Through the first month of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football season, there have been lots of great games, and weekends where there were multiple outstanding, down-to-the-wire finishes.
This past weekend wasn’t one of them.
It was a weekend of mismatches.
The average margin of victory in the nine EPC games was 40.2 points.
The average margin in the six Northampton County/Monroe County contests was 47.3.
Just two of the games were decided by less than 20 points — Whitehall’s 39-20 win over Dieruff and Allentown Central Catholic’s 28-14 triumph over Emmaus.
So, there is just one change in this week’s power rankings as the Vikings move past the Green Hornets.
The nine games scheduled for Week 7, starting with a Thursday night game in Bethlehem, are expected to be much more competitive.
Here’s a look at where the 18 teams stand as we get into October and begin the stretch run of the regular season:
No. 18: East Stroudsburg North
Record: 0-6, 0-3 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 18th
Last game: Lost to Liberty 47-0
Next game: Host Pleasant Valley, 7 p.m.
Comment: The Timberwolves were limited to two first downs and net-13 yards in total offense in the loss to Liberty. Brandon Roca ran for 24 yards on 12 carries, but completed just one of seven passes for two yards. Freshman Austin Finnerty, who is 5-foot-9, 172 pounds, got his first start at quarterback in a tough spot.
No. 17: Dieruff
Dieruff head coach Dave Lutte had to be pleased with his team’s effort against Whitehall. The game was tied at 20 before Whitehall pulled away to a 39-20 win. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 1-5, 0-3 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 17th
Last game: Lost to Whitehall 39-20
Next game: Host Parkland, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Huskies gave one of their best efforts of the season against Whitehall. After getting behind 13-0 in the first quarter, they battled back to tie it at 20-20 before the Zephyrs pulled away. Dieruff was hurt by three turnovers, but had 238 yards rushing and nearly 400 yards overall.
No. 16: Allen
Allen’s Zion Stokes takes a break from practice in August. The Canaries have lost three straight after a 3-0 start. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Record: 3-3, 0-3 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 16th
Last game: Lost to Parkland 45-0
Next game: At Allentown Central Catholic, 7 p.m. Saturday
Comment: The Canaries have lost three straight after their 3-0 start and were limited to 25 total yards and had negative rushing yards against Parkland. Julian Pagan completed five of 14 passes for 32 yards. Michael Taylor had one catch for 12 yards and also had five tackles, including one for a loss, at Parkland.
No. 15: East Stroudsburg South
Record: 1-5, 1-2 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 15th
Last game: Lost to Freedom 42-0
Next game: At Pocono Mountain East, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Cavaliers had just 58 yards in total offense and 12 yards rushing against Freedom. Three fumbles hurt and four interceptions hurt South’s chances of staying competitive. Gianni Gonnella had six yards on three carries. Greyson Fuller completed seven of 21 passes for 46 yards. Lyric Parkins had two catches for 15 yards.
No. 14: Pleasant Valley
Pleasant Valley quarterback Jaxson Haines throws a pass Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, against Parkland at Parkland Stadium. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Record: 2-4, 1-2 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 14th
Last game: Lost to Nazareth 43-6
Next game: At East Stroudsburg North, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Bears are probably happy to play teams in their own division after having to play two of the area’s best teams — Parkland and Nazareth — in their cross-division games. Jacob George ran for 63 yards, and PV had 145 yards rushing as a team. Chris Ward ran for 35 yards and his team’s lone TD in the game at Nazareth. Ward also had three catches for 12 yards. Isaac Westerman ran for 38 yards on eight carries.
No. 13: Pocono Mountain East
Record: 3-3, 0-3 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 13th
Last game: Lost to Bethlehem Catholic 48-6
Next game: Host East Stroudsburg South, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Cardinals, who have lost three straight after a 3-0 start, found themselves in a hole in a hurry Saturday afternoon against Becahi. The Golden Hawks opened the game with an onside kick, and then on the first play from scrimmage, Becahi hit a 49-yard TD pass. Kevin Davis had East’s only touchdown on a 32-yard reception from Ian Stiles. Evan Garrett had 24 yards rushing and Ceejay Serfass added 23, but the Cardinals gave up more than 500 yards.
No. 12: Stroudsburg
Record: 2-4, 1-2 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 12th
Last game: Lost to Easton 62-0
Next game: At Pocono Mountain West, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Mounties had 63 yards rushing, but just 72 yards overall in the loss against Easton. Keyen Johnson ran for 54 yards on 14 carries. Jackson Mitchell ran for eight yards, but got just six yards on five completions. In four losses, Stroudsburg has given up an average of 51.7 points per game, but still has a great chance of making the District 11 6A tournament.
No. 11: Pocono Mountain West
Pocono Mountain West’s Brady Behr (1) brings down Scranton’s Kamani Sterling at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Scranton Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Record: 4-2, 1-2
Last week’s rankings: 11th
Last game: Lost to Northampton 54-0
Next game: At East Stroudsburg South, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: Despite a non-competitive showing against Northampton, the Panthers are still in good position to secure a District 11 6A tournament berth. They will have to put last week’s game behind them as they get back into Monroe Division games the rest of the season. The Panthers were held to a season-low 106 yards rushing by the Konkrete Kids — 55 by sophomore Christian Stiehler. Curtis Sipler, a junior, played quarterback and completed 4 of 8 passes for 56 yards.
No. 10: Emmaus
Emmaus has some work to do to qualify for the District 11 playoffs. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 2-4, 1-2 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 9th
Last game: Lost to Allentown Central Catholic 28-14
Next game: At Whitehall, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Green Hornets find themselves in the unusual position of going October below .500 and needing to win, in all likelihood, three of their last four to get into the district tournament. They were outgained by more than 100 yards against ACCHS and hurt themselves with 10 penalties for 88 yards. Jay Santos was the team’s most consistent offensive performer with 97 yards rushing and two TDs.
No. 9: Allentown Central Catholic
Allentown Central Catholic’s Patrick Cahill runs for yardage against Emmaus on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at Emmaus High School in Emmaus. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 3-3, 2-1
Last week’s rankings: 10th
Last game: Beat Emmaus 28-14
Next game: Host Allen, 7 p.m. Saturday
Comment: The Vikings got their biggest win of the season against Emmaus, getting key plays in all three phases of the game. They got a blocked punt for a score, two TD passes from Patrick Cahill, including a 91-yarder, and a big stop on defense by Deon Johnson on a key fourth-and-1 play in the second half. This is a team capable of playing deep into November if it can find a level of consistency and stay healthy.
No. 8: Freedom
Freedom takes to the field prior to the Freedom and Nazareth football game Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Liberty High School in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 3-3, 2-1
Last week’s rankings: 8th
Last game: Beat East Stroudsburg South 42-0
Next game: At Bethlehem Catholic, 7 p.m. Thursday
Comment: The Patriots have taken advantage of a softer patch of schedule to get back to .500, but now must show they are significantly improved from the team that began the season 0-2 with four tough games within the rugged Northampton County Division left. They outgained East Stroudsburg South 322-58 and did it without star running back Lashawn Johnson involved. Quarterback Michael Stofanak was 9-for-10 passing for 169 yards and three scores. Xavier DeJesus had three catches for 75 yards and a TD.
No. 7: Northampton
Northampton receiver Sincere Wadlington, left, and offensive lineman Riley Montgomery, right, celebrate Wadlington’s go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter during a PIAA football game on Friday night at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Record: 3-3, 1-2
Last week’s rankings: 7th
Last game: Beat Pocono Mountain West 54-0
Next game: Host Easton, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Konkrete Kids snapped a three-game losing streak and took out their frustrations against West. After allowing 135 points combined in the three-game losing streak, Northampton put together a superb defensive effort against the Panthers. Now, they’ll find out if they belong among the EPC’s elite against Easton. The Red Rovers routed the K-Kids 42-14 last season.
No. 6: Bethlehem Catholic
Bethlehem Catholic’s Cayden Vassa runs for yardage against Allentown Central Catholic Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 5-1, 2-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 6th
Last game: Beat Pocono Mountain East 48-6
Next game: Host Freedom, 7 p.m. Thursday
Comment: The Golden Hawks showed no signs of a letdown against Pocono Mountain East. They have found the right combination on offense with Axel Burkart at quarterback. Burkart was 14 of 21 passing for 354 yards and four touchdowns against the Cardinals, while Carter Vassa and Rodney Brodie combined for seven catches and 260 yards. Becahi currently holds the No. 1 seed in Class 4A, but the schedule gets drastically tougher from here, starting with Freedom on Thursday night.
No. 5: Whitehall
Whitehall’s Jeziah Gregory runs the ball down the field Friday, Sept.5, 2025, against East Stroudsburg South at Whitehall High School. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 5-1, 3-0
Last week’s rankings: 5th
Last game: Beat Dieruff 39-20
Next game: Host Emmaus, 7 p.m.
Comment: A 20-20 tie in the third quarter against Dieruff may have been the best thing to happen to the Zephyrs, who may have needed a reminder about coming to play every night. They gave up 397 yards in total offense against Dieruff, but had 470 themselves. Nazavier Calcano had three catches for 53 yards, including two touchdowns, while Bryce Medina had six receptions for 77 yards. Justin Hussett and Jeziah Gegory combined for 214 yards rushing and three scores. Ben Pychinka had two interceptions on defense for the Zephyrs.
No. 4: Nazareth
Nazareth’s Cooper Madson throws the ball down the field Friday, Sept. 18, 2025, against Parkland at Nazareth High School. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 5-1, 2-1
Last week’s rankings: 4th
Last game: Beat Pleasant Valley 43-6
Next game: Host Liberty, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Blue Eagles got 159 yards rushing and two TDs from Marquez Wimberly in the rout of Pleasant Valley. Wimberly also had one of the three TD passes thrown by Cooper Madson, who completed 11 passes for 239 yards. Luke DiPietro had three catches for 109 yards and two scores. Things get more challenging this week as the Blue Eagles welcome Liberty to Andy Leh Stadium. Nazareth handed its first loss in 2024, a 34-14 final at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.
No. 3: Liberty
Scenes from Liberty playing Allentown Central Catholic on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, during a football game at BASD Stadium. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Record: 5-1, 3-0
Last week’s rankings: 3rd
Last game: Beat East Stroudsburg North 47-0
Next game: At Nazareth, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Hurricanes are on a five-game winning streak and have scored at least 38 points in all five games. Antonio Fontanez was 6 of 7 passing for 86 yards and three TDs against Pleasant Valley. Three other players also completed passes. Gabe Green also didn’t play the full game, getting 44 yards on six carries. In last year’s loss to Nazareth, the Hurricanes gave up 533 yards — 309 on the ground. So that will be a point of emphasis as the Hurricanes prep for the Blue Eagles.
No. 2: Easton
Easton quarterback Cole Ordway is now the school’s all-time passing leader. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 6-0, 3-0
Last week’s rankings: 2nd
Last game: Beat Stroudsburg 62-0
Next game: At Northampton, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: Cole Ordway is now the Red Rovers’ all-time leader in passing with 3,930 yards and passing TDs with 38. He threw for 232 yards and five TDs in the rout of Stroudsburg. The five TDs tied him with three others for a single-game record. Ordway, who is a definite player of the year candidate, has completed 46 of 62 passes for 699 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2025. He also has 733 yards and 13 TDs on the ground. Last year against Northampton, the Red Rovers ran the ball 53 times for 268 yards and led 28-0 at halftime en route to a 42-14 win.
No. 1 Parkland
Parkland’s Jackson Geroulo looks for room to run Friday, Sept. 18, 2025, against Nazareth at Nazareth High School. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 6-0, 3-0 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 1st
Last game: Beat Allen 45-0
Next game: At Dieruff, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Trojans limited Allen to just 25 yards in total offense. Finn Coen threw for 153 yards ad TJ Lawrence and Naquon Thomason combined for 115 and four TDs. Nassim Adams had three catches for 86 yards, including a 52-yarder Liam Spang and Michael Car combined for three sacks. Although the green stripe has yet to be put over Parkland’s name on the District 11 power rankings, they have clinched a 6A spot, and now it’s a matter of seeing if they can garner the No. 1 seed and a couple of playoff games once the playoffs begin on Halloween.
