This feature recaps last weekend’s action from the youth football organizations that chose to partner with LebCoSports.com. Much of the reporting below is written by the dedicated volunteers within these organizations.
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Myerstown Panthers
Berks Area Youth Football League Age group information
BAYFL Playoffs
Midget (5-4) Schuylkill Valley 20, Myerstown 0 – 3rd place game
Mites (8-0) Myerstown 20, Oley 18 – BAYFL Championship Game
Panthers Win BAYFL Mite Championship
In a game that will be remembered for years to come, the Myerstown Panthers Mites clinched the Berks Area Youth Football League Championship with an electrifying 20-18 victory over the Oley Lynx. The Panthers set the tone right from the start, as Owen Hall’s impressive kickoff return placed them deep in Lynx territory. Three plays later, Hall powered up the middle for a touchdown, with Tucker Robert’s extra point making it 7-0 Panthers.
The defense came out strong, forcing a fumble that was quickly scooped up by Luca Kirelawich. The offense capitalized with a quick score from Corbin Showalter and another extra point from Hall to extend the lead to 14-0 by the end of the first quarter. Key defensive stops by Robert, Kaiden Vincent, and Ryan Keashon kept the Lynx at bay, but just before halftime, Oley broke free for a touchdown, making it 14-6 at the half.
The second half was a battle. The Lynx scored again, narrowing the Panthers’ lead to 14-12. They kept the pressure on, forcing Myerstown to turn the ball over on downs as the third quarter ended. But the Panthers’ defense answered, with crucial plays by Kirelawich, Robert, Showalter, Logan Weaver, Declan Hibshman, and Oliver Moore, who added a sixth-man presence on the line and disrupted the Lynx’s backfield. Just when it seemed like they’d hold, the Lynx found a late opening down to the Panthers’ 1-yard line, scoring on the next play to take their first lead, 18-14, with just over a minute left.
In a do-or-die moment, the Panthers got the ball at midfield. On the first play, Showalter burst around the edge for a 26-yard gain, setting up Robert for an 8-yard run to the Lynx 16-yard line with less than a minute to play. Facing a critical 4th-and-2, Showalter took the handoff from quarterback Bennett Staudt, bounced off a tackler, and sprinted to the end zone, reclaiming the Panthers’ lead, 20-18, with just 40 seconds left.
With the season on the line, Abraham Galindo delivered his best kickoff of the year, pinning the Lynx deep in their own territory—a critical moment that left Oley with a long field to cover. The Panther faithful erupted, creating an electrifying atmosphere as the final seconds ticked down. Myerstown’s defense stood tall, with Micah Stoltzfus delivering a game-saving hit on the last play, and Vincent and Kirelawich finishing the tackle as time expired, sealing the Panthers’ hard-fought victory.
During the trophy presentation, BAYFL Representative Ryan Horvath praised the event, stating that in his 12 years with youth football, this was the most electric championship game he had ever seen. The Panthers’ perfect season ended with unforgettable memories, a well-earned trophy, and the thrill of an epic championship showdown.
Head Coach Matt Arnold said: “I couldn’t be more proud of these kids, the coaching staff, and this entire TEAM. These kids have been putting in the work to make themselves better every day since July. We knew we were building something special early on, but as the season progressed, the feeling intensified. Rolling into the playoffs with a 7-0 record added some pressure on them. Playing our two toughest games of the season with all of the chips on the table. The preparation these boys went through to get to this point speaks for itself. When our season was on the line, I had complete confidence in them to finish the game-winning drive on offense and nail it home with our defense. Blood, Sweat, and Tears created this moment for them, and they truly stepped up and claimed their new title as Champions.”
Midget Division
In the 3rd place consolation contest at Kutztown University, the Myerstown offense moved the ball consistently, driving into SV territory several times, but could not find the end zone. Schuylkill led 7-0 at halftime and then added 2 second half TDs. Myerstown midgets finished in 4th place with an overall record of 5-4. Another successful campaign for the program on and off the field. A big Thank You to all who help out in molding the next generation of Raiders. It is greatly appreciated.
The 2024 BAYFL Mite Champions
Head Coach Matt Arnold with Team Captains (From left to right) Tucker Robert, Declan Hibshman, Bennett Staudt, & Corbin Showalter
Northern Lebanon Vikings
CFA – Federal Conference Age group information
Midgets (9-0) Northern Lebanon 13, Hershey 12 – CFA Semifinal
Viking Midgets Edge Out Hershey in Thrilling Finish, Earn Super Bowl Berth
On Sunday, the Northern Lebanon Vikings faced off against the tough Hershey Trojans during a CFA semifinal match.
The game started with a fumble by Northern Lebanon on their opening drive, recovered by Palmyra. However, the Vikings quickly responded with a forced fumble by Defensive Tackle Blayze Kimm.
The Trojans struck first in the second quarter with a successful run play but missed the two-point conversion. The Vikings answered back with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Markus Miller to Ty Martin. Both extra point attempts were unsuccessful, leaving the score tied at 6-6 at halftime.
The second half saw Hershey take the lead with a long touchdown run. But the Vikings refused to back down. Martin once again made a crucial touchdown catch, and Jonathan Zimmerman added the extra point to put Northern Lebanon ahead.
In the final minutes, Safety Nolan Anspach sealed the victory with a climatic pass deflection, securing a thrilling 13-12 win for the Vikings.
The Vikings will now face off against a tough Tri-Community team in the CFA Superbowl on Saturday, November 9!
Photos by Susan Dengler
Youth Football Weekly Round-Up: October 31, 2024
Palmyra Cougars
CFA – Federal Conference Age group information
CFA Semifinals
Midgets (4-4) Tri-C defeats Palmyra
Ponies (7-1) Palmyra 33, Swatara 6
Peewees (4-4) Swatara 34, Palmyra 6
Smurfs Exhibition/Skill Development
Cougar Youth Football Teams Battle in CFA Semi-Finals
The Palmyra Cougars Peewee, Midget, and Pony Squads took to the field for the CFA Semi-Final round in the Federal East Conference, yielding mixed results.
Pony Squad Roars to Super Bowl LI
In a thrilling matchup, the #2 seeded Pony Cougars dominated the #3 seeded Swatara Tigers 33-6. This decisive win propels them to Super Bowl LI!
The Cougars will battle this Saturday (1:30) at Roscoe Warner Field in Harrisburg. The theme for the game is “Back in Black” with all Palmyra Cougar fans are encouraged to wear black to show support!
Peewee Squad Falls to Top-Seeded Tigers
The #4 seeded Peewee Cougars faced off against the #1 seeded Swatara Tigers, ultimately falling 34-6. Despite their valiant effort, the young Cougars’ season came to a close.
Midget Squad Loses Heartbreaker
The #3 seeded Midget Cougars battled the #2 seeded Tri-Community Panthers but were unable to secure victory, ending their season.
Come out and cheer on the Pony Cougars as they vie for the championship title!
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