This post will serve as a rolling update of Week 3 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 Northern Lebanon & Lebanon recaps were written by Braydin Adams.
The Annville-Cleona recap was written with information provided by Jackson Hanley.
The Cedar Crest recap was written with information provided by assistant editor Gavin Sweeney.
The ELCO recap was written with information provided by Asher Parham.
The Palmyra recap was written with information provided by Luke Johnson.
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.
Saturday
Wyomissing 42, Northern Lebanon 32
It is hard to believe we are already in Week 4 of the 2026 high school football season. On a windy but sunny Saturday afternoon, the Northern Lebanon Vikings traveled to Wyomissing to take on the Spartans with one thing in mind: stay undefeated. On the other side, Wyomissing entered the game with an 0-2 record and was hungry for its first win of the season. However, the Wyomissing record was not what it seemed as the perennial powerhouse Spartans lost to Southern Columbia and Twin Valley to start the season, which are both in the top tier of Pennsylvania’s football hierarchy.
The game could not have started much worse for Northern Lebanon. Markus Miller was intercepted by Andrew Difabrizio, who returned it 45 yards for a touchdown to give Wyomissing an early 7-0 lead.
The Spartans continued to apply pressure, driving down the field and adding another score when Curran Curillo punched it in from one yard out on fourth-and-goal. Wyomissing converted the two-point attempt to stretch its lead to 15-0.
Miller’s struggles continued when he threw another interception, giving the Spartans the ball at the Northern Lebanon five-yard line. Wyomissing quickly turned the takeaway into another touchdown, pushing the advantage to 21-0 and leaving the Vikings facing some serious early adversity.
Northern Lebanon finally began to move the ball late in the first quarter, driving all the way to the Wyomissing 16-yard line. However, Miller threw his third interception of the game early in the second quarter, keeping the Vikings off the scoreboard.
Then it was Northern Lebanon’s turn to make a big play. Miller connected with Bryce Yocum for a 62-yard touchdown pass, finally getting the Vikings on the board and cutting the deficit to 21-6. The fake PAT attempt was unsuccessful.
That momentum did not last long. Ethan Nue answered with a two-yard rushing touchdown for Wyomissing, extending the Spartans’ advantage to 28-6 heading into halftime.
The Spartans struck quickly after halftime. Quarterback Brady Eisenhower broke loose for a 52-yard touchdown run, pushing the Wyomissing lead to 35-6 and putting Northern Lebanon in serious trouble.
The Vikings responded. Miller found Landon Copenhaver for a five-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 35-13.
Wyomissing would not let Northern Lebanon build much momentum, as Curillo added another short touchdown run to make it 42-13.
The Vikings, however, refused to go away quietly. Brady Ryan powered his way into the end zone on a three-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but Northern Lebanon had cut the score to 42-19.
Northern Lebanon then recovered an onside kick, giving the Vikings good field position and an opportunity to strike again. They did just that. Miller connected with Johnny Hilton for a 27-yard touchdown, suddenly cutting the deficit to 42-26 and giving the Vikings some life.
Trystan Dorrittie entered at quarterback for Northern Lebanon later in the fourth quarter. The Vikings continued battling and took advantage of multiple Wyomissing penalties that helped move the ball down the field while stopping the clock.
Dorrittie eventually found Yocum for a five-yard touchdown pass, cutting the score to 42-32. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving Northern Lebanon needing two scores to complete the comeback.
Despite the tremendous second-half effort, the early deficit proved too much to overcome. Wyomissing held on for the 42-32 victory, handing Northern Lebanon its first loss of the season.
Still, the way the Vikings responded after falling behind 35-6 was impressive. Northern Lebanon scored 26 second-half points and continued battling against a Wyomissing program that has established itself as one of Pennsylvania’s best. Rather than allowing the game to get away from them, the Vikings kept fighting and made the Spartans work until the end.
That type of response could be an encouraging sign for Head Coach Nate Monroe’s team as Northern Lebanon moves into the heart of its Section 4 schedule. The Vikings leave Wyomissing with their first loss, but also with evidence that they can respond to adversity and compete against a high-level opponent.
Northern Lebanon falls to 3-1 on the season and will look to bounce back next Friday night when the Vikings return home to host Donegal.
Wyomissing picks up its first victory and improves to 1-2. The Spartans will travel to ELCO next Friday night.
Written by Braydin Adams
Northern Lebanon Stats
Passing: Markus Miller – 16/24, 216 yds, 3 TD, 3 INT, long 63; Trystan Dorrittie – 3/4, 30 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, long 30; Team – 19/28, 246 yds, 4 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Brady Ryan – 26 carries, 113 yds, 1 TD, long 23; Team – 26 carries, 113 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: Bryce Yocum – 3 receptions, 79 yds, 2 TD, long 63; Landon Copenhaver – 8 receptions, 77 yds, 1 TD, long 26; Ryan Clemmer – 3 receptions, 34 yds, long 20; Johnny Hilton – 1 reception, 26 yds, 1 TD; Chase Birkhead – 1 reception, 18 yds; Brady Ryan – 3 receptions, 14 yds; Team – 19 receptions, 248 yds, 4 TD
Defensive Leaders: Bryce Yocum – 8 tackles (7 solo, 1 assist), 1 TFL; Landon Graby – 8 tackles (4 solo, 4 assists), 1 TFL; Blayze Kimm – 8 tackles (4 solo, 4 assists); Landon Copenhaver – 7 tackles (4 solo, 3 assists), 1 TFL; Christian Spencer – 7 tackles (2 solo, 5 assists); Jaxin Bush – 6 tackles (2 solo, 4 assists), 2 TFL; Brady Ryan – 6 tackles (3 solo, 3 assists); Vinny Moyer – 3 tackles (1 solo, 2 assists); Ryan Clemmer – 2 tackles (1 solo, 1 assist); Simeon England – 2 tackles (1 solo, 1 assist); Chase Birkhead – 2 solo tackles; Johnny Hilton – 1 assist; Johnny Appleton – 1 solo tackle; Bentley Humphrey – 1 assist; Trent Walborn – 1 assist; Sam Kline – 1 solo tackle; Dante McFarland – 1 solo tackle; Connor Wallish – 1 assist; Owen Dohner – 1 assist; Justin Bennethum – 1 assist; Team – 68 tackles (34 solo, 34 assists), 5 TFL
Defensive Plays: Johnny Hilton – 1 fumble recovery; Team – 1 fumble recovery
Scoring: Bryce Yocum – 2 receiving TD; Landon Copenhaver – 1 receiving TD; Johnny Hilton – 1 receiving TD; Brady Ryan – 1 rushing TD; Markus Miller – 3 passing TD; Trystan Dorrittie – 1 passing TD; Team – 5 TD, 32 points
Special Teams: Kick Returns: Ryan Clemmer – 2 returns, 40 yds, long 23; Landon Copenhaver – 2 returns, 37 yds, long 22; Chase Birkhead – 2 returns, 38 yds, long 20; Brady Ryan – 1 return, 25 yds; Punt Returns: Ryan – 3 returns, 15 yds; Kickoffs: Johnny Hilton – 5 kickoffs, 146 yds, long 45; Punting: Hilton – 1 punt, 38 yds
Team Totals: 359 total offensive yds (113 rushing, 246 passing); 26 carries for 113 yds and 1 TD; 19/28 passing for 246 yds, 4 TD and 4 INT; 516 all-purpose yds; Defense – 68 tackles (34 solo, 34 assists), 5 TFL, 1 fumble recovery
Friday
Cedar Crest 28, Hempfield 19
Cedar Crest entered Friday night with a perfect 3-0 record and a strong start to the 2026 season. After convincing wins over Central Dauphin East, Lebanon, and Warwick, the Falcons opened their Section 1 schedule against a Hempfield team looking to slow down Cedar Crest’s high-powered offense.
The Falcons received the opening kickoff, with Kai Speaks returning it to the 50-yard line. Cedar Crest was unable to capitalize, going three-and-out and giving Hempfield its first opportunity.
The Black Knights made their way down the field behind the duo of Landon Charles and Orion Abrams, who connected in the end zone to give Hempfield an early 7-0 lead.
Cedar Crest’s next possession ended in disaster when a bad snap rolled out of the end zone for a safety. Hempfield extended its lead to 9-0.
The Falcons, however, quickly found a way to answer.
With Hempfield driving again, Antonio Tirado came away with an interception to give Cedar Crest the momentum it needed. The Falcons took advantage of the takeaway when Steven Reyes found Damyen Derr for a 15-yard touchdown, cutting the Hempfield lead to 9-7.
Cedar Crest’s defense then came up with another key stop, giving the offense an opportunity to take control. Isaiah Zimmerman took the ball up the middle for a touchdown, putting the Falcons ahead 14-9.
It was a strong response from Cedar Crest, with Reyes making several clutch throws under pressure to help lead the Falcons down the field.
At the end of the first quarter, Cedar Crest held a 14-9 advantage.
Hempfield answered early in the second quarter when James Moore connected on a 20-yard field goal, cutting the Falcons’ lead to 14-12.
After another effective kick return from Cedar Crest, the Falcons went back to Zimmerman. The senior running back took over the drive and finished it with his second touchdown of the night, extending the Cedar Crest lead to 21-12.
The Falcons carried that nine-point advantage into halftime.
Halftime: Cedar Crest 21, Hempfield 12.
Neither team found the end zone in the third quarter, but Hempfield had an opportunity to swing the momentum when Reyes looked deep and was intercepted by Lucas Weisglass.
Cedar Crest’s defense, however, continued to keep the Black Knights from turning the turnover into points, and the Falcons carried their 21-12 lead into the fourth quarter.
Hempfield finally broke through again when Ramel Lyles rushed left for a three-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-19 and setting up a tense final stretch.
Cedar Crest responded with its biggest offensive answer of the night.
Reyes rolled to his right and found Garrett Starry for a 14-yard touchdown, putting the Falcons back up 28-19 with just over five minutes remaining.
Hempfield continued to fight for a way back into the game, but Kasen Dudek came up with an interception with just over a minute remaining, giving Cedar Crest the ball and effectively putting the game out of reach.
The Falcons held on for a 28-19 victory, overcoming an early 9-0 deficit and several momentum swings to remain undefeated.
Cedar Crest improves to 4-0 on the season and will now turn its attention toward another major Section 1 test. The Falcons travel to face Manheim Township next Friday, September 25, at 7 p.m., looking to keep their perfect start alive.
Cedar Crest Stats
Passing: Steven Reyes – 16/27, 195 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT; Team – 16/27, 195 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Isaiah Zimmerman – 8 carries, 38 yds, 2 TD; Steven Reyes – 7 carries, 22 yds; Eli Beard – 2 carries, 9 yds; Eddiel Nunez – 7 carries, 2 yds; Team – 24 carries, 71 yds, 2 TD
Receiving: Jackson Smith – 4 receptions, 55 yds; Terrance Wilson – 2 receptions, 43 yds; Kai Speaks – 3 receptions, 27 yds; Antonio Tirado – 2 receptions, 21 yds; Damyen Derr – 1 reception, 15 yds, 1 TD; Garrett Starry – 1 reception, 14 yds, 1 TD; CJ Hallman – 1 reception, 13 yds; Mason Cevette – 1 reception, 9 yds; Isaiah Zimmerman – 1 reception, -2 yds; Team – 16 receptions, 195 yds, 2 TD
Scoring: Isaiah Zimmerman – 2 rushing TD; Damyen Derr – 1 receiving TD; Garrett Starry – 1 receiving TD; Steven Reyes – 2 passing TD; Gabe Kaighn – 4/4 PAT
Kicking: Gabe Kaighn – 4/4 PAT
Team Totals: 266 total offensive yds (195 passing, 71 rushing); 24 carries for 71 yds and 2 TD; 16/27 passing for 195 yds, 2 TD and 1 INT; 4 offensive TD
Defensive Leaders: Garrett Starry – 12 tackles (1 solo, 11 assists), 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 QB hurry, 1 fumble recovery; Eli Beard – 11 tackles (4 solo, 7 assists); Kasen Dudek – 10 tackles (1 solo, 9 assists), 1 INT; Skyler Sherman – 8 tackles (1 solo, 7 assists); CJ Hallman – 7 tackles (3 solo, 4 assists), 1 TFL, 2 QB hurries; Jackson Chernich – 7 tackles (1 solo, 6 assists), 2 QB hurries; Antonio Tirado – 5 tackles (2 solo, 3 assists), 1 TFL, 0.5 sack, 1 INT; Damyen Derr – 4 tackles (1 solo, 3 assists), 2 TFL, 0.5 sack, 2 QB hurries; Jackson Smith – 4 tackles (2 solo, 2 assists), 1 INT; Ben Garland – 3 tackles (2 solo, 1 assist); Jordan Pfaff – 2 assists, 1 QB hurry; Hayden Moore – 2 assists; Griffin Schomp – 2 assists, 1 TFL, 0.5 sack, 3 QB hurries; Kai Speaks – 1 solo tackle; Terrance Wilson – 1 solo tackle; Max Funderburk – 1 assist
Sacks: Garrett Starry – 1 sack; Antonio Tirado – 0.5 sack; Damyen Derr – 0.5 sack; Griffin Schomp – 0.5 sack
Tackles for Loss: Garrett Starry – 2 TFL; Damyen Derr – 2 TFL; CJ Hallman – 1 TFL; Antonio Tirado – 1 TFL; Griffin Schomp – 1 TFL
Defensive Plays: Antonio Tirado – 1 INT; Kasen Dudek – 1 INT; Jackson Smith – 1 INT; Garrett Starry – 1 fumble recovery
QB Hurries: Griffin Schomp – 3; CJ Hallman – 2; Damyen Derr – 2; Jackson Chernich – 2; Garrett Starry – 1; Jordan Pfaff – 1
Team Defensive Totals: 75 tackles (20 solo, 55 assists); 7 TFL; 2.5 sacks; 11 QB hurries; 3 INT; 1 fumble recovery
Annville-Cleona 35, Lancaster Catholic 20
After a difficult 1-2 start to the season, the Annville-Cleona Dutchmen opened Section 5 play Friday night against Lancaster Catholic, looking to get back on track. After falling behind 21-0 against Donegal a week ago before battling all the way back, A-C had another opportunity to make a statement against the Crusaders.
Lancaster Catholic won the toss and elected to receive to begin the game, but the Dutchmen defense wasted little time making an impact.
On just the second play from scrimmage, Annville-Cleona recovered a fumble at the Lancaster Catholic 18-yard line. The Dutchmen immediately capitalized, with John Ditzler punching it in on a goal-line sneak to give A-C a 7-0 lead with 10:04 remaining in the first quarter.
The Dutchmen struck again on their next scoring opportunity.
A long run by Yama Navarro put Annville-Cleona in excellent field position at the Lancaster Catholic 21. A few plays later, Max Ortwein took a pitch 17 yards to the end zone, extending the Dutchmen lead to 14-0 with 5:48 left in the opening quarter.
The A-C defense continued to make life difficult for the Crusaders, forcing a turnover on downs on a Lancaster Catholic drive that reached the Dutchmen’s 27-yard line.
Lancaster Catholic eventually found the end zone just before halftime on a one-yard quarterback sneak, cutting the deficit to 14-7 with 18 seconds remaining in the half.
Annville-Cleona took that seven-point advantage into the locker room.
Halftime: Annville-Cleona 14, Lancaster Catholic 7.
The Dutchmen came out of halftime with another statement drive.
On the first scoring drive of the second half, Ditzler connected with Levi Kreider for a 24-yard touchdown, pushing the A-C lead to 21-7 with 8:09 remaining in the third quarter.
Just a few minutes later, the Dutchmen struck again.
Devon Englehart broke loose for a 56-yard touchdown run, putting A-C ahead 28-7 with 5:48 left in the third quarter.
Lancaster Catholic answered with a touchdown of its own, although the Crusaders’ extra-point attempt was blocked. The score cut the Dutchmen’s advantage to 28-13 with 1:34 remaining in the quarter.
The Crusaders continued to threaten in the fourth, but A-C came up with a huge break when Lancaster Catholic fumbled at the goal line, allowing the Dutchmen to take over.
Annville-Cleona wasted no time turning that opportunity into points.
Yama Navarro took the handoff and raced 95 yards for a touchdown, blowing the game open and giving the Dutchmen a 35-13 advantage with 8:48 remaining.
Lancaster Catholic continued to battle and found the end zone on a six-yard passing touchdown, cutting the deficit to 35-20 with 2:49 remaining.
But the Dutchmen had done enough.
Annville-Cleona closed out the 35-20 victory to open Section 5 play with a win, improving to 2-2 on the season. After trailing Donegal by 21 points the previous week and ultimately falling short, the Dutchmen responded with a strong performance against Lancaster Catholic, using turnovers, explosive runs, and timely plays to control the game.
The Dutchmen now turn their attention to Columbia, where they will travel next Friday for another Section 5 matchup.
Coach Gingrich’s Postgame Thoughts
On the overall effort and playing a complete game:
“The kids played really well tonight. The best part about it was we played for four quarters with a lot of energy and effort. We’re looking for small wins right now and could care less about the score. What we really want to see is us sticking together and playing our hearts out, and it was neat to see that.”
On giving full effort for 48 minutes:
“There are a lot of corrections to make, but we could care less about those until we get full effort all the time. We did that for 48 minutes tonight.”
On the offense and Yamaliel Navarro’s performance:
“The kids blocked well on offense. Yama really ran the ball well.”
On Devon Englehart’s unselfishness:
“I really want to give credit to Devo. He only touched the ball four times tonight for 80 yards, and that’s a kid who’s a 1,000-yard rusher and is used to getting the ball 20 times. It says a lot about his character. It says a lot about all of our kids’ character because they didn’t care about who got the ball.”
On Levi Kreider’s increased role:
“Levi Kreider played a lot of offense compared to normal and really did well.”
On the defensive performance:
“The defense had a great night. We gave up some plays here and there, but our front four, front six, front seven, whatever you want to say, was really good. Kaidavin Ginting and Jaxon Speece really dominated.”
On building off the victory:
“It was a very good night for us. So far, we haven’t been able to string them together, so we’re looking to snap both of those streaks this week.”
Annville-Cleona Stats
Passing: John Ditzler – 2/3, 41 yds; Team – 2/3, 41 yds
Rushing: Yamaliel Navarro – 24 carries, 253 yds, 1 TD; Devon Englehart – 4 carries, 76 yds, 1 TD; Levi Kreider – 6 carries, 52 yds; Lane Peters – 1 carry, 4 yds; John Ditzler – 2 carries, 0 yds, 1 TD; Team – 37 carries, 385 yds, 3 TD
Receiving: Levi Kreider – 1 reception, 24 yds, 1 TD; Max Ortwein – 1 reception, 17 yds, 1 TD; Team – 2 receptions, 41 yds, 2 TD
Defensive Leaders: Danny Shay – 19 tackles (10 solo, 9 assists), 3 TFL; Logan Radocha – 12 tackles (9 solo, 3 assists); Devon Englehart – 10 tackles (5 solo, 5 assists), 3 TFL, 1 sack; Tyler Gingrich – 10 tackles (5 solo, 5 assists), 2 TFL; Kaidavin Ginting – 8 tackles (5 solo, 3 assists), 2 TFL, 1 sack; Jaxon Speece – 7 tackles (3 solo, 4 assists); Maddox White – 5 tackles (1 solo, 4 assists); Daniel Shuey – 5 tackles (3 solo, 2 assists), 1 TFL, 1 sack; Lane Peters – 2 solo tackles; Bode Garney – 2 tackles (1 solo, 1 assist); Dominic Nash – 2 assists; Isaac Morse – 2 tackles (1 solo, 1 assist); Yamaliel Navarro – 1 assist; Tanner Copenhaver – 1 assist; Team – 86 tackles (45 solo, 41 assists), 11 TFL, 3 sacks
Sacks: Devon Englehart – 1 sack, 4 yds lost; Daniel Shuey – 1 sack, 7 yds lost; Kaidavin Ginting – 1 sack, 5 yds lost; Team – 3 sacks, 16 yds lost
Defensive Plays: Maddox White – 1 pass defended; Logan Radocha – 1 pass defended; Jaylynn Moyer – 1 pass defended; Dominic Nash – 3 passes defended; Tyler Gingrich – 2 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery; Danny Shay – 1 fumble recovery; Kaidavin Ginting – 1 forced fumble; Team – 8 passes defended, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble
Scoring: John Ditzler – 1 rushing TD; Devon Englehart – 1 rushing TD; Yamaliel Navarro – 1 rushing TD; Levi Kreider – 1 receiving TD; Max Ortwein – 1 receiving TD; Bennett Putt – 5/5 PAT
Special Teams: Kick Returns: Yamaliel Navarro – 2 returns, 30 yds; Punting: Max Ortwein – 2 punts, 52 yds, 26.0 avg; Kicking: Bennett Putt – 5/5 PAT
Team Totals: 426 total offensive yds (385 rushing, 41 passing); 37 carries for 385 yds and 3 TD; 2/3 passing for 41 yds; 456 all-purpose yds; Defense – 86 tackles (45 solo, 41 assists), 11 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble
ELCO 21, Conrad Weiser 12
After a 1-2 start through three non-league games, the ELCO Raiders opened Section 4 play Friday night against rival Conrad Weiser, looking to carry some momentum into the most important stretch of their schedule.
The Raiders wasted little time making an impact.
Conrad Weiser’s first possession ended with a failed punt, giving ELCO an opportunity to take advantage of the short field. The Raiders eventually converted that opportunity when Gavin Yeiser broke loose for a 34-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2, giving ELCO a 7-0 lead with 44 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Raiders carried that advantage into the second quarter, and their defense came up with another huge play.
With 9:53 remaining in the half, Darryl Legrande scooped up a fumble and raced 68 yards for a touchdown, giving ELCO a 14-0 lead and putting the Raiders firmly in control.
Conrad Weiser continued to look for an answer, but ELCO’s defense kept making plays. Griffin Kreider came up with a sack with 7:25 remaining in the half, while Yeiser later ripped off a 20-yard run to keep the Raiders’ offense moving.
ELCO had an opportunity to extend its lead, but the Raiders fumbled with 3:01 left in the half.
The Scouts finally capitalized on one of their opportunities when Connor Sellars connected with Brayden Hopple for an eight-yard touchdown off a play-action bootleg out of a heavy set.
The extra point was missed, leaving Conrad Weiser within striking distance at 14-6 with 48 seconds remaining before halftime.
Halftime: ELCO 14, Conrad Weiser 6.
The Scouts received the ball to begin the second half, but the Raiders continued to control the game defensively.
Connor Savitsky came up with a 24-yard run with 2:41 remaining in the third quarter, but ELCO ultimately answered with another explosive play from Yeiser.
With 1:11 left in the third, Yeiser broke through the middle and raced 51 yards for his second touchdown of the night. The score extended the Raiders’ lead to 21-6.
End of third quarter: ELCO 21, Conrad Weiser 6.
Conrad Weiser refused to go away quietly in the fourth quarter.
The Scouts recovered an onside kick with 3:40 remaining, giving themselves another opportunity to cut into the deficit. Sellars then found the end zone himself on a nine-yard quarterback draw up the middle.
Conrad Weiser attempted a two-point conversion, but the attempt failed, leaving ELCO with a 21-12 advantage and 3:56 remaining.
The Raiders were able to close the door from there.
ELCO held on for a 21-12 victory, handing Conrad Weiser its first loss of the season and opening Section 4 play with a statement win.
The Raiders improve to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in Section 4, while Conrad Weiser falls to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Section play.
Yeiser’s two explosive touchdown runs, Legrande’s 68-yard fumble return, and a defense that consistently created opportunities helped ELCO secure the rivalry victory.
The Raiders now return home next Friday to face Wyomissing at 7 p.m. as they look to build on their Section 4-opening win.
Hershey 24, Palmyra 17
Palmyra entered Friday night’s rivalry matchup with Hershey riding a two-game winning streak and looking to remain unbeaten in Mid-Penn Keystone Division play. The Cougars had already picked up wins over Red Land and Mifflin County, but Hershey presented another major test for a Palmyra team that had started to find its rhythm.
The Cougars received the opening kickoff and immediately put together a promising drive. Aaron Villafane broke off a big run that moved Palmyra into the red zone, but the drive ended when the Cougars were intercepted.
Hershey took over and moved the ball with consecutive first downs, eventually reaching the Palmyra 17-yard line. The Trojans faced third-and-10 and were sacked, setting up fourth-and-16 with 3:04 remaining in the first quarter.
Hershey attempted a field goal shortly afterward, but the kick went wide with 2:44 left.
Palmyra was unable to capitalize on the miss, punting from its own 39-yard line after a pair of incompletions with 27 seconds left in the opening quarter.
End of first quarter: Palmyra 0, Hershey 0.
The defensive battle continued into the second quarter.
Hershey went four-and-out to open the period, and Palmyra answered with a four-and-out of its own. The Trojans then went four-and-out again, giving the Cougars another opportunity.
This time, Palmyra made it count.
With 7:43 remaining in the half, Villafane broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown run, giving the Cougars their first lead of the night at 7-0.
Hershey responded with a 40-yard completion that moved the Trojans into the red zone. After converting a third-and-10 from the 20-yard line, Hershey reached first-and-goal and eventually tied the game on a one-yard touchdown run with 5:49 remaining in the half.
The Cougars then put together another promising drive, picking up consecutive first downs and moving to the Hershey 30-yard line with 2:30 remaining.
Palmyra was stopped on fourth-and-six in the red zone with 33 seconds left, but a penalty gave the Cougars another opportunity on fourth down.
Facing fourth-and-two with 15 seconds remaining, Roman Russek used his legs to pick up the first down and move Palmyra to the goal line.
Russek’s next pass fell incomplete with four seconds left, but Palmyra elected to kick the field goal. The kick was good, giving the Cougars a 10-7 lead with one second remaining in the half.
Halftime: Palmyra 10, Hershey 7.
Hershey opened the second half with a lengthy drive, putting together consecutive first downs before reaching the Palmyra 10-yard line with 6:11 remaining in the third quarter.
The Trojans eventually faced fourth-and-goal and elected to settle for a field goal. The kick tied the game at 10-10 with 4:43 remaining in the quarter after Hershey had taken a significant amount of time off the clock.
Palmyra answered with a strong drive of its own.
The first play of the Cougars’ possession was a 16-yard run by Villafane, moving Palmyra out to its own 40-yard line. The Cougars continued to move the chains and faced a fourth-and-one from their own 49 with two minutes left in the third.
Palmyra elected to go for it, and the Cougars converted on a run up the middle.
The drive continued into the fourth quarter, and Palmyra needed only one play to break the tie.
With 11:53 remaining, Russek connected with Sid Harrison for a 30-yard touchdown, putting the Cougars ahead 17-10.
Hershey responded with another sustained drive, eventually reaching the Palmyra 10-yard line. The Trojans faced fourth-and-five and kept the offense on the field, converting the fourth down and setting up first-and-goal from the three.
Hershey finished the drive with a three-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 17-17 with 7:53 remaining.
Palmyra faced fourth-and-six from midfield on its next possession and elected to punt, but the kick traveled only eight yards. Hershey took over at the Cougars’ 42-yard line with 5:44 remaining.
The Trojans reached third-and-four from the Palmyra 48, but the pass fell incomplete. Hershey then punted, but the Cougars muffed the punt, and the Trojans recovered.
Hershey took over at the Palmyra 12-yard line with 3:53 remaining.
The Cougars’ defense stuffed the Trojans on two straight runs, setting up third-and-10 with three minutes left.
Hershey found the end zone on the next play, scoring a touchdown to take a 24-17 lead with 2:53 remaining.
Palmyra had 2:41 left to try to tie the game.
The Cougars started the drive with two straight incompletions. On third-and-10 from their own 33, Russek’s pass nearly resulted in an interception before another incompletion gave Palmyra fourth down.
The Trojans then came up with the decisive play.
With 1:51 remaining, Russek’s pass was intercepted, ending Palmyra’s final opportunity and allowing Hershey to close out the 24-17 victory.
The loss drops the Cougars to 2-2 on the season. Despite the defeat, Palmyra remained competitive throughout the rivalry matchup, taking a 17-10 lead into the fourth quarter before Hershey rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Palmyra now returns home next Friday to face Waynesboro, looking to bounce back from the rivalry loss.
Palmyra Stats
Passing: Roman Russek – 12/16, 100 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, long 30; Jaxin Robinson – 0/5, 1 INT; Team – 12/21, 100 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Aaron Villifane – 12 carries, 137 yds, 1 TD, long 66; Roman Russek – 8 carries, 41 yds, long 21; Jaxin Robinson – 3 carries, 11 yds, long 6; Cadin Smith – 2 carries, 2 yds, long 4; Team – 25 carries, 191 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: Sid Harrison – 2 receptions, 42 yds, 1 TD, long 30; Jaxin Robinson – 5 receptions, 38 yds, long 11; Aaron Villifane – 4 receptions, 15 yds, long 9; Anthony Pinko – 1 reception, 5 yds; Team – 12 receptions, 100 yds, 1 TD
Defensive Leaders: Jaxin Robinson – 7 tackles; Cadin Smith – 5 tackles; Anthony Pinko – 5 tackles; Louis Loew – 4 tackles; Mason Kyper – 3 tackles; Coda Jones – 3 tackles; Chris Kleinfelter – 2 tackles, 2 TFL; Joshua Tshudy – 2 tackles; Braedon Basehore – 1 tackle; Jackson Kipp – 1 tackle, 1 TFL; Alex Csongradi – 1 tackle; Aaron Villifane – 1 tackle
Tackles for Loss: Chris Kleinfelter – 2 TFL; Jackson Kipp – 1 TFL; Team – 3 TFL
Defensive Plays: Hudl does not report any interceptions, fumble recoveries, defensive touchdowns or other defensive statistics for Palmyra in this box score.
Scoring: Aaron Villifane – 1 rushing TD; Sid Harrison – 1 receiving TD; Roman Russek – 1 passing TD; Brenden Crout – 1 FG, 2 PAT, 5 points
Special Teams: Kick Returns: Alex Csongradi – 4 returns, 21.0 avg, long 27; Kicking: Brenden Crout – 1 FG, 2 PAT, 5 points; Kickoffs: Crout – 4 kickoffs, 101 yds, long 31; Punting: Anthony Pinko – 2 punts, 26.0 avg, long 28; Roman Russek – 1 punt, 7.0 avg
Team Totals: 291 total offensive yds (191 rushing, 100 passing); 10 first downs; 2/8 on third down; 3/4 on fourth down; 3 turnovers (2 INT, 1 fumble lost)
Elizabethtown 85, Lebanon 6
On a sunny Friday night, the Lebanon Cedars hosted the Elizabethtown Bears, still searching for their first win of the season. The Bears came into the matchup with a record of 2-1, while the Cedars entered at 0-3.
The Cedars were led by senior quarterback Henne Cortes, while the Bears were led by junior quarterback Kolton Eckinger.
The Cedars started the game with the ball and were able to pick up a first down and move the ball, but the Bears’ defense held strong and ended the drive pretty quickly.
However, a roughing-the-kicker penalty gave the Cedars the ball right back in great field position. A pass interference call then moved Lebanon down to the Bears’ 28-yard line, giving the Cedars some energy.
The Bears’ defense held strong again, and freshman Rudy Brisbane returned an 80-yard interception for a touchdown to give the Bears a 7-0 lead.
Brisbane continued his great day with another pick-six to make the score 14-0.
The Bears then got yet another pick-six, this time from sophomore Everett Handran, to give Elizabethtown a 21-0 lead.
The Bears then recovered an onside kick, putting the Elizabethtown offense on the field for the first time at the Cedars’ 35-yard line.
Junior Prince Wratto then rushed for a five-yard touchdown to extend the Bears’ lead to 27-0.
Handran returned another interception for a touchdown to make it 34-0.
The Bears kept it going with a 43-yard handoff to Gannon Shank, giving Elizabethtown a 41-0 lead.
Another touchdown run, this time a four-yard score from Wratto, pushed the lead to 48-0.
Beckett Shank then returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 54-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bears kept adding to their lead in the second quarter, with Nick Sivulich Jr. scoring on a one-yard rushing touchdown to make it 60-0.
Elizabethtown would not slow down as freshman Eli Carter broke a 52-yard touchdown run to put the Bears up 66-0.
The Cedars were finally able to get on the board when Cortes connected on a five-yard touchdown pass, making the score 66-6.
Elizabethtown struck right back, as Carter returned a punt 72 yards for another touchdown to extend the lead to 72-6 at halftime.
The Bears continued to add to their lead in the second half.
Handran started the half by rushing for a three-yard touchdown, making the score 78-6.
Anthony Morris then broke another touchdown run to extend the Elizabethtown lead to 85-6.
That would be the final score, with Elizabethtown moving to 3-1 on the season and Lebanon dropping to 0-4.
For the Cedars, it was another difficult night, but Lebanon was able to find the end zone and continued to battle despite the large deficit.
The Cedars will now look to regroup and continue their season next week.
LebCo High School Football: Week 3 Results
2026 LebCo Football Team-by-Team Season Outlooks
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Carl Hott
September 19, 2026 at 12:01 pm
Great reporting