What to expect in Section 5 of the Lancaster Lebanon League in 2023
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Other stories in this series:
What to expect in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League
What to expect in Section 2 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League
What to expect in Section 3 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League
What to expect in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League
What to expect in Section 5
Schuylkill Valley Panthers
Classification: 3A.
Coach: Bruce Harbach, third season, 8-14 (147-69 overall in 18 seasons, including 16 at Lancaster Catholic).
Last season: 5-2 league, 6-5 overall.
2022 postseason: Lost District 3 opener to West Perry 45-21.
Need to replace: QB/S Michael Goad, two-way all-league lineman Christian Davila, C Sabier Mateo, LB Jacob Stellutti, DL Paul Engleman, LB Braden Woods, all-league PK Noah Wamsher.
What’s back: QB Logan Nawrocki, all-league RB Dominic Giuffre, all-league TE Luke Spotts, all-league DB Colby Crills, WR Cooper Hohenadel, T/DE Theo Wysocki, LB Jaden Gulley.
Key early game: Week 1 at Twin Valley; battle of preseason section favorites.
At the finish: Looking for program’s first championship of any kind.
Lancaster Catholic Crusaders
Classification: 3A.
Coach: Chris Maiorino, fourth season, 16-14.
Last season: 7-0 league, 10-1 overall.
2022 postseason: Lost District 3 semifinal to West Perry, 63-20.
Need to replace: Receiver of the Year and Defensive Back of the Year Jaevon Parker, all-league QB Will Cranford, all-league DE Ed Dresch, all-league DT Ahmir Williams.
What’s back: All-League RB Elijah Cunningham, all-league WR R.J. Gonzalez, all-league LB Zach Dresch, all-league G Storm Haney, WR Josh Acker, WR Charlie Warren, DB Brandon Way, DT Eric Salapeh, TE Terrell Crawley.
Key early game: Week 2 vs. Delone Catholic.
At the finish: Plenty left in the tank to go for back-to-back titles.
Annville-Cleona Little Dutchmen
Classification: 2A.
Coach: Matt Gingrich, ninth season, 47-36.
Last season: 5-2 league, 8-4 overall.
2022 postseason: Lost District 3 championship to Trinity, 58-27.
Need to replace: Offensive Back of the Year Phoenix Music, Linebacker of the Year Alex Long, QB Gavin Keller, LB Dominick Funk, OL Chris Nagle.
What’s back: Two-way All-League lineman Damien Miller, all-league DE Jon Shay, all-league C Preston Bomgardner, all-league DB Cael Harter, QB Cameron Connelly, LB Darrian Holloway, WR Cash Watson.
Key early game: Week 2 at Elco; old-school Lebanon County rivalry.
At the finish: Top contender.
Hamburg Hawks
Classification: 3A.
Coach: Matt Hoffert, second season, 9-3.
Last season: 5-2 league, 9-3 overall.
2022 postseason: Lost District 3 semifinal to Wyomissing 49-14.
Need to replace: QB/P Xander Menapace, all-league RB & LB Pierce Mason, Defensive Lineman of the Year Charles Sheppard, all-league DB Derek Ruiz.
What’s back: All-League TE Mason Semmel, all-league WR/KR Cohen Correll, RB Leland Moore, RB Aiden Readinger, WR Ty Werley, WR/DB Alex Bentz, OL Bryce Kamp, OL Owen Hause, PK Eli Blatt.
Key early game: No real non-league challenges for Hawks; things get real Week 4 against Annville-Cleona.
At the finish: Pushing top contenders.
Kutztown Cougars
Classification: 3A.
Coach: Larry Chester, 10th season, 26-61.
Last season: 2-5 league, 3-7 overall.
2022 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: QB Jacob Lafferty, RB Dakota Thomas (transferred to Fleetwood), all-league G Ryan Cardinale.
What’s back: Offensive Lineman of the Year Tyler Hallock, RB Brendan Ackley, DB Ethan Lafferty, RB Mason Sherry, QB Colten Mathias.
Key early game: Week 1 “Hall of Fame” rivalry game vs. Fleetwood.
At the finish: Turning the corner and moving up.
Northern Lebanon Vikings
Classification: 4A.
Coach: Jason Rice, third season, 6-15.
Last season: 1-6 league, 2-8 overall.
2022 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: QB Grady Stichler, all-league WR James Voight.
What’s back: All-League LB Luke Shaffer, DE Tanner Feagley, RB Myles Watson, OL/DL Eli Thompson.
Key early game: Week 2 vs. Susquehanna Township.
At the finish: Back of the pack.
Columbia Crimson Tide
Classification: 2A.
Coach: Brady Mathis, second season, 3-7.
Last season: 1-6 league, 3-7 overall.
2022 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: All-League DE Aiden Miller, all-league WR Dominic Diaz-Ellis (transferred to Bishop McDevitt), QB Daezjon Giles, G Chris Sabino.
What’s back: WR Demari Simms, RB/LB Stud Campbell, WR/DB Quincy Stewart, WR Artie Poindexter, QB Kazjohn Pachot, T/DE Tom Nell.
Key early game: Week 3 at Elco.
At the finish: Back of the pack.
Pequea Valley Braves
Classification: 3A.
Coach: Mike Choi, seventh season, 20-40.
Last season: 2-5 league, 2-8 overall.
2022 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: All-League DE Zach Hollenbaugh, RB Orlando Stoltzfus, G/DE Evan Stoltzfus, DT Bryce Logan.
What’s back: RB Dontae Petersheim, WR & all-league DB Cameron Bergman, TE/DE Michael Patterson, OL/LB Logan McGrane, OL/DL Jeremiah Garber, RB Trevor Vollmer, DB Myles Furlong.
Key early game: Week 2 at Octorara; Braves’ best chance for a ‘W.’
At the finish: Back of the pack.
