Hard to believe, but the 2025 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football regular season is down to the final two weeks.
With the District 11 playoffs looming, 14 of the 18 EPC teams can make their plans to be in action Halloween weekend. Two teams — Bethlehem Catholic and Allentown Central Catholic — will make it in 4A, all four EPC teams in 5A, will, of course, make it, and eight of the 11 teams in 6A will advance.
And it’s in 6A where there’s the most intrigue. At the moment, Emmaus, which reached the district final last year, is on the outside looking in even though it beat Stroudsburg, 48-10, on Sept. 12 and the Mounties are likely to get a spot.
There’s very little change in this week’s EPC power rankings. Parkland and Easton remain No. 1 and No. 2, respectively and they also remain among a handful of teams around the state to not taste a defeat.
Here’s a look at the latest rankings:
No. 18: East Stroudsburg North
Record: 0-8, 0-5
Last week’s rankings: 18th
Last game: Lost to Stroudsburg 28-6
Next game: Host Pocono Mountain East, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The first coach in Timberwolves history, Chuck Dailey, was inducted into the Easton Wall of Fame on Friday. Dailey, who has been the school’s athletic director since 2003, graduated from Easton in 1983 after a career in which he was an all-conference running back and defensive back. Since Dailey left as coach, North has gone through a lot of head coaches. North had a respectable showing against Stroudsburg. Wayne King had the Timberwolves’ lone touchdown with a 74-yard run.
No. 17: Dieruff
Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Reed, a Dieruff High graduate, speaks to participants Monday, June 23, 2025, before the annual Andre Reed Celebrity Golf Classic at Woodstone Country Club in Lehigh Township. The event benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)
Record: 1-7, 1-4 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 17th
Last game: Lost to Emmaus 42-7
Next game: Host Allentown Central Catholic, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Huskies continue to struggle against the EPC’s elite programs. Take out Allen, and Dieruff is 2-102 against the other 10 teams in the EPC’s Lehigh and Northampton County divisions since 2004. Those who thought it wouldn’t be good for Dieruff when the North and South divisional format was disbanded in favor of aligning the teams by county have been proven right.
No. 16: Allen
Coach Joel Rupp will lead Allen against Emmaus this week. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Record: 3-5, 0-5 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 16th
Last game: Lost to Whitehall 48-8
Next game: At Emmaus, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: Michael Taylor’s 3-yard TD run and a two-point conversion by Alexander Bacarazon represented the Canaries’ only points against Whitehall. Taylor had 85 yards rushing and Allen 186 yards as a team. Much like Dieruff, Allen has also struggled against teams in the Lehigh and Northampton County divisions. Take out Dieruff, and Allen is 5-100 against the other 10 teams since 2004.
No. 15: East Stroudsburg South
East Stroudsburg South’s Gianni Gonnella ran for 76 yards last week. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 1-7, 0-5 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 15th
Last game: Lost to Pocono Mountain West 49-26
Next game: At Stroudsburg, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Cavaliers led West 14-0 but couldn’t sustain their good start. Greyson Fuller threw for 206 yards and four TDs. Gianni Gonnella ran for 76 yards, but South gave up 30 points or more for the sixth time this season.
No. 14: Pleasant Valley
Pleasant Valley fans support their team as well as any team in the area. The Bears are a finalist, the only school in Pennsylvania, for T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights program. The school has already been awarded $25,000. (Contributed photo / T-Mobile)
Record: 3-5, 2-3 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 14th
Last game: Lost Pocono Mountain East 28-0
Next game: At Pocono Mountain West, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: Things didn’t go well on the field for the Bears during Friday’s Old Oaken Bucket game against Pocono Mountain East, but the school was presented a $25,000 check from T-Mobile for being one of the finalists in T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights contest. The $25,000 can help the school make any needed upgrades to its equipment or facilities. Pleasant Valley was the only Pennsylvania school among the 25 finalists. “This recognition is a testament to the power of our community,” said Bears’ athletic director James Korcienski. “From our student leaders and athletes to our staff and local residents, everyone has played a part in getting us to this point.”
No. 13: Pocono Mountain East
Second-year Pocono Mountain East football coach Dustin Thomas is all smiles these days as the Cardinals are the first EPC team to win three games and have several of the league’s top offensive performers. (Contributed photo)
Record: 5-3, 2-3 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 13th
Last game: Beat Pleasant Valley 28-0
Next game: At East Stroudsburg North, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Cardinals have clinched a five-win season for the first time since 2019. Amari Green ran for 118 yards on 17 carries. East was able to beat PV despite five turnovers and 133 yards in penalties.
No. 12 Pocono Mountain West
Pocono Mountain West’s Christian Stiehler, 24, tries to get past Scranton’s Tony Battaglia at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Scranton on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (Sean McKeag/Times-Tribune)
Record: 5-3, 2-3 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 12th
Last game: Beat East Stroudsburg South 49-25
Next game: Host Pleasant Valley, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Panthers are in the eighth spot in the District 11 6A power rankings and need to win to hold off Emmaus, which is ninth. Sophomore star Christian Stiehler ran for 274 yards and five TDs in the win over East Stroudsburg South. Brady Behr had five catches for 85 yards, and Curtis Sipler threw for 163 yards.
No. 11: Stroudsburg
Record: 4-4, 3-2 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 11th
Last game: Beat East Stroudsburg North 28-6
Next game: Host East Stroudsburg South, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Mounties, who are in good position to claim a 6A playoff berth, got 147 yards on 14 carries from Keyen Johnson and 94 yards from Jaylin Rieara in the win over East Stroudsburg North. Jack Mitchell threw for 86 yards and a pair of TDs — one each to Keegan Munch and Essam Airefai.
No. 10: Emmaus
Emmaus’s Robert Edwards plays defense 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: 3-5, 2-3 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 10th
Last game: Beat Dieruff 42-7
Next game: Host Allen, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Green Hornets snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Dieruff, and are favored to beat Allen but may need to upset Parkland to get back in the District 11 6A tournament. Jay Santos has 778 yards rushing and 12 TDs. Robert Edwards and Asher Dougherty lead the defense with 25 tackles for loss between them.
No. 9: Allentown Central Catholic
Allentown Central Catholic’s Deon Johnson is tackled by Bethlehem Catholic on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 4-4, 3-2 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 9th
Last game: Lost to Parkland 37-7
Next game: At Dieruff, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Vikings were held 37 yards rushing by Parkland. Patrick Cahill completed nine of 16 passes for 147 yards. Central’s lone score was a 62-yard TD pass from Cahill to Tahir Edmonson.
No. 8: Northampton
Northampton’s Jeremiah Strowder celebrates a touchdown against Easton on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, during an EPC football game in Northampton. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 3-5, 1-4 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 8th
Last game: Lost to Freedom 35-14
Next game: Host Nazareth, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Konkrete Kids continue to look for a signature win in the league. They allowed 470 yards in the loss to Freedom. Chase Kessler ran for 80 yards and a TD, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a fifth loss in the last six games.
No. 7: Bethlehem Catholic
Bethlehem Catholic quarterback Axel Burkart throws a pass Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, against Freedom at BASD Stadium. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Record: 5-3, 2-3 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 7th
Last game: Lost to Nazareth 41-33
Next game: At Liberty, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Golden Hawks welcomed back Carter and Cayden Vassa from injury, and both played well. Cayden threw for 145 yards, and Carter caught 12 passes for 259 yards and three TDs. Axel Burkart completed 10 of 16 passes for 247 yards and three TDs. But Becahi has to tighten up a defense that allowed 362 yards overall, 242 on the ground.
No. 6: Liberty
Liberty quarterback Antonio Fontanez throws a pass Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, against Allentown Central Catholic at BASD Stadium. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Record: 5-3, 3-2 EPC
Last weekend’s rankings: 4th
Last game: Lost to Easton 23-20
Next game: Host Bethlehem Catholic, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Hurricanes played Easton tough, but a slow start and sluggish finish prevented them from completing the upset. Quarterback Antonio Fontanez shook off a pick-six to throw for 193 yards and two scores. Gabe Green Ran for 106 yards.
No. 5: Freedom
Freedom’s Abraham Pla celebrates after scoring a touchdown Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, against Bethlehem Catholic at BASD Stadium. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Record: 5-3, 4-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 6th
Last game: Beat Northampton 35-14
Next game: At Easton, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Patriots welcomed back Lashawn Johnson, who had missed the last several games due to injury, and he ran for 140 yards and two TDs in the win over Northampton. Michael Stofanak completed 13 of 21 passes for 267 yards and three scores. Stofanak had just two TD passes in Freedom’s first four games, but 10 over the last four.
No. 4: Whitehall
Whitehall has a big game this week against Parkland. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 7-1, 5-0 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 5th
Last game: Beat Allen 48-8
Next game: Host Parkland, 7 p.m. Thursday
Comment: The Zephyrs have won six straight since a Week 2 loss to Peyton Falzone and Nazareth. They got a pair of TD passes from Tanner Dogmanits to his brother Talon and rushing touchdowns from four different players. Tanner Dogmanits passed for 137 yards while Talon had two catches for 104 yards, including a 91-yard TD.
No. 3: Nazareth
Jahan Dotson talks with injured Nazareth quarterback Peyton Falzone prior to a ceremony at Nazareth in which Dotson’s No. 5 was retired. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 7-1, 4-1 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 3rd
Last game: Beat Bethlehem Catholic 41-33
Next game: At Northampton, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: Marquez Wimberly continues to pile up impressive numbers. He ran for 171 yards on 25 carries and scored three times in the win over Becahi. Cooper Madson completed nine of 16 passes for 111 yards and two TDs. Three different receivers had three catches and Luke DiPietro, one of the three receivers, had a 9-yard completion.
No. 2: Easton
Easton football coach Matt Senneca holds his 6-year-old daughter, Brynn, as he talks to his team following a 23-20 win over Liberty Friday night at Cottingham Stadium. (Keith Groller/The Morning Call)
Record: 8-0, 5-0 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 2nd
Last game: Beat Liberty 23-20
Next game: Host Freedom, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Red Rovers were pushed to the limit by Liberty, but two stout defensive efforts that ended Hurricanes’ drives preserved the victory. Kurtis Crossman and Algee Macon came up with big sacks. The Red Rovers were outgained 316-239 and were hurt by 12 penalties for 116 yards. Chris Martinez gained 116 yards on 27 carries, but Cole Ordway was limited to 70 yards rushing and 51 passing.
No. 1: Parkland
The Parkland student section has had plenty to cheer about this season. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Record: 8-0, 5-0 EPC
Last week’s rankings: 1st
Last game: Beat Allentown Central Catholic 37-7
Next game: At Whitehall, 7 p.m. Thursday
Comment: The Trojans have been off the radar the last few weeks because they have won their last five games by an average of 41 points. Things should get more difficult this week against rival Whitehall and a high-powered offense. Against ACCHS, Blake Nassry and TJ Lawrence scored two TDs and the defense held ACCHS to 37 yards rushing. Liam Spang led the defense with seven tackles, including one sack.
