What to expect in Section 5 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League this season

Berks CatholicFootballHamburgKutztownSchuylkill Valley

By Mike Drago Last updated Aug 7, 2025

Berks Catholic's Owen Schalk runs against Schuylkill Valley last year. (PhilMarPhoto)

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The battle for supremecy in Section 5 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League has been fierce the past few seasons. Last year, Schuylkill Valley needed a last-minute touchdown bomb to beat Berks Catholic and a pair of late TDs to get past Lancaster Catholic on the way to an unbeaten run.

1.	Lancaster Catholic
2.	Berks Catholic
3.	Schuylkill Valley
4.	Hamburg
5.	Pequea Valley
6.	Annville-Cleona
7.	Kutztown
8.	Columbia

The year before the Panthers shared the section crown with the Crusaders and Annville-Cleona.

Expect the in-fighting to remain just as pitched this season. Lancaster Catholic gets a slight nod over Berks Catholic as the early favorite, but it’s a close call. Schuylkill Valley, coming off a pair of titles, figures to be right there with them.

Other than rebuilding Columbia, the section’s other teams appear to be closely bunched, as well. Pequea Valley is coming off a breakout season; Kutztown has been close to turning the corner the past few seasons.

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

Check back early next month for more-detailed breakdowns of Berks Catholic, Hamburg, Kutztown, Schuylkill Valley and all the Berks County teams.

What to expect in Section 1 this season

What to expect in Section 2 this season

What to expect in Section 3 this season

What to expect in Section 4 this season

Lancaster Catholic Crusaders

Classification: 2A.
Coach: Chris Maiorino, sixth season, 32-21.
Last season: 5-2 Section 5, 7-5 overall.
2024 postseason: Beat Camp Hill 27-20 in District 3 Class 2A semifinals, lost to Steel-High 36-7 in championship.
Need to replace: QB David Stefanow, all-league WR Charlie Warren, WR/LB Andrew Schwanke, all-league G Gabe Cherasaro, OL/DL Anthony Leone, all-league LB Zach Dresch.
Who’s back: Section 5 Offensive Back of the Year and second-team all-league S Brandon Way (1,816 rushing yards, 26 TDs), FB and all-league CB Corde Douglas, all-league WR Colton Hegener (42 receptions, 6 TDs), WR/LB Ethan Shank, TE/LB Chris Baumler, C/LB Seamus Connor, G/DT Connor Martin, OT/DT Max Gochenaur, all-league DE Trenton Moore.
Key early game: Face defending District 3 Class 1A champ Delone Catholic in Week 2.
Outlook: Crusaders return four all-league players, including Bryant recruit and All-State RB Brandon Way, from a team that reached district championship game. If they can find a capable new QB they could be looking at their third section title in four seasons.

Berks Catholic Saints

Classification: 3A.
Coach: Dave Stahler, second season, 7-5.
Last season: 5-2 Section 5, 7-5 overall.
2024 postseason: Defeated Biglerville 48-7 in the District 3 Class 3A quarterfinals before losing at top-seeded Bermudian Springs 42-25 in semifinals.
Need to replace: QB Zach Suski, all-league RB Bryce Gumby, RB/LB Nate Rose, WR/S Devyn Sutton, WR Scott Duffy, TE/LB Jackson Kozik.
Who’s back: QB Cole Harter, FB/LB Coy Koller, FB/CB Xavier Gerald (12.4 yards per carry), RB and second-team all-league LB Owen Schalk, RB/SS Aidan Curley, RB Wyatt Burkman, second-team all-league WR Gavin Welker, WR/CB Gio Disabatino, TE Jake Schmehl, all-league G and DE Eric Bennethum, Section 5 Offensive Lineman of the Year OT Palmer Reber, OT Anthony Zatorski, DE Faith Zudie, all-league DT Damoni Daglis, LB Johnny Sauppee, LB Ryan Spatz, S Mason Mace, CB Josiah Turnman, PK/P Alex Reali.
Key early game: Big challenge right up front in season-opener at Twin Valley.
Outlook: Saints need to find an adequate replacement for record-setting QB Zach Suski, and for a pair of key players who transferred out during the offseason, TE/LB Jackson Kozik (to Exeter) and 1,000-yard rusher Nate Rose (Germantown Academy). They’ve got enough back to make a run at the section title, and that starts with a pair of two-way all-league lineman, Palmer Reber and Eric Bennethum.

Schuylkill Valley Panthers

Classification: 3A.
Coach: Bruce Harbach, fifth season, 26-20.
Last season: 7-0 Section 5 champ, 9-3 overall.
2024 postseason: Beat Littlestown 55-13 in District 3 Class 3A quarterfinals before 27-17 overtime loss to No. 2 Trinity.
Need to replace: All-State QB Logan Nawrocki, all-league WR Kowen Gerner, second-team all-league WR/DB Dillon Lackner, All-State TE and all-league LB Luke Spotts, Section 5 Defensive Back of the Year Cooper Hohenadel, DB John Kowalski.
Who’s back: QB Alex Aletras, FB and All-State LB Logan Cammauf (6.3 yards per carry), RB/LB Brandon Pyle (7.2 yards per carry), WR/S Alex Gehret, TE/LB Hunter Durland, TE/DE Landyn Keglovits, C Spencer Mountz, G/DT Nick Moyer, G Gabe Kier, all-league OT Noah Sonon, OT Nate Kier, second-team all-league DE Faud Abdullateef, LB Anthoy Batista, CB Josiah Urbaez, all-league PK Reese Wamsher.
Key early game: Opener vs. Muhlenberg should be spirited after last year’s surprising Week 1 loss to the Muhls.
Outlook: The Panthers still have a few bullets left in the chamber, even after winning a section title and graduating a pair of All-State Players. All-State LB Logan Cammauf will be the glue that holds the defense together. He’ll also be a workhorse running back behind a big and experienced offensive line that should keep the Panthers in contention.

Hamburg Hawks

Classification: 4A.
Coach: Tyler Hartranft, first season.
Last season: 4-3 Section 5, 6-5 overall.
2024 postseason: Lost to North Pocono in Eastern Conference Class 4A championship game.
Need to replace: Second-team all-league QB Tyler Shuey, Section 5 Receiver of the Year Ty Werley, second-team all-league LB Leland Moore, all-league DB Daniel Brady, second-team all-league DB Misael Oviedo, second-team all-league PK Eli Blatt.
Who’s back: QB Isaak Stewart, QB Isaac McFadden, second-team all-league RB Blaise Ernst (515 rushing yards), FB/LB Bryce Schmeck, WR/S Ethan Horvath (15 receptions), WR/S Alex Soto, TE/DE Mason Strunk, C John Sharp, G Cayden Mason, second-team all-league OT Astian Reppert, DT Will Marciano, LB Andrew Arroyo-Ramos, CB Owen Bentz, CB Elijah Metzler.
Key early game: Week 4 league-opener at Annville-Cleona.
Outlook: Hawks will transition to more of a running team as they replace all-time passing leader Tyler Shuey with a first-time QB, either soph Isaak Stewart or freshman Isaac McFadden. Blaise Ernst can carry the load on offense, and he’ll have some big bodies to run behind with all-league T Astian Reppert and G Cayden Mason back on the O-line.

Pequea Valley Braves

Classification: 3A.
Coach: Mike Choi, ninth season, 27-54.
Last season: 3-4 Section 5, 5-6 overall.
2024 postseason: Qualified for Eastern Conference Class 3A championship; lost 35-0 to Tamaqua.
Need to replace: RB/DB Trevor Vollmer, RB/DB Cayden Carter, TE/LB Adam Shultz, all-league C Jeremiah Garber, DE Ashton Martin, LB Jerome Stoltzfus.
Who’s back: QB/S Anthony Stoltzfus, second-team all-league FB Drew Tibbins (757 rushing yards, 12 TDs), all-league KR and RB/CB Lebran Woods (6.1 yards per carry), RB/LB Collin Mowday, RB/LB Buddy Esh, WR/LB Austin Blank, WR/CB Joseph Hagelin TE/DE David Nazario, C/DT Grae Lankford, second-team all-league G Andrew Blank, G/DE Micah LaCorte, T/DT Austin Slaymaker, T/DT Justin Wiggins, second-team all-league DE Sterling Furches, S Lamar Stoltzfus.
Key early game: Week 3 game at Morrisville will get Braves ready for league play; Bulldogs went 9-4 last year and won district opener.
Outlook: After a breakthrough season the Braves are looking for even more. QB Anthony Stoltzfus is back to run the Wing-T, as is leading rusher Drew Tibbins and three other all-league picks.

Annville-Cleona Dutchmen

Classification: 3A.
Coach: Matt Gingrich, 10th season, 58-46.
Last season: 3-4 Section 5, 4-6 overall.
2024 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: QB/DB Bryce Keller, all-league RB and Section 5 Defensive Lineman of the Year Jon Shay, second-team all-league C Preston Bomgardner, G/DT Alex Hemperly, OL/DL Malacai Victa.
Who’s back: QB/S Lane Peters, RB/LB Hudson Sellers, RB/S Danny Shay, FB/LB Devon Englehart, second-team all-league WR and all-league DB Jon Moran, WR/CB Logan Radocha, TE/DE Max Ortwein G/DT Jaxon Speece, G Blaine Leitz, OT/DE Jordan Nickens, second-team all-league DT Kadavin Ginting, DT Dom Smith, LB Luke Wentling.
Key early game: Week 4 league-opener vs. Hamburg will set the tone.
Outlook: Dutchmen return several experienced linemen but must replace their key backfield weapons, including All-State pick Jon Shay, the 1,000-yard rusher and do-everything player who was a pivotal part of the section championship team two seasons ago.

Kutztown Cougars

Classification: 3A.
Coach: Larry Chester, 12^th season, 30-77.
Last season: 1-6 Section 5, 1-9 overall.
2024 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: All-League WR/QB Colton Mathias, second-team all-league FB and LB Brendan Ackley, RB/CB David Bates, TE James Undercuffler, G Alexander Reyes, CB Jayden Swoyer.
Who’s back: QB Wyatt Stoess (594 passing yards), RB/LB Mason Sherry (545 rushing yards), RB/DB Ryan Walters, RB/CB/PK Jack Moriarty, FB/LB Ian Bahr, second-team all-league OT (moving to TE) Tyler Wicke, TE and second-team all-league NG Tallan Fitzsimmons, G Gavin Hallock, G and second-team all-league LB Aiden Showers, OT Tajah Engelhart, OT Jacob Koehler, second-team all-league DE Jayden Martin.
Key early game: Season-opening “Hall of Fame” trophy game vs. Fleetwood sure to get the blood pumping.
Outlook: Cougars return a wealth of talent in the backfield and on the offensive line and are positioned to move up in the standings after a season that saw them lose five times by a touchdown or less.

Columbia Crimson Tide

Classification: 2A.
Coach: Nate Bagley, first season.
Last season: 0-7 Section 5, 0-10 overall.
2024 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: WR/LB Loudon Rupp, TE/LB Miguel Aviles, OL/DL Hayden Quinn, DE Kymere Binder.
Who’s back: QB/S and all-league P Cameron McClair (641 passing yards, 345 rushing yards), RB/LB and second-team all-league KR Tyler Brommer (5.0 yards per carry; 10 receptions), RB/DB Kareem Nichols, RB/LB Chase Marley, RB/DB Levi Spencer, RB/DB R’nez Duncan, WR/DB Miguel Ocasio (team-leading 16 receptions), WR/DB Xzavion Stallworth, WR Kamrai Nichols, WR/DB Oliver Green TE Xavion Jones, OL Luke Rupp, OL/DL Carson Arnold, OL/DL Gage Wolf, OL/DL Limadiel Dejesus, OL/DL Caiden Sliger.
Key early game: Only close game last season came against York Tech. Tide gets another crack at Spartans in Week 3.
Outlook: Time for the Tide to start over after winless season that saw them outscored by better than 31 points per game in their seven Section 5 contests. They’ll start with a new coaching staff, a new offense, and a new defense. They’ll have an experienced QB in Cameron McClair to build around, but this could take time.