’22 Preview: Schuylkill Valley Panthers
Classification: Class 3A
League: Lancaster-Lebanon Section 5
Schedule: Click here
Last season: 1-5 Berks 2, 1-9 overall
Last District 3 playoff appearance: 2014
Head coach: Bruce Harbach, second season, 1-9 (140-54 in 17 seasons overall)
Key losses: All-League QB & LB Drew Campbell, second-team all-league TE Kyle Spotts, T/T DeShaun Davis-Thomas.
| LL5 | Projected finish |
| 1 | Hamburg |
| 2 | Lancaster Catholic |
| 3 | Columbia |
| 4 | Annville-Cleona |
| 5 | Schuylkill Valley |
| 6 | Northern Lebanon |
| 7 | Kutztown |
| 8 | Pequea Valley |
Top offensive players: QB Michael Goad, RB Dominic Giuffre, RB Brayden Woods, WR Colby Crills, WR Julian Kemmerer, WR/RB Cooper Hohenadel, WR Will Johnson III, TE Luke Spotts, TE Dimitri Aletras, C Sabier Mateo, G Paul Engleman, G Gage VanKeuren, T Theo Wysocki, T Christian Davila.
Top defensive players: E Sabier Mateo, E Theo Wysocki, E Ethan Swoyer, E Hayden Bojako, T Jadon Swain, T Christian Davila, LB Paul Engleman, LB JadenGulley, LB Jake Stelluti LB Luke Spotts, LB Nathan Searfoss, S Michael Goad, CB Colby Crills, CB Cooper Hohendal, CB Dominic Giuffre.
Did you know? The Panthers kick off their 50th season Friday against Twin Valley. They debuted in 1968 with a 31-7 win over Schwenksville, their only win in a 1-7 season. (The program was suspended for five seasons, from 1992-96, due to a lack of numbers in the program.)
For the record: Defensive back Steve Kreider set a program record with four interceptions against Daniel Boone in 1974. Kreider went on to play in a Super Bowl during eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, from 1979-86.
On schedule: The Panthers make their Lancaster-Lebanon League debut Sept. 16 against a familiar foe: Kutztown. The long-time Berks II rivals have met 41 times, with Schuylkill Valley going 32-9 in the series. . . They end their season against Lancaster Catholic, a team head coach Bruce Harbach coached for 16 seasons.
Quotable: “We have a very talented overall group on both sides. We have to teach the kids to win and change the culture of the program. We want to contend (this year), that’s our goal. We want to be there at the end. (If) we stay healthy I think we’ll be there at the end.” — Panthers coach Bruce Harbach.
Outlook: The Panthers won’t lack for offensive weapons, that’s for sure. Michael Goad, a good all-around athlete and strong runner returns full-time at quarterback after seeing a lot of time there last season. Colby Crills, who led the team in receptions as a sophomore, returns to lead a deep receiving corp.
The question will come down to defense and stopping the run more effectively — opponents averaged better than 8 yards per carry last season.
The Panthers allowed 30.4 points per game and had the fewest takeaways (six) in the league. They have to get better there and could, what with seven starters back on D, including Crills — an impact player on both sides of the ball — at CB.
Christian Davila, a 245-pound senior DT, will front the defensive line. DE Ethan Swoyer is expected to make an impact on that side, too.
Goad moved into the QB spot last year at midseason and effectively ran the Veer. He didn’t pass often but was effective when he did, completing 12-of-17 with three TDS.
If his passing continues to improve the Panthers’ offense can take a jump, what with Crills, Dillon Lackner, Cooper Hohenadel and Will Johnson III out in patterns.
“We’ve got some weapons all over the place, and so many young kids who can fly,” said Harbach, who said he sees similarities between this team and his team at Lancaster Catholic before it took off and began winning state championships.
Crills, a 5-10, 175-pound junior, will be a key. Harbach says he reminds him of his son, former Wilson standout Brett Harbach, because of his football IQ and his all-around game. Crills will also kick and punt in addition to playing both ways.
“He has football savvy,” Harbach said. “We’re expecting big things from him on defense and offense.”
Junior Dominic Giuffre, a transfer from Wilson with speed, is expected to be the primary ballcarrier; he was second on the team in carries last season and averaged nearly 5 yards a pop.
Eight players with starting experience return on offense, four on the O-line, where 6-4, 245-pound junior T Theo Wysocki is expected to step up.
Overall, there are a lot of experienced players back; program seems positioned to take a big step forward in Harbach’s second season.
At the wire: Darkhorse contender in balanced and wide-open Section 5.
Lancaster-Lebanon League
| Section 1 | Section 2 | Section 3 | Section 4 | Section 5 |
| Cedar Crest | Conestoga Valley | Daniel Boone | Berks Catholic | Annville-Cleona |
| Hempfield | Exeter | Elizabethtown | Cocalico | Columbia |
| Manheim Twp. | Gov. Mifflin | Ephrata | Conrad Weiser | Hamburg |
| McCaskey | Lebanon | Fleetwood | Donegal | Kutztown |
| Penn Manor | Manheim Central | Garden Spot | Elco | Lancaster Catholic |
| Reading High | Muhlenberg | Solanco | Lampeter-Strasburg | Northern Lebanon |
| Wilson | Warwick | Twin Valley | Octorara | Pequea Valley |
| | | | Wyomissing | Schuylkill Valley |
