Top players to watch in Section 5 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League in 2023
Lancaster Catholic made an unbeaten run through Section 5 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League last season, but it sure wasn’t easy.
The Crusaders squeaked past Hamburg 38-35 in a Week 6 battle of state-ranked unbeatens, edged Annville-Cleona 14-13 a week later and held off Schuylkill Valley 44-41 in the final game of the regular season.
A play or two goes differently in any of those games and Lancaster Catholic shares the section title — or maybe finishes third or fourth
Section 5 was that tightly contested, with Annville-Cleona, Hamburg and Schuylkill Valley finished tied for second at 5-2.
Annville-Cleona’s Phoenix Music was named Section 5’s Outstanding Back; Hamburg’s Charles Sheppard was the Outstanding Lineman.
Section champ Lancaster Catholic had 16 all-league picks, including 10 first-teammers. Most of them have graduated. Kutztown’s Tyler Hallock, the Offensive Lineman of the Year, is the only major award winner returning.
Here’s an early look at the top players in Section 5 for the 2023 season.
Later this week we’ll take a look at the top players in Section 4 and Section 3.
Brendan Ackley, Kutztown
Burst onto the scene as a sophomore, rushing for team-best 952 yards and leading the Cougars with six touchdowns. Averaged 6.6 yards per carry.
The 5-9, 200-pound fullback/middle linebacker had a productive offseason, tacking on 15 pounds and increasing his speed by running and training for track. The junior will be the Cougars’ top offensive threat and one of Section 5’s top two-way players.
Cohen Correll, Hamburg
The 6-1, 205-pound rising senior brings toughness and aggressiveness to Hawks defense from his spot at safety, where he’ll come up fast to offer run support.
Adapted quickly to Hawks’ new offense last season, leading team with 39 receptions for 554 yard and four TDs. He’s stronger after tacking on more than 40 pounds in the offseason and will be a go-to guy after Hawks graduated key playmakers at QB and RB.
Colby Crills, Schuylkill Valley
Versatile player earned all-league first-team honors as a cornerback and played a key role on offense as Panthers made run for Section 5 championship.
Three-year starter on defense made 36 tackles and intercepted a pass. Wide receiver is an effective blocker and had 16 receptions as a junior. Also kicked four PATs.
Elijah Cunningham, Lancaster Catholic
Capped off solid campaign with a 300-yard rushing night in Section 5-clinching Week 10 win at Schuylkill Valley. Finished with 1,098 yards with 14 TDs, picking up second-team all-league honors. Was also honorable mention pick at LB. Senior will go for back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons as Catholic pushes for another section crown.
Dominic Giuffre, Schuylkill Valley
Elusive runner went for 1,548 yards and 29 touchdowns in breakout season that saw him top six program rushing and scoring records and earn All-State and all-league first-team honors.
The 6-1, 175-pounder went for a program-record 302 yards in the Frost Bowl showdown at Hamburg and matched a program record with six TDs in a loss to eventual Section 5 champ Lancaster Catholic.
Tyler Hallock, Kutztown
Section 5 Offensive Lineman of the Year and two-way, first-team all-league pick returns to set the tone up front for the improving Cougars.
The senior is deceptively quick for someone who goes 6-1, 305 pounds and will be one of the most powerful lineman in the section.
He’ll pave the way for the Cougars’ option running attack and will anchor the defensive line from his spot at tackle.
Damien Miller, Annville-Cleona
Miller anchored both lines for the Little Dutchmen, earning first-team all-league honors at guard and second-team status at defensive tackle. The 6-foot, 250-pounder helped the Dutchmen’s ground-and-pound offense churn out 3,964 rushing yards. He picked up 40 tackles, two for losses, with a sack on D.
Mason Semmel, Hamburg
Followed a strong sophomore season with a productive offseason that saw him tack 30 pounds onto his 6-3 ½ frame and shave two-tenths of a second off his 40-yard time.
All-League second-team linebacker will be key figure in Hawks’ newly configured 3-5 Stack defense where he looms as a punishing middle linebacker.
Will have expanded role on offense after catching 21 passes last season. Picked up scholarship offer from St. Francis; more to come.
Jon Shay, Annville-Cleona
Multi-purpose threat made a ton of big plays on both sides of the ball as a sophomore, helping the Dutchmen reach the District 3 Class 2A finale. The first-team all-league defensive end had 102 tackles, 13 for losses, seven sacks, six hurries and a pick. He caught eight passes for 273 yards (a healthy 34.1 yards per grab) with four TDs and he tacked on 159 rushing yards. Picked up PA Football News All-State honors at D-end.
Luke Shaffer, Northern Lebanon
An injury knocked Shaffer out for the Week 10 game but he was a terror over the first nine. Shaffer amassed — wait for it — 141.5 tackles, a single-season program record. He was a first-team pick at linebacker and he picked up a PA Football News All-State nod, as well.
Demari Simms, Columbia
Everyone needs a jack-of-all-trades kind of a kid, and Simms fits that bill for the Crimson Tide. He’ll be a major threat at wide receiver; a secondary fiend at defensive back; and a factor returning punts and kickoffs. He scored in all three phases last season.
He was a second-team all-league pick as a junior at receiver.
The Tide will lean on his experience, particularly in the pass-catching department.
Luke Spotts, Schuylkill Valley
At 6-2, 210 pounds he’s a big target in the passing game but also force in the running game because of his blocking ability. Will again be a key at inside linebacker after making 86 tackles, 10 for loss, with a pair of sacks last season.
Enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, catching a team-high 27 passes from his spot at tight end, averaging 15.9 yards per catching and earning all-league first-team honors.
Others to watch
(PhilMarPhoto)
- Josh Acker, WR-db, Lancaster Catholic
- Cameron Bergman, DB, Pequea Valley
- Preston Bomgardner, C-DE, Annville-Cleona
- Stud Campbell, LB, Columbia
- Cam Connelly, QB-DB, Annville-Cleona
- Terrell Crawley, TE-DB, Lancaster Catholic
- Zach Dresch, LB, Lancaster Catholic
- Tanner Feagley, WR-DE, Northern Lebanon
- R.J. Gonzalez, WR-DB, Lancaster Catholic
- Storm Haney, OG, Lancaster Catholic
- Cael Harter, RB-DB, Annville-Cleona
- Darrian Holloway, TE-LB, Annville-Cleona
- Bryce Kamp, C-DL, Hamburg
- Ethan Lafferty, TE-DB, Kutztown
- Logan McGrane, G-LB, Pequea Valley
- Dom Nell, T-DE, Columbia
- Dontae Petersheim, RB-DB, Pequea Valley
- Mason Sherry, RB-DB, Kutztown
- Demari Simms, WR, Columbia
- Quincy Stewart, WR-DB, Columbia
- Charlie Warren, WR-DB, Lancaster Catholic
- Brandon Way, DB-KR, Lancaster Catholic
- Ty Werley, WR-S, Hamburg
- Theo Wysocki, TE-DT, Schuylkill Valley
