Top Players To Watch in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League
2024 Berks football coverage
presented by UECU
Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League looks completely new this season, and not just because three new teams have moved in and three others have relocated following realignment.
Practically all of the section’s top players, including Offensive and Defensive Lineman of the Year Caleb Brewer of Wyomissing and Twin Valley’s two-way first-team all-league lineman Ean Winchester, have moved on.
Just three first-team Section 4 picks return this season. Overall, including those who played in other sections last season – Daniel Boone (3), Northern Lebanon (5) and Twin Valley (3) – there are only six players returning who earned first-team honors; another 14 earned second-team status.
Twin Valley has nearly as many all-league players returning (nine) as the section’s other seven teams combined (11). The Raiders’ contingent includes Section 3 first-team picks Drew Engle and Lucas Myers.
No team took a bigger graduation hit than Lampeter-Strasburg, which saw 10 all-league players get their diplomas, including eight first-teamers. The only all-league pick returning for the Pioneers is placekicker Peter Fiorelli.
Wyomissing graduated five all-league players, representing seven spots on the all-league team.
Last year’s Section 4 champ, Cocalico, is now playing in Section 3.
Here’s your first look at the top players in Section 4 for the 2024 season. Later this week we’ll take a look at the top players in Section 3.
(This is part second of a five-part series and a collaboration between LNP/Lancaster On-Line and MikeDragoSports.com. Jeff Reinhart of LNP contributed player capsules.)
Aris Drake
T/DT
Twin Valley
Drake is one of the big reasons the Raiders produced a pair of 1,000-yard runners and averaged a league-leading 324 yards per game on the ground last season.
The 6-6, 300-pount tackle is a force up front who collected more than a dozen Division 1 offers before deciding this spring to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, where he’ll join former teammate Paul McClune, a 2024 grad.
Drake is a four-year starter who played primarily at left tackle last year, earning second-team all-league honors. He is so versatile and mobile that he can be utilized at any spot on the front line, including tight end. He’ll also see time on the defensive front.
He’s agile for his size, as evidence in basketball where he’s a starting center.
Drake is an outstanding student who drew offers from Lehigh, Dartmouth, Colgate, Cornell, Richmond and the U.S. Military Academy, among others.
Drew Engle
RB/DB
Twin Valley
A small crease in the line can turn into a huge gain for Engle, who has great open-field moves and breakaway speed.
He had a breakout sophomore season, crushing the program single-season rushing record by running for 1,599 yards. His 10.5 yards-per-carry average was fourth-highest in the 37-team Lancaster-Lebanon League. His 15 touchdowns were two off the program record.
All of this while sharing the tailback spot with Evan Johnson.
Engle went for a career-best 230 yards in a key Section 3 win over Garden Spot and rushed for 190 or more yards four times; he reached 100 yards seven times.
He was a first-team All-Berks pick at running back.
Engle is also a starter as a defensive back, where he was a second-team all-league pick last year; he earned first-team honors on offense.
Engle is dangerous in the return game, as well. He was a second-team all-league kick returner as a freshman.
Chase Eisenhower
FB/LB
Wyomissing
Eisenhower made an instant impact as a freshman, stepping into the starting lineup at linebacker at midseason and playing a key role as the Spartans went 13-1 and won league and district titles.
He became their go-to back last season, rumbling for a team-high 1,092 yards and 18 TDs while averaging 7.2 yards per carry. That netted him second-team all-league honors in Section 4.
The 5-11, 220-pound fullback checked off four of those scoring runs against Danville in a PIAA Tournament victory.
Eisenhower is just as important to the Spartans in the middle of their defense, at inside linebacker.
He led the team in tackles last year as a sophomore, making 70 stops with a pair of sacks. He returned an interception 86 yards for a TD in the District 3 Class 3A championship game.
The three-year starter will be one of the strengths of a young Spartans’ defense as they bid for a Section 4 title.
Carter Faubel
G/DE
Twin Valley
Faubel’s arrival will help the Raiders maintain strong line play, even after the graduation of five all-league picks, including Section 3 Defensive Lineman of the Year Ean Winchester.
The 6-1, 285 Faubel was a two-way first-team all-league lineman as a junior at Delaware Valley last season, helping it win a District 2 Class 5A championship and a first-round PIAA game.
Faubel showed off his strength at the Chris Nunn Memorial Berks Football Combine in the spring, winning the bench press competition. He recently had a PR with a 555-pound squat.
Raiders coach Brett Myers said Faubel has proven to be the strongest player on the team in every lift and will be one of the few two-way starters up front for a team which enters the season favored to win the Section 4 title.
Fauble was a two-year starter at Delaware Valley and is getting FCS and PSAC looks.
Come spring he’ll be a challenger for a district medal in the discus.
Justice Hardy
RB/CB/KR
Wyomissing
Not many freshmen crack Wyomissing’s lineup but Hardy started the whole season at cornerback or safety and was a part of a defensive unit that ranked No. 2 overall in the 37-team Lancaster-Lebanon League in pass defense and No. 3 in total defense.
Hardy, who earned second-team all-league honors, picked off a team-high four passes and took two of them to the house – 45 yards against Lampeter-Strasburg and 23 yards against Berks Catholic.
His sprinter’s speed will be just as big a factor on offense this season when he’s utilized as both a halfback and wide receiver, and in the kick-return game.
He didn’t get many touches last season because Wyomissing was so deep in the backfield but he showed his game-breaking potential by averaging 8.6 yards per carry. He ended up second on the team with 488 rushing yards and led the way with 13 receptions.
Hardy scored 12 touchdowns, second on the team: Six rushing, including an 82-yarder against Conrad Weiser; two on picks; and four on receptions.
A hamstring injury during the spring curtailed his potential for a county championship in the 100; that’s a possibility in the future, as are top-level college offers for football.
(Mark Palczewski/LNP photo)
Caileb Howse
QB/DB
Lampeter-Strasburg
Howse is poised to become a household name in Section 4 this fall, especially if he clicks behind center as the Pioneers’ new full-time quarterback.
Howse blew stuff up from his safety spot last fall, announcing his presence with authority making 48 tackles, including three sticks for losses, a forced fumble, seven pass breakups and four interceptions.
He’s a lower-your-shoulder tackler, and he made a lot of big hits on his way to earning honorable mention honors.
Howse also showed some things as backup QB, compiling 3-of-4 passes while rushing for 232 yards with seven TDs. That’s a lot of trips to the end zone out of backup duty. He’s ready to unleash. Remember his name: Caileb with an “i.”
Evan Johnson
RB/DB/KR
Twin Valley
Johnson split time at tailback last season with Drew Engle and still managed to rip off 1,089 yards and score 15 touchdowns, earning all-league second-team honors, despite just 112 carries.
He’s an instinctive runner with burst and a knack for busting big plays: He had a 97-yard scoring run against Fleetwood – second-longest in program history — and a 71-yard, game-winning catch against Solanco. He averaged 9.7 yards per carry last season and has averaged 9.5 for his career.
By season’s end the 5-11, 165-pounder will likely be the Raiders’ all-time touchdown and scoring leader, and possibly their all-time rusher; he needs 1,259 yards to surpass Dominic Caruso’s mark of 3,684 yards.
He can join Caruso as just the second Twin Valley back with multiple 1,000-yard seasons. He actually surpassed that milestone late in his sophomore season, only to end up at 993 yards after taking a big loss.
Johnson is key piece on the defensive end, where he’s a four-year starter and starts at cornerback.
He is getting Patriot League PSAC looks.
Haydn Moyer
QB/S
Daniel Boone
Haydn Moyer proved himself quickly with the Blazers, being named a captain and taking over the lead running back role last season as a sophomore.
Now it’s time to step up again as he takes over at quarterback for the rebuilding Blazers. Head coach J.D. Okuniewski wants his best athlete and leader at quarterback, so Moyer will move under center even though he’s never played that spot before.
“We’re taking our best player and putting the ball in his hands every play,” Okuniewski said.
Moyer will be just as critical on defense where he’s also moving to a new position. He’ll start at safety after playing insider linebacker. It’s more of an area of need for the Blazers; that’s why he’s moving – that and the fact that he can be involved in more plays.
“Hayden is a kid who’s going to find the football,” Okuniewski said.
Moyer rushed for 339 yards last season and earned all-league second-team honors at running back.
Evan Myers
QB/DB
Twin Valley
Myers is positioned to become just the second player in Berks history to pass for 1,000 yards in four straight seasons. The first was Chad Henne.
He stepped right in as a freshman and threw for a program-record 1,498 yards; he’s gotten better each year since, adding a running element to his game and most importantly leadership qualities that helped the Raiders win 10 games last year. He’ll be a captain for the second straight season.
Myers is getting Ivy and Patriot League looks after completing 59.1 percent of his passes and throwing for 1,472 yards and nine TDs. He’s already the Raiders’ career leader with 4,174 passing yards and should become just the fifth in Berks history to top 5,000 yards. If the Raiders make a big playoff run he could be hit 6,000.
He’s a nimble and instinctive runner who averaged 7.4 yards per carry and was one of four Raiders to score 10 touchdowns last season.
The 5-10, 185-pound senior will also see plenty of time at defensive back, handle punting duties and possibly be utilized as a punt returner.
Myers earned first-team All-Berks honors as a junior as an Athlete.
Lucas Myers
FB/LB
Twin Valley
Myers made an instant impact on the Raiders last season as a freshman, recording a team-high 11 tackles in their season-opening win over Schuylkill Valley.
He remained a stalwart on defense the rest of the way and earned first-team all-league honors – the only ninth-grade field player in any of the league’s five sections to make the first team.
(Schuylkill Valley place kicker Reese Wamsher was also a first-team pick as a freshman.)
Myers was the lone freshman on the All-Berks first team after finishing with 97 solo tackles, four sacks, and five pass breakups.
He’s a student of the game, understanding what he needs to do on every play and where his teammates need to be, as you might expect from the son of a head coach.
The sideline-to-sideline hitter figures to be an even more dominating presence now that he’s tacked at least 10 pounds onto his sturdy 6-foot frame.
Myers’ main role on offense last season was as a blocker from the H-back spot. Pressed into ball-carrying duties because of injuries he responded by rushing for 102 yards and scoring four TDs against Daniel Boone.
Max Tipton
G/DE
Wyomissing
(Tim Macrina photo)
The Spartans have holes to fill up front after the graduation of Section 4 Offensive and Defensive Lineman of the Year Caleb Brewer and two other linemen; Tipton will be a key in helping fill them.
The 6-2, 275-pounder was a standout on defense as a junior, making 24 tackles, five for loss, with nine quarterback pressures. The defensive end earned second-team all-league honors.
He’s expected to be even more of a force this season, with plans to move him up and down the line in order to take advantage of his mobility.
Tipton has good feet, moves well in space, and will make the switch on offense from tackle to guard, a critical spot in the Wing-T offense. If he’s able to get out in front of runners to set the edge on sweeps the Spartans’ offense will hum again.
Tipton is getting college looks at several levels.
The multi-sport athlete plays basketball and won a silver medal in the shot put at the District 3 Championships.
Paul Williams
(Mark Palczewski/LNP photo)
OT/DE
Elco
It wouldn’t be a football season in Myerstown without a Williams brother leading the way.
Say hello to Paul, a behind-the-scenes dirty-worker in the trenches.
Last fall he helped open holes for big brother Jake, who bolted for 2,402 rushing yards with 30 TD jaunts as Elco won a District 3 Class 4A playoff game.
The Raiders put up 3,487 rushing yards in all, with Williams earning honorable mention kudos at tackle.
He did plenty of damage on D, too, piling up 66 stops, including 13 tackles for loss, with a fumble recovery and three sacks. That netted first-team all-league honors at D-end. Another year, another Williams leading the charge for Elco.
Others to watch
- Hayden Adams, T/DT, Northern Lebanon
- Marcus Armistead, RB/CB, Wyomissing
- Andrew Bresnahan, TE/OLB, Wyomissing
- Hudson Crutchfield, T/T, Lampeter-Strasburg
- Kael Erdman, QB/DB, Northern Lebanon
- Peter Fiorello, PK, Lampeter-Strasburg
- Emory Fluhr, TE/LB, Lampeter-Strasburg
- Ben Grundy, WR/DB/KR, Twin Valley
- Max Heffner, RB/S, Daniel Boone
- Anthony High, RB/OLB, Daniel Boone
- Ayden Jimenez, G/C/DT, Wyomissing
- Austin Kurtz, FB/ILB, Octorara
- Derek Macrina, RB/DB, Wyomissing
- Brayden Malloy, OL/DL, Elco
- Greyson Miller, G/DT, Twin Valley
- Tyler Niedrowski, FB/OLB, Wyomissing
- Keaton Piacine, T/DE, Wyomissing
- Stevem Rosado, QB, Elco
- Collin Shelley, T/T, Lampeter-Strasburg
- Chandler Stoltzfus, ATH/DB, Octorara
- Brady Stoops, DE, Elco
- Eli Thompson, T/T, Northern Lebanon
- Tupac Vasquez, C/DL, Elco
- Myles Watson, RB/DB, Northern Lebanon
- Carson Zook, T, Lampeter-Strasburg