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.
From Friday Night Lights to Saturday Spotlight
Touchdowns, impressive receiving performances, defensive contributions, and a major recruiting opportunity highlight the latest accomplishments of Lebanon County graduates playing college football.
While Lebanon County’s high school football teams continue their push toward the postseason, many of the area’s former players are making their own contributions on college campuses across the country.
From NCAA Division I programs to Division III, sprint football, and the junior college ranks, local graduates are finding opportunities to compete, develop, and represent the schools where their football journeys began.
LebCoSports has identified more than 30 Lebanon County graduates competing in college football this fall. With another busy weekend of games taking place, it’s time to check in on several alumni making their presence felt during the 2026 season.
Williams Finds the End Zone as Dickinson Rolls Past Gettysburg
After beginning his college football career at Division II Bloomsburg University, Jake Williams has found a new home at Dickinson College. The former ELCO running back added another touchdown to his sophomore campaign on Saturday, helping the Red Devils defeat Gettysburg 41-19 in the annual Battle for the Bucket.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Williams crossed the goal line on a one-yard run with 4:50 remaining in the second quarter, extending Dickinson’s lead to 17-6.
The Red Devils finished the afternoon with 487 yards of total offense, including 293 rushing yards, while improving to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Centennial Conference play.
Williams, who wears No. 21, has established himself as a contributor in Dickinson’s backfield. Through the team’s first four games, he had scored three touchdowns and recorded five receptions for 21 yards.
The move to Dickinson has provided Williams with another opportunity to contribute to a successful program, and with the Red Devils having won three consecutive contests, he and his teammates will look to continue building momentum as the conference schedule progresses.
Heisey Delivers 117-Yard Afternoon in Lebanon Valley Homecoming Battle
Despite Lebanon Valley College falling just short in Saturday’s 27-24 loss to Stevenson, Ethan Heisey provided one of the strongest individual performances of his collegiate career.
The Cedar Crest graduate caught a game-high nine passes for 117 yards, repeatedly helping the Dutchmen move the chains as they mounted a fourth-quarter comeback.
Trailing by 10 points late in the game, Lebanon Valley drove 91 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to three with 1:50 remaining. Heisey made several important receptions during that possession.
A 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior, Heisey is one of Lebanon Valley’s six team captains. He appeared in all 11 games and started 10 during the 2025 season, when the Dutchmen finished 6-5 and earned a berth in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series.
Although Lebanon Valley has opened the 2026 campaign with five losses, Saturday’s contest represented an offensive breakthrough. The Dutchmen scored a season-high 24 points and collected a season-best 23 first downs.
For Heisey, the afternoon offered another opportunity to demonstrate the experience and leadership he brings to a young Lebanon Valley team.
Read Lebanon Valley’s Homecoming recap
Chernich Continues Making an Impact in Lebanon Valley’s Secondary
While Heisey helped pace the Lebanon Valley offense, fellow Cedar Crest graduate Owen Chernich continued building on a productive season on the defensive side of the football.
Chernich recorded five tackles in Saturday’s Homecoming contest against Stevenson, adding to a strong start in the Dutchmen secondary.
Through Lebanon Valley’s first four games, Chernich had accumulated 36 tackles, including 14 solo stops, while also forcing a fumble.
The former Falcon has developed into an important presence in Lebanon Valley’s defensive backfield, providing a reliable tackling presence against opposing offenses.
Chernich’s contributions have been particularly valuable during a season in which the Dutchmen have faced a difficult opening schedule and several competitive opponents.
With the MAC schedule continuing, Chernich will look to maintain his defensive production and help Lebanon Valley turn close games into victories.
Shaffer Producing for a Clarion Team Building Momentum
Northern Lebanon graduate Luke Shaffer is continuing to make his presence felt at Clarion University, which improved to 4-2 following a dramatic 34-33 victory over Gannon on Saturday.
The junior linebacker has totaled 21 tackles through three appearances, including 11 solo stops, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a quarterback hurry.
That averages seven tackles per appearance, placing Shaffer among Clarion’s active defensive contributors despite playing in fewer games than many teammates.
The 2026 season has represented another step in Shaffer’s development after earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recognition in 2025.
Meanwhile, Clarion has enjoyed a productive start to its campaign, with the Golden Eagles averaging more than 37 points per game through six contests.
The former Viking will look to continue making an impact as Clarion moves deeper into its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference schedule.
View Clarion’s season statistics
Schomp Finds the End Zone as Lehigh Remains Unbeaten
Cedar Crest graduate Aiden Schomp provided a memorable moment for Lehigh University during its October 3 matchup with Fordham.
The junior tight end hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Derek Morgan with 2:50 remaining in the first half, helping the Mountain Hawks cruise to a 34-0 victory.
At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Schomp provides Lehigh with a sizeable receiving target. The economics major wears No. 87 for the Mountain Hawks, competing at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level.
His contribution was particularly meaningful after he missed the entire 2025 season because of injury.
The victory over Fordham moved Lehigh to 6-0, giving Schomp an opportunity to contribute to a program building toward another potential postseason appearance.
For the former Falcon, returning to the field and finding the end zone represents a positive development in his collegiate career.
View Lehigh’s October 3 box score
Mason’s JUCO Production Draws Major Recruiting Attention
For Lebanon High graduate Emanuel Mason, the path through college football has taken another exciting turn.
After beginning his collegiate career at Seton Hill University, Mason transferred to Ellsworth Community College in Iowa, where he has been putting together a productive season at the junior college level.
The 6-foot, 220-pound linebacker has reported 48 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss through his first four games, numbers that have helped draw recruiting attention.
Among the latest developments is a reported scholarship offer from Virginia Tech, potentially providing Mason with an opportunity to continue his career in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Mason’s journey from Lebanon High through Division II football and into the junior college ranks highlights the different pathways available to athletes pursuing opportunities at the next level.
His recruiting development is particularly noteworthy as college programs begin identifying potential additions for future seasons.
For Mason, the opportunity to attract attention from a major Division I program represents another significant chapter in his football journey.
Infante Providing a Receiving Threat at Misericordia
Lebanon High graduate Derek Infante is making contributions to Misericordia University’s passing attack during his junior season.
The 6-foot, 175-pound wide receiver has recorded four receptions for 77 yards through four contests, averaging more than 19 yards per catch.
His longest reception covered 34 yards, giving the Cougars another option capable of producing gains downfield.
Misericordia has also enjoyed success as a team, opening the season with three victories in its first four contests before adding a 21-17 win over Alvernia on October 10 to improve to 4-1.
Infante is one of several Lebanon County graduates competing for the Cougars. Former Cedar Crest linebacker Landyn Kline has recorded six tackles through four games, while Lebanon graduate Jahkeim Medlock contributed two solo tackles in his recorded appearance.
View Misericordia’s season statistics
Long Continues Competing at the Division I Level
Alex Long, who graduated from Annville-Cleona, is continuing his career at Robert Morris University.
The senior linebacker has appeared in all six games reflected in Robert Morris’ available 2026 statistics, registering five tackles, including one for a loss.
The Colonials entered the weekend at 3-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Long’s continued involvement at the Football Championship Subdivision level represents another example of a Lebanon County graduate earning opportunities against Division I opponents.
With conference play underway, Long and the Colonials will look to continue building toward a successful finish.
Stickler Bringing Veteran Experience to Albright
At Albright College, ELCO graduate Alden Stickler is providing an experienced presence in the Lions’ receiving corps.
The senior entered the 2026 season after catching 36 passes for 584 yards in 2025 and was selected as one of the team’s captains.
Through Albright’s first four contests this fall, Stickler had recorded four receptions for 40 yards.
His leadership role provides another example of how Lebanon County graduates are contributing to their college programs beyond the traditional statistical categories.
For Stickler, the senior campaign represents an opportunity to conclude his collegiate career while helping guide the Lions through their MAC schedule.
Contributions in the Trenches: Lebanon County Linemen Competing at the College Level
Not every important contribution appears in a box score.
Across college football, former Lebanon County linemen are continuing their development in an area where playing time, blocking assignments, and team offensive production frequently tell more of the story than individual statistics.
At Geneva College, Annville-Cleona graduate Damien Miller is a junior offensive lineman. Miller appeared in all 11 contests during the 2025 season and spent much of that campaign working as the starting left guard.
His experience has provided valuable opportunities to develop at the collegiate level, where offensive line play requires both physical strength and the ability to recognize and adjust to opposing defensive schemes.
At Lebanon Valley, the Dutchmen’s offensive front helped the team generate 384 total yards against Stevenson on October 10, including 288 passing yards. The performance marked a season-high output in the passing game and helped produce three touchdown passes.
Several other Lebanon County graduates are developing their skills in college football’s trenches, with former players from Cedar Crest, ELCO, Northern Lebanon, Annville-Cleona, Palmyra, and Lebanon High represented across multiple levels of competition.
Their work may not generate the same attention as a touchdown reception or a double-digit tackle performance, but their contributions remain an important part of their teams’ success.
Lebanon County’s Football Connections Continue Beyond Friday Nights
For many Lebanon County athletes, the final high school football game represents the conclusion of one chapter rather than the end of their playing careers.
Whether delivering touchdowns, making key defensive stops, anchoring an offensive line, or working to earn additional playing time, those graduates are continuing to build on the foundation established during their high school careers.
Their paths have taken them to different schools, conferences, and levels of competition, but each represents another connection between Lebanon County football and the college game.
With the season moving deeper into October, there are still plenty of opportunities for local alumni to add to their accomplishments.
Carriage House Car Wash
ProSeal
Penn Realty
