Team of the Day: Schuykill Valley Panthers
2024 Berks football coverage
presented by UECU
Schuylkill Valley didn’t do much celebrating over the first 50 years of its football program, but that changed last season. The Panthers earned their first championship in their 51st season, tying for first place in Section 5 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League with Annville-Cleona and Lancaster Catholic.
The Panthers have had only 12 winning seasons in their history — including the last two under head coach Bruce Harbach, who reinvigorated the program after taking the job for the 2021 season.
The Panthers are poised for another successful season and head into the 2024 seasone considered the favorite in Section 5.
The picture wasn’t always so rosy. Things got so bad that in 1992 that after 12 straight losing seasons and interest waning the program was suspended for five seasons.
The Panthers returned to the field in 1997; they won four games their second season back, were at .500 a few years later and went 8-3 in 2003, setting a program record for wins and qualifying for the District 3 Tournament for the first time.
From 2010-2013 head coach Jeff Chillot took the Panthers to the district playoffs four straight seasons.
The Panthers have had a pair of 2,000-yard passers, Kyle Beissel and Jeff Harner, and a rare 1,000-yard receiver, Dave Golden. Dominic Giuffre set several program rushing and scoring records in 2022, including six touchdowns in one game and 302 rushing yards in another.
Schuylkill Valley has just one entry in the BCFCA Hall of Fame: Quarterback/defensive back Steve Kreider, who went on to play in the NFL and made an appearance in the Super Bowl with the Cincinnati Bengals.
To see more about Schuylkill Valley football history, including the newly expanded team records page, click on the Panthers Team Page.
You can find this season’s schedule, the Panthers’ series record against all current opponents, results from recent seasons and team rushing, scoring and passing records you won’t find anywhere else.
Each day during the preseason, MikeDragoSports.com will feature a different Berks team.
Up next: Twin Valley Raiders.
