Fall officially arrives next Monday afternoon, and by the time it does, half of the 2025 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football regular season will be over.
To end the first half, Parkland will host Nazareth on Friday night in one of the most-anticipated games of the season. The Trojans and Blue Eagles are just two of the three remaining 4-0 teams in the EPC. Easton is the other.
The Parkland-Nazareth game has an extra layer of intrigue created by the injury to Blue Eagles star quarterback Peyton Falzone, who is expected to miss time with a broken clavicle in his non-throwing left shoulder.
Parkland-Nazareth is not the only marquee matchup this coming weekend. Emmaus visits Easton in a rematch of last year’s District 11 6A semifinal. Whitehall travels to Northampton in what is expected to be a high-scoring Cement Bowl and the Allentown Central Catholic hosts Bethlehem Catholic Saturday night in the latest edition of the area’s “Holy War.”
Here’s a look at where the 18 EPC teams stack up entering Week 5 of a rapidly-moving season:
No. 18: East Stroudsburg North
Record: 0-4, 0-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 17th
Last game: Lost to Dieruff 19-7
Next game: Host Pocono Mountain West, 7 p.m. Thursday.
Comment: The Timberwolves are the only winless team left in the EPC and have yet to score in double figures this season. Wayne King threw for 92 yards and ran for 60 in the loss to Dieruff. King connected with Kendrick Sympson on a TD pass. Brandon Roca led the defense with eight tackles, including two for loss.
No. 17: Dieruff
Dieruff quarterback Bruce Billger threw a TD pass in the Huskies’ first win of the season. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 1-3, 1-0 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 18th
Last game: Beat East Stroudsburg North 19-7
Next game: At Liberty, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Huskies snapped a nine-game losing streak and got their first win of the season by shutting out North in the second half after trailing 7-6 at halftime. Derwyn Deris had a 72-yard punt return for a TD and Riyell Wann scored on a short run while Eli Dalrymple caught a 7-yard TD pass from Bruce Billger.
No. 16: Pleasant Valley
Record: 1-3, 0-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 15th
Last game: Lost to Parkland 58-13
Next game: At East Stroudsburg South, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Bears were overwhelmed at Parkland, but coach Blaec Saeger was pleased that his kids kept competing and were able to do some good things before leaving Orefield. Chris Ward and Isaac Westerman ran for touchdowns and Jaxson Haines completed five of six passes for 57 yards.
No. 15: Allen
Allen High head football coach Joel Rupp will work to regroup his team after the Canaries suffered their first loss of the season. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 3-1, 0-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 14th
Last game: Lost to East Stroudsburg South 37-18
Next game: Host Freedom, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Canaries lost for the first time but played well for a half against South and only trailed 13-12 at halftime. Julian Pagan threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns, all to Jaylen Walker, who had four catches in all. Zion Stokes had three receptions for 63 yards.
No. 14: East Stroudsburg South
East Stroudsburg South’s Joel Montiel scores Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, against Whitehall at Whitehall High School. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 1-3, 1-0 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 16th
Last game: Beat Allen 37-18
Next game: Host Pleasant Valley, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Cavaliers got their first win of the season behind another big offensive performance by Gianni Gonnella, who ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns and also caught two passes for 50 yards and a TD. Ivan Laubach, who went out of the previous game against Whitehall with an injury, came back to throw for 141 yards and ran for 31.
No. 13: Stroudsburg
Record: 1-3, 0-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 13th
Last game: Lost to Emmaus 48-10
Next game: At Pocono Mountain East, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Mounties have allowed at least 48 points in three consecutive games. They were outgained 449-292 at Emmaus and allowed 330 on the ground. Jackson Mitchell passed for 174 yards and a touchdown and ran for 52 yards. Keyen Johnson added 67 yards rushing.
No. 12: Pocono Mountain East
Second-year Pocono Mountain East football coach Dustin Thomas will try to get his team to regroup after its first loss of the season. (Contributed photo)
Record: 3-1, 0-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 10th
Last game: Lost to Allentown Central Catholic 30-3
Next game: Host Stroudsburg, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Cardinals were held to a 36-yard field goal by Lucas Angst in the loss to ACCHS. Ceejay Serfass, who entered the game as the No. 2 passer in the EPC, was held to nine completions in 24 attempts and 138 yards. Kevin Davis had four receptions for 69 yards, and Amari Green led the ground game with 77 yards on 12 carries.
No. 11: Pocono Mountain West
Record: 3-1, 0-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 9th
Last game: Lost to Whitehall 45-13
Next game: At East Stroudsburg North, 7 p.m. Thursday
Comment: The Panthers scored first at Whitehall, getting a Jerel Sims touchdown pass, but then gave up the next 45 points. Sims finished with 171 yards passing while Christian Stiehler ran for 111 yards. The Panthers will have to regroup after allowing 500 yards of offense by the Zephyrs.
No. 10: Allentown Central Catholic
Allentown Central Catholic coach Jake Reichard will lead the Vikings into this week’s game against Bethlehem Catholic. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 2-2, 1-0 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 12th
Last game: Beat Pocono Mountain East 30-3
Next game: Host Bethlehem Catholic, 7 p.m. Saturday
Comment: After back-to-back losses to Liberty and Freedom, the Vikings got a much-needed win at Pocono Mountain East. ACCHS got 104 yards rushing by Tate Shoemaker and 89 from Deon Johnson. Quarterback Patrick Cahill threw for 76 yards and a touchdown. Tahir Edmondson had four catches for 61 yards and a TD.
No. 9: Freedom
Freedom’s Lashawn Johnson runs for yardage 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: 1-3, 0-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 8th
Last game: Lost to Nazareth 56-21
Next game: At Allen, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Patriots were able to match Nazareth early Friday night, but they simply had no answer on defense as the Blue Eagles scored on their first six possessions in rolling to a 42-21 halftime. While the record doesn’t look good at 1-3, the Patriots have lost to three quality teams and have a shot to fix some things as the schedule eases in the next two weeks. Lashawn Johnson had 166 yards on 27 carries against Nazareth and has 573 yards and six TDs this season.
No. 8: Emmaus
Emmaus football team enters the field for their game against Neshaminy on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 2-2, 0-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 11th
Last game: Beat Stroudsburg 48-10
Next game: At Easton, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Green Hornets have seemingly gotten back on track after a 0-2 start, but another major test looms Friday night at Easton. Emmaus and the Red Rovers had two memorable games last season, including one in the district semis. Jerek Cooper ran for 158 yards and a touchdown and Jay Santos ran for 124 yards and two scores against Stroudsburg. Anthony Attar had a 94-yard fumble return for a TD.
No. 7: Bethlehem Catholic
Bethlehem Catholic’s Zemi Rodriquez runs for yardage against Easton Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Liberty High School in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 3-1, 0-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 5th
Last game: Lost to Easton 35-9
Next game: At Allentown Central Catholic, 7 p.m. Saturday
Comment: The Golden Hawks struggled defensively against the run against Easton and suffered their first loss of the season. Easton ran for 280 yards against Becahi. The Golden Hawks got a 42-yard TD run from Cayden Vassa and a short field goal by Aaron Geiger, but were held scoreless in the second half after trailing only 21-9 at halftime.
No. 6: Whitehall
The Whitehall cheerleaders have had plenty to cheer about this season with the Zephyrs off to a 3-1 start. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 3-1, 1-0 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 7th
Last game: Beat Pocono Mountain West 45-13
Next game: At Northampton, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Zephyrs have bounced back nicely from a Week 2 loss at Nazareth and have scored 107 points in their last two games. Tanner Dogmanits was a perfect 17-for-17 passing against West for 339 yards and four TDs. He connected with Justin Hussett twice for 123 yards and two scores and found his brother, Talon, six times for 85 yards and a pair of scores. Jeziah Gregory ran for 84 yards and a touchdown.
No. 5: Northampton
Northampton defensive back Noah Kline, 15, reacts after a fourth down stop against Pennsbury during the second half of a PIAA football game on Friday night at Falcon Field in Fairless Hills, Pa. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Record: 2-2, 0-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 4th
Last game: Lost to Liberty 41-34
Next game: Host Whitehall, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Konkrete Kids played in one of the most entertaining games of the season last week, but ultimately lost to Liberty. They surrendered 386 yards, including 266 in the air. The K-Kids had 309 yards rushing, led by Chase Kessler’s 173. Zander Rickert added 121. Gavin Taff threw just 10 passes, completing four, for 41 yards.
No. 4: Liberty
Liberty has a talented band as well as a talented football team. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Record: 3-1, 1-0 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 6th
Last game: Beat Northampton 41-34
Next game: Host Dieruff, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Hurricanes offense continues to click on all cylinders and has produced 128 points over the last three games, all wins. Antonio Fontanez completed 13 of 17 passes for 282 yards and five TDs and shook off a pair of interceptions. Zyaire Davis had five catches for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Jake Pukszyn added two TD catches among his four grabs.
No. 3: Easton
Easton’s quarterback Cole Ordway hands off to Chris Martinez against Bethlehem Catholic Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Liberty High School in Bethlehem. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 4-0, 1-0 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 3rd
Last game: Beat Bethlehem Catholic 35-9
Next game: Host Emmaus, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Red Rovers are playing at a high level, running for 269 yards against Bethlehem Catholic. Chris Martinez led the charge with 178 yards on 29 carries. Cole Ordway added 91 yards on 15 carries and threw two TD passes, and the Red Rovers defense did a good job containing Cayden Vassa with the exception of one play. The schedule gets much tougher from here, however, for an Easton team that has a chance at its first district title since 2010.
No. 2: Nazareth
Nazareth’s Marquez Wimberly runs for a touchdown against Freedom 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: 4-0, 1-0 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 2nd
Last game: Beat Freedom 56-21
Next game: Host Parkland, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Blue Eagles looked unstoppable against Freedom, scoring on six consecutive possessions before Peyton Falzone’s broken clavicle on his non-throwing shoulder ended the streak when the pain became too much. Falzone actually played a long time with the injury and played well. His status for Friday’s Parkland game and the rest of the season is uncertain, and sophomore Cooper Madson is a capable backup, but the fortunes of this Nazareth rest largely on Falzone’s ailing shoulder.
No. 1: Parkland
The Parkland student section cheers on the undefeated Trojans. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Record: 4-0, 1-0 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 1st
Last game: Beat Pleasant Valley 58-13
Next game: At Nazareth, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: Prior to the start of the season, the word on the Trojans was that it was going to take some time for their offense to come together. Based on what has happened over the last two weeks, that time has arrived for the Parkland offense. Finn Coen has settled into the quarterback position and relies on a solid line and quality running backs, and receivers. Friday’s game at Nazareth represents the team’s biggest challenge of the regular season, and it could very well be a District 11 6A title game preview.
https://www.mcall.com/2025/09/15/epc-football-power-rankings-2-2/
