Lebanon County football once again delivered plenty of memorable moments during the 2025 season. From opening night through the heart of the postseason, the county’s six varsity programs featured big-time performances, tough competition, and a steady stream of players who rose to the occasion under the Friday night lights.
This fall also brought another strong showing for the county as a whole. Three Lebanon County teams qualified for the District 3 Playoffs, with Cedar Crest again qualifying, Annville-Cleona advancing to the District 3 Semifinals and ELCO reaching the 2nd round. Team success was matched by standout individual production across the county, making this year’s postseason honors a reflection of just how much talent was spread throughout Lebanon County.
To recognize those standout efforts, LebCoSports.com once again turned to a combination of coaches, fans, and a panel vote to help sort through the county’s top performers. As always, the goal was to spotlight the players who consistently made a difference and helped define the 2025 season.
When the final results were in, Isaiah Zimmerman of Cedar Crest earned LebCoSports.com Most Valuable Player honors. Zimmerman also repeated as Offensive Player of the Year, making it back-to-back seasons that he finished atop the county’s offensive voting.
On defense, Landyn Kline of Cedar Crest repeated as well, claiming Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year after another standout campaign.
The county’s Special Teams Player of the Year award went to Palmyra’s Travis McDannell, while teammate Jaxin Robinson captured Rising Star honors, recognizing the county’s top underclassman.
Additionally, Paul Williams was named the Lineman of the Year for the impact that he had for the ELCO Raiders, anchoring the team on both sides of the ball for four years.
Read below for more on each of this year’s award winners.
The full list of nominees can be found here, and every player who was part of the process turned in a season worthy of recognition. That remains one of the best parts of putting this together each year. The voting may identify the winners, but the full group of nominees shows just how much talent Lebanon County football continues to produce.
And as always, one final reminder: these honors are meant to celebrate the work, success, and impact of our local student-athletes. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote, follow along, and help shine a light on another strong season of Lebanon County football.
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For any questions, comments, or discrepancies, please reach out to dan@lebcosports.com.
LebCoSports.com Most Valuable Player
Isaiah Zimmerman
For the second straight season, Isaiah Zimmerman sits at the top of Lebanon County football. After sharing LebCoSports.com Most Valuable Player honors in 2024 with Annville-Cleona’s Jon Shay, the Cedar Crest standout stood alone in 2025, earning the county’s top individual honor after another dominant season in the Falcons’ backfield.
Now a two-time LebCoSports.com MVP, Zimmerman followed up his breakout sophomore campaign by once again establishing himself as one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in Section 1. The junior led the section in rushing for the second year in a row, carrying the ball 136 times for 1,165 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging an impressive 8.6 yards per attempt. He also made an impact in the passing game, hauling in 14 receptions for 226 yards and two more scores.
Simply put, Zimmerman remained the engine that made Cedar Crest go.
That assignment was not an easy one. After Cedar Crest graduated several major pieces from the 2024 season, including key blockers, its quarterback, and important receivers, opposing defenses had far fewer reasons to look elsewhere. Much of the attention centered on Zimmerman, who entered the year as the clear focal point of the Falcons’ offense.
Even so, he still produced.
Rather than slowing him down, the added defensive attention only seemed to highlight Zimmerman’s value. He showed the same burst, balance, and big-play ability that made him such a problem the year before, while also proving he could handle the added burden of being the player opponents most wanted to stop. He spent much of the fall grinding out tough yards, then breaking free the moment defenses gave him even the slightest opening.
Despite dealing with injuries around the midpoint of the season, Zimmerman still turned in 100-yard rushing efforts in the large majority of Cedar Crest’s games. His top rushing performance came on October 17 against a strong Hempfield squad, when he ran for 174 yards. During the regular season, he scored 16 rushing touchdowns, including three-touchdown outings against both Penn Manor and Lebanon.
Zimmerman also continued to show his value as a receiver as Cedar Crest’s offense developed around sophomore quarterback Steven Reyes. One of the best examples came in the Falcons’ District 3 Playoff game against Cedar Cliff, when Zimmerman broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown catch, once again showing how dangerous he can be in multiple phases of the game.
At this point, Zimmerman has already secured his place among the best backs Cedar Crest has produced in a long time. What makes that even more impressive is that he still has one season left.
As he heads into his senior year, Zimmerman figures to remain the centerpiece of Cedar Crest’s offense while the Falcons continue to grow around him. If the last two seasons are any indication, he will once again be one of the names at the center of the Lebanon County football conversation.
Photos by Rachelle Isgriggs
Offensive Player of the Year
Isaiah Zimmerman (Cedar Crest / Jr.)
Runner-up
Bryan Mitzel (Northern Lebanon / Sr.): Mitzel helped engineer one of the region’s most dangerous passing attacks, a notable accomplishment given Northern Lebanon’s relative lack of roster size and experience compared to many of the teams it faced. The senior quarterback led the county’s top aerial offense with confidence and efficiency, completing 101 of 203 passes for 1,513 yards and 15 touchdowns while also adding 253 rushing yards and 5 more scores on 64 carries. His ability to push the ball downfield, extend plays, and create offense on the move made him one of Lebanon County’s top playmakers.
Honorable Mention
Jon Moran (Annville-Cleona / Sr.): Moran put together his most complete and explosive season as a senior, giving Annville-Cleona a dynamic weapon who could impact the game in a variety of ways. A physical, reliable captain with breakaway speed, he rushed 85 times for 742 yards, highlighted by a pivotal 97-yard touchdown against Schuylkill Valley, and added 9 catches for 101 yards. He also completed his lone pass attempt for 52 yards and returned a kickoff for a touchdown, finishing with 8 total scores while providing the versatility, speed, and leadership that played a major role in the Dutchmen’s success.
For more information on all the nominees, you can view the nominations by clicking here.
Defensive Player of the Year
Landyn Kline
Kline closed out his Cedar Crest career by repeating as Defensive Player of the Year, becoming a back-to-back winner after once again anchoring the Falcons on that side of the ball. The senior linebacker was the emotional and physical leader of Cedar Crest’s defense, piling up 126 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown while helping lead the Falcons back to the District 3 Playoffs.
One of Kline’s biggest performances came against Penn Manor in Week 4, when he totaled 11 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception as Cedar Crest’s defense forced six turnovers in the victory. The led to his selection as the LebCo Athlete of the Week
A Section 1 Linebacker of the Year candidate, Kline put together one of the strongest linebacker seasons Cedar Crest has seen in the last decade and now heads to the next level with a commitment to Misericordia.
Photos by Rachelle Isgriggs
Runner-up
Hudson Sellers (Annville-Cleona / Sr.): Lining up at defensive end, Sellers was a driving force for an Annville-Cleona defense that helped the Dutchmen go 8-3 and earn a spot in the District 3 Playoffs. The senior captain racked up 119 tackles, including 71 solo stops, while adding 30 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and 3 pass deflections. His disruptive play and explosiveness also earned him Section 5 PowerPro Lineman of the Week honors twice during the season. Following the season, Sellers was named All-State and was the recipient of the Mini Max Award.
Honorable Mention
Camron Buchmoyer (Lebanon / Sr.): From his middle linebacker spot, Buchmoyer was the heartbeat of Lebanon’s defense, bringing constant intensity, physicality, and leadership every time he stepped on the field. A two-way workhorse and the embodiment of Cedar toughness, he filled the stat sheet week after week, finishing with 121 tackles, including 70 solo stops and 25 tackles for loss. He also made life difficult on opposing offenses with 1.5 sacks, 8 quarterback hurries, 2 forced fumbles, and a pass breakup.
Lineman of the Year
Paul Williams (ELCO / Sr.)
Linemen are often overlooked, but prove to be difference makers for teams looking to win ball games. A four-year starter in the trenches, Williams quietly did the kind of work that made everyone around him better. The Shippensburg commit was often asked to absorb double teams on the defensive side, helping create opportunities for his teammates to make plays, while also providing strong, dependable blocking up front on offense. His physicality, toughness, and leadership helped anchor a rushing attack that averaged nearly 200 yards per game and made him one of the county’s most reliable linemen.
Special Teams Player of the Year
Travis McDannell (Palmyra / Sr.): Using his speed and burst, McDannell consistently gave Palmyra a boost in the field position battle. Even with opponents often doing their best to keep the ball away from him, the senior still emerged as one of the county’s most dangerous return men, bringing back 7 kicks for 186 yards and a touchdown while averaging 26.5 yards per return. Every time the ball found his hands, he had the ability to flip momentum and put the Cougars in a favorable spot.
Runner-up
Cian Soliday (Annville-Cleona / Sr.): Soliday gave Annville-Cleona a steady and dependable presence in the kicking game, providing the Dutchmen with valuable points throughout the season. The senior converted 37 of his 38 extra-point attempts and went 2-for-3 on field goals, including a key 33-yarder against Hanover. In several close games, Soliday’s reliability often proved to be a difference-maker.
Honorable Mention
Johnny Hilton (Northern Lebanon / So): Hilton gave Northern Lebanon steady production in the kicking game, turning in a strong sophomore season on special teams. He handled 26 kickoffs for more than 900 yards, averaging 35.4 yards per kick with one touchback, and also converted 15 of 21 PAT attempts. His consistency helped provide the Vikings with reliable field position throughout the season.
Rising Star
Jaxin Robinson (Palmyra / Fr.): Robinson made an immediate impact for Palmyra as a freshman, showing off his versatility in a variety of offensive roles. Whether lined up at quarterback, receiver, or running back, he produced 117 passing yards, 172 rushing yards, and a touchdown while earning 2nd Team All-County Offensive Athlete honors. His all-around ability, poise, and maturity pointed to a player with significant long-term upside.
Runner-up
Gavin Yeiser (ELCO / So.): Yeiser emerged as one of ELCO’s most dangerous young playmakers during his sophomore season, flashing the kind of big-play ability that turned heads. He rushed 73 times for 572 yards, averaging 7.8 yards per carry, while also adding 17 receptions for 330 yards and finishing with 7 total touchdowns. Already selected to ELCO’s Leadership Council, Yeiser’s blend of power and speed points to a very bright future.
Honorable Mention
Ryan Clemmer (Northern Lebanon / So.): Clemmer emerged as a major piece of Northern Lebanon’s offense during his sophomore season, making a big impact in the Vikings’ passing game with 37 receptions for 494 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also contributed on the defensive side of the ball, showing the kind of versatility and all-around ability that points to him being one of the county’s top young players.
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