Here's an in-depth preview of L-L League Section 4 football for upcoming 2024 season [video] (2024)

Here’s everything and anything you need to know about Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4 football for the upcoming 2024 season.

A couple of facelifts here — scalpel, please — with Daniel Boone, Northern Lebanon and Twin Valley coming aboard. Reigning champ Cocalico, Berks Catholic and Conrad Weiser all checked out via realignment calculations.

Daniel Boone was supposed to remain in Section 3, but the Blazers swapped spots with Manheim Central, which was originally ticketed for Section 4.

Speaking of which … Section 4 was an absolute bear the last two seasons. Will it be again?

Here’s a Section 4 preview. Teams are listed alphabetically …

DANIEL BOONE BLAZERS

PIAA CLASSIFICATION: 5A (up from 4A).

PROGRAM HISTORY: 281-353-14 overall, dating back to 1959, and no L-L League section championships for the Blazers, who are set to begin their third season in the league — and their first campaign in Section 4 after flip-flopping slots with Manheim Central. They’ll also bump up a PIAA classification.

COACH: J.D. Okuniewski (2nd season, 1-9 overall).

2023 RECAP: 0-6 Section 3, 1-9 overall.

2024 SCHEDULE: 8-17 Boyertown, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-23 Exeter, 7 p.m. (Pig Iron Bowl trophy game); 8-29 @ Schuylkill Valley, 7 p.m. (Thursday); 9-6 @ Muhlenberg, 7 p.m.; 9-13 Octorara, 7 p.m.; 9-20 @ Lampeter-Strasburg, 7 p.m.; 9-27 Elco, 7 p.m.; 10-5 @ Wyomissing, 1:30 p.m. (Saturday); 10-11 Donegal, 7 p.m.; 10-18 @ Northern Lebanon, 7 p.m.; 10-25 Twin Valley, 7 p.m.

CIRCLE IT: Pig Iron Bowl vs. longtime Berks rival Exeter right out of the chute — hello — followed up with a Thursday game at Schuylkill Valley. Dastardly openers against a couple of section favorites for the Blazers, indeed. A new era of Section 4 action gets started in Week 4 when Octorara backs up the bus in Birdsboro, with a bunch of new faces after that, wrapping up against over-the-hill rival Twin Valley in Week 10. Looks like Week 10 — across the league — will be stacked with must-see rivalry games once again. Thank you, Mr. Long.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Shotgun Wing-T.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-4.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: WR-DB Ethan Kryman, RB-LB Jake Myers, OT-DT Jordan Meyer, DB Connor Reed, QB-DB Dean Rotter, RB-LB Dan Roy.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: DB Darius Cruz, WR-LB Harrison Delissaint, WR-DB Blake Elliott, LB Bradley Floria, RB-DB Max Heffner, RB-LB Anthony High, OG-LB Chase Kitchen, C-DL Trent Lenker,QB-DB Haydn Moyer, OL-DT Jorge Pingarron, LB Ryan Poore, OL-DL Jabrae Pratt, OT-DL Maddox Roy, TE-LB Jayden Salata, RB-LB Jayden Williams.

OUTLOOK: The first thing that pops off the page is Haydn Moyer switching from RB to QB duties. That won’t be the only position changes, with Max Heffner and Anthony High — previously pass-catching flank threats — heading for the backfield, as the Blazers did some tinkering in the offseason. Heffner will also return punts and kicks, and he’ll be joined by Moyer in the secondary, giving Boone a pair of heads-up safeties. It’s Year 2 in Birdsboro for skipper J.D. Okuniewski, and while his squad won’t have a ton of depth, he likes his team’s maturation — and position flexibility, apparently.

CRYSTAL BALL: New digs for the Blazers this fall, as they shuffle in from Section 3 — Boone flip-flopped with Manheim Central during the realignment process — and bump up to Class 5A. A lot of eyeballs on Haydn Moyer taking over the QB duties, and how quickly he meshes with the O-line and his playmakers. Gotta believe the Blazers will be better than last year’s 1-win unit. But the quicker Boone coagulates the better, because there are plenty of landmines to sidestep in Section 4.

DONEGAL INDIANS

PIAA CLASSIFICATION: 4A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 321-363-6 overall, dating back to 1956, and the Indians have won seven L-L League section championships, the last one back in 2013, which was an outright Section 3 title. Donegal is one of four holdover teams in Section 4 for this 2-year cycle. FYI: The Indians will play their 700th varsity tackle football game in Week 10 vs. Octorara.

COACH: Anthony Sottasante (2nd season, 3-7 overall).

2023 RECAP: 1-6 Section 4, 3-7 overall.

2024 SCHEDULE: 8-17 York, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-23 @ Middletown, 7 p.m.; 8-30 Columbia, 7 p.m.; 9-6 @ West York, 7 p.m.; 9-13 Lampeter-Strasburg, 7 p.m.; 9-20 @ Northern Lebanon, 7 p.m.; 9-27 Wyomissing, 7 p.m.; 10-3 @ Twin Valley, 6 p.m. (Thursday); 10-11 @ Daniel Boone, 7 p.m.; 10-18 Elco, 7 p.m.; 10-25 Octorara, 7 p.m.

CIRCLE IT: No more non-con vs. backyard rival Elizabethtown, and that’s a bummer. In fact, Donegal revamped its entire nonleague smorgasbord, with York Suburban and Palmyra also off the menu. Say hello to Middletown, neighboring rival Columbia (nice to see that old-school matchup being rekindled) and West York. Those squads went a combined 3-27 last year; West York was 0-10. Still, the Indians will need some mo coming out of those games, with a tricky Section 4 opener vs. L-S looming in Week 4. Early October bus ride to Twin Valley — for the Raiders’ homecoming festivities — is a Thursday, 6 p.m. start. Plan accordingly. That’s one week after Donegal welcomes Wyomissing to Mount Joy. Talk about a 2-week grinder.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Flex Option.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-3-4.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: OT-DT Ernie Brownson, C-DE Dillon Greenig, QB-DB Brock Hammaker, OG-DT Jackson Foye, RB-DB Ruben Mumper, OT-LB Brycen Rineer, RB-DB Tyler Sload, TE-DE James Turbedsky.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: RB-LB Uri Alkinburgh, OG-DT Brady Allessie, QB-LB Leelan Baughman, OT-DT Chase Border, OT-DT Ryan Cantero, RB-LB Vinnie Coco, OT-DT Matt Crider, OT-DT Cole Farley, WR-DB Denzel Fisher, WR-DB Steven Fontanez, OG-DE Parker Foye, WR-DB Chase Gerz, OT-DT Jaidin Gichuki, OT-NG Zack Greider, TE-DE Colton Houck, RB-LB Cayden Leaf, RB-LB Matt Lopez, QB-DB Chase Marshall, WR-DB Angel Mendez, OT-DT Hunter Parduski, TE-DE Connor Umholtz, RB-LB Quinn Weymers, RB-DE De’Andre White, C-NG Owen Winters.

OUTLOOK: The Indians are just one season removed from a playoff excursion, and they’re more chiseled around the edges after slugging it out in the battle-axe Section 4 slog the last two years. Some graduation losses, yes. Hey, it happens. But a nice nucleus returns, including Brady Allessie, Matt Crider, Hunter Parduski and Owen Winters in the trenches, and that’s a great start. Some newbie playmakers around those guys — De’Andre White has some carries; Uri Alkinburgh has some flank experience, and he might get more backfield touches this time around; and Leelan Baughman is poised to slide behind center for QB duties — and the D troops will have to make stops in section play, which is still quite formidable despite some realignment tweaks.

CRYSTAL BALL: A playoff run, perhaps, for the Indians? They’ll need a bounce here and a bounce there, and a hot start in the nonleague portion would be ideal. There will be a new QB at the controls. And some other holes to plug. If Donegal can get those spots smoothed over quickly, the Indians should be a thorn in everyone’s side.

ELCO RAIDERS

PIAA CLASSIFICATION: 4A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 270-293-2 overall, dating back to 1969, and the Raiders have won six L-L League section championships, the last one in 2020, which was an outright Section 4 title.

COACH: Bob Miller (13th season, 64-57 overall).

2023 RECAP: 4-3 Section 4, 8-4 overall (beat Big Spring 34-7 in the first round of the District 3 Class 4A playoffs; lost to Twin Valley 35-7 in the D3-4A quarterfinals).

2024 SCHEDULE: 8-17 Garden Spot, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-24 @ West York, 12 p.m. (Saturday); 8-29 Conrad Weiser, 7 p.m. (Thursday); 9-6 @ Lancaster Catholic, 7 p.m.; 9-13 @ Twin Valley, 7 p.m.; 9-20 Wyomissing, 7 p.m.; 9-27 @ Daniel Boone, 7 p.m.; 10-4 Octorara, 7 p.m.; 10-11 Lampeter-Strasburg, 7 p.m.; 10-18 @ Donegal, 7 p.m.; 10-25 Northern Lebanon, 7 p.m.

CIRCLE IT: A change right out of the chute for Elco, which had its season-opener at West York pushed back to a Saturday, high-noon kick vs. the Bulldogs, whom they topped the last two years in nonleague action. Two new opponents in the nonleague portion — neighboring Conrad Weiser (that was a Section 4 game the last two years) and longtime L-L foe Lancaster Catholic are on board, replacing Annville-Cleona and Columbia — and the Raiders will certainly find out right away where they stand in Section 4; those openers are against Twin Valley and Wyomissing. Hello, indeed. The TV game will be a rematch of last year’s D3-4A quarterfinal showdown, when the Raiders ousted Elco. New Week 10 capper the next two years will be a backyard rivalry rock fight vs. Northern Lebanon. Dig that one.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Veer.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 5-2.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: OL Carter Kemper, RB-LB Elliott Kreider, WR Sara Miller, RB Jake Williams (Section 4 Outstanding Back of the Year; Section 4 Offensive Back of the Year; Section 4 Lions Club MVP).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OG-DT Luke Bailey, LB Gavin Bicher, RB-LB Mitchell Frederick, DB Griffin Kreider, OT-DT Brayden Malloy, QB Steven Rosado, WR-DB Justin Smucker, DE Brady Stoops, DB Zane Trostle, OG-DT Tupac Vasquez-Disla, OT-DE Paul Williams, RB-DB Austin Yesko.

KEY NEWCOMERS: RB Ellis Gensamer.

OUTLOOK: Despite the loss of all-state 2,400-yard rusher Jake Williams, the sky is not falling in Myerstown. In fact, once you start dissecting the key-players-returning list, there is a really nice nucleus in Raiders’ camp. Like pitch-man QB Stephen Rosado coming back to pilot the option. Like some studs up front, including Luke Bailey, Brayden Malloy, Tupac Vasquez-Disla — easily earning him a spot on the league’s all-name team — and Paul Williams. Like some ball-hawkers in the secondary, and Williams and Brady Stoops wreaking havoc off the edge on D. Top priority is finding a new feature back — Austin Yesko and newbie Ellis Gensamer are vying for that role, with Mitchell Frederick at FB blowing open holes — and getting everyone on the same page. Elco won a playoff game last fall; another postseason bid is not out of the question here.

CRYSTAL BALL: Wyomissing, Twin Valley and Lampeter-Strasburg will gobble up a lot of the Section 4 headlines. But if you’re looking for a sleeper team to crash that party, don’t nap on Elco.

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LAMPETER-STRASBURG PIONEERS

PIAA CLASSIFICATION: 4A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 309-233-8 overall, dating back to 1972, and the Pioneers have won nine L-L League section championships, the last one in 2021, which was an outright Section 3 title. That capped back-to-back section crowns for L-S, which is set for its second go-round in Section 4.

COACH: Victor Ridenour (4th season, 29-8 overall).

2023 RECAP: 5-2 Section 4, 9-3 overall (beat East Pennsboro 23-20 in double-OT in the District 3 Class 4A quarterfinals; lost to eventual champ Bishop McDevitt 43-7 in the D3-4A semifinals).

2024 SCHEDULE: 8-17 @ Conestoga Valley, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-23 @ Solanco, 7 p.m. (Milk Jug trophy game); 8-30 Warwick, 7 p.m.; 9-6 Cocalico, 7 p.m.; 9-13 @ Donegal, 7 p.m.; 9-20 Daniel Boone, 7 p.m.; 9-27 @ Octorara, 7 p.m.; 10-3 Northern Lebanon, 7 p.m. (Thursday); 10-11 @ Elco, 7 p.m.; 10-18 Twin Valley, 7 p.m.; 10-26 @ Wyomissing, 1:30 p.m. (Saturday).

CIRCLE IT: Milk Jug in Week 1 at Solanco. That one never gets old. So long Penn Manor and Kennard-Dale in the nonleague; L-S picked up back-to-back reigning D3-5A champ Cocalico (a section rival the last two years) and Warwick for new non-con battles. Love those matchups. Northern Lebanon makes the trek from Fredericksburg for a Thursday tilt in early October. Followed by this bumpy, landmine-laden final stretch: At Elco, Twin Valley coming to Lampeter, and at Wyomissing to close it out as the only game in town that Saturday, putting a bow on the regular season. That will be a true-gauntlet, section-deciding slog for the Pioneers.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Spread.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-stack.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: OT-DT Braden Bauer, RB Carson Coleman, TE-LB Drexton Frank, WR-DB Damoj Gray, DB Jack Groff, LB Jackson Heeter, WR-DB Dean Herr, WR-LB Julian Lopez, DE Ezechiel Lukusa, RB Jonathan Mellinger, QB Trent Wagner.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OL-DL Hudson Crutchfield, K Peter Fiorello, TE-LB Emory Fluhr, QB-DB Caileb Howse, OL-DL Collin Shelley, TE-DE Jai Steberger, OL Carson Zook.

KEY NEWCOMERS: OL-DL Javon Brisma, RB-LB Dominick Brown, OL-DL Dominick Dixon, WR Mason Hostetter, DB Cole Lopez, WR-DB Cooper Price, WR-LB Preston Schonour, WR-LB Danny Weichler, OL-DL Thad Wolf.

OUTLOOK: A bit of a different feel at the outset for the Pioneers, who took a direct hit to the solar plexus in the graduation department when 16 total starters and 10 all-stars — including eight first-teamers — exited stage right. And that’s OK, because L-S has earned reload status. As has become the norm in Lampeter, it will start up front. And the Pioneers should be in good shape there with Hudson Crutchfield, Collin Shelley and Carson Zook all returning to anchor the line. Keep an eye on newbie QB Caileb Howse; he’s taken some varsity snaps, and he’s a real bruiser when he tucks it under and takes off. He’ll be flanked by a battalion of new skill kids. Emory Fluhr will spark the D; he’s a ball-hawker. And Peter Fiorello returns for kicking chores; he’s one of the best in the L-L.

CRYSTAL BALL: Call it a transition season of sorts for L-S, and it would behoove the Pioneers to run with the lead pack for as long as possible this time around, with heavyweights Twin Valley and Wyomissing waiting at the finish line. Should be a heck of a fun final couple of weeks in this race — a race L-S hopes to be in, even with an overabundance of fresh faces in important places.

NORTHERN LEBANON VIKINGS

PIAA CLASSIFICATION: 4A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 168-316-8 overall, dating back to 1975, and the Vikings have won five L-L League section championships, the last one in 2017, which was an outright Section 3 title. That capped a run of three section crowns in four years for NL. Some new surroundings for the Vikings this fall, after they were beamed up (Scotty style) from Section 5. FYI: NL will play its 500th pigskin game in Week 8 at Octorara.

COACH: Jason Rice (4th season, 10-21 overall).

2023 RECAP: 3-4 Section 5, 4-6 overall.

2024 SCHEDULE: 8-17 @ Minersville, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-23 Pine Grove, 7 p.m.; 8-30 @ Oxford, 7 p.m.; 9-6 Delone Catholic, 7 p.m.; 9-14 @ Wyomissing, 1:30 p.m. (Saturday); 9-20 Donegal, 7 p.m.; 9-27 Twin Valley, 7 p.m.; 10-3 @ Lampeter-Strasburg, 7 p.m. (Thursday); 10-11 @ Octorara, 7 p.m.; 10-18 Daniel Boone, 7 p.m.; 10-25 @ Elco, 7 p.m.

CIRCLE IT: How’s this for a welcome-to-Section-4 house-warming gift: NL at Wyomissing in the league opener in Week 4. Ka-boom. After their annual lid-lifter vs. backyard rival Pine Grove — get a trophy already, will ya — the Vikings get a pair of newbie nonleague tests, at Oxford and then against Delone Catholic, as Susquehanna Township and York Tech are off the schedule. Dig the Thursday game at L-S in Week 7, and that new capper vs. Elco in Week 10. That will be a fun game for the Lebanon County crew.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Spread.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-3.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: WR-DE Tanner Feagley, RB-WR-LB Moises Gonzalez, C-LB Kyle Hitz, TE-LB Luke Shaffer (Section 4 Linebacker of the Year).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OT-LB Hayden Adams, OG-DT Russell Beers, QB-DB Kael Erdman, WR-DB Bryan Mitzel, WR-DB Brady Ryan, WR-DB Brendan Ryan, OT-DE Eli Thompson, RB-DB Myles Watson, TE-LB Bryce Yocum.

KEY NEWCOMERS: WR-LB Carter Adams, WR-DE Kaden Beamesderfer, RB-LB Jake Emborsky, C Landon Graby, RB-LB Jack Kleisath.

OUTLOOK: First, the good news. Skipper Jason Rice said his squad is set to return 95% of its O-line and D-line talent, plus its QB (Kael Erdman), its breakaway RB (Myles Watson) and a talented receiving corps (the firm of Bryan Mitzel, Brady Ryan and Brendan Ryan). But there’s not a ton of depth behind those guys, plus the Vikings must replace tackle machine Luke Shaffer on D, and NL finds itself in Section 4, which is a weekly sausage-grinder. One scheme change: NL will go 4-3 on defense, junking last year’s 4-2-5 look.

CRYSTAL BALL: A lot of returning talent in Fredericksburg, and the Vikings are going to need it after crash-landing in Section 4 for this cycle. That means bigger boys in the trenches and usually more depth to contend with. The skill-kid department and both lines are in good shape. Develop some depth, flash that returning firepower, win as many wars in the trenches as possible, and NL will surely keep everyone honest.

OCTORARA BRAVES

PIAA CLASSIFICATION: 4A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 44-107 overall, dating back to 2008, and the Braves have not won an L-L League section championship. Octorara had back-to-back second-place finishes in Section 4 in 2020-21. They’ll begin their 16th season of varsity tackle football this fall.

COACH: Ed Smith (2nd season, 2-8 overall).

2023 RECAP: 0-7 Section 4, 2-8 overall.

2024 SCHEDULE: 8-17 Kennard-Dale, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-23 @ Hamburg, 7 p.m.; 8-30 Solanco, 7 p.m.; 9-6 @ Kutztown, 7 p.m.; 9-13 @ Daniel Boone, 7 p.m.; 9-20 Twin Valley, 7 p.m.; 9-27 Lampeter-Strasburg, 7 p.m.; 10-4 @ Elco, 7 p.m.; 10-11 Northern Lebanon, 7 p.m.; 10-18 Wyomissing, 7 p.m.; 10-25 @ Donegal, 7 p.m.

CIRCLE IT: An entirely new nonleague buffet for the Braves, who jettisoned Muhlenberg, Pequea Valley and Lancaster Catholic, and added Hamburg, Solanco and Kutztown. That means no Brave Bowl (vs. bitter backyard rival Pequea Valley) for at least the next two years. That stinks. Grinder 3-game stretch includes Week 5 vs. Twin Valley, Week 6 vs. L-S and Week 7 at Elco; Octorara gets the Raiders and the Pioneers at home. They’ll also host Wyomissing in Week 9, getting all three section heavyweights in Atglen. That’s some tasty home-cooking right there.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Hybrid Wing-T.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-4.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: K-P Shane Althouse, TE-DB Alijah Boyer, TE-LB Mason Colligan, OL Brandon Erskine, RB-LB Colton Focht, TE Ross Hershey, WR-DB Mathieux Mallon, RB-DB JuJu Maurice, OT-DT Kyle McCaw, OT-NG Gabe McComsey, RB-LB Mekhi Murray, OL-DL Cole Ross, LB Dalton Ruppert, OL John Taylor, LB Jonathan Trimble, QB-LB Braeden Wood, OL-DL Mason Woodall.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OT-NG Cion Brown, C-DE Ben Eberhardt, RB-LB Austin Kurtz, WR-DB Mehkai Lambert, OT-DE Shaun Myrick, QB-TE-LB Mason Prokay, QB-RB-DB Chandler Stoltzfus, RB-DB Ian Teufert, C-DE Chase Tuel, QB-WR-DB Collin Wood.

KEY NEWCOMERS: RB-LB Nate Dow, RB-DB Brayden Mastrippolito, RB-LB Collin Mowday, C Lucas Reid, WR-RB-LB-DB Brayden Remphrey, OG-DE Josh Ross, LB Logan Smith, QB Seamus Wright.

OUTLOOK: Losing 17 seniors to graduation was a stinger, yes. But the good news is that the Braves feature a strong sophom*ore class. That could mean some initial on-the-fly growing pains, as Octorara angles to snap a 14-game league losing skid. Names to know in Atglen: Chandler Stoltzfus and Austin Kurtz are wily vets who can play all over; they’ll be the ringleaders. There is some returning beef in the trenches, keyed by Cion Brown, Ben Eberhardt, Shaun Myrick and Chase Tuel. QB duties are up for grabs; Stoltzfus, Mason Prokay, Collin Wood and Seamus Wright are the contenders.

CRYSTAL BALL: Should be plenty of motivation here after an O-for in section play the last two years. This is a proud program, and the Braves are determined to get back in the lead pack after back-to-back runner-up finishes — and a playoff trip mixed in there — in 2020-21. Be patient. Let the pipeline do its thing.

TWIN VALLEY RAIDERS

PIAA CLASSIFICATION: 4A.

PROGRAM HISTORY: 94-182 overall, dating back to 1996, and the Raiders have won one L-L League section championship, and that was a tri-crown — with Ephrata and Garden Spot — in Section 3 last fall. It was the second championship of any kind, in any league, for TV. Six victories this season for an even 100 dubs in program history.

COACH: Brett Myers (3rd season, 16-7 overall).

2023 RECAP: 5-1 Section 3 (tri-champs with Ephrata and Garden Spot), 10-2 overall (beat Elco 35-7 in the District 3 Class 4A quarterfinals; lost to eventual runner-up Manheim Central 65-28 in the D3-4A semifinals).

2024 SCHEDULE: 8-17 @ Governor Mifflin, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-23 @ Berks Catholic, 7 p.m.; 8-30 Selinsgrove, 7 p.m.; 9-6 Olney, 6 p.m.; 9-13 Elco, 7 p.m.; 9-20 @ Octorara, 7 p.m.; 9-27 @ Northern Lebanon, 7 p.m.; 10-3 Donegal, 6 p.m. (Thursday); 10-11 Wyomissing, 7 p.m.; 10-18 @ Lampeter-Strasburg, 7 p.m.; 10-25 @ Daniel Boone, 7 p.m.

CIRCLE IT: Some new digs for TV, which glides down the water slide from Section 3 for this 2-year cycle — while riding some serious mo in the program. The Raiders gutted their nonleague slate, waving goodbye to Schuylkill Valley, Lower Dauphin and Conrad Weiser, while adding county foe Berks Catholic, longtime District 4 heavyweight Selinsgrove and Olney, out of the Philly Pub League. Selinsgrove is coming off a 13-1-1 season — the Seals took a tie vs. powerhouse Jersey Shore when that game was halted by an injury — that included the D4-4A title, before a loss to eventual state-champ Aliquippa in the PIAA playoffs. Section 4 opener in Week 4 vs. Elco will be for an early leg-up in the race — and a rematch of last year’s D3-4A quarterfinals — and the Raiders get Wyomissing (in Elverson) and L-S (in Lampeter) in back-to-back weeks down the stretch in mid-October; safe to say those games should go a long, long way in determining the section champ.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Spread.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: OT Sam Donellen, K Sam Frey, P Jack Hafer, WR Markos Karros, DE Kyle Kline, DB Mason Marks, OG Paul McClune, LB Dan Murphy, NG Markell Norris, WR Owen Rhoads, C Noah Roehm, RB Jordan Rose, DE Ben Savidge, TE-DT Ean Winchester (Section 3 Defensive Lineman of the Year).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: DB Tristan Bailey, OT-DT Aris Drake, RB-DB Drew Engle, WR-DB Ben Grundy, RB-DB Evan Johnson, WR Matthew Knight, OG-DT Greyson Miller, QB Evan Myers, RB-LB Lucas Myers, WR Justin Pinciotti, DB Brendan Yagle.

KEY NEWCOMERS: WR-DB Titus Akinrefon, OT Andrew Boswell, TE-DE Joey Buckley, TE-LB Gavin Crawford, C-DT Noah DiGiacomo, C-DE Carter Faubel (transferred in from Delaware Valley), DB Harley Hartwell, K Josiah Horst, WR Matt Knight, DT Mark Minardi, WR-DB Grant Moser, DB Ryan Pigeon, RB-LB Ryan Rementer, OG-DE Isaiah Saunders, P Josh Secord, K Nate Shaffer, OT Zach Troutman.

OUTLOOK: Plenty to like in Elverson, where TV returns a troika of top-shelf playmakers in 4-year starting QB Evan Myers — he has three straight 1,000-yard passing seasons; the only Berks QB with four is Wilson’s Chad Henne — plus breakaway backs Drew Engle and Evan Johnson, who both scooted for 1,000-plus rushing yards last year, when the Raiders won a program-record 10 games, got a share of the Section 3 crown, went all the way to the 4A district semifinals, and even popped up in the state rankings. Nine league all-stars are set to return. O-line is in great shape with Aris Drake (a Navy commit) and Greyson Miller back to anchor that bunch — which will include Delaware Valley transfer Carter Faubel, who is a force — and Lucas Myers had a bust-out season all over the field last fall. Remember his name. The bar has been raised. The expectations runneth over. Pieces are in place for a special season for TV.

CRYSTAL BALL: Gotta believe TV and Wyomissing are the preseason favorites for Section 4 supremacy this time around. They’ll clash in Week 8 in Elverson. The winner there just might come out on top. The time is now for the Raiders to be thinking big — and delivering.

WYOMISSING SPARTANS

PIAA CLASSIFICATION: 4A (up from 3A, per the PIAA success formula; Wyo lost its appeal).

PROGRAM HISTORY: 556-244-15 overall, dating back to 1968, and the Spartans have won one L-L League section championship, and that was an outright Section 4 title in 2022, Wyo’s first year in the league.

COACH: Bob Wolfrum (38th season, 362-89-1 overall; he has the most coaching victories in D3 history).

2023 RECAP: 6-1 Section 4, 12-2 overall (beat Schuylkill Valley 48-0 in the District 3 Class 3A semifinals; beat West Perry 42-14 in the D3-3A championship; beat Danville 48-27 in the PIAA Class 3A state quarterfinals; lost to eventual runner-up Northwestern Lehigh 33-24 in the PIAA-3A state semifinals. It was Wyo’s fifth straight D3-3A crown, and the Spartans beat West Perry in the finale for the second year in a row).

2024 SCHEDULE: 8-17 Cocalico, 10 a.m. (scrimmage); 8-24 Southern Columbia, 1:30 p.m. (Saturday); 8-30 @ Haverford, 2 p.m.; 9-6 @ Academy of the New Church, 4:15 p.m. (at Bryn Athyn College); 9-14 Northern Lebanon, 1:30 p.m. (Saturday); 9-20 @ Elco, 7 p.m.; 9-27 @ Donegal, 7 p.m.; 10-5 Daniel Boone, 1:30 p.m. (Saturday); 10-11 @ Twin Valley, 7 p.m.; 10-18 @ Octorara, 7 p.m.; 10-26 Lampeter-Strasburg, 1:30 p.m. (Saturday).

CIRCLE IT: An entirely new non-con schedule for the Spartans, who wiped Kennard-Dale, Pottsville (a longtime rivalry game) and Trinity off the slate. Hang a couple of stars next to Week 1, when juggernaut Southern Columbia touches down at Wyo. The Tigers have won seven state titles in a row — not a misprint — and 14 overall. That’s an excellent, can’t-miss matchup, when Southern Columbia coach Jim Roth will go for his 500th career victory. Then two more new non-cons for the Spartans: Week 2 with a 2 p.m. kick at Haverford, which plays in the Philly-area Central League, and at independent outfit Academy of the New Church, and that’s a 4:15 p.m. kick in Bryn Athyn, which is about 25 miles north of Philadelphia. Must-see league scraps: Week 8 at Twin Valley and Week 10 vs. L-S. Whoa, Nellie; do not miss those.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Wing-T.

DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-4.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: RB-DB Marvin Armistead, TE-LB Evan Blickley, OT-NG Caleb Brewer (Section 4 Outstanding Lineman of the Year; Section 4 Offensive Lineman of the Year; Section 4 Defensive Lineman of the Year; Manheim Touchdown Club Lineman of the Year), WR-DB Ethan Brower, RB-NG Jeremiah Diaz, OG-DT C.J. Eberhart, RB-LB Drew Forrey, QB Logan Hyde, RB-LB Ryker Jones (Section 4 Linebacker of the Year), WR-DB Jake Neff, RB-LB Collin Niedrowski, OG-LB Tom Weller.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OT Caleb Beane, RB-LB Chase Eisenhower, C Francisco Fabian, NG Jordan Gwyn, RB-DB Justice Hardy, RB-DB Derek Macrina, K-P Keegan Maher, LB Tyler Niedrowski, K Nick Plaggenborg, OG-DE Max Tipton.

KEY NEWCOMERS: RB-DB Marcus Armistead, TE-LB Andrew Bresnahan, QB-DB Brady Eisenhower, OG-C-DT Ayden Jimenez, OT-DE Keaton Piacine, OG-LB Darion Quintana, RB-DB Wayne Reason, QB-DB Teddy White.

OUTLOOK: Some heavy duty graduation hits, yes. But as the L-L League crew is quickly learning, Wyo reloads. As usual, it all starts up front for the Spartans, and that means another rugged O-line unit, keyed by Max Tipton, who shifts over from OT to OG to spearhead that crew. There will be a new QB to pilot the Wing-T attack — looks like Teddy White is in line for that gig; newbie Brady Eisenhower is also in the mix — with a bushel of backs to carry the rock, including burners Derek Macrina and jack-of-all-trades Justice Hardy, and plow-horse FB Chase Eisenhower, who will also help anchor the D along with Tyler Niedrowski from their ‘backer slots. Some ironing out to do early on, but there’s still oodles to like at Wyo, which is a mind-blowing 40-4 over the last three seasons.

CRYSTAL BALL: Gut hunch is that the Section 4 title will somehow, some way go through Wyo, which will again command everyone’s A-game. A couple of new faces here and there. But come October, the Spartans will be just fine — and in time for a new playoff picture; Wyo, the five-time reigning district 3A champ — with 12 D3 titles overall — and on an 11-0 bender in D3 playoff games, goes up to 4A this year per the PIAA success formula. They’ll cross that bridge in November.

TWITTER-X: @JeffReinhart77

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