We’re halfway through the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference regular season and while there have been several surprises through the first five weekends of games, the 18 teams are pretty much who we thought they were.

Parkland and Easton are the only unbeatens left, while Bethlehem Catholic, Liberty, Nazareth, Pocono Mountain West and Whitehall are 4-1. Eight teams are either 2-3 or 3-2 while Dieruff and East Stroudsburg South both have just one win and East Stroudsburg North is the only winless squad.

Here’s a look at where the teams stack up entering Week 6, which begins with three games on Thursday night.

No. 18: East Stroudsburg North

Record: 0-5, 0-2 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 18th

Last game: Lost to Pocono Mountain West 21-0

Next game: At Liberty, 7 p.m. Thursday

Comment: The Timberwolves are the EPC’s lone winless team, but have been competitive in most of their games. Four of the five defeats have been by 21 points or less. They have struggled offensively with just 22 total points. They rushed for 169 yards against West, led by Brandon Roca’s 77 yards, but didn’t complete any of their six passing attempts.

No. 17: Dieruff

Dieruff and Liberty football players take a knee and form a prayer circle a J. Birney Crum Stadium while one of the Husky players was treated for a potentially serious injury and carted off the field. (Contributed photo / Dieruff football)

Record: 1-4, 1-1 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 17th

Last game: Lost to Liberty 49-0

Next game: Host Whitehall, 7 p.m. Friday

Comment: Coach Dave Lutte said his kids played as hard as they could against the Hurricanes. He was very happy with the effort and attitude. He was also pleased with the response of the St. Luke’s medical staff when one of his players experienced a major health concern. “They were incredible,” Lutte said. “Also, Liberty is a first-class program.” The Hurricanes joined the Huskies in a prayer circle on the field as the player was being taken off the field.

No. 16: Allen

The Allen football team, seen going through preseason practice on Aug. 11, is 3-2. The Canaries started 3-0 but have lost their last two games, both in the league. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call).

Record: 3-2, 0-2 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 15th

Last game: Lost to Freedom 51-13

Next game: At Parkland, 7 p.m. Friday

Comment: The Canaries got 230 yards passing from Julian Pagan in the team’s loss to Freedom. He threw one TD pass, a 71-yarder to Jaylen Walker, who had two catches for 84 yards and Zion Stokes added five grabs for 88 yards. Michael Taylor had 41 yards rushing and caught three passes for 30 yards.

No. 15: East Stroudsburg South

East Stroudsburg South’s Orion Tucker runs the ball down the field Friday, Sept.5, 2025, against Whitehall at Whitehall High School. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Record: 1-4, 1-1 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 14th

Last game: Lost to Pleasant Valley 35-6

Next game: At Freedom, 7 p.m. Friday

Comment: The Cavaliers have dealt with all kinds of injury issues in their struggles in the first half of the season. Starting quarterback Ivan Laubach was limited to three passes and five yards on Friday night. He was replaced by Greyson Fuller, who completed 10 of 16 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. Gianni Gonnella ran nine times for 32 yards, but it was nearly enough to keep pace with Pleasant Valley.

No. 14: Pleasant Valley

Pleasant Valley’s Christopher Ward runs the ball down the field Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, against Parkland at Parkland Stadium in Orefield. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Record: 2-3, 1-1 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 16th

Last game: Beat East Stroudsburg South 35-6

Next game: Host Nazareth, 7 p.m. Thursday

Comment: Bears coach Blaec Saeger continues to praise his players and say they “have really bought in.” He also praised defensive coordinator Brian Miller and the toughness of the players up front. Chris Ward scored three of his team’s five touchdowns, including a 47-yard TD reception from Jaxson Haines and a 38-yard fumble return. Haines and Niko Payan added TD runs.

No. 13: Pocono Mountain East

Second-year Pocono Mountain East football coach Dustin Thomas. (Contributed photo)

Record: 3-2, 0-2 EPC.

Last week’s rankings: 12th

Last game: Lost to Stroudsburg 40-34

Next game: At Bethlehem Catholic, noon Saturday

Comment: The Cardinals couldn’t hold on to leads of 26-14 and 34-27 against Stroudsburg and wound up losing in overtime. East got 208 yards passing and four touchdown throws from Ceejay Serfass, and Connor Triano ran for 63 yards. Triano also had 11 catches for 97 yards and three TDs. Justin Williams had a 75-yard kickoff return for a score.

No. 12: Stroudsburg

Former Stroudsburg football coach Fred Ross led the Mounties program for 42 seasons. (Patricia Hess / The Morning Call)

Record: 2-3, 1-1 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 13th

Last game: Beat Pocono Mountain East 40-34

Next game: Host Easton, 7 p.m. Friday

Comment: The Mounties got a much-needed win over Pocono Mountain East to snap a three-game losing streak. They had to fight back several times to get the game into overtime and won it on a Keyen Johnson TD run, his fourth score of the game. They ran for 249 yards — 244 by Johnson — and had 460 yards in total offense. Jackson Mitchell completed 12 of 19 passes for 211 yards and two TDs.

No. 11: Pocono Mountain West

Pocono Mountain West’s Christian Stiehler, 24, approaches Scranton’s Tony Battaglia at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Scranton Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (Sean McKeag/Times-Tribune)

Record: 4-1, 1-1 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 11th

Last game: Beat East Stroudsburg North 21-0

Next game: Host Northampton, 7 p.m. Friday

Comment: The Panthers got 112 yards rushing and a touchdown from sophomore star Christian Stiehler. Brady Behr threw a TD pass and caught one, and Jerel Simms ran for 29 yards and passed for 32. The Panthers have an opportunity to cement their District 11 6A playoff status with a win over Northampton.

No. 10: Allentown Central Catholic

Allentown Central Catholic takes to the field against Bethlehem Catholic Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Record: 2-3, 1-1 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 10th

Last game: Lost to Bethlehem Catholic 28-24

Next game: At Emmaus, 7 p.m. Friday

Comment: The Vikings scrambled for some big plays from guys like Patrick Cahill, Tate Shoemaker, and Deon Johnson and got some big defensive stops against Becahi as they tried to overcome an early 7-0 deficit created by a pick-6. However, they ran out of time and must now regroup to face an Emmaus team that has been disappointing but still has a chance to salvage its season.

No. 9: Emmaus

Emmaus’ Jerek Cooper runs the ball against Neshaminy on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in an nonconference game at East Penn School District Stadium in Emmaus. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)

Record: 2-3, 1-1 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 8th

Last game: Lost to Easton 42-7

Next game: Host Allentown Central Catholic, 7 p.m. Friday

Comment: The Green Hornets continue to scuffle against quality opponents, giving up 185 yards passing and 162 on the ground against Easton. The passing game continues to be a problem. Emmaus completed just two of 18 attempts for 20 yards at Easton. Aiden Issler led the ground game with 47 yards on seven carries. The lone Green Hornets score came in the fourth quarter, long after the Easton starters departed.

No. 8: Freedom

Freedom’s quarterback Michael Stofanak calls a play against Nazareth in a battle of two of the EPCs top teams Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Liberty High School in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Record: 2-3, 1-1 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 9th

Last game: Beat Allen 51-13

Next game: Host East Stroudsburg South

Comment: After playing several high-powered teams in the first half of the schedule, the Patriots can catch their breath with a softer patch on the calendar for a few weeks. Against Allen, Lashawn Johnson got his fourth straight 100-yard rushing performance, gaining 110 on 13 carries. He scored a touchdown. Michael Stofanak had one of his best passing nights, completing six of nine throws for 129 yards and a pair of TDs.

No. 7: Northampton

Northampton quarterback Gavin Taff passes the ball against Pennsbury during a game earlier this season in Fairless Hills. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)

Record: 2-3, 0-2 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 5th

Last game: Lost to Whitehall 56-49

Next game: At Pocono Mountain West, 7 p.m. Friday

Comment: The Konkrete Kids are on a three-game losing streak and have allowed 135 points during the skid. Northampton got several big offensive performances against Whitehall, including an 11-for-15 passing night for 221 yards by Gavin Taff. The K-Kids also got 193 yards rushing by Chase Kessler and five receptions from 131 yards by Cameron Hersch, but the defense couldn’t hold on to 28-0, 35-28, and 42-35 leads.

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: 4-1, 1-1 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 7th

Last game: Beat Allentown Central Catholic 28-24

Next game: Host Pocono Mountain East, 12 noon Saturday

Comment: The Golden Hawks put quarterback Cayden Vassa at tailback in an effort to spark the ground game, and Vassa responded with 167 yards rushing against ACCHS. Axel Burkart took over at QB and threw for 122 yards. But it was the defense that got stops when they were most needed, as Becahi bounced back from the previous week’s loss to Easton.

No. 5: Whitehall

Whitehall’s Talon Dogmanits runs the ball down the field Friday, Sept.5, 2025, against East Stroudsburg South at Whitehall High School. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Record: 4-1, 2-0

Last week’s rankings: 6th

Last game: Beat Whitehall 56-49

Next game: At Dieruff, 7 p.m. Friday

Comment: The Zephyrs staged the comeback of the year in what turned out to be, arguably, the game of the year. The Zephyrs were able to register 422 yards in total offense. Quarterback Tanner Dogmanits threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, while his brother Talon had eight catches for 154 yards and a pair of TDs, including the game-winner. The defense, though, allowed 533 yards in total offense, including 332 on the ground.

No. 4: Nazareth

Nazareth’s Lance Zuercher runs the ball down the field Friday Sept. 18,2025 against Parkland at Nazareth High School.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Record: 4-1, 1-1 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 2nd

Last game: Lost to Parkland 42-6

Next game: At Pleasant Valley, 7 p.m.

Comment: The Blue Eagles lost for the first time, but still had plenty of positives in suffering a mercy-rule defeat. Most notably, sophomore Cooper Madson did a lot of good things in his first varsity start, which featured 20 completions, 178 yards and a TD pass to Matt Lelgua, and Marquez Wimberly continued to be a standout on both sides of the ball. Were it not for a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and two long punt returns by Parkland’s Nassim Adams, the game would have been much closer.

No. 3: Liberty

The Liberty High School football team takes the field before its game against Allentown Central Catholic on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, at BASD Stadium in Bethlehem. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Record: 4-1, 2-0 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 4th

Last game: Beat Dieruff 49-0

Next game: Host East Stroudsburg North, 7 p.m. Thursday

Comment: The Hurricanes have won four in a row after an opening-night loss to Pennridge, which doesn’t look so bad a month later since former Dieruff coach Kyle Beller has the Rams a 5-0. In the win over Dieruff, Antonio Fontanez completed 7 of 12 passes for 155 yards and four scores. Fontanez ran for 39 yards and a TD, and Gabe Green gained 123 yards on 12 carries and added another TD.

No. 2: Easton

Easton takes to the field against Bethlehem Catholic Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Liberty High School in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)

Record: 5-0, 2-0 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 3rd

Last game: Beat Emmaus 42-7

Next game: At Stroudsburg, 7 p.m. Friday

Comment: The Red Rovers keep rolling, led by quarterback Cole Ordway. The senior is a player-of-the-year candidate after passing for 162 yards and three scores and rushing for 108 yards and two more scores. Skyler Fowlin, Andrew Biddle and Sean McPeek all caught TD passes and McPeek and Kurtis Crossman had interceptions, with McPeek returning his pick for a touchdown.

No. 1: Parkland

Parkland’s Finn Coen threw two touchdown passes Friday against Nazareth. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Record: 5-0, 2-0 EPC

Last week’s rankings: 1st

Last game: Beat Nazareth 42-6

Next game: Host Allen, 7 p.m. Thursday

Comment: The Trojans excelled in all three facets against Nazareth. Particularly promising was the play of junior quarterback Finn Coen, who shook off an interception to throw for 89 yards and two TDs while running for 66 yards. TJ Lawrence had 103 yards and two scores Lawrence and Blake Nassry each caught TD passes. Nassim Adams averaged 40 yards on three punt returns, Liam Spang had nine tackles and Dom Martrich returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.

https://www.mcall.com/2025/09/22/epc-football-power-rankingsyre-no-1-and-no-2/