Chris Frame was one of the first Northern Lehigh players to greet Ryan Zambo after Zambo caught the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime earlier this month in a District 11 Class 2A quarterfinal.
The junior would have been the first if not for a season-ending leg injury three weeks earlier, so the speedy Frame hobbled as fast as he could to celebrate one of the program’s most dramatic postseason victories.
“I’ve been coaching 20 years,” Bulldogs head coach Joe Tout said. “He’s top 5 kid that I’ve coached as far as talent. He’s got it all. He’s a nice kid, a hard worker. I feel bad for him as a person more than anything football related.”
A healthy Frame will figure prominently in Northern Lehigh’s success in 2026, which begins the latest version of the Colonial League after four seasons of a cooperative agreement with the Schuylkill League in football only.
Here is what Colonial, Schuylkill football leagues will look like in 2026
The wide receiver/running back/defensive back has 57 career receptions for 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns, and with a strong, healthy senior year, he could break school records in all three categories (100 catches, 1,822 yards, 21 TDs).
“I know him and his family,” Tout added. “He’s going to bust his butt to be back better. He does it all.”
But Frame will not have to shoulder the burden next season. The Bulldogs have a wealth of talent returning on both sides of the ball.
Quarterback Garrett Smoyer has the school’s career records in completions (237), attempts (436) and passing yards (3,303) and is six TD passes away from that mark. His 1,729 passing yards this season was third most behind brother Dylan Smoyer’s 2,185 in 2021 and Gary VanNorman’s 1,795 in 1968.
Garrett Smoyer also is a dual threat with his elusiveness and quickness.
Several other skill players who stepped up in Frame’s absence will figure prominently in 2026, including running back Mason Rothrock, wide receiver Colin Karetsky, tight end Chase Gall and running back Keith Lectora.
The Bulldogs also return nine defensive starters, led by leading tackler Bill Slattery.
“We need a year of maturity,” Tout said. “We need a weight room year. We want to have those guys in the secondary, a bunch of three-year starters, to have that confidence where they can press up. We are going to beat some guys up.”
Northern Lehigh was 8-4 this season with mostly underclassmen starting after a 7-4 mark in 2024. Tout will have experience at virtually every position in 2026, with the only voids being the three offensive linemen lost to graduation.
Though Tout is excited for next season, he wants the players to take time away from the sport before hitting the offseason training. Several returnees wrestle and a couple play basketball so they will be occupied right away as winter sports practices begin Friday.
He believes next year’s team will be balanced on both sides of the ball within all the classes.
“At smaller schools it’s always tough to get two back-to-back classes with a lot of talent,” he said. “I like the junior and sophomore classes, and I think the freshmen will be all right.”
Northern Lehigh opens its season at home against Executive Education before its annual Thursday night game against rival Northwestern Lehigh to kick off the Labor Day weekend.
Milestones
Northwestern Lehigh’s Brady Zimmerman reached 100 points, Braxton Lakatosh hit 1,000 rushing yards and Shane Leh eclipsed 2,000 passing yards in the Tigers’ District 11 Class 3A semifinal victory over North Schuylkill. Shane Hulmes reached 400 career tackles when his 14 against the Spartans gave him 406, including 122 this year.
Southern Lehigh’s Sean Steckert amassed 2,000 rushing yards for a second year in a row and Colton Sams reached 2,000 passing yards in back-to-back seasons in its district 4A semifinal rout of Blue Mountain. Sams has school career records of 5,729 passing yards and 73 touchdowns as a junior. Senior receiver Luke Kawczenski has 85 career catches for 1,514 yards in only two seasons.
Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Matt Bodnar has 7,287 passing yards and 79 career TDs. Teammate Alex Clark has 1,857 career receiving yards, 94 shy of the program record. Fellow Crusader Jonathan Striba has 95 career catches for 1,519 yards as a junior. The career receptions record is 137. Fellow junior Drew Boyd reached 1,000 career receiving yards in the team’s district 3A semifinal win over Tamaqua.
Schuylkill Haven junior Colton Reber has 2,663 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns this season. He reached the 4,000-yard mark for his career (4,193 with 69 TDs) after running for 395 against Northern Lehigh in a 2A semifinal.
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
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; 224; 2,184; 9.8; 30
2. Terrence McDowell, Tamaqua; 315; 1,740; 5.5; 19
3. Lucas Croizier, Lehighton; 195; 1,130; 5.8; 9
4. Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh; 98; 1,091; 11.1; 13
5. Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic; 193; 1,023; 5.3; 15
6. Brody Breiner, Panther Valley; 157; 1,003; 6.4; 10
7. Tray Dunn, Catasauqua; 129; 805; 6.2; 8
8. Chase Sukanick, Northwestern Lehigh; 85; 775; 9.1; 12
9. Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl; 171; 742; 4.3; 10
10. Grady Newhard, Northern Lehigh; 154; 667; 4.3; 10
11. Cole Lazorick, Jim Thorpe; 115; 606; 5.3; 6
12. Mason Soos, Pen Argyl; 135; 569; 4.2; 4
13. Braden Rohn, Saucon Valley; 147; 530; 3.6; 13
14. J’son Johnson, Wilson; 121; 528; 4.4; 4
15. Max Woerner, Palisades; 72; 524; 7.3; 7
16. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 67; 496; 7.4; 9
17. Keaton Frye, Salisbury; 66; 490; 7.4; 5
18. Ryan Bonham, Wilson; 184; 479; 3.7; 5
19. Garrett Smoyer, Northern Lehigh; 145; 474; 3.3; 7
20. Vince Taglieri, Palmerton; 89; 473; 5.3; 4
21. Taylor Rohn, Saucon Valley; 77; 461; 6.0; 6
22. Jack Trickel, Palisades; 96; 454; 4.7; 9
23. Ashton Fitzgerald, Palisades; 61; 439; 7.2; 5
24. Michael Garey, Palmerton; 90; 420; 4.7; 5
PASSING
Pos. Player, Team; Comp.; Att.; Yards; INTs; TDs
1. Matt Bodnar, Notre Dame-GP; 169; 249; 2,835; 3; 37
2. Colton Sams, Southern Lehigh; 142; 194; 2,117; 3; 30
3. Jack Trickell, Palisades; 142; 229; 2,062; 6; 21
4. Shane Leh, Northwestern Lehigh; 114; 163; 2,016; 2; 23
5. Mason Soos, Pen Argyl; 146; 237; 1,814; 9; 16
6. Braden Rohn, Saucon Valley; 130; 213; 1,765; 11; 13
7. Garrett Smoyer, Northern Lehigh; 127; 220; 1,729; 10; 17
8. Cole Lazorick, Jim Thorpe; 117; 229; 1,721; 11; 16
9. Jayse Lawrence, Lehighton; 112; 201; 1,471; 7; 18
10. Brody Breiner, Panther Valley; 145; 239; 1,406; 8; 10
11. Lincoln Rehrig, Bangor; 80; 147; 1,031; 5; 5
12. Greg Tirpak, Marian Catholic; 57; 100; 941; 8; 6
13. Jaxson Tadayesky, Wilson; 72; 153; 690; 14; 0
14. Chase Serfass, Tamaqua; 61; 128; 688; 6; 4
15. T.K. Gursky, Palmerton; 62; 104; 666; 7; 7
16. Aiden Reilly, Catasauqua; 45; 111; 600; 8; 3
17. Keaton Frye, Salisbury; 36; 81; 544; 9; 7
18. T.J. Weller, Palmerton; 41; 74; 379; 8; 1
RECEIVING
Pos. Player, Team; Catches; Yards; Avg.; TDs
1. Thomas Cahill, Saucon Valley; 69; 946; 13.7; 8
2. Lincoln Cook, Palisades; 68; 1,088; 16.0; 10
3. Gavin Yuricheck, Panther Valley; 57; 573; 10.1; 5
4. Chase McArdle, Panther Valley; 54; 455; 8.4; 2
5. Jonathan Striba, Notre Dame-GP; 45; 766; 17.0; 7
6. Terrell Estes, Pen Argyl; 43; 402; 9.3; 1
7. Ryan Zambo, Northern Lehigh; 37; 370; 10.0; 4
8. Blake Roberts, Lehighton; 37; 353; 9.5; 4
9. Vince Taglieri, Palmerton; 36; 337; 9.4; 1
10. Colin Karetsky, Northern Lehigh; 35; 579; 16.5; 8
11. Luke Kawczenski, Southern Lehigh; 35; 560; 16.0; 6
12. Mason Bollinger, Northwestern Lehigh; 35; 498; 14.2; 6
13. Darius Roman, Southern Lehigh; 35; 497; 14.2; 8
14. Michael Lagowy, Northwestern Lehigh; 34; 505; 14.9; 4
15. Drew Boyd, Notre Dame-GP; 33; 677; 20.5; 7
16. Caden Meek, Lehighton; 33; 575; 17.4; 7
17. Bobby Levins, Jim Thorpe; 32; 389; 12.2; 6
18. Anthony Beltran, Pen Argyl; 31; 374; 12.1; 2
19. Brady Zimmerman, Northwestern Lehigh; 29; 710; 24.5; 8
20. Zach Metzgar, Pen Argyl; 29; 510; 17.6; 4
21. Manny Bolmer, Catasauqua; 29; 325; 11.2; 2
22. Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl; 27; 333; 12.3; 5
23. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 26; 450; 17.3; 4
24. Ben Negley, Palmerton; 26; 320; 12.3; 4
25. Taylor Rohn, Saucon Valley; 26; 359; 13.8; 2
26. Kyden Hauser, Lehighton; 26; 295; 11.3; 2
SCORING
Pos. Player, Team; TDs; 2-pters; PATs; FGs; Total points
1. Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh; 31; 0; 0; 0; 186
2. Chase Sukanick, Northwestern Lehigh; 12; 1; 60; 0; 134
3. Terrence McDowell, Tamaqua; 19; 5; 0; 0; 124
4. Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic; 17; 0; 0; 0; 102
4. Jonathan Striba, Notre Dame-GP; 17; 0; 0; 0; 102
6. Brady Zimmerman, Northwestern Lehigh; 16; 2; 0; 0; 100
7. Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl; 16; 1; 0; 0; 98
8. Clemente Cintron, Notre Dame-GP; 4; 1; 60; 3; 95
9. Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh; 14; 0; 0; 0; 84
10. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 13; 1; 0; 0; 80
11. Mason Bollinger, Northwestern Lehigh; 13; 0; 0; 0; 78
11. Braden Rohn, Saucon Valley; 13; 0; 0; 0; 78
13. Lincoln Cook, Palisades; 12; 1; 0; 0; 74
14. Alex Clark, Notre Dame-GP; 11; 0; 0; 0; 66
15. Grady Newhard, Northern Lehigh; 10; 1; 0; 0; 62
16. Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh; 9; 3; 0; 0; 60
16. Brody Breiner, Panther Valley; 10; 0; 0; 0; 60
18. Lucas Croizier, Lehighton; 9; 1; 0; 0; 56
19. Bobby Levins, Jim Thorpe; 9; 0; 0; 0; 54
19. Drew Boyd, Notre Dame-GP; 9; 0; 0; 0; 54
19. Jack Trickel, Palisades; 9; 0; 0; 0; 54
19. Darius Roman, Southern Lehigh; 9; 0; 0; 0; 54
23. Jake Tom, Marian Catholic; 7; 0; 11; 0; 53
24. Thomas Cahill, Saucon Valley; 8; 2; 0; 0; 52
25. Manny Bolmer, Catasauqua; 8; 1; 0; 0; 50
TACKLES
Pos. Player, Team; Tackles
1. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic; 125
2. Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh; 122
3. Max Woerner, Palisades; 109
3. Taylor Rohn, Saucon Valley; 109
5. Rocco DeCesare, Pen Argyl; 103
6. Silas Day, Palisades: 100
6. Hunter Hill, Saucon Valley; 100
6. Eli Szlachtianshyn, Saucon Valley; 100
6. Damian Rodino, Marian Catholic; 100
6. Tyler Price, Marian Catholic; 100
11. Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh; 95
12. Bill Slattery, Northern Lehigh; 91
13. Chase Smith, Palisades: 89
14. Peter Kruslicky, Panther Valley; 88
15. Kalet Wilson, Notre Dame-GP; 85
16. Dominick Rodino, Marian Catholic; 83
17. Luke Frohnheiser, Tamaqua; 82
18. Jacoby Jacobs, Southern Lehigh; 81
19. Tyler Hoherchak, Jim Thorpe; 80
19. Faustie Capobianco, Notre Dame-GP; 80
21. Kaden Quinones, Northern Lehigh; 77
21. John Hull, Notre Dame-GP; 77
23. Dominic Kiehl, Jim Thorpe; 76
23. Sahalay Hernandez, Saucon Valley; 76
25. Elijah Garriga, Salisbury; 75
26. Hunter Hopstetter, Bangor; 74
26. Jacob Walkowiak, Palmerton; 74
TACKLES FOR LOSS
Pos. Player, Team; Tackles
1. Bill Slattery, Northern Lehigh; 19
2. Marco Tessitore, Panther Valley; 17
3. Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh; 15
3. Garrett Grants, Notre Dame-GP; 15
3. Luke Frohnheiser, Tamaqua; 15
6. Jason Ashfield, Marian Catholic; 13
7. Damian Rodino, Marian Catholic; 12.5
7. M.J. Boring, Northwestern Lehigh; 12.5
9. Kaden Quinones, Northern Lehigh; 12
9. Logan Anthony, Palmerton; 12
9. Peter Kruslicky, Panther Valley; 12
12. Fritz Scheirer, Northwestern Lehigh; 11
12. Faustie Capobianco, Notre Dame-GP; 11
12. Austin Casale, Notre Dame-GP; 11
12. Silas Day, Palisades; 11
12. Brady McCabe, Tamaqua; 11
12. Teegen Phillips, Tamaqua; 11
18. Dominic Kiehl, Jim Thorpe; 10.5
18. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic; 10.5
18. Tyler Price, Marian Catholic; 10.5
18. Dariuz Lightner, Southern Lehigh; 10.5
22. Nick Faust, Jim Thorpe; 10
22. Dominic Rodino, Marian Catholic; 10
22. Carlos Maldanado, Panther Valley; 10
SACKS
Pos. Player, Team; Sacks
1. Bill Slattery, Northern Lehigh; 7
2. Garrett Grants, Notre Dame-GP; 6
2. Dylan Gretz, Southern Lehigh; 6
4. Fritz Scheirer, Northwestern Lehigh; 5
5. M.J. Boring, Northwestern Lehigh; 4.5
5. Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh; 4.5
5. Michael Garey, Palmerton; 4.5
8. Giancarlo Guadagnino, Notre Dame-GP; 4
8. Max Woerner, Palisades; 4
8. Jadan Claudio, Salisbury; 4
8. Teegen Phillips, Tamaqua; 4
8. Carter Troutman, Tamaqua; 4
13. Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh; 3.5
14. Tyler Scholato, Bangor; 3
14. Joziah Martinez, Catasauqua; 3
14. Dominick Rodino, Marian Catholic; 3
14. Evan Wagstaff, Northwestern Lehigh; 3
14. Austin Casal, Notre Dame-GP; 3
14. Rocco DeCesare, Pen Argyl; 3
14. Joe Petersen, Saucon Valley; 3
21. Carter Giberson, Southern Lehigh; 2.5
22. Chris Wellington, Catasauqua; 2
22. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic; 2
22. Gavin Baker, Jim Thorpe; 2
22. Chase Gall, Northern Lehigh; 2
22. Kaden Quinones, Northern Lehigh; 2
22. Brady Zimmerman, Northwestern Lehigh; 2
22. Brett Bruckman, Notre Dame-GP; 2
22. Sammy Morici, Notre Dame-GP; 2
22. Silas Day, Palisades; 2
22. William Kapp, Palisades; 2
22. Dillon Anthony, Palmerton; 2
22. Cooper Henry, Palmerton; 2
22. Peter Kruslicky, Panther Valley; 2
22. Jamie Accatino, Pen Argyl; 2
22. Grayson Gnall, Salisbury; 2
22. Hunter Hill, Saucon Valley; 2
22. Nick Sheasley, Saucon Valley; 2
22. Eli Szlachtianshyn, Saucon Valley; 2
22. Tanner Traub, Southern Lehigh; 2
22. Luke Frohnheiser, Tamaqua; 2
INTERCEPTIONS
Pos. Player, Team; INTs
1. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh; 7
2. Michael Lagowy, Northwestern Lehigh; 6
3. Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic; 5
3. Tyler Price, Marian Catholic; 5
3. Drew Boyd, Notre Dame-GP; 5
3. Jack Trickel, Palisades; 5
3. Alex Keiper, Palmerton; 5
8. Colin Karetsky, Northern Lehigh; 4
8. Zak Ziegler, Saucon Valley; 4
10. Manny Bolmer, Catasauqua; 3
10. Dante Tate, Marian Catholic; 3
10. Jake Tom, Marian Catholic; 3
10. Jackson Wallace, Notre Dame-GP; 3
10. Lincoln Cook, Palisades; 3
10. A.J. Moren, Salisbury; 3
10. Jadiel Gonzalez, Salisbury; 3
10. Dariuz Lightner, Southern Lehigh; 3
10. Jack Pavis, Southern Lehigh; 3
10. Brady McCabe, Tamaqua; 3
20. Spencer Gothard, Jim Thorpe; 2
20. Caden Meek, Lehighton; 2
20. Shane Leh, Northwestern Lehigh; 2
20. Aaron Gordon, Notre Dame-GP; 2
20. Nyechay Lawless, Notre Dame-GP; 2
20. Ashton Fitzgerald, Palisades; 2
20. Ben Baneravage, Panther Valley; 2
20. Chris Crespo, Pen Argyl; 2
20. Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl; 2
20. Jaylen Caballero, Saucon Valley; 2
20. Hunter Hill, Saucon Valley; 2
20. Taylor Rohn, Saucon Valley; 2
20. Parker Skoda, Saucon Valley; 2
20. Jacoby Jacobs, Southern Lehigh; 2
20. Leonard Davis, Wilson; 2
20. Connor Patterson, Wilson; 2
FUMBLE RECOVERIES
Pos. Player, Team; Fumble recoveries
1. Ace Schickram, Tamaqua; 4
2. Dominick Rodino, Marian Catholic; 3
2. Paul Porobenski, Northern Lehigh; 3
2. Carter Kilhefner, Palisades; 3
2. Sahalay Hernandez, Saucon Valley; 3
2. Marvin Cordon, Wilson; 3
7. Jah Bushati, Marian Catholic; 2
7. Ryan Zambo, Northern Lehigh; 2
7. M.J. Boring, Northwestern Lehigh; 2
7. Jack Trickel, Palisades; 2
7. Logan Anthony, Palmerton; 2
7. Michael Garey, Palmerton; 2
7. Alex Keiper, Palmerton; 2
7. Peter Kruslicky, Panther Valley; 2
7. Marco Tessitore, Panther Valley; 2
7. Jamie Accatino, Pen Argyl; 2
7. Rocco DeCesare, Pen Argyl; 2
7. Brady McCabe, Tamaqua; 2
TURNOVER RATIO
Pos. Team; TO caused; TO committed; TO ratio
1. Southern Lehigh; 17; 3; plus-14
2. Marian Catholic; 29; 16; plus-13
3. Notre Dame-GP; 21; 11; plus-10
3. Palisades; 21 11; plus-10
5. Northern Lehigh; 23; 16; plus-7
5. Saucon Valley; 22; 15; plus-7
7. Northwestern Lehigh; 19; 13; plus-6
8. Jim Thorpe; 14; 12; plus-2
8. Catasauqua; 16; 14; plus-2
8. Lehighton; 8; 10; minus-2
11. Tamaqua; 14; 14; even
12. Palmerton; 17; 20; minus-3
12. Panther Valley; 10; 13; minus-3
14. Pen Argyl; 12; 18; minus-6
15. Bangor; 5; 14; minus-9
16. Wilson 12; 24; minus-12
17. Salisbury; 8; 26; minus-18
