This post will serve as a rolling update of Week 5 football action across LebCo. With all six county teams in action this weekend, we’ll be compiling the latest details and highlights as the games unfold.
Be sure to check back often for updates on your favorite teams.
The Cedar Crest/Wilson recap was written by Gavin Sweeney, a local high school student and aspiring sports journalist.
The Annville-Cleona/Columbia recap was written using information provided by Annville-Cleona student Jackson Hanley.
If you like this type of coverage, please let us know by Following us on social media: Twitter/X – @lebcosports1 and Facebook.
For any questions, comments, or discrepancies, please reach out to dan@lebcosports.com.
The LebCo Scoreboard
Friday
Palmyra 9, Waynesboro 7
After a narrow 13-12 loss to Shippensburg last week that showed glimpses of progress, the Palmyra Cougars proved Friday night that they’re ready to turn a corner. Traveling to Waynesboro, the Cougars faced an Indians squad also eager to end a three-game skid.
The tone was set early as Palmyra’s defense stifled the Waynesboro attack. The Cougars intercepted a pass to stall an early scoring chance in the first quarter, then repeated the feat with nine minutes left in the second. The turnover set up Palmyra with prime field position at their own 45-yard line, and the Cougars capitalized by marching to the Indians’ 5-yard line. Though the drive stalled, a field goal gave Palmyra a 3-0 lead with six minutes remaining in the half.
That score held until the fourth quarter, when quarterback Roman Russek broke through for a touchdown, extending the Cougars’ advantage to 9-0. Waynesboro, however, wasn’t ready to fold. The Indians executed a hook-and-ladder play to set up their first touchdown of the night, trimming the margin to 9-7 with 2:34 left to play.
Despite the late push, Palmyra’s offense managed the clock and sealed the win by keeping possession until the final whistle.
The victory snapped a 27-game Keystone Division losing streak for the Cougars, marking a milestone for a program hungry to prove it’s better than its record suggests. Now 2-3 on the season, Palmyra will enjoy the satisfaction of a breakthrough win before pivoting to preparation for next Friday’s away game against the Mifflin County Huskies.
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Annville-Cleona 35, Columbia 26
In recent weeks, Annville-Cleona has shown that they have moved beyond their youth and early season jitters. Carrying a 3-1 record into Week 5, the Dutchmen were eager to face a much-improved Columbia team coming off a 43-0 rout of Lancaster Catholic. Annville was also fresh off an impressive 42-0 shutout at Hamburg, looking to improve to 4-1 while extending their winning streak over the Crimson Tide to four straight. To do so, the Dutchmen knew they would need to execute their game plan, limit mistakes, and overcome the hostile atmosphere of Columbia’s home field.
Just past the midway point of the 1st quarter, Devon Englehart finished off an Annville drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. Cian Soliday converted the PAT for a 7-0 lead. Columbia wasted little time responding, tying the game just two minutes later with 3:05 left in the quarter.
The Dutchmen regained the advantage at the 7:30 mark of the 2nd quarter when Englehart scored from short yardage to make it 14-7. However, Columbia struck again as time expired in the half, sending the teams to the locker room tied at 14.
Englehart was the engine of the first half, carrying the ball 21 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns as Annville controlled the ground game. Out of the break, he kept rolling, breaking free for a 35-yard touchdown—his third of the night—to put the Dutchmen ahead 21-14.
Following a Columbia fumble recovery at the 7-yard line, quarterback John Ditzler pushed across the goal line on a short-yardage sneak, extending the lead to 28-14. Columbia answered at the 3:31 mark of the 3rd, but the blocked extra point left the score 28-20. Less than a minute into the 4th quarter, the Crimson Tide struck again, trimming the margin to 28-26.
Annville responded with composure, driving the field before once again calling on Ditzler to sneak in for the touchdown. Soliday’s extra point made it 35-26 with 4:35 remaining. From there, the Dutchmen defense held firm, shutting down Columbia’s comeback hopes and securing a key road win.
Annville-Cleona (4-1, 2-0 Section 5) will return home next week to host Kutztown.
Written with information provided by Jackson Hanley
Wilson 62, Cedar Crest 20
Friday Night Lights featured an L-L Section 1 matchup between powerhouse program the Wilson Bulldogs and the Cedar Crest Falcons. Cedar Crest entered the Week 5 matchup following an impressive 40-15 Week 4 win over Penn Manor. The Falcons hoped to carry that momentum into their home game against the Bulldogs, who came in with a 3-1 record and fresh off a 49-0 win over Reading. Cedar Crest was also eager to challenge their old foe, which had defeated them twice last season, including in the 2nd round of Districts.
In the 1st quarter, the Falcons received the ball looking to take down the #42 ranked team in Pennsylvania, Wilson. The Falcons knew this was going to be a tough game, and the Bulldogs didn’t waste any time showing it. DB Chase Herb started it off with an interception, and RB Correll Akings rushed into the end zone to make it 7-0. The Bulldogs’ defense was to be feared, and they proved it again with an interception from LB EJ Brownback, who returned it for a 40-yard pick-six, making it 14-0.
The Falcons didn’t let this stop them, though. Isaiah Zimmerman hit a nasty cut and run that resulted in a 74-yard rushing touchdown, cutting the lead to 14-7. Both the Falcons and the student section were fired up after that run, and the momentum shifted to the defense. Garrett Starry picked off a pass after a tipped ball, returning it for a touchdown to tie the game 14-14. The drama continued as QB Mason Young scrambled in the pocket and connected with WR Eli Dean for a 40-yard touchdown, giving Wilson a 21-14 lead heading into the 2nd quarter.
The Bulldogs extended their advantage with an 11-yard touchdown from Young to WR James Carpenter, making it 28-14. The Falcons looked to respond, but the Bulldogs’ defense was too much. Wilson’s offense added touchdowns from Correll Akings and Eli Dean to push the score to 42-14 at halftime.
Wilson opened the 3rd quarter with the ball, but the Falcons’ defense got a stop and handed it to their offensive star. Zimmerman delivered again, scoring his second touchdown of the night to cut the deficit to 42-20. The Bulldogs answered right back as Young connected with TE Michael Glover for a 14-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 49-20.
The 4th quarter was all Bulldogs, as Mason Young added another touchdown before backup QB Ligan Pettit connected with WR Jackson Becker to seal the 62-20 final score.
The Falcons will look to bounce back next week when they take on Reading.
Written by Gavin Sweeney
Donegal 44, Northern Lebanon 22
The Vikings hoped to rebound after a limited performance in Week 4 against Wyomissing when they traveled to take on Donegal on Friday night. The Indians entered the matchup with a single win, a victory over Columbia, but had recently battled Lampeter-Strasburg in a 30-20 loss. On paper, it promised to be an excellent matchup—and despite the score, it was.
Donegal struck first, scoring on their opening drive and converting a two-point attempt to take an early 8-0 lead. Early in the 2nd quarter, the Indians extended their advantage to 14-0.
Northern Lebanon, however, refused to fold. At the 4:45 mark of the 2nd quarter, QB Bryan Mitzel scored on a 2-yard run. Then, with seconds left before halftime, Mitzel found Brady Ryan on a 25-yard touchdown pass to knot the game at 14-14 heading into the break.
The third quarter saw Donegal reclaim the lead with a touchdown, moving ahead 22-14—a margin that held through the quarter. In the 4th, the Indians pushed their advantage to 30-14. The Vikings responded once again, with Mitzel connecting with Ryan on an 18-yard strike, followed by Bryce Yocum converting the two-point attempt to make it 30-22.
Northern Lebanon’s comeback attempt fell short after an unsuccessful onside kick, as Donegal recovered and used the short field to add two late touchdowns, finishing the game 44-22.
Despite the final score, the game was competitive until late in the 4th quarter, and the return of Brady Ryan from a sprained ankle clearly provided a boost to the Vikings’ offense.
Northern Lebanon (1-4) now looks ahead to a Week 6 road matchup at Twin Valley.
Exeter 64, Lebanon 6
The Lebanon Cedars have shown fight in recent weeks, including scoring three touchdowns last week against Muhlenberg, who had been seeking their third straight shutout. Standing at 0-4, Lebanon has done their best to overcome the challenges of being outmanned by larger opponents.
Traveling to face undefeated Exeter on Friday night, the Cedars were once again up against a formidable roster, including thirty-five players who stand 6’ or taller. Yet, Lebanon’s grit and determination meant they were not going to back down from what seemed like an improbable challenge.
Exeter quickly established dominance, storming to a 22-0 lead by the midway point of the 1st quarter. Lebanon, however, slowed the advance and held the score steady through the end of the quarter.
Early in the 2nd quarter, the Cedars got on the scoreboard on a long pass from Anthony Klish to Malachi Briddell, showing that they could compete even against a physically imposing team.
From there, Exeter broke away, building a 57-6 lead by halftime and adding another score in the second half.
Despite the 64-6 loss, Lebanon (1-4) again refused to be shut out by an intimidating opponent, continuing to show resilience and determination in the face of a steep challenge.
Saturday
ELCO @ Wyomissing
Week 4 Results
2025 LebCo Football Team-by-Team Season Outlooks
ProSeal
Penn Realty
