Lucas Croizier crept onto the scene in the second half of 2024. He’s no longer a secret for Lehighton’s foes. The Indians junior is third among the Lehigh Valley-area Colonial-Schuylkill League rushing leaders this fall with 557 yards in four games.

Croizier is among many players who are blossoming into the league’s stream of consciousness in 2025.

Tamaqua’s Terrence McDowell, who had zero carries last season, got his name called 42 times last week against Jim Thorpe. The sophomore ran for 273 yards to move ahead of Croizier into second place with 580 yards in his first varsity season. His seven rushing touchdowns are third behind Southern Lehigh’s Sean Steckert (11) and Marian Catholic’s Rory Dixon (8).

Steckert leads area runners in rushing yards (716) and scoring (66 points). The senior is no stranger to anyone in the region. He was among the league leaders last season in both categories with 2,048 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns.

Dixon, a junior, is fourth this year in rushing yards after consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start his varsity season.

Braxton Lakatosh is one of several Northwestern Lehigh running backs filling the shoes left by the graduated Eli Zimmerman. Lakatosh, a senior, is fifth with 393 yards, nearly as many as he had in his first three seasons combined (421).

The top seven in the passing yardage leaders are returning starters, led by Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Matt Bodnar who led all league passers with more than 4,000 yards.

Palisades’ Lincoln Cook and Southern Lehigh’s Luke Kawczenski burst onto the scene last season. They are 1-2 in receptions in 2025. Saucon Valley freshman Thomas Cahill is fourth with 18 catches.

Jim Thorpe’s Josh Louk, Marian Catholic’s Jah Bushati and Palisades’ Max Woerner, all returning starters, are tied atop the list of tacklers with 45 each.

Notre Dame-GP’s Garrett Grants, a first-year senior starter, leads the locals in tackles for loss (9). He’s ahead of Northwestern defensive anchor Shane Hulmes (7). Grants also has an area-best four sacks, one more than Northwestern sophomore Fritz Scheirer and Salisbury senior Jadan Claudio.

Marian Catholic sophomore Tyler Price is tops with three interceptions. The Colts are an area-best plus-9 in turnover ratio.

Northern Lehigh sophomore Paul Porobenski is the only area player with two fumble recoveries.

Colonial-Schuylkill League football season stat leaders

(among 17 Morning Call area teams)

RUSHING

Pos. Player, Team; Att.; Yards; Avg.; TDs

1. Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh; 115; 716; 6.2; 11

2. Terrence McDowell, Tamaqua; 113; 580; 5.1; 7

3. Lucas Croizier, Lehighton; 73; 557; 7.6; 4

4. Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic; 73; 446; 6.1; 8

5. Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh; 27; 393; 14.6; 5

6. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 34; 328; 9.7; 6

7. Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl; 50; 321; 6.4; 5

8. Grady Newhard, Northern Lehigh; 64; 296; 4.6; 3

9. Josh Louk, Jim Thorpe; 40; 280; 7.0; 2

10. Keaton Frye, Salisbury; 27; 277; 10.3; 3

11. Max Woerner, Palisades; 46; 266; 5.8; 3

12. Braden Rohn, Saucon Valley; 60; 264; 4.4; 4

13. Chase Sukanick, Northwestern Lehigh; 30; 243; 8.1; 5

14. Trey Dunn, Catasauqua; 35; 217; 6.2; 2

PASSING

Pos. Player, Team; Comp.; Att.; Yards; INTs; TDs

1. Matt Bodnar, Notre Dame-GP; 61; 91; 848; 1; 11

2. Jack Trickell, Palisades; 55; 82; 784; 1; 7

3. Colton Sams, Southern Lehigh; 51; 76; 671; 1; 5

4. Shane Leh, Northwestern Lehigh; 32; 52; 636; 1; 6

5. Jayse Lawrence, Lehighton; 36; 70; 550; 3; 5

6. Cole Lazorick, Jim Thorpe; 36; 61; 543; 3; 5

7. Braden Rohn, Saucon Valley; 38; 70; 535; 4; 3

8. Mason Soos, Pen Argyl; 45; 73; 510; 2; 5

9. Garrett Smoyer, Northern Lehigh; 36; 65; 464; 3; 5

10. Brody Breiner, Panther Valley; 50; 80; 460; 3; 3

11. Aiden Reilly, Catasauqua; 26; 57; 403; 3; 3

12. Greg Tirpak, Marian Catholic; 22; 42; 342; 2; 3

13. Keaton Frye, Salisbury; 16; 34; 274; 5; 4

14. Chase Serfass, Tamaqua; 24; 56; 265; 2; 1

15. Jaxson Tadayesky, Wilson; 22; 54; 259; 4; 0

16. T.J. Weller, Palmerton; 28; 49; 248; 5; 0

17. Eziah Cartagena, Bangor; 19; 39; 209; 3; 0

RECEIVING

Pos. Player, Team; Catches; Yards; Avg.; TDs

1. Lincoln Cook, Palisades; 28; 444; 15.9; 3

2. Luke Kawczenski, Southern Lehigh; 20; 256; 12.8; 2

3. Gavin Yuricheck, Panther Valley; 19; 205; 10.8; 1

4. Thomas Cahill, Saucon Valley; 18; 214; 11.9; 1

5. Chase McArdle, Panther Valley; 17; 136; 8.0; 1

6. Josh Louk, Jim Thorpe; 15; 144; 9.6; 0

7. Terrell Estes, Pen Argyl; 15; 142; 9.5; 1

8. Jonathan Striba, Notre Dame-GP; 14; 232; 16.6; 3

9. Darius Roman, Southern Lehigh; 14; 226; 16.1; 2

10. Ben Negley, Palmerton; 14; 168; 12.0; 1

11. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 13; 185; 14.2; 2

12. Vincent Taglieri, Palmerton; 13; 92; 7.1; 0

13. Alex Clark, Notre Dame-GP; 12; 123; 10.3; 3

14. Ryan Zambo, Northern Lehigh; 12; 118; 9.8; 1

15. Jacob Hillis, Bangor; 11; 148; 13.5; 0

16. Omar Pacheco, Catasauqua; 10; 209; 20.9; 2

17. Drew Boyd, Notre Dame-GP; 10; 188; 18.8; 2

18. Michael Lagowy, Northwestern Lehigh; 10; 173; 17.3; 1

19. Mason Bollinger, Northwestern Lehigh; 10; 156; 15.6; 2

20. Mickey McClarin, Saucon Valley; 10; 100; 10.0; 1

21. Anthony Beltran, Pen Argyl; 10; 98; 9.8; 1

SCORING

Pos. Player, Team; TDs; 2-pters; PATs; FGs; Total points

1. Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh; 11; 0; 0; 0; 66

2. Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic; 10; 0; 0; 0; 60

3. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 8; 0; 0; 0; 48

4. Chase Sukanick, Northwestern Lehigh; 5; 0; 16; 0; 46

5. Terrence McDowell, Tamaqua; 7; 0; 0; 0; 42

6. Manny Bolmer, Catasauqua; 6; 0; 0; 0; 36

6. Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh; 6; 0; 0; 0; 36

8. Brady Zimmerman, Northwestern Lehigh; 32

8. Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl; 5; 1; 0; 0; 32

10. Jonathan Striba, Notre Dame-GP; 5; 0; 0; 0; 30

11. Lucas Croizier, Lehighton; 4; 1; 0; 0; 26

11. Lincoln Cook, Palisades; 4; 1; 0; 0; 26

13. Aaron Gordon, Notre Dame-GP; 4; 0; 0; 0; 24

13. Max Woerner, Palisades; 4; 0; 0; 0; 24

13. Braden Rohn, Saucon Valley; 4; 0; 0; 0; 24

16. Ryan Bonham, Wilson; 3; 1; 0; 0; 20

TACKLES

Pos. Player, Team; Tackles

1. Josh Louk, Jim Thorpe; 45

1. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic; 45

1. Max Woerner, Palisades; 45

4. Hunter Hill, Saucon Valley; 40

4. Taylor Rohn, Saucon Valley; 40

4. Luke Frohnheiser, Tamaqua; 40

4. Tyler Hoherchak, Jim Thorpe; 40

4. Damian Rodino, Marian Catholic; 40

9. Rocco DeCesare, Pen Argyl; 38

10. Eli Szlachtianshyn, Saucon Valley; 37

11. Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh; 35

12. Dominick Rodino, Marian Catholic; 34

12. Peter Kruslicky, Panther Valley; 34

14. Silas Day, Palisades: 32

15. Chase Smith, Palisades: 31

15. Brady McCabe, Tamaqua; 31

17. Tyler Price, Marian Catholic; 30

17. Jacob Walkowiak, Palmerton; 30

19. Kaden Hess, Jim Thorpe; 29

19. Fritz Scheirer, Northwestern Lehigh; 29

19. Faustie Capobianco, Notre Dame-GP; 29

19. Garrett Grants, Notre Dame-GP; 29

19. Ben Baneravage, Panther Valley; 29

19. Sahalay Hernandez, Saucon Valley; 29

25. Bill Slattery, Northern Lehigh; 28

25. Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh; 28

25. Evan Wagstaff, Northwestern Lehigh; 28

25. Connor Lawless, Palmerton; 28

TACKLES FOR LOSS

Pos. Player, Team; TFL

1. Garrett Grants, Notre Dame-GP; 9

2. Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh; 7

2. Logan Anthony, Palmerton; 7

4. Bill Slattery, Northern Lehigh; 6

4. Faustie Capobianco, Notre Dame-GP; 6

4. Peter Kruslicky, Panther Valley; 6

4. Luke Frohnheiser, Tamaqua; 6

8. Nick Faust, Jim Thorpe; 5

8. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic; 5

8. Dominick Rodino, Marian Catholic; 5

8. Damian Rodino, Marian Catholic; 5

8. Kaden Quinones, Northern Lehigh; 5

8. Josh Scherer, Notre Dame-GP; 5

8. Marcus Rodriguez, Panther Valley; 5

8. Marco Tessitore, Panther Valley; 5

8. Jadan Claudio, Salisbury; 5

8. Eli Szlachtianshyn, Saucon Valley; 5

18. Chris Wellington, Catasauqua; 4

18. Max Woerner, Palisades; 4

18. Michael Garey, Palmerton; 4

18. Brody Vermillion, Panther Valley; 4

22. Dariuz Lightner, Southern Lehigh; 3.5

23. 16 tied with 3

SACKS

Pos. Player, Team; Sacks

1. Garrett Grants, Notre Dame-GP; 4

2. Fritz Scheirer, Northwestern Lehigh; 3

2. Jadan Claudio, Salisbury; 3

4. Tyler Scholato, Bangor; 2

4. Joziah Martinez, Catasauqua; 2

4. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic; 2

4. Michael Garey, Palmerton; 2

4. Dillon Anthony, Palmerton; 2

4. Cooper Henry, Palmerton; 2

4. Dylan Gretz, Southern Lehigh; 2

INTERCEPTIONS

Pos. Player, Team; INTs

1. Tyler Price, Marian Catholic; 3

2. Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic; 2

2. Jake Tom, Marian Catholic; 2

2. Manny Bolmer, Catasauqua; 2

2. Caden Meek, Lehighton; 2

2. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 2

2. Michael Lagowy, Northwestern Lehigh; 2

2. Jack Trickel, Palisades; 2

2. A.J. Moren, Salisbury; 2

2. Leonard Davis, Wilson; 2

2. Connor Patterson, Wilson; 2

FUMBLE RECOVERIES

Pos. Player, Team; Fumble recoveries

1. Paul Porobenski, Northern Lehigh; 2

TURNOVER RATIO

Pos. Team; TO caused; TO committed; TO ratio

1. Marian Catholic; 12; 3; plus-9

2. Palisades; 6; 1; plus-5

3. Catasauqua; 9; 5; plus-4

4. Northern Lehigh; 7; 4; plus-3

4. Notre Dame-GP; 5; 2; plus-3

4. Southern Lehigh; 4; 1; plus-3

4. Wilson 8; 5; plus-3

8. Northwestern Lehigh; 6; 4; plus-2

8. Tamaqua; 3; 1; plus-2

10. Lehighton; 4; 3; plus-1

10. Saucon Valley; 6; 5; plus-1

12. Jim Thorpe; 4; 4; even

12. Pen Argyl; 3; 3; even

14. Panther Valley; 1; 4; minus-3

14. Bangor; 3; 6; minus-3

16. Palmerton; 6; 11; minus-5

17. Salisbury; 3; 11; minus-8

Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com

https://www.mcall.com/2025/09/17/fresh-faces-among-colonial-schuylkill-football-season-stat-leaders/