Prepared with information collected by Braydin Adams
Adams is local writer who recently graduated from Northern Lebanon. Last spring, he served as the beat reporter for the Viking baseball team that won the District 3 Championship.
Below, you will find several pieces of information about the upcoming season for Northern Lebanon Football, including our Outlook, the Schedule, and the full Team Roster.
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.
Lancaster Lebanon League – Section 4 (AAAA)
Head Coach: Nate Monroe – 1st season
Key Returning Players: Jaxin Bush (Sr., WR/ATH), Owen Dohner (Sr., OL/DE), Brady Ryan (Sr., RB/DB), Bryce Yocum (Sr., TE/LB), Ryan Clemmer (Jr., WR/CB), Landon Copenhaver (Jr., WR/DB), Landon Graby (Jr., OL/LB/DE), Johnny Hilton (Jr., WR/DB), Christian Spencer (Jr., RB/LB)
Emerging Game Changers: Simeon England (Sr., TE/LB/DB), Kian Gibson (Sr., OL/DL), Elias Hasenhauer (Jr., TE/DE), Justin Bennethum (So., OL/DL), Vinny Moyer (So., RB/DE), Chase Birkhead (Fr.), Blayze Kimm (Fr., OL/DL), Greyson McQuaide (Fr., OL/DL), Markus Miller (Fr., QB)
Collegiate Competitors: Luke Shaffer (Clarion), Brendan Ryan (Lebanon Valley College), Andrew Stohler (Lebanon Valley College)
Northern Lebanon Football Season Outlook
There is plenty that’s new around Northern Lebanon football in 2026.
There is a new head coach, a new starting quarterback, and a new culture being established as the Vikings celebrate the 50th year of the program.
Nate Monroe takes over after Jason Rice departed before becoming the head coach at Cedar Cliff. Monroe comes to Fredericksburg after spending the past four seasons as Palmyra’s defensive coordinator, bringing with him a playing background that included Bishop McDevitt and Bloomsburg University.
The change comes after Northern Lebanon finished 1-9 in 2025, but that record doesn’t tell the entire story of the team Monroe inherits.
The Vikings showed flashes throughout the fall, beginning with a 35-8 victory over Pine Grove. They later dropped close decisions to Oxford, 16-13, and Daniel Boone, 26-23, while the offense showed increased explosiveness late in the year, scoring 31 against Octorara and 27 against ELCO.
Still, Monroe and the Vikings aren’t spending much time looking backward. Their focus has been on creating the identity of this year’s team.
There are plenty of experienced pieces with which to work.
Monroe estimates Northern Lebanon returns eight starters offensively and seven defensively. That group includes several players who earned All-County recognition last fall, led by Bryce Yocum, Ryan Clemmer, Johnny Hilton, Landon Copenhaver, and Landon Graby.
Brady Ryan could provide one of the biggest boosts. The senior running back and safety missed much of 2025 due to injury, but his impact was obvious when healthy. In the opener against Pine Grove, Ryan rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns on just 16 carries.
Now healthy, Ryan joins a deep collection of experienced skill players.
Clemmer developed into one of the county’s most productive young receivers, catching 37 passes for 494 yards and five touchdowns while earning First Team All-County honors. Yocum was a First Team selection at both tight end and inside linebacker after piling up 109 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, three sacks, and four forced fumbles. Copenhaver earned Second Team honors at receiver and safety, while Hilton was a First Team utility selection.
Jaxin Bush gives the Vikings another experienced athlete, while Christian Spencer and Vinny Moyer add options in the backfield. Monroe believes the overall mix of talent at the skill positions should be one of Northern Lebanon’s strengths.
The biggest change offensively comes at quarterback.
Bryan Mitzel has graduated after earning First Team All-County honors and finishing his career with a school-record five-touchdown passing performance against Octorara. Freshman Markus Miller is set to take over, putting a young quarterback in charge of an offense surrounded by veteran playmakers.
Northern Lebanon must also replace Kaleb Barr and Andrew Stohler in the trenches. Stohler has moved on to Lebanon Valley College, while Barr earned Second Team All-County honors at defensive end.
Monroe, however, likes the potential and depth of the group up front. Owen Dohner and Graby provide returning experience, with Kian Gibson, Elias Hasenhauer, Justin Bennethum, Blayze Kimm, and Greyson McQuaide among those capable of taking on larger roles.
Defensively, Monroe wants the Vikings to establish a simple identity: fast and physical.
The personnel is there to begin building it. Yocum returns in the middle after his highly productive junior season, Graby brings experience up front, Ryan returns to the secondary, and Copenhaver, Hilton, Clemmer, Spencer, Bush, and Simeon England give the Vikings experienced athletes throughout the unit.
Perhaps more important than any individual position has been the response to the transition.
Monroe said Northern Lebanon had strong numbers and consistent participation throughout the offseason. The new staff has been working to find the best fit for a roster that combines an experienced core with a promising group of younger players.
The players have noticed the change as well.
Yocum described it as a “complete new culture and identity,” while Hilton believes the Vikings are building “a true family.” Ryan pointed to how close the group has become, while Clemmer stressed that the offseason work won’t mean much unless Northern Lebanon continues improving once the games begin.
The goal is to get back to the District 3 playoffs, and the road won’t be easy.
Northern Lebanon opens with three non-league games against Pine Grove, Oxford, and Delone Catholic before entering a difficult Section 4 schedule. That slate includes perennial powers Wyomissing, Lampeter-Strasburg, along with Conrad Weiser, Donegal, Octorara, Daniel Boone, and county rival ELCO.
For Monroe, there is plenty to be excited about: his first season as a head coach, an experienced group buying into a new staff, and the milestone of the 50th season of Northern Lebanon football.
Now comes the opportunity to establish what the next chapter will look like.
The Vikings begin it Friday, August 28, when Pine Grove comes to Fredericksburg for a rematch of Northern Lebanon’s 35-8 victory in last season’s opener.
2026 Northern Lebanon Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Aug. 28 | Pine Grove | H | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Sept. 4 | Hamburg | H | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Sept. 11 | Minersville | A | 7:00 PM |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | Wyomissing | A | 1:30 PM |
| Fri., Sept. 25 | Donegal | H | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Oct. 2 | Conrad Weiser | H | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Oct. 9 | Lampeter-Strasburg | A | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Oct. 16 | Octorara | A | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Oct. 23 | Daniel Boone | H | 7:00 PM |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | ELCO | A | 7:00 PM |
2026 Northern Lebanon Football Roster
| # | Player | Year | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ryan Clemmer | Jr. | WR/DB |
| 3 | Jaxin Bush | Sr. | WR/DL |
| 4 | Trystan Dorrittie | Jr. | QB/DB |
| 5 | Landon Copenhaver | Jr. | WR/DB |
| 6 | Chris Camasta | So. | WR/DB |
| 7 | Simeon England | Sr. | TE/DB |
| 8 | Vinny Moyer | So. | RB/DL |
| 10 | Bryce Yocum | Sr. | TE/LB |
| 12 | Chase Birkhead | Fr. | WR/DB |
| 13 | Johnny Hilton | Jr. | WR/DB |
| 14 | Johnny Appleton | Fr. | WR/DB |
| 15 | Markus Miller | Fr. | QB |
| 16 | Levi Bomberger | So. | WR/DB |
| 17 | Anthony Eisenhour | Jr. | WR/DB |
| 18 | Julian Riveria | Sr. | QB/DB |
| 20 | Bentley Humphrey | So. | RB/LB |
| 21 | Trent Walborn | So. | WR/DB |
| 23 | Sam Kline | Fr. | RB/LB |
| 25 | Brady Ryan | Sr. | RB/DB |
| 26 | Christian Spencer | Jr. | RB/LB |
| 27 | Anthony Peters | So. | WR/DB |
| 28 | Eddie Johnson | Sr. | QB/DB |
| 30 | Dante McFarland | So. | RB/LB |
| 42 | Joe Billing | Sr. | WR/DB |
| 54 | Landon Graby | Jr. | OL/DL |
| 56 | Josh Peters | Jr. | OL/DL |
| 57 | Elias Hasenhauer | Jr. | OL/TE/DL |
| 62 | Gage Freed | So. | OL/DL |
| 64 | Jacob Bomberger | Fr. | OL/DL |
| 66 | Carter Swoyer | Jr. | OL/DL |
| 68 | Blayze Kimm | Fr. | OL/DL |
| 71 | Connor Wallish | So. | OL/DL |
| 72 | Owen Dohner | Sr. | OL/DL |
| 74 | Kian Gibson | Sr. | OL/DL |
| 75 | Justin Bennethum | So. | OL/DL |
| 78 | Greyson McQuaide | Fr. | OL/DL |
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