What to expect in Section 2 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League this season

ExeterFootballGovernor MifflinMuhlenberg

By Mike Drago Last updated Jul 28, 2025

Conestoga Valley's Sawyer Esbenshade is pressured by Exeter's Logan Wegman last year in district semifinal. (PhilMarPhoto)

2025 Berks football coverage presented by

Utilities Employees Credit Union

	Projection
1.	Exeter
2.	Conestoga Valley
3.	Ephrata
4.	Muhlenberg
5.	Gov. Mifflin
6.	Elizabethtown
7.	Lebanon

Exeter lost out on the Section 2 title a year ago because of a blown call by officials in a 28-27, season-ending loss to Conestoga Valley.

That only inspired the Eagles to exact revenge in the postseason, and they did, clobbering the Buckskins 48-14 in a District 3 Class 5A semifinal at Conestoga Valley a few weeks later.

Those two teams are back at the top again this season, though the Eagles appear to be well out in front at this point as they return a bevy of all-league picks, as well as quarterback Riley Martinez, who missed most of last season.

Here’s an early team-by-team glance at how the seven teams stack up.

Check back next month for more-detailed breakdowns of Exeter, Gov. Mifflin, Muhlenberg, and all the Berks County teams.

Exeter Eagles

Classification: 5A
Coach: Matt Bauer, 17^th season, 125-58.
Last season: 5-1 Section 2, 12-2 overall.
2024 postseason: No. 8 seed beat South Western, top-seeded New Oxford and Conestoga Valley before losing 48-14 to Bishop McDevitt in District 3 Class 5A championship.
Need to replace: Two-time All-State RB Jayden Zandier, Section 2 Co-Receiver of the Year and all-league S Carter Redding, all-league TE Genuine Stutzman, Section 2 Outstanding Lineman Logan Wegman, second-team all-league LB Casey Gerhart, LB Tyler Flanders, second-team all-league CB Pharrell Caceres.
Who’s back: QB Riley Martinez (1,016 passing yards, 16 TDs, 2 INTs), RB Leo Brown (8.1 yards-per-carry average), second-team all-league WR Jayden Ware (17 catches, 7 TDs), WR/QB Jake Hafer, TE and All-Berks LB Aidan Dauble, TE/DE Jackson Kozik (transfer from Berks Catholic), second-team all-league C and all-league DE Joel Ummarino, G Andre Osborne, second-team all-league OT and DT Kevin Oswalt, DT Josh Lis, LB Josh Jackson LB Stephon Fuller, S Nick Pashley, CB Dylan Donate, PK and all-league P Jake Franek.
Key early game: None, really; biggest challenges will all come in second half of season.
Outlook: The Eagles graduated the program’s all-time leading rusher, the Outstanding Lineman in Section 2 , the Co-Receiver of the Year and seven other all-league picks . . . and might be just as strong again this year. The cupboard never appears to be bare in Reiffton, does it? The Eagles hope to get a full season from third-year QB Riley Martinez, who missed much of last season due to injury, and big seasons from player-makers Jayden Ware, Leo Brown, and Aidan Dauble.

Conestoga Valley Buckskins

Sawyer Esbenshade
(Chris Knight/LNP photo)

Classification: 5A
Coach: Jon Scepanski, fourth season, 25-9.
Last season: 6-0 Section 2 champs, 11-1 overall.
2024 postseason: No. 4 seed beat Shippensburg before 48-14 loss to Exeter in District 3 Class 5A semifinals.
Need to replace: Section 2 Co-Receiver of the Year Jayden Johnson, all-league G and second-team all-league DE Tal Stoltzfus, all-league DT Camden Zoll, Section 2 Defensive Lineman of the Year and all-league C Justin Corson, all-league LB Seth Morgan, second-team all-league LB Jackson Byers, Defensive Back of the Year Isiah Sensenig,
Who’s back: All-League QB Sawyer Esbenshade (2,075 passing yards, 25 TDs, 3 INTs), second-team all-league RB Teagan Ruble, RB/LB Jaden Conaway, all-league WR Jojo Garcia (19 catches, 310 yards, 4 TDs), second-team all-league WR Cordell Blair (12 catches, 227 yards, 4 TDs), WR/ DB Konnor Fisher, G/LB JonJon Serrano, OT/DE Liam Price, OT/DE Connor High, P/KR Jaden Conaway.
Key early game: Week 4 league opener vs. Ephrata will be pivotal if Buckskins hope to repeat as Section 2 champs.
Outlook: No one in the section took a graduation hit like the Buckskins, who lost 10 all-league performers from a team that won its first section title in 15 years and matched a program record by winning its first 11 games. There are a lot of holes to fill but the Bucks have a good starting point to build around in Sawyer Esbenshade, one of the top QBs in the entire league.

Ephrata Mountaineers

Classification: 5A.
Coach: Kris Miller, ninth season, 32-45.
Last season: 4-2 Section 2, 6-4 overall.
2024 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: QB Caleb Grant, second-team all-league RB and all-league LB Brayden Brown, all-league WR Nick Keller, second-team all-league TE Dominic Pugh, second-team all-league G and all-league DT Brennan Frymoyer, all-league DL Brennah Frymoyer, OL/DL Dylan Oberholtzer.
Who’s back: QB/LB Carson Martin, FB/LB Dustin Hoover, RB Jayden Artis, WR/CB Austin Bryant, WR Aaden Shuman, WR and second-team all-league S Aaron Young, WR/CB Micah Springs, TE/LB Eli Frain, G/DT Daniel Mendoza, G/DT Edward Ramirez, OT/DE Jackson Nolt, OT/DE Bryson Carpenter, second-team all-league DE Alex Ortiz, Section 2 Linebacker of the Year Chase Prange, all-league PK Evan Hornberger.
Key early game: Mounts are at Manheim Central in Week 2. We’ll find out a lot about both clubs right away.
Outlook: The Mounts should be strong up front and solid on defense, led by some veteran linebackers, including Linebacker of the Year Chase Prange. They’ll need to find some new play-makers after losing their top passer, rusher and receivers.

Muhlenberg Muhls

Classification: 5A
Coach: Rob Flowers, second season, 4-7 (Overall, 49-93, including eight seasons at Reading High and five seasons at Daniel Boone.)
Last season: 1-5 Section 2, 4-7 overall.
2024 postseason: Defeated William Allen 24-0 to win Eastern Conference Class 5A/6A championship.
Need to replace: WR Ariel Cruz, WR/CB Javiehn Ortiz, G Jack Carmona, all-league OT and second-team all-league DE Samson Evans, second-team all-league DE Dequan Small.
Who’s back: QB Adriel Baez, All-State RB and All-Berks DB Cameron Small, RB/CB Freddy Lacey, RB/LB Ian Rodriguez, WR/LB Michael Miller, TE Danny Buzydlowski, C Conner Kantner, All-Berks G Zavier Otero, G/DL Jeffrie Collado, OT Tony Ferreria, DE Jediah Quinones, DT Justin Jacquez, LB Cooper Burr, S Chase Zona, CB Amir Pagan.
Key early game: Have dropped the Border War vs. Reading High three straight seasons. Chance in Week 2 to make amends.
Outlook: The Muhls made a big leap forward in Season 1 under Rob Flowers and, with 15 starters back, could take the next step, challenging for a district playoff spot. All of their key play-makers return, starting with 2,000-yard rusher Cam Small – a great place to start. He’s got enough big bodies in front of him and enough play-makers around him, such as Freddy Lacey and Michael Miller, to have another big season. Playing eight home games after last year’s stadium turf fiasco sure can’t hurt.

Gov. Mifflin Mustangs

Classification: 6A
Coach: Nick Morrissey, second season, 4-5.
Last season: 3-3 Section 2, 5-6 overall.
2024 postseason: Lost to Cumberland Valley 44-12 in opening round of District 3 Tournament.
Need to replace: QB Javien Pletz, RB/WR and all-league CB Reese Hohl, all-league FB Grady Garner, RB/CB/P Travis Jenkins, WR/LB Jahmier Johnson, WR/CB Stephan Mayo, all-league C and DE Gavin Kelly, G/DT Presley Rinker, OT Cooper Seifert, second-team all-league OT Jack Seifert, DE Bryce Tulley, LB Danny Bonfadini, second-team all-league DT Ismael Ayala.
Who’s back: QB/P and second-team all-league S Lebron Leaf, RB/CB Chris Susana, FB Thomas Millisock, RB/LB Patrick Stuer, FB Nick Kalis, WR Joe Murray, TE/LB Derek Dinatale, C/DE Gunnar Gebhart, All-Berks G Dylon Worley, G Jordan Leinbach, OT/DT Noah Viruet, OT Wade Gordon, DE David Lacey, DT Ahmed Abdar, LB Jayden Jimenez, S Cam Overley, CB Isaiah Massillon, PK Lance Koenig.
Key early game: Season-opening shutout over Pleasant Valley set the tone last season; Week 1 meeting could do same this year when the Mustangs open on the road.
Outlook: Mustangs have big holes to fill after graduating 15 starters, including prototype Triple Option FB Grady Garner and all-everything Reese Hohl. They’re hoping new QB Lebron Leaf, a breakaway threat at RB last season, will emerge as a dangerous dual threat and help open things up for RB Chris Susana and some other promising play-makers. Will need rebuilt O-line to come together quickly to be competitive.

Elizabethtown Bears

Classification: 5A.
Coach: Tom Gallagher, first season.
Last season: 2-4 Section 2, 2-8 overall.
2024 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: QB Brayden Huber, RB Brady Moran, all-league WR and second-team all-league DB Alexis Cintron, second-team all-league WR Calvin Conteh, WR/LB Caleb Kreider, WR Jacob Engle, OL Riley Yencha, OL Greyson Seaman, second-team all-league PK Caleb Fudge.
Who’s back: QB/DB Gannon Shank, QB/S Trent Kauffman, RB/CB/KR Prine Wratto, WR Kyle Capello, WR/CB Matt Beck, WR/S Amann N’Dikwe, TE/LB Brody Yohn, G/DT Cole Kreider,
Key early game: Season-opener vs. Cocalico is a tough way for a first-year coach and a team that almost went winless a year ago to get started.
Outlook: The Bears get a fresh start with head coach Tom Gallagher after going 4-16 the past two seasons. They were close to a winless season last year, eking out a two-point win over Muhlenberg and a 14-8 win at Lebanon. Not a single returning player earned all-league honors last season and none scored more than three TDs.

Lebanon Cedars

Classification: 6A
Coach: Brett Sylve, first season.
Last season: 0-6 league, 0-10 overall.
2024 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: QB Brandyn Castro, RB Kai Rivera, WR/DB Anthony Klish.
Who’s back: RB/LB Kai Rivera, RB/WR/QB Elijah Read, WR Malachi Briddell (42 receptions, 910 yards, 9 TDs), OL Elis Bentez, OL Derryck Brickle, LB Cameron Buchmoyer, DB Jamil Gordon.
Key early game: Best chance for a ‘W’ might come in Week 1 vs. Palmyra, which ended last season with nine straight losses.
Outlook: Can things get any worse for the Cedars? Their first-year coach resigned unexpectedly in May, leaving the struggling program in a lurch. They play just two home games this season because on construction at their home field. And they enter the season on a 42-game losing streak. Interim head coach Brett Sylve, the Offensive Coordinator last season, inherits quite a mess. (In case you were wondering, the longest losing streak in Pennsylvania football history is 56, by South Philadelphia, from 1990-96.)