Top players to watch in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League in 2023
Wyomissing rumbled through Section 4 last season on the way to its first Lancaster-Lebanon League championship trophy, and it wasn’t even close: The Spartans went 7-0, won their league games by an average of 33 points and clobbered eventual District 3 Class 5A champ Cocalico 38-7 along the way.
They never trailed by more than three points in any of those seven games.
Two Williamses dominated Section 4 play: Wyomissing’s Jven was the Lineman of the Year, Elco’s Jake was the Back of the Year.
The Spartans led the way with 15 all-league picks. Five Wyomissing first-team selections graduated; three first-team picks return, representing four first-team selections.
Penn State recruit Caleb Brewer of Wyomissing is the lone two-way, first-team pick returning this season. Jake Williams, the Offensive Back of the Year, is the lone major award winner returning.
Here’s a look at the top players in Section 4 for the 2023 season.
Later in the week we’ll take a look at the top players returning in Section 3.
Caleb Brewer, Wyomissing
The hulking 6-4, 285-pounder moved from tackle to tight end for his junior season and was a key part of a devastating offensive line that helped the Spartans go 13-1 and average 8 yards per carry.
Brewer was the only Section 4 lineman to earn all-league first-team honors on both and offense and defense in 2022. He pulled in his first Division I offer in October and committed to Penn State in April. He is ranked among the top 20 senior prospects in the state.
Carson Coleman, Lampeter-Strasburg
Coleman was a second-team all-league running back as a junior after rumbling for 1,110 yards with 17 TDs. He also caught 18 passes and a second-team pick at kick returner after amassing 305 return yards. He should get ample touches once again as the Pioneers try to unseat Wyomissing at the top of the section.
Drexton Frank, Lampeter-Strasburg
Two-way performer made a name for himself, earning second-team tight end and honorable mention linebacker picks as a junior. Caught 18 passes for 128 yards and made 54 tackles, three for losses, with a pair of pass breakups for a defense ranked among the best in the league.
Donovan Gingrich, Conrad Weiser
Showed big potential during sophomore season as he threw for 1,368 yards and 11 touchdowns in first year as starter.
Room to grow after completing just 49 percent of his passes, with 11 interceptions in 221 attempts against tough Section 4 competition. Overall athleticism should make him a running threat as well.
Jackson Heeter, Lampeter-Strasburg
Was a heat-seeking missile once again on defense, piling up 99 tackles, 13 for loss. He had five sacks, three QB hurries, two fumble recoveries and a pair of forced fumbles for the league’s second-ranked defensive unit. Rising senior was a Section 4 honorable mention pick at LB.
Dean Herr, Lampeter-Strasburg
Should slide comfortably into Hunter Hildebrand’s go-to flanker spot after earning all-league first-team WR honors as a junior. Caught 19 passes for 486 yards with six TDs. That’s 25.6 yards per catch, by the way. Catch him if you can, opposing D-backs.
Ryker Jones, Wyomissing
Rangy, athletic inside ’backer led the league’s best defensive team with 84 tackles and showed breakaway ability in the backfield, where he averaged 7.8 yards per carry in limited duty. Earned All-State and all-league honors on defense.
Despite suffering a torn ACL and MCL in the state semifinals the 6-foot, 200-pound rising senior received offers from most of the teams in the Ivy League and committed to Princeton in April. Might not be ready for game action until early September.
Aaryn Longenecker, Cocalico
The Eagles’ jack-of-all-trades rarely came off the field as a junior. It’s no wonder he was tabbed a first-team Athlete.
He had 774 rushing yards with 10 TDs and 16 catches with three TDs, averaging 19.9 yards per reception. The defensive back chipped in with 27 tackles and two interceptions. He had 553 kick-return yards and 290 punt-return yards.
Add it all up: 1,699 all-purpose yards and 15 TDs for the District 3 Class 5A champs.
Owen Reber, Berks Catholic
Despite a broken wrist last summer that caused him to miss valuable preseason training time the 6-foot, 260-pound junior returned to the lineup by Week 1, helped the Saints average 215 rushing yards per game and earned all-league second-team honors at guard.
He might slide over to center this season where his experience, as a three-year starter on the O-line, will help hold things together on what will be a completely overhauled offensive line. Also expected to see more time on defense, at tackle.
Sam Steffy, Cocalico
Bulldog fullback had an incredible campaign, following his blockers for 1,829 rushing yards and 23 TDs for the District 3 Class 5A champs.
The 185-pound junior battering ram was simply unstoppable during an unforgettable playoff push. Picked up first-team all-league kudos at running back, as well as All-State honors from both the PA Football Writers and PA Football News.
Others to watch
- Dane Bollinger, WR-LB, Cocalico
- Ethan Brower, WR-DB, Wyomissing
- Osumane Conde, RB, Conrad Weiser
- Chase Eisenhower, FB-LB, Wyomissing
- Colton Focht, RB-DB, Octorara
- Drew Forrey, RB-LB, Wyomissing
- Damoj Gray, WR-DB, Lampeter-Strasburg
- Justice Hardy, RB-DB, Wyomissing
- Logan Hyde, QB-DB, Wyomissing
- Elliott Kreider, RB-LB, Elco
- Austin Kurtz, FB-LB, Octorara
- Adam Laudenslager, C-DL, Cocalico
- Ezechial Lukusa, DE, Lampeter-Strasburg
- Jonathan Mellinger, RB-DB, Lampeter-Strasburg
- Evan Miller, TE-LB, Conrad Weiser
- Ruben Mumper, RB-DB, Donegal
- Josh Myer, QB-DB, Cocalico
- Bryce Nash, WR-DB, Cocalico
- Collin Niedrowski, RB-LB, Wyomissing
- Connor Pennington, RB-LB, Berks Catholic
- Joey Polinsky, T-DE, Berks Catholic
- Evan Rittle, WR-DB, Conrad Weiser
- Chandler Stoltzfus, RB-DB, Octorara
- James Turbedsky, TE-LB, Donegal
- Braedon Wood, QB, Octorara
