C’s Veer. Plus, Gingrich’s key newcomers list is about a dozen deep, so the Dutchmen should have some much-needed depth. A quick start — with some new pieces in key places — would behoove this group. Do so, and there’s no reason to believe A-C can’t run with the lead pack into October. 

Berks Catholic’s Palmer Reber, Giovanni DiSabatino, Johnny Sauppee and Anthony Zatorski during the Lancaster-Lebanon League Football Media Day in Lancaster on Friday August 1, 2025.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

BERKS CATHOLIC SAINTS

PIAA: Class 3A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 125-46-0 dating back to 2011. No L-L League section championships for the Saints, who are set for their fourth year in the league. 

Berks Catholic head coach Dave Stahler during the Lancaster-Lebanon League football media day at LNP offices in Lancaster on Friday Aug. 2, 2024.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

COACH: Dave Stahler (2nd season, 7-5 overall). He guided Berks Catholic to a D3 playoff win in his rookie year on the gig. Saints were back in the D3 playoffs after back-to-back Eastern Conference trips. Berks Catholic has only missed the postseason once in its 13 years and that — you guessed it — was the truncated 2020 pandemic season.

ASSISTANT COACHES: Jasen Esposito (OL), Phil Bennethum (DL), Tiger Lea (LB), Dan Skalski (O-coordinator, RB), Pat Causa (QB), Phil Bennethum III (WR), Dan Christian (DB), Jeff Anderson (DB), Marc Geddio (special teams), Ryan Gonzalez (JH coach), Jason Drumheller (JH coach), Steve Schmel (strength), Eric Trupp (JH coach).

2024 RECAP: 5-2 Section 5, 7-5 overall (Beat Biglerville 48-7 in the D3-3A quarterfinals; lost to eventual champ Bermudian Springs 42-25 in the D3-3A semifinals).

2025 SCHEDULE: 8-16 @ Trinity, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-22 @ Twin Valley, 7 p.m.; 8-28 Executive Education Academy, 6 p.m.; 9-5 Bethlehem Catholic, 7 p.m.; 9-12 @ Pequea Valley, 7 p.m.; 9-19 Lancaster Catholic, 7 p.m.; 9-26 @ Schuylkill Valley, 7 p.m.; 10-4 @ Kutztown, 5 p.m.; 10-9 Columbia, 7 p.m.; 10-17 @ Hamburg; 10-24 Annville-Cleona, 7 p.m. 

CIRCLE IT: Some fun wrinkles in the Saints’ slate, including a Week 2 home game on Thursday at 6 p.m. against Executive Education, which will be making the trek down 222 from Allentown. Opener at Twin Valley is a must-see all-Berks showdown and tone-setter. A short-week stretch in Weeks 7-8 awaits; a Saturday, 5 p.m. kick at Kutztown, followed by a Thursday home date vs. Columbia. Closing clip — at Hamburg, Annville-Cleona at home — will likely have some section/playoff scenarios blowing around in the late-October breeze. 

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Wing-T.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-2-5.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: WR Scott Duffy, RB Bryce Gumby, TE-LB Jackson Kozik (transferred to Exeter), RB-LB Nate Rose (transferred to Germantown Academy), QB Zach Suski, WR-DB Devyn Sutton. 

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OG-DE Eric Bennethum, RB-DB-PR Aidan Curley, OT-DT Damoni Daglis, WR-DB Gio Disabatino, RB-DB Xavier Gerald, OT-DT Palmer Reber (Section 5 Offensive Lineman of the Year), LB Johnny Sauppee, ATH-DB-KR-PR Owen Schalk, TE-LB Ryan Spatz, WR-DB Gavin Welker, OT Anthony Zatorski, DE Faith Zudie. 

KEY NEWCOMERS: RB-KR Wyatt Burkman, C  Colton Drumheller, WR-DB Logan Gonzalez, QB Cole Harter, C Alex Hernandez, RB-LB Coy Koller, DB Mason Mace, K-P Alex Reali, TE Jake Schmehl, WR Josiah Turman.

OUTLOOK: Plenty of beef up front for the Saints, including hulking O-tackles Daglis, Zatorski and Reber — the reigning Section 5 Offensive Lineman of the Year — and O-guard Bennethum. That’s a terrific start for a squad that must replace an accurate QB (Suski) and multiple play-makers, including Gumby, a multi-purpose back, and Rose, a 1,000-yard rusher who transferred to Germantown Academy. Four returning play-makers to know: Curley, Gerald and Schalk should spark the running game, and Welker can beat you deep. Sauppee and Zudie will spearhead the defense. 

CRYSTAL BALL: With so much talent due back in the trenches, it’s hard not to put some preseason bull’s-eyes on Berks Catholic — even with some new faces in the skill-kid department. That includes Harter at QB; remember his name. Keep those menacing line guys out of the trainer’s room and in the trenches, and the Saints should contend for section supremacy and make a playoff push. 

Columbia’s Gage Wolf, Tyler Brommer, Cameron McClair and Xavion Jones during the Lancaster-Lebanon League Football Media Day in Lancaster on Friday August 1, 2025.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

COLUMBIA CRIMSON TIDE

PIAA: Class 2A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 494-501-29 dating back to 1898. Third oldest football program among current L-L League entrants, and 1,024 games played are fourth-most among current league squads. Six more victories and the Tide will earn a spot in the coveted 500-win club. Columbia has captured five L-L League section championships, the last was an outright Section 4 flag in 2021. That’s also the last time the Tide went to the D3 playoffs. 

Columbia head coach Nate Bagley during the Lancaster-Lebanon League Football Media Day in Lancaster on Friday August 1, 2025.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

COACH: Nate Bagley (1st season). Bagley took over back in March, succeeding Brady Mathias, who led Columbia to a 5-25 record over the last three seasons. Bagley is a 2001 Conestoga Valley grad, and he went on to play football at Kutztown University and professionally in the arena league. He’s previously served as an assistant coach at CV, Lampeter-Strasburg, Ephrata and Stevens Tech. Now he has the keys to Columbia’s proud program up on the hill. 

ASSISTANT COACHES: Shane Houser (D-coordinator, DB), Martin Moore (WR-TE-DB), Chuck McClair (WR-TE-LB), Steve Wenger (OL-DL), Kevin Kelley (RB-LB), Tanner Schwilk (QB-DB), Joseph Dewitt (OL-DL) … Bagley dipped into his CV pipeline to bring aboard Kelley and Schwilk to his staff. Kelley rushed for 2,327 yards for the Buckskins in 2009; Schwilk had an epic 415-yard, 5-TD passing night for CV vs. L-S in 2017. 

2024 RECAP: 0-7 Section 5, 0-10 overall. It was Columbia’s first 0-10 campaign since 2017.

2025 SCHEDULE: 8-16 Steel-High, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-22 @ Eastern York, 7 p.m.; 8-29 Donegal, 7 p.m. (Battle for the Rock Trophy); 9-6 @ York Tech, 10 a.m.; 9-12 @ Lancaster Catholic, 7 p.m.; 9-19 Annville-Cleona, 7 p.m.; 9-26 @ Pequea Valley, 7 p.m.; 10-3 Schuylkill Valley, 7 p.m.; 10-9 @ Berks Catholic, 7 p.m.; 10-17 @ Kutztown, 7 p.m.; 10-24 Hamburg, 7 p.m. 

CIRCLE IT: Tide will get plenty of on-the-fly experience when Mid-Penn powerhouse Steel-High comes calling for a scrimmage date. The Rollers have won five D3 championships in a row — and 17 overall — including last year’s Class 2A crown with a win over Lancaster Catholic. FYI: Steel-High is slated for 10 away games this fall because of stadium construction. Week 1 bus ride over the bridge for the river rivalry tilt at Eastern York gets Columbia’s party started, followed up with a trophy game vs. longtime backyard foe Donegal. Then a Saturday game in Week 3 at York Tech — with a (yawn) 10 a.m. kick — caps the nonleague portion. Section 5 opener is at longtime rival Lancaster Catholic. There’s also a Thursday game — Week 8 at Berks Catholic — on the Tide’s table, as they look to snap a maddening 11-game losing skid dating back to Week 10 in 2023. 

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Pistol. 

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple. 

KEY PLAYERS LOST: TE-LB Miguel Aviles, WR-LB Julien Baez, OT-DE Kymere Binder, OG-DT Hayden Quinn, WR-LB Louden Rupp.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OT-NG Carson Arnold, RB-LB Tyler Brommer, TE-LB Xavion Jones, QB-DB Cameron McClair, RB-DB Kareem Nichols, WR-DB Miguel Ocasio, C-DE Luke Rupp, WR-DB Xzavion Stallworth, OG-DE Gage Wolf.

KEY NEWCOMERS: C-NG Limadiel DeJesus, R’nez Duncan, WR-DB Oliver Green, RB-LB Chase Marley, WR-DB Kamrai Nichols, OL-DL Caiden Sliger, RB-DB Levi Spencer.

OUTLOOK: The Tide are in reboot mode, and welcomed in Bagley — a former player for Conestoga Valley and the University of Kutztown, plus a stint professionally in the arena league — to continue the process, as Columbia tries to snap an 11-game skid after a 0-10 finish in 2024. The good news: McClair returns for his third season behind center to pilot Bagley’s new-look pistol scheme. He’s a 2,300-yard passer heading into his junior year. Ocasio, Stallworth and Jones are back to help out in the pass-catching department, Nichols and Brommer are experienced ball-carriers, and Rupp is a two-time all-star in the trenches who will anchor the line. As usual, it will come down to numbers — or lack thereof — for Columbia, which usually fields one of the smallest rosters in the league. Bagley did list seven newbies who are ready to contribute now — two linemen and five skill kids — in his preseason notes, and he was hoping to have 30-plus kids out for camp. That’s a good thing. 

CRYSTAL BALL: Talent and especially the hunger are here for Columbia to snap this L streak, and Bagley, a football lifer, should inject plenty of adrenaline into the program. Enough to get the Tide out of the basement and back in the lead pack? Hey, baby steps. But here’s thinking that losing streak will go by the wayside, and Columbia will start making bigger strides this time around. 

Hamburg’s Cayden Mason, Blaise Ernst, Alex Soto and Astian Reppert during the Lancaster-Lebanon League Football Media Day in Lancaster on Friday August 1, 2025.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

HAMBURG HAWKS

PIAA: Class 4A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 229-351-7 dating back to 1969. No L-L League section championships for the Hawks, who joined the league full-time in 2022. 

COACH: Tyler Hartranft (1st season). Hartranft took over back in December, succeeding Matt Hoffert, who guided Hamburg to a 21-13 mark in his three seasons on Hawk Hill. Hartranft was previously an assistant coach at Hamburg, Spring-Ford and Pottsville, and collegiately at McDaniel and King’s. FYI: It didn’t take Hoffert very long to land on his feet; he’s now the O-coordinator for Allentown Central Catholic in District 11. 

Hamburg head coach Tyler Hartranft during the Lancaster-Lebanon League Football Media Day in Lancaster on Friday August 1, 2025.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

ASSISTANT COACHES: Richie Reinhart (strength), Damian Buggy (D-coordinator, DB), Nick McBreen (WR), Jeff Chillot (TE), Pat Hanlon (LB), Jude Bubeck (OL), Eric Bubeck (RB-DB), Toby Wolber (DL), Brett Gaul (DB) Jake Phillips (OL). … Chillot is the former head coach at Hamburg and Schuylkill Valley. 

2024 RECAP: 4-3 Section 5, 6-5 overall (Lost to North Pocono 41-0 in the Eastern Conference Class 4A championship). It was the fourth year in a row Hamburg went to the postseason, the last two in the Eastern Conference, after back-to-back D3-3A semifinal appearances. 

2025 SCHEDULE: 8-16 @ Tamaqua, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-22 @ Octorara, 7 p.m.; 8-29 Midd-West, 7 p.m.; 9-5 Bristol, 7 p.m.; 9-12 Annville-Cleona, 7 p.m.; 9-19 @ Kutztown, 7 p.m.; 9-26 Lancaster Catholic, 7 p.m.; 10-3 Pequea Valley, 7 p.m.; 10-10 @ Schuylkill Valley, 7 p.m. (Frost Bowl Trophy); 10-17 Berks Catholic, 7 p.m.; 10-24 @ Columbia, 7 p.m. 

CIRCLE IT: A 3-game home stand early in the slate for the Hawks, including non-cons vs. (District 4 Class 3A) Midd-West from Middleburg, Snyder County, and (District 1 Class 2A) Bristol, from Bucks County. Bristol, by the way, is scrimmaging Pequea Valley, and later is hosting Garden Spot for a nonleague clash. Raise your hand if you had Bristol on three L-L League schedules this season. Moving on … Frost Bowl. At Schuylkill Valley. Week 8. No love lost there. Section 5 opener vs. Annville-Cleona will help shape the race. Hamburg should certainly be motivated to unleash after a lopsided loss in the Eastern Conference title game last fall. FYI: Midd-West snapped a 27-game losing streak — dating back to 2021 — with a 27-13 victory over Holy Redeemer in Week 10 last fall. 

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Spread.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: K Eli Blatt, WR-DB Daniel Brady, RB-LB Leland Moore, RB-DB Misael Oviedo, QB Tyler Shuey, WR Ty Werley (Section 5 Receiver of the Year). 

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: WR-DB-PR Owen Bentz, RB-KR Blaise Ernst, TE-DB-KR Ethan Horvath, DT Will Marciano, OG-DT Cayden Mason, OT-DE Astian Reppert.

KEY NEWCOMERS: WR-LB Andrew Arroyo-Ramos, QB Isaac McFadden, WR-DB Elijah Metzler, RB-LB Bryce Schmeck, C John Sharp, WR-DB Alex Soto, QB Issak Stewart, TE-DE Mason Strunk.

OUTLOOK: An interesting offseason on Hawk Hill, as Hamburg welcomed in Hartranft — a former Hawks’ assistant coach — to steer the ship. His first order of business was replacing Shuey, an all-star QB, and two of his favorite targets, Brady and Werley, the reigning Section 5 Receiver of the Year. But the cupboard is hardly empty; Bentz and Horvath are reliable pass-catchers, Ernst is an experienced rock-toter, and Reppert, Mason and Marciano are line stalwarts. Here’s a name to know: McFadden, an incoming freshman QB, has a very bright future ahead of him. Put that in your memory banks. 

CRYSTAL BALL: It might look a tad different at the outset, especially with potentially an untested ninth-grader at the wheel and a new coach patrolling the sidelines. There might also be some growing pains up front; keep an eye on the trenches. But these Hawks certainly have enough in the tank to do plenty of squawking in the section race — and be in the conversation for another postseason trip. 

Kutztown’s Aiden Showers, Ian Bahr, Wyatt Stoess and Tallan Fitzsimmons during the Lancaster-Lebanon League Football Media Day in Lancaster on Friday August 1, 2025.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

KUTZTOWN COUGARS

PIAA: Class 3A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 97-410-1 dating back to 1976. Three more victories and the Cougars will crack the 100-win club. No L-L League section championships for Kutztown, which is set for its fourth season in the league this fall. The Cougars are also currently the only L-L League pigskin program that has never made a District 3 postseason appearance. 

COACH: Larry Chester (12th season, 30-77 overall).

Kutztown head coach Larry Chester during the Lancaster-Lebanon League football media day at LNP offices in Lancaster on Friday Aug. 2, 2024.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

ASSISTANT COACHES: Matt Lawhorne (special teams coordinator, QB-DB), Carl Thomas (OL-TE-DL), Maurice Chester (D-coordinator), Tyler Hallock (OL-TE-DL), Jonathan Rodriguez (JH coach), Steve Kircher (JH coach), Lee Clark (JH coach), Kenny Kramer (technology).

2024 RECAP: 1-6 Section 5, 1-9 overall.

2025 SCHEDULE: 8-16 @ Salisbury, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-22 @ Fleetwood, 7 p.m. (Hall of Fame Trophy); 8-29 York Tech, 7 p.m.; 9-5 @ Octorara, 7 p.m.; 9-12 Schuylkill Valley, 7 p.m.; 9-19 Hamburg, 7 p.m.; 9-26 @ Annville-Cleona, 7 p.m.; 10-4 Berks Catholic, 5 p.m.; 10-10 @ Lancaster Catholic, 7 p.m.; 10-17 Columbia, 7 p.m.; 10-24 @ Pequea Valley, 7 p.m. 

CIRCLE IT: A trophy game right out of the gates in Week 1, when the Cougars head to Fleetwood with some bragging rights and hardware hanging in the balance. Section 5 opener is Week 4 vs. defending champ Schuylkill Valley. Kutztown also has a home Saturday tilt — with an interesting 5 p.m. kick-time — in Week 7 against Berks Catholic. Note that on your calendars. 

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Power-T.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-4.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: RB-LB Brenden Ackley, RB-DB David Bates, QB-WR-DB Colten Mathias, OG-DE Alex Reyes, RB-DB Jayden Swoyer, TE James Undercuffler. 

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: RB-LB Ian Bahr, OG Gavin Hallock, TE-NG Tallan Fitzsimmons, DE Jayden Martin, RB-LB Mason Sherry, OG-LB Aiden Showers, QB Wyatt Stoess, RB-DB-KR-PR Ryan Walters, TE-DE Tyler Wicke. 

KEY NEWCOMERS: OT-DT T.J. Englehart, OT-DT Jacob Koehler, RB-DB-K Jack Moriarty. 

OUTLOOK: The Cougars have been giving everyone fits with their powerful Power-T running attack. Yes, Kutztown lost Ackley, a 1,000-yard rusher. But some serious play-makers are due back in the backfield, like Bahr, Sherry and Walters, the Cougars’ jack-of-all-trades performer. More good news: Stoess returns to pilot the Power-T behind center, and he’ll have O-guards Hallock and Showers back to man the line and help blow open holes. Two names to know: Newbies Englehart and Koehler are set to slide into all-important O-tackle slots. One tweak for the Cougars: Chester switched his defense from a 3-5 look to a 3-4 scheme this time around. Kutztown must stop people. Period. 

CRYSTAL BALL: The good folks in Kutztown are probably tired of hearing about rebuilding and retooling in the football program. The biggest thing for the Cougars is simply improving and being competitive. The pieces are certainly here for that. If this O is firing on all cylinders, and if the D is stopping people, Kutztown will be an extremely tough out. Don’t overlook this crew. They’ll make you earn it. 

Lancaster Catholic’s Trenton Moore, Brandon Way, Colton Hegener and Koby Myers during the Lancaster-Lebanon League Football Media Day in Lancaster on Friday August 1, 2025.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

LANCASTER CATHOLIC CRUSADERS

PIAA: Class 2A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 555-396-29 dating back to 1930. The 555 victories are fifth-most among current L-L League programs. The Crusaders — who will join the 1,000-game club in 2026 — have captured 13 L-L League section championships, the last was a Section 5 tri-title in 2023. Lancaster Catholic bagged seven Section 3 crowns in a row from 2005-2011, going 46-1 in section games over that sizzling clip. For you trivia buffs, the Crusaders’ lone section setback during that epic stretch was a 17-13 loss vs. Northern Lebanon on Nov. 2, 2007. 

Lancaster Catholic head coach Chris Maiorino during the Lancaster-Lebanon League football media day at LNP offices in Lancaster on Friday Aug. 2, 2024.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

COACH: Chris Maiorino (6th season, 32-21 overall).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Brandon Way (WR), Steve Humma (RB-LB), Bill Valenzo (DB), Sean Titus (TE), Joel Boas (QB-OLB), Josh Acker (WR), Matt Hegener (OL-DL), Tyler Wolf (LB), Austin Andrews (DB), Andrew Dixon (OL-DL), Sean Haney (QB), Mark Magyar (player support), Noah Thomas (O quality control), Andrew Longenecker (D quality control).

2024 RECAP: 5-2 Section 5, 7-5 overall (Beat Camp Hill 27-20 in the D3-2A semifinals; lost to Steel-High 36-7 in the D3-2A championship, as the Rollers continued their D3 dominance). It was the sixth time in the last seven years Lancaster Catholic was in the D3 playoffs; the Crusaders missed out in the dreaded 2020 pandemic season. 

2025 SCHEDULE: 8-16 Solanco, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-22 @ Camp Hill, 7 p.m.; 8-29 Delone Catholic, 7 p.m.; 9-5 @ Elco, 7 p.m.; 9-12 Columbia, 7 p.m.; 9-19 @ Berks Catholic, 7 p.m.;  9-26 @ Hamburg, 7 p.m.; 10-3 Annville-Cleona, 7 p.m.; 10-10 Kutztown, 7 p.m.; 10-17 @ Pequea Valley, 7 p.m.; 10-24 Schuylkill Valley, 7 p.m. 

CIRCLE IT: A rematch right away in Week 1 with a trip to Camp Hill; Crusaders upended the Lions twice last season, with a 42-41 double-OT thriller in Week 1, and another close-call victory in the D3-2A semifinals. It doesn’t get any easier in Week 2 when reigning D3-1A champ Delone Catholic comes to Lancaster. Keep an eye on a pair of mid-season road trips — Week 5 at Berks Catholic, Week 6 at Hamburg — and Week 10 might be for all the marbles (again) when defending champ Schuylkill Valley (with former Lancaster Catholic coach Bruce Harbach leading his troops) splashes down in Lancaster. 

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Spread.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: OG-DT Gabe Cherasaro, RB-DB Corde Douglas (transferred to Garden Spot), TE-LB Zach Dresch, OT-LB Anthony Leone, WR-LB Drew Schwanke, QB David Stefanow, WR-DB Brendon Sullivan, TE-DE Isaac Veldheer, WR-DB Charlie Warren. 

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: TE Colton Baddick, TE-KR Chris Baumler, C-LB Seamus Connor, OT-DT Max Gochenauer, WR-DB-KR-PR Colton Hegener, DE Trenton Moore, K Will O’Malley, WR-LB Ethan Shank, RB-DB-KR-PR Brandon Way (Section 5 Outstanding Back of the Year; Section 5 Offensive Back of the Year; PFW All-State selection).

KEY NEWCOMERS: LB Roman Clemson, QB Rowan Demarco, WR Caden Dusablon, OG Nikitus Gochenauer, OT Matt Hank, OG-DT Connor Martin, OL-LB Koby Myers, DE Brandon Rudolph, DB Austin Schmidt, QB Travis Toaltoan, OG-DT Oliver Tongel, LB Breidyn Wright. 

OUTLOOK: There should be plenty of good vibes flowing in the Crusaders’ field house after last year’s spirited ride to the D3-2A title game. Some key pieces departed from that squad — Stefanow, the QB, Warren, a flank patroller, Dresch, a hard-hitting ‘backer, to name a few — and Lancaster Catholic took a hit when Douglas, an all-star 2-way standout, transferred to Garden Spot. But here’s the great news: Way, an 1,800-yard rusher and all-state performer last year, returns to inflict more damage. He’ll be flanked by Hegener, who is a real Swiss Army knife, trench studs Connor and Gochenauer, and Moore, a D-end enforcer who is a ticking time bomb off the edge.

CRYSTAL BALL: Some graduation hits, sure. Hey, it happens. But don’t call it a rebuild in Rossmere; the Crusaders have more than enough weapons in their cache to be there in late October. Don’t miss Way — a Villanova commit — and his dazzling breakaway abilities. And keep an eye on the QB slot, where newbies Demarco and Toaltoan are vying for snaps. Don’t be surprised if Week 10 vs. Schuylkill Valley settles it. 

Pequea Valley’s Sterling Furches, Drew Tibbins, Grae Lankford, Austin Slaymaker during the Lancaster-Lebanon League Football Media Day in Lancaster on Friday August 1, 2025.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

PEQUEA VALLEY BRAVES

PIAA: Class 3A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 63-204-0 dating back to 1998. … Trivia question: Where did PV play its home games in its inaugural season while its on-campus stadium was being prepped for football activities? … No L-L League section championships for the Braves. But PV snapped its 26-year postseason drought with its first trip — to the Eastern Conference Class 3A title game — last fall. … Trivia answer: PV played at Lancaster Catholic. Braves won their first varsity football game, a 7-6 nail-biter over Rising Sun, Maryland, on Sept. 4, 1998. PV went 2-8 in its inaugural season, including a 34-27 victory over now-defunct Lebanon Catholic in Week 9. 

Pequea Valley head coach Mike Choi during the Lancaster-Lebanon League football media day at LNP offices in Lancaster on Friday Aug. 2, 2024.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

COACH: Mike Choi (9th season, 27-54 overall; reigning QB Club Section 5 Coach of the Year after he took PV to the postseason in 2024).

ASSISTANT COACHES: Stewart Ford (O-coordinator, RB-DB), Ed Lapp (QB-WR-OLB), Andy Tibbins (OL-ILB), Logan McGrane (OL-DL), Michael Beals (RB-DB), Michael Patterson (WR-TE-DL), Ashton Martin (OL-DE), Sam Furches (OL-DL).

2024 RECAP: 3-4 Section 5, 5-6 overall (Lost to Tamaqua 35-0 in the Eastern Conference 3A championship).

2025 SCHEDULE: 8-16 @ Bristol, 10:30 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-22 Delaware County Christian, 7 p.m.; 8-29 @ Thomas Edison, 3 p.m.; 9-5 @ Morrisville, 7 p.m.; 9-12 Berks Catholic, 7 p.m.; 9-19 @ Schuylkill Valley, 7 p.m.; 9-26 Columbia, 7 p.m.; 10-3 @ Hamburg, 7 p.m.; 10-10 @ Annville-Cleona, 7 p.m.; 10-17 Lancaster Catholic, 7 p.m; 10-24 Kutztown, 7 p.m. 

CIRCLE IT: PV was in a bit of a bind when Renaissance Academy and Jenkintown both opted off the Braves’ schedule. After some scrambling, PV added Delaware County Christian and Thomas Edison for 2025. DCC is bumping up from — wait for it — 8-man football this season. The Class 1A program in Newtown Square in Delaware County in District 1 went 6-0 in the Keystone League and 7-1 overall last year, and that L was a 26-18 setback in the Keystone championship tilt vs. Maryland School for the Deaf out of Frederick, Maryland. Other teams in that 8-man league include Perkiomen School (Pennsburg, Montgomery County), Model Secondary School for the Deaf (Washington, D.C.), Coventry Christian (Pottstown), Girard College (Philadelphia), Mercersburg Academy (Franklin County) and Valley Forge Military Academy (Wayne, Delaware County). Now you know. Meanwhile, Thomas Edison is a Class 4A program that competes in the Philly Pub League in District 12. The Owls went 4-1 in the Liberty Division and 4-6 overall last year. Morrisville, a Class 1A program out of the Bicentennial Conference in District 1, remained on PV’s nonleague slate. Section openers — Berks Catholic, at defending champ Schuylkill Valley — are against playoff teams from 2024, so the Braves will immediately start out in the deep end. Definitely an interesting first month in Kinzers, where PV very much has some momentum cooking in its program. 

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Wing-T. 

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: RB-DB Cayden Carter, C-DE Jeremiah Garber, DE Ashton Martin, TE-LB Adam Shultz, TE-LB Jerome Stoltzfus, RB-DB Trevor Vollmer. 

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OG Andrew Blank, WR-LB Austin Blank, OT-DE Sterling Furches, OG-DE Micah LaCorte, C-DT Grae Lankford, RB-LB-P Drew Tibbins, QB Anthony Stoltzfus, OT-DT Justin Wiggins, RB-DB-KR-PR Lebran Woods. 

KEY NEWCOMERS: RB-LB Buddy Esh, DB Joseph Hagelin, RB-LB Collin Mowday, TE-DE David Nazario, OT-DT Austin Slaymaker, DB Lamar Stoltzfus. 

OUTLOOK: It’s a great time to be in the Braves’ program, which has plenty of momentum after PV made its first postseason appearance last fall. More good news: There’s a lot back in the tank, including Stoltzfus behind center to operate the Wing-T; Woods flashing his speed game; slugger FB Tibbins returning to get the tough yards between the tackles; and, perhaps most importantly, some vet trench pluggers — Blank, Furches, LaCorte, Lankford, Wiggins — back in the fold to do the heavy lifting. Is a repeat postseason performance in the cards for PV? The Braves sure hope so. 

CRYSTAL BALL: A fast start like last year would do wonders for this crew, which is feeling fine after having a Week 11 for the first time in program history last year. Stick to their own business, win the games they should win, keep riding that mo, and the Braves have the moxie to keep making history. 

Schuylkill Valley’s Nick Moyer, Logan Cammauf, Alex Aletras and Nathan Kier, during the Lancaster-Lebanon League Football Media Day in Lancaster on Friday August 1, 2025.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

SCHUYLKILL VALLEY PANTHERS

PIAA: Class 3A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 192-335-4 dating back to 1968. Eight wins and the Panthers will crash the 200-victory club. Two L-L League section championships for SV, a Section 5 tri-title in 2023, and last year’s solo Section 5 crown. The Panthers are 18-3 in section games since joining the L-L League in 2022. 

Schuylkill Valley head coach Bruce Harbach during the Lancaster-Lebanon League football media day at LNP offices in Lancaster on Friday Aug. 2, 2024.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

COACH: Bruce Harbach (5th season, 26-20 overall). Tack on 16 years and a 139-55 mark at Lancaster Catholic, and Harbach’s teams are 165-75 as he enters his 21st season overall. Harbach was recently inducted into the Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. 

ASSISTANT COACHES: Jeremy Crills (D-coordinator), Tim Kier (OL-DL), Lou Orth (QB), Dave Wickersham (OL-DL), Steve Heck (WR), John Lorchak (LB-DB), Eric Hancock (OL-DL), Joe Bonfadini (LB), Zach Martin (OL-DL). … Lorchak is the former Muhlenberg head coach. 

2024 RECAP: 7-0 Section 5 (champs), 9-3 overall (Beat Littlestown 55-13 in the D3-3A quarterfinals; lost to eventual runner-up Trinity 20-17 in OT in the D3-3A semifinals). It was the third year in a row SV appeared in a D3 bracket. 

2025 SCHEDULE: 8-16 Conrad Weiser, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-22 Muhlenberg, 7 p.m.; 8-28 @ Daniel Boone, 7 p.m.; 9-5 Fleetwood, 7 p.m.; 9-12 @ Kutztown, 7 p.m.; 9-19 Pequea Valley, 7 p.m.; 9-26 Berks Catholic, 7 p.m.; 10-3 @ Columbia, 7 p.m.; 10-10 Hamburg, 7 p.m. (Frost Bowl Trophy); 10-17 @ Annville-Cleona, 7 p.m.; 10-24 @ Lancaster Catholic, 7 p.m. 

CIRCLE IT: Intriguing lid-lifter vs. Muhlenberg; Muhls handed SV a Week 1 L last year. Panthers rebounded nicely to win Section 5 after that early punch to the gut. Other highlights include the always popular Frost Bowl trophy game vs. backyard rival Hamburg in Week 8, followed up by a pair of tester road games — at Annville-Cleona, at Lancaster Catholic — that should help decide the Section 5 race, a race SV captured outright last year. Week 2 at longtime Berks County rival Daniel Boone is a Thursday tilt. Every game is big for this crew; Panthers, with bull’s-eyes swirling, have their eyes on a third straight section prize if they can maneuver their way through plenty of landmines. 

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Spread.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: WR-LB Kowen Gerner, RB-DB Cooper Hohenadel (Section 5 Defensive Back of the Year), WR-DB John Kowalski, WR-DB Dillon Lackner, QB Logan Nawrocki (Lions Club Section 5 MVP; PFW All-State selection), TE-LB Luke Spotts (MTC co-Player of the Year; PFW All-State selection).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: WR-DE Faud Abdullateef, QB-WR-DB Anthony Batista, RB-LB Logan Cammauf (Section 5 Linebacker of the Year; PFW All-State selection), TE-LB Hunter Durland, WR-DB Alex Gehret, RB-DE Tristan Goda, OT-DT Gabe Kier, OG-DT Nate Kier, OG-DT Weston McBride, C-DT Spencer Mountz, OG-DT Nick Moyer, RB-LB-KR Brandon Pyle, OG-DT Noah Sonon, K-P Reece Wamsher. 

KEY NEWCOMERS: QB Alex Aletras, OG-DT Aidan Aris, WR-DB Daly Becht, WR-LB-DB William Johns, TE-DE Landyn Keglovits, WR-LB Seth Klinikowski, OT-DT Josh Lasandro, RB-DB-KR-PR Ervin Ortiz, OG-DT Keandre Powell, TE-DE Al Rubinos, WR-DB James Santana, WR Josiah Urbaez. 

OUTLOOK: Tons to like in Panthers’ camp, as SV goes for its third straight section championship. Graduation wasn’t overly kind — Nawrocki, a career 5,000-yard passer, fellow all-state pick Spotts, and wily play-makers Gerner, Hohenadel, Kowalski and Lacker all exited stage right — but Harbach, who has completely overhauled this program, has ample talent aplenty ready to go. That includes Cammauf, an all-state pick who should get plenty of touches. He also flirted with reaching 200 tackles — he had a jaw-dropping 193 sticks — from his ‘backer slot last fall. The time is definitely now for SV, which has had football fever since Harbach took the job. 

CRYSTAL BALL: Need to replace the QB — Aletras is a name to know — and some home-run flank threats. But six vet O-line protectors are due back, and Wamsher will be one of the top kickers in the league, giving the Panthers the edge in special teams. Insert bull’s-eye here. All roads to the Section 5 title go through Leesport. 

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