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As the Lancaster-Lebanon Football League enters the back half of the 2025 regular season, each game, quarter, and snap means that much more.
Highlighting Berks County football in Week 6 is Berks Catholic taking on Schuylkill Valley.
Both teams enter the matchup at 3-2 overall and 2-0 in Section 5, just behind Annville-Cleona (4-1, 2-0), whom they’ll each face in Weeks 9 and 10 in mid-October.
So, not only is this a crucial game in the Section 5 title race, but it also will certainly have implications on the District 3 Class 3A playoff picture.
“I think our kids know this is a big game,” Saints coach Dave Stahler said. “One of our goals is to win the section. Our section is a lot of fun. There’s a lot of parity. There are a lot of different styles of football. We have to come every night, and be ready to go.”
The Panthers earned a 20-14 win in last year’s matchup, part of a dominant season that saw them go on to claim the Section 5 title.
“We turned the ball over too much,” Stahler said of last year’s game. “You have to take care of the ball to have a chance to win, and we didn’t do that.”
Both teams find themselves in similar positions this season. After suffering blowout losses in their season openers and slipping to 1-2 early on, they’ve each rebounded with back-to-back wins heading into Friday night.
Schuylkill Valley has scored at least 34 points in each of its three wins this season. The Panthers’ two losses include a 45-14 blowout against Muhlenberg in the season opener and a close, one-score defeat to Fleetwood.
Berks Catholic opened the season with a tough 45-19 loss to Twin Valley and also fell to Bethlehem Catholic, 48-27. However, the Saints have bounced back by scoring at least 35 points in each of their three victories.
At the heart of Berks Catholic’s success is a ground attack, averaging an impressive 322 rushing yards per game. The Saints have showcased their depth in the backfield, with six players surpassing 100 rushing yards this season, and four of them topping the 200-yard mark.
“I think that starts up front,” Stahler said. “We have a lot of experience on our offensive line. We have guys who are big, strong, fast, and physical. I think that’s our advantage. Our offensive and defensive lines are one of the strongest parts of our team. The guys in the back are the ones who get credit for that, but the guys up front do most of the work.”
Panthers head coach Bruce Harbach knows slowing down the Saints’ rushing attack won’t be easy, but he’s confident his team is up to the challenge.
“We have to try to stop it,” Harbach said. “We’ve seen the wing T quite a bit. So I think our defensive coaches are making some plans, making some adjustments along the way to try and stop them. Force them to throw the football.”
Leading the charge behind a strong offensive line featuring Palmer Reber and Eric Bennethum is Xavier Gerald, who has rushed for 495 yards and six touchdowns on just 37 carries.
Gerald showed flashes of his potential last season, but this year he’s had the chance to fully showcase his speed.
An exciting new weapon for the Saints is Jeremiah Camara, a transfer from Reading High. In just two games, he’s rushed for 140 yards on 19 carries.
“He’s a shifty runner,” Stahler said. “Good at making guys miss and good in space.”
As for Schuylkill Valley, the Panthers feature a well-balanced offense capable of beating teams through the air and on the ground.
“We try to do 50/50, or pretty close to it,” Harbach said. “Ever since the first week, we’ve been changing personnel packages, getting some more kids involved, and giving some kids some breaks. So, it depends on what personnel package we have in there where we’re going to throw the ball, run the ball, or a combination.”
At quarterback, junior Alex Aletras is stepping into his first full season under center. He’s thrown for 849 yards and 12 touchdowns, with six interceptions, completing 55 of 111 passes.
“I think he’s ahead of where I expected him to be at this point in time,” Bruce Harbach said. “He’s a smart kid. Has to work on some things, and we’ve been doing that, making some corrections, but he monitors a game pretty well and reads defense pretty well. Smart kid.”
Aletras has spread the wealth this season, with six different players finding the end zone through the air.
On the ground, Brandon Pyle leads the way. The aggressive, downhill runner has rushed for 373 yards and five touchdowns this season.
“He’s a good weapon for us,” Harbach said. “He has great speed. He can play wide out or play running back. The kind of speed he has, and he’s a good power back. We’ll use him in different situations.”
The Saints’ defense is allowing around 273 yards per game, placing them in the middle of the pack within Section 5. They have a strong defensive front, a challenge the Panthers know they’ll need to overcome.
“Their front four is pretty tough up front, so we’re going to have to make some adjustments on how to handle them, and hopefully we can move the ball and keep their offense off the field,” Harbach said.
On the flip side, Stahler understands that the Panthers’ offense gets the ball out quickly, giving his pass rush limited time to reach Aletras.
“They do a good job of getting the ball out quickly,” Stahler said. “Most of their stuff is pretty direct. Most of the stuff that we do is misdirection. So, everything’s pretty quick developing. They get the ball out quick.”
Elsewhere in Berks County, Gov. Mifflin (2-3) travels to West Lawn to face off against rival Wilson (4-1). The Bulldogs are averaging more than 38 points per game, while the Mustangs have given up an average of 32 points per game. It’s a tall task for Gov. Mifflin, which has fallen in the Section 2 standings.
Also in Section 2, undefeated Exeter (5-0) faces off against Ephrata in a tight race at the top of the standings. The Eagles will have their hands full with the 4-1 Mountaineers, who have been on a roll this season.
Muhlenberg (5-0) remains undefeated at the season’s halfway point as they prepare to host Elizabethtown. They’ll lean on Cameron Small for another big performance; he’s rushed for 731 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this season.
In Section 3, Conrad Weiser (4-1) travels to Solanco for a crucial showdown atop the standings. Meanwhile, Fleetwood (2-3) takes on Kennard-Dale in a mid-season non-league game.
In Section 4, Daniel Boone (0-5) travels to Elco, while Twin Valley (5-0) hosts Northern Lebanon.
The Blazers are still searching for their first win and have a prime opportunity to break through against an equally struggling Elco team.
In Section 5, Hamburg (2-3) is aiming for a second straight win as they take on Lancaster Catholic. The Hawks pulled off a thrilling 21-20 comeback victory over Kutztown last week.
Meanwhile, the Cougars (1-4) travel to face top-seeded Annville-Cleona in a tough matchup. They’ll lean on their relentless trio in the running game, Mason Sherry, Ian Bahr, and Ryan Walters, who have combined for an impressive 1,830 yards and 18 touchdowns through just five games.
In Section 1, Reading (0-5) hosts Cedar Crest. The Red Knights have struggled offensively, scoring just 14 points all season.
On Saturday, Wyomissing (5-0) looks to keep their unbeaten streak alive as they face Donegal. Chase Eisenhower and Justice Hardy have combined for 792 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Friday
Berks Catholic at Schuylkill Valley, 7 p.m.
Gov. Mifflin at Wilson, 7 p.m.
Conrad Weiser at Solanco, 7 p.m.
Daniel Boone at Elco, 7 p.m.
Exeter at Ephrata, 7 p.m.
Fleetwood at Kennard Dale, 7 p.m.
Lancaster Catholic at Hamburg, 7 p.m.
Kutztown at Annville Cleona, 7 p.m.
Elizabethtown at Muhlenberg, 7 p.m.
Cedar Crest at Reading, 7 p.m.
Northern Lebanon at Twin Valley, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Donegal at Wyomissing, 1:30 p.m.