Cavaliers on the rise
East Stroudsburg South fighting for District 11 5A berth
Parkland, Nazareth, Allentown Central Catholic and Northampton, who have been the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference’s top football teams for most of the first two months of this season, are a combined 22-4.
The Trojans are the EPC’s lone unbeaten. The four losses experienced by the other three teams have all been to other teams in the top four — ACCHS losing to Nazareth and Parkland; Nazareth losing only to Parkland; and Northampton only falling to ACCHS.
That fab four is also the first four from the EPC to clinch District 11 tournament berths.
But as the final two weekends of the regular season approach, there are eight other programs looking to secure postseason berths and another one, East Stroudsburg South, that has suddenly put itself in position to get back in the district dance.
The Cavaliers(3-5) are coming off a 40-7 victory over rival Stroudsburg and still have a shot at getting back in the District 11 5A tournament, a bracket they won in 2021. If they beat both Dieruff and East Stroudsburg North and get help, the Cavs might make it.
At the very least, they have moved up in our latest EPC power rankings.
NO. 18: ALLEN
Record: 0-8, 0-6 North
Last week’s ranking: 18th
Last week: Lost to Pocono Mountain East 14-8 in OT What’s next: At Stroudsburg, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Canaries had their best showing of the season, taking Pocono
East to overtime. Jamier Thomas, who got the start at quarterback, scored the team’s lone touchdown and Kymahni Wimberly scored the 2-point conversion late in the first half, but Allen was shut out in the second half and OT. First-year coach Joel Rupp was disappointed for his kids, but he believes that progress is being made and said the 30 kids left on his roster are working hard and are determined to turn the corner.
NO. 17: EAST STROUDSBURG NORTH
Record: 1-7, 1-5 North
Last week’s ranking: 17th
Last week: Lost to Dieruff 38-14 What’s next: Host
Northampton, 7 p.m. Friday Comment: The record may not show it, but the Timberwolves are a much improved team this season and have some players who bode well for the future. Sophomore quarterback Wayne King has passed for 119 yards and run for 161. Brandon Roca, another sophomore, is third on the team in tackles with 54 and has seven stops for loss.
NO. 16: POCONO MOUNTAIN EAST
Record: 2-6, 1-5 North
Last week’s ranking: 16th
Last week: Beat Allen 14-8 in overtime
What’s next: At Pleasant Valley, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Cardinals showed some resiliency in fighting back from an 8-0 deficit to win at Allen. Xander Gonzalez got the gamewinning touchdown in overtime. Rasu Wearing-Poindexter scored earlier. Coach Dan Burns was happy his team could snap a three-game losing streak and build some moment for the final part of the regular season.
NO. 15: DIERUFF
Record: 2-6, 2-4 North
Last week’s ranking: 15th
Last week: Beat East Stroudsburg North 38-14
What’s next: Host East Stroudsburg South, 7 p.m. Friday Comment: The Huskies got a big night from sophomore Luis Gonzalez in their win over North. He caught four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 60 yards and two scores. Juan Manzano, another sophomore, gained 55 yards on 15 carries.
NO. 14: PLEASANT VALLEY
Record: 4-4, 4-2 North
Last week’s ranking: 13th
Last week: Lost to Nazareth 56-0 What’s next: Host Pocono Mountain East, 7 p.m. Friday Comment: The Bears are coming off a brutal stretch in which they lost three straight and were outscored 126-13. The schedule softens this week and PV remains in position to secure a District 11 4A berth. The Bears played Nazareth without their leading rusher, Alex Ecker, and managed just 3.3 yards per carry.
NO. 13: STROUDSBURG
Record: 4-4, 4-2 North.
Last week’s ranking: 11th
Last week: Lost to East Stroudsburg South 40-7
What’s next: Host Allen, 7 p.m. Friday Comment: The Mounties had allowed just six points in their three previous games, but gave up 40 to South in one of the biggest surprises of the season. Stroudsburg gave up 323 yards rushing and six TDs on the ground. Freshman Jack Mitchell hit Jordan Wilcox for a 17-yard TD pass to account for the Mounties’ lone TD against South.
NO. 12: EAST STROUDSBURG SOUTH
Record: 3-5, 3-3 North
Last week’s ranking: 14th
Last week: Beat Stroudsburg 40-7 What’s next: At Dieruff, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Cavaliers got 83 yards rushing and four TDs from Charles Capers and Nathan Gray ran 26 times for 235 yards and a pair of scores against Stroudsburg. ESS is averaging 43 points in its three wins and 6.4 points in its five losses.
NO. 11: POCONO MOUNTAIN WEST
Record: 5-3, 5-2 North
Last week’s ranking: 12th
Last week: Lost to Northamptopn 28-3
What’s next: Host Allentown Central Catholic, 7 p.m. Friday Comment: The Panthers played Northampton tough and led 3-0 at halftime last week. West was limited to just 36 yards rushing and converted just once on 10 third and fourth-down attempts. Ryder Bray threw for 88 yards with Will Mecca catching five passes for 43 yards.
NO. 10: LIBERTY
Record: 2-6, 0-6 South
Last week’s ranking: 10th
Last week: Lost to Emmaus 21-6 What’s next: Host Whitehall, 6 p.m. Thursday
Comment: For the second straight week, the Hurricanes gave a valiant effort but it wasn’t enough to snap what is now a 6-game losing streak. The Hurricanes had just 38 yards rushing against Emmaus. With Jake Pukszyn out with an injury, Anthony Vega stepped up with five catches for 90 yards and a TD. Jordan Malave and Gabe Green both had three grabs.
NO. 9: EASTON
Record: 3-5, 1-5 South
Last week’s ranking: 9th
Last week: Lost to Freedom 20-7 What’s next: Host Parkland, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Red Rovers are in the eighth spot in the eightteam District 11 6A subregional but probably have to beat either Parkland or Nazareth to secure a tournament berth. Against Freedom, Easton got 168 yards rushing from Dorian Thomas, but completed just nine passes for 83 yards.
NO. 8: WHITEHALL
Record: 4-4, 3-4 South
Last week’s ranking: 8th
Last week: Lost to Allentown Central Catholic 30-14
What’s next: At Liberty, 6 p.m. Thursday
Comment: The Zephyrs need to snap a three-game skid and build some momentum entering their cross-division, Cement Bowl-rivalry with Northampton. A win here would likely secure a District 5A berth and give Whitehall a shot at a postseason home game. Trey Dogmanits threw for 194 yards against ACCHS and Carter Troxell ran for 92 yards, but the Zephs were shut out in the second half.
NO. 7: BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC
Record: 5-3, 3-3 South
Last week’s ranking: 7th
Last week: Lost to Parkland 40-3 What’s next: At Nazareth, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Golden Hawks have scored just three total points during their three-game losing streak. Sophomore QB Cayden Vassa completed just five passes for 70 yards. His brother, Carter, had four receptions for 50 yards. Junior Collin Peacock led the defense with 10 tackles against Parkland.
NO. 6: FREEDOM
Record: 4-4, 2-4 South
Last week’s ranking: 6th
Last week: Beat Easton 20-7 What’s next: At Emmaus, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: Defense is the strength of the Patriots. They have allowed just six points in their three-game winning streak. But the offense has also evolved. Noah Pierre ran for 122 yards on 20 carries last week and quarterback Chase Walker was an efficient 15-for-20 passing for 176 yards and two TDs.
NO. 5: EMMAUS
Record: 5-3, 3-3 South
Last week’s ranking: 5th
Last week: Beat Liberty 21-6 What’s next: Host Freedom, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: After starting the season 1-3, the Green Hornets have won four straight. James Madison commit Mario Landino has been superb on both the offensive and defensive line for coach Harold Fairclough. Landino had 12 stops against Liberty and has 75 tackles this season, 16 for losses. With leading receiveer Cael Kratzer out with an injury, Emmaus is looking for Rafael Terrero and Ben Jones to pick up some targets in the passing game.
NO. 4: NORTHAMPTON
Record: 7-1, 7-0 North
Last week’s ranking: 4th
Last week: Beat Pocono Mountain West 28-3
What’s next: At East Stroudsburg North, 7 p.m.
Comment: After five seasons of dominance, the Konkrete Kids play their final EPC North game with a record of 38-1 vs. North foes in the regular season and 33 consecutive wins. They will move to a Northampton County division in a revised EPC next season.
NO. 3: ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC
Record: 6-2, 5-2 South
Last week’s ranking: 3rd
Last week: Beat Whitehall 30-14 What’s next: At Pocono Mountain West, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Vikings lost two key players, Nathan Schultz and DJ Kelly, in a physical game against Whitehall but found a way to regroup with 23 unanswered points. Sophomore quarterback Antonio Fontanez shook off an early interception to finish 20-for-24 for 179 yards and three TDs to three different receivers.
NO. 2: NAZARETH
Record: 7-1, 6-1 South Last week’s ranking: 2nd Last week: Beat Pleasant Valley 56-0
What’s next: Host Bethlehem Catholic, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Blue Eagles outgained Pleasant Valley 318-168 last week and got another big night from sophomore QB Peyton Falzone who completed 9 of 12 passes for 167 yards and three
TDs. Senior Mason Kuehner had another big night with four catches for 111 yards and two TDs and Caleb Newsome added three receptions for 27 yards and a TD.
NO. 1: PARKLAND
Record: 8-0, 6-0 South
Last week’s ranking: 1st
Last week: Beat Bethlehem Catholic 40-3
What’s next: At Easton, 7 p.m. Friday
Comment: The Trojans remain ranked No. 2 in the state and continue to play well in all areas. Against Becahi, they 235 yards passing, 130 rushing. Luke Spang was 16 of 25 for 222 yards and three TDs. Connor Johns continues to emerge as one of the area’s top receivers. He had five catches for 96 yards and two TDs. The Trojans defense had seven stops for loss, two apiece by Jake Beidleman and Julius Reyes.