Eastern Pennsylvania Conference teams had their share of memorable moments in the first round of the District 11 tournament.
There was a 474-yard passing performance by Allentown Central Catholic junior Patrick Cahill. There was a historic 900th all-time by one of the area’s greatest programs. There were closer-than-expected games for Bethlehem Catholic and Whitehall, the completion of a rivalry sweep by Liberty, and a wild one at Nazareth that featured a Blue Eagles’ player sprinting 52 yards in the opposite direction for a game-ending safety.
And there were two state-ranked teams, Easton and Parkland, getting to 11-0.
Eight teams are still alive for district titles as the second week of the tournament approaches, and nine teams still have at least one game to play.
How do the 18 EPC teams stack up in the next-to-last power rankings of the season?
Take a look:
No. 18: East Stoudsburg North
Record: 0-10, 0-7 EPC
Last rankings: 18th
Last game: Lost to East Stroudsburg South 22-16 on Oct. 24
Next game: Aug. 28-29
Comment: North scored a league-low 78 points and allowed 325. QB Wayne King finished with 629 yards rushing, 598 yards passing. He also had 52 tackles on defense. Nick Tuzzio and Brandon Roca had 71 and 65 tackles, respectively.
No. 17: Allen
Players run drills Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, during an Allen High School football practice in Allentown. Allen football won 3 games each of the last two seasons after going 0-10 in 2023. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Record: 3-7, 0-7 EPC
Last rankings: 17th
Last game: Lost to Dieruff 17-2 on Oct. 25
Next game: Aug 28-29
Comment: Allen scored 105 points, allowed 297. The Canaries got 108 yards and eight TDs from Julian Pagan and 35 catches for 339 yards by senior Zion Stokes. Junior TeShon Gaynair ended the regular season as the sack leader in the EPC with seven and had 37 tackles. Junior Jaylen Walker had 41 tackles.
No. 16: Dieruff
Dieruff quarterback Bruce Billger showed improvement throughout the course of the 2025 season. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 2-8, 2-5 EPC
Last rankings: 16h
Last game: Beat Allen 17-2 on Oct. 25
Next game: Aug. 28-29
Comment: The Huskies scored 112 points, allowed 327. Seniors Riyell Wann and Juan Manzano led the team in rushing with 276 and 145 yards, respectively. Sophomore quarterback Bruce Billger threw for 676 yards and eight TDs. Junior Derwyn Deris led team with 25 catches for 246 yards and 3 TDs.
No. 15: 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: 5-6, 2-5 EPC
Last rankings: 14th
Last game: Lost to Gov. Mifflin 51-14 in Eastern Conference playoffs
Next game: Aug. 28-29
Comment: The Panthers scored 254 points, allowed 310. They couldn’t sustain their 3-0 start, were hit hard by injuries, and missed out on the 6A playoffs. Things didn’t go well in the Eastern Conference game against a perennial District 3 power. QB Jerel Simms ran for 64 yards and threw a pair of TD passes. Brady Behr will move on to basketball after making 43 catches for 618 yards.
No. 14: East Stroudsburg South
East Stroudsburg South’s Ivan Laubach tries to make a play against Whitehall on Friday, Sept.5, 2025. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 2-9, 2-5 EPC
Last rankings: 15th
Last game: Lost to Whitehall 43-28 in the District 11 5A semifinals
Next game: Aug. 28-29
Comment: The Cavaliers delivered a gutty effort in defeat at Whitehall, taking a 22-21 lead late in the third quarter before the Zephyrs’ offense kicked it into gear with three consecutive scores. Ivan Laubach went out in style with 134 yards rushing, 37 yards passing, and a 33-yard TD reception. Coach Matt Walters called Laubach “a warrior” and said he will be missed, but added South has most of its guys coming back next season.
No. 13: Stroudsburg
Record: 5-6, 4-3 EPC
Last rankings: 13th
Last game: Lost to Parkland 49-14 in the District 11 6A quarterfinals
Next game: Aug. 28-29
Comment: The Mounties got touchdowns from Keyen Johnson and Joshua Ivers-Green in the defeat at Parkland. Jack Mitchell threw for 185 yards and a touchdown. Essam Alrefai had six catches for 136 yards and finished the season with 34 receptions for 504 yards.
No. 12: 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: 5-6, 4-3 EPC
Last rankings: 12th
Last game: Lost to Pocono Mountain East 27-9 in the District 11 5A semifinals
Next game: Aug. 28-29
Comment: Despite the district loss, the Bears still accomplished plenty this season after going 0-11 last year. In losing to East for the second within four games, PV was limited to 170 yards on offense. Isaac Westerman and Jacob George combined for 89 yards rushing.
No. 11: Pocono Mountain East
Record: 8-3, 4-3 EPC
Last rankings: 11th
Last game: Beat Pleasant Valley 27-0 in the District 11 5A semifinals
Next game: 6 p.m. Saturday vs. Whitehall in the District 11 5A title game.
Comment: The Cardinals continued their amazing turnaround season with a dominant defensive performance in the district semis. QB Ceejay Serfass completed 19 of 26 passes for 209 yards and three TDs. Justin Williams had eight catches for 139 yards and became just the fourth player in school history to go over 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He did it despite missing two games due to injury. Amari Green ran for 157 yards on 16 carries and scored a touchdown.
No. 10: Emmaus
Emmaus quarterback Jerek Cooper throws a pass on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, during an EPC football game in Orefield. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 4-7, 3-4 EPC
Last rankings: 10th
Last game: Lost to Easton 28-7
Next game: Aug. 28-29
Comment: The Green Hornets gave a valiant effort against unbeaten and state-ranked Easton at Cottingham Stadium, but ultimately couldn’t get enough going on offense in having a disappointing season end. Emmaus managed just 162 yards on offense, 44 in the air. Jerek Cooper ran for 55 yards — 48 coming on a TD run — and Jay Santos added 47. Emmaus, which didn’t beat a team with a winning record, scored just 259 points this season while allowing 272.
No. 9: Northampton
Northampton’s Chase Kessler runs the ball down the field to score Friday Oct.31,2025, against Nazareth at Nazareth High School. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 4-7, 2-5 EPC
Last rankings: 8th
Last game: Lost to Nazareth 37-36 in the District 11 6A quarterfinals
Next game: 10 a.m. Nov. 27 at Catasauqua
Comment: The Konkrete Kids did a lot of good things against Nazareth, most notably 425 yards rushing. Sophomore Chase Kessler ran 155 and three scores, and Zeke Spencer, Gavin Taff and Zander Rickert all had 42 yards or more. Northampton effectively kept it on the ground and ran down the clock in the first half, but couldn’t sustain the momentum or contain Marquez Wimberly in the second half.
No. 8: Allentown Central Catholic
Allentown Central Catholic’s Patrick Cahill hands off to Deon Johnson on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown. (Jane Therese/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 6-5, 4-3 EPC
Last rankings: 9th
Last game: Beat Jim Thorpe 52-21 in the District 11 4A quarterfinals
Next game: At Bethlehem Catholic, 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the District 11 4A semifinals
Comment: The Vikings, who have had an up-and-down season, had one of their biggest highs in routing Jim Thorpe. Junior quarterback Patrick Cahill had the biggest night of any ACCHS QB since Brendan Nosovitch graduated. He threw for 474 yards and five TDs. Cahill has thrown for 1,979 yards and 20 TDs this season and has been intercepted just four times. ACCHS also has two receivers with more than 500 yards in Tahir Edmondson and Luis Martinez. Di’Quawn Leak has 50 tackles and also blocked a punt and returned it for a TD last week.
No. 7: Bethlehem Catholic
Bethlehem Catholic’s Axel Burkart catches a pass Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, against Pottsville during a District 11 4A quarterfinal football game at BASD Stadium. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Record: 7-4, 3-4 EPC
Last rankings: 7th
Last game: Beat Pottsville 28-14 in the District 11 4A quarterfinals.
Next game: Host Bethlehem Catholic, 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the District 11 semifinals.
Comment: The Golden Hawks had much more trouble than expected against Pottsville before a big catch-and-run by Armando Thom covering 78 yards provided the go-ahead score early in the fourth quarter, and Thom added two interceptions. Cayden Vassa had 162 yards on 11 carries and scored three times, while Antonio Salamoni continues to give the team good production in the running game. He had 51 yards on 14 carries.
No. 6: Freedom
Freedom’s Micheal Stofanak throws a pass Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, against Liberty at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 5-6. 4-3 EPC
Last rankings: 6th
Last game: Lost to Liberty 26-14 in the District 11 6A quarterfinals.
Next game: Aug. 28-29
Comment: The Patriots made a nice comeback from a season that began 0-2 and 1-3, but ultimately injuries and some losses for other reasons proved too much to overcome. They had opportunities in both Liberty games, but kept making mistakes. Abraham Pla ended his career with a superb 163-yard rushing effort against the Hurricanes, but the Patriots only got 91 yards out of the passing game.
No. 5: Whitehall
Whitehall quarterback Tanner Dogmanits looks for a play from the sideline on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, against Parkland at Whitehall High School. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 9-2, 6-1 EPC
Last rankings: 5th
Last game: Beat East Stroudsburg South 43-28 in the District 11 5A semifinals.
Next game: Play Pocono Mountain East, 6 p.m. Saturday at Catasauqua for the 5A championship.
Comment: The expected rout of East Stroudsburg South never came for the Zephyrs, but when challenged, they responded with three late TDs. They are dealing with the loss of Jeziah Gregory and Bryce Medina to the PIAA postseason transfer rules, but Justin Hussett picked up the slack with 122 yards and Tanner Dogmanits has emerged as one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the area. He ran for 123 yards and passed for 162 in an efficient 7-for-11 effort in the air.
No. 4: Liberty
Faces in the Crowd: Liberty plays Freedom Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at the Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 8-3, 5-2 EPC
Last rankings: 4th
Last game: Beat Freedom 26-14
Next game: At Easton, 7 p.m. Friday in the District 11 6A semifinals
Comment: The Hurricanes continue to use the passing of Antonio Fontanez and a talented receiving corps to go along with a bend-but-seldom-break defense to win big games. They will go to Easton knowing that they can compete with the Red Rovers after a 23-20 loss Oct. 10 that came down to the final possession. Fontanez is coming off a terrific 17-for-21 passing performance against Freedom that included 230 yards and three TDs. He also ran for one score.
No. 3: Nazareth
Nazareth’s Marquez Wimberly runs the ball down the field Friday Oct. 31, 2025, against Northampton at Nazareth High School. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
Record: 8-3, 4-3 EPC
Last rankings: 3rd
Last game: Beat Northampton 37-36 in the District 11 6A quarterfinals.
Next game: At Parkland, 7 p.m. Friday in the District 11 6A semifinals.
Comment: The Blue Eagles found a way to edge Northampton in a compelling quarterfinal, but still must find a way to shore up a defense that allowed 425 yards rushing against Northampton. While Cooper Madson continues to impress at quarterback and make some quick, accurate throws to sure-handed receivers in the Blue Eagles’ fast-break offense, the centerpiece remains Marquez Wimberly. He will get one last game at Parkland, where it all began for him.
No. 2: Easton
Easton quarterback Cole Ordway throws a pass on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, against Freedom during an EPC game in Easton. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)
Record: 11-0, 7-0 EPC
Last rankings: 2nd
Last game: Beat Emmaus 28-7 in the District 11 6A quarterfinals.
Next game: Host Liberty, 7 p.m. Friday in the District 11 6A semifinals.
Comment: While the program’s 900th all-time victory made for a nice sidebar to last week’s win over Emmaus, all the current team cares about is getting win No. 12 against Liberty. It’s never easy to beat the same team twice in a season, and the Hurricanes gave the Red Rovers fits in the first meeting. Cole Ordway has 30 rushing TDs, three away from Shane Simpson’s school-record 33 scores in 2014. Ordway has also run for 1,544 yards and passed for 1,075, and has had a hand in 45 touchdowns.
No. 1: Parkland
Emmaus quarterback Jerek Cooper runs the ball on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, during an EPC football game in Orefield. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning
Record: 11-0, 7-0 EPC
Last rankings: 1st
Last game: Beat Stroudsburg 49-14 in the District 11 6A quarterfinals.
Next game: Host Nazareth, 7 p.m. Friday in the District 11 6A semifinals.
Comment: The 14 points the Trojans allowed last week was the most anyone has scored against them since Northampton tallied 27 on Sept. 5. Parkland got 201 yards passing and three TDs by Finn Coen and two rushing scores by TJ Lawrence, who also had an 80-yard TD reception. Lawrence is 28 rushing yards shy of 1,000 for the season. They had seven tackles for loss led by two apiece by Dom Martrich and Myles Lysek. Luke Spang had an interception return for a score. The Parkland defense has 11 picks and 12 fumble recoveries this season, leading to a plus-13 in turnover ratio.
