Inside the Colonial League: 2026 Football Preview
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 11, News, pfn, Team Previews
John Fox, Dan Di Edwardo | August 26, 2026
Division 1
Notre Dame-Green Pond Crusaders
Head Coach: Phil Stambaugh
Key players returning: Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Striba, Drew Boyd
Outlook: Notre Dame-Green Pond will look to build upon their undefeated regular season, but will have a new face at QB. Jr, Tommy Murphy takes the reigns after learning 2 years under standout QB, Matt Bodnar, who threw for 37 passing TDs and 3,040 yards. Despite the QB change, Notre Dame returns RB, Aaron Gordon who had 341 rushing yards and 5 TDs, Jonathan Striba, who had 46 catches for 770 yards and 7 TDs, as well as 419 rushing yards and 10 TDs on the ground, and Drew Boyd, who had 41 catches for 780 yards and 7 TDs.
Pen Argyl Green Knights
Head Coach: Brady Mutton
Key players returning: Anthony Beltran, Chris Crespo, James Accatino
Outlook: Pen Argyl has a mix of experience and youth at the skill positions, but an experienced offensive line to help newly minted starting Jr. QB, Keegan Hettel ease into the role, following the departure of Mason Soos, who had 1,806 passing yards and 16 TDs. Returning wideouts, Anthony Beltran and Chris Crespo whom had 31 catches for 374 yards and 2 TDs and 12 catches for 182 yards and 3 TDs respectively, will be a major factors in Hettel’s success. Returning LB James Accatino, who had 41 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries, will anchor the defense.
Palisades Pirates
Head Coach: Bobby Smith
Key players returning: Lincoln Cook, Carter Kilhefner, Will Kapp
Outlook: Palisades will look vastly different from the team that last took the field after an OT loss to Northern Lehigh in the District 11 2A playoffs. The loss of QB Jack Trickel and his 2,062 passing yards and 21 TDs, as well as his 454 rushing yards and 9 TDs will not be easy for either SO, Grayson Windsor or Jr, Sebastian LaRosa to replace. Among the few returning starters is WR Lincoln Cook, who had a school record 68 catches for 1,088 yards and 10 TDs. Carter Kilhefner and Will Kapp will anchor the O-line, with the former also making his presence known on the D-line.
Northern Lehigh Bulldogs
Head Coach: Joe Tout
Key players returning: Garrett Smoyer, Chris Frame, Mason Rothrock, Ryan Zambo, Colin Karetsky, Paul Porobenski
Outlook: Northern Lehigh returns most of their starters from last year’s team that went 8-4 before an eventual playoff loss to Schuylkill Haven in the District 11 2A playoffs. Leading the charge is QB Garrett Smoyer, who had 1,729 passing yards 17 TDs passing and 7 TDs rushing. Two-way player Chris Frame also returns, he had 496 rushing yards and 9 TDs, as well as 26 catches for 450 receiving yards and 4 TDs. On the defense, he registered 37 tackles and 7 INTs. Ryan Zambo also returns as a two-way player with 37 catches for 370 yards and 4 TDs and 28 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries. Yet another two-way player returns in Colin Karetsky, who had 35 catches for 579 yards and 8 TDs, as well as 35 tackles and 4 INTs.
Catasauqua Rough Riders
Head Coach: Joe Henrich
Key players returning: Aiden Reilly, Omar Pacheco, Joziah Martinez
Outlook: While the record of 4-8 looks deceiving, Catty’s core players took a step forward last year which resulted in a playoff berth, even if they lost to Schuylkill Haven in the District 11 2A Quarterfinals. QB Aiden Reilly finished the year with 600 yards and 3 TDs. WR Omar Pacheco finished with 22 catches for 325 and 3 TDs. LB Joziah Martinez was the anchor of the defense with 58 tackles, 4 sacks, and 6 tackles for loss.
Palmerton Blue Bombers
Head Coach: Chris Walkowiak
Key players returning: T.J. Gursky, T.J. Weller, Michael Garey, Ben Negley
Outlook: Palmerton ran into a buzzsaw in Northwestern Lehigh in the District 11 3A playoffs, losing 42-0. After finishing 3-8 on the season, the same question lingers into 2026, who will be the starting QB? Will it be Jr, T.J. Gursky or Jr, T.J. Weller? The 2 split time last year with Gursky throwing for 666 yards and 7 TDs and Weller had 379 passing yards and a TD. The Bombers expect the same QB split to start the season before a definitive answer is chosen at that position. Two-way player Michael Garey, who had 420 rushing yards and 5 TDs, as well as 52 tackles, 8 TFLs, 4.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. WR Ben Negley, who had 26 catches for 320 yards and 4 TDs will be a valuable weapon for whatever QB is in the game.
Salisbury Township Falcons
2026 Schedule
Head Coach: Kevin Dizenzo
Key players returning: Keaton Frye, Jarrod Blunt, Jadiel Gonzalez, A.J. Moren
Outlook: The 2-9 record doesn’t truly reflect the team that was projected to start the year, as pretty much the whole team suffered injuries at season’s start, including an eventual season ending one to starting QB Keaton Frye, who had 544 passing yards and 7 TDs to go along with 490 rushing yards and 5 TDs at the time it happened. While health is the top factor for the Falcons, returning wideouts, Jarrod Blunt and Jadiel Gonzalez, whom had 295 yards and a TD and 298 yards and a TD, are hoping more stability under center rises their numbers and overall team production. Gonzalez also played defense and recorded 3 INTs and A.J. Moren also recorded 3 INTs on the year.
Division 2
Southern Lehigh Spartans
Head Coach: Phil Sams
Key players returning: Colton Sams, Otto Young, Dylan Gretz, Adam Fritts
Outlook: The Spartans look to run back a lot of their District 11 and PIAA Class 4A Championship team, but will have to replace school record setting RB, Sean Steckert, who amassed 5,484 rushing yards and 90 TDs during his time at Southern Lehigh, as well as his 3,211 rushing yards and 45 TDs last season. Having QB Colton Sams back, who is the school leader with 418 completions, 6,301 passing yards and 79 TDs, is paramount to their hopes at repeating. Sams had 190 completions for 2,689 yards and 36 TDs last year. WR Otto Young returns and had 31 receptions for 643 yards and 10 TDs last year. On defense, Dylan Gretz, who had 47 tackles, 12 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks, as well as Adam Fritz, who had 55 tackles and 3 INTs highlight the key returning starters on that side of the ball.
Northwestern Lehigh Tigers
Head Coach: Josh Snyder
Key players returning: Chase Sukanick, Brady Zimmerman, Mike Lagowy, Fritz Scheirer
Outlook: The Tigers had a near perfect season at 15-1, finishing as the District 11 3A champion and PIAA runner up after a 31-7 loss to Avonworth. While the Tigers look to get back to the PIAA Finals, they will have to do so without their old offensive duo of QB Shane Leh, and WR Mason Bollinger. Leh had 2,660 passing yards and 31 TDs. Bollinger had 44 receptions for 602 yards and 5 TDs. However, returning RB Chase Sukanick and his 924 rushing yards and 13 TDs should ease the burden on new starting QB, SO Trey Snyder. Sukanick’s running mate Brady Zimmerman also will help the new QB with 300 rushing yards and 8 TDs, as well as 45 receptions for 956 yards and 11 TDs in the air. Two-Way player Mike Lagowy rounds out the offense with 48 catches for 704 yards and 7 TDs, as well as 72 tackles and 6 INTs on defense.
Saucon Valley Panthers
Head Coach: Mason Stewart
Key players returning: Braden Rohn, Taylor Rohn, Hunter Hill
Outlook: The Panthers suffered losses both on and off the field with WR Thomas Cahill and his 69 receptions for 946 and 8 TDs moving on after his father left for Yale’s head coaching job, as well as HC Anthony Brinkley stepping down to take an assistant principal job in Allentown. The interim coach will be Mason Stewart, as he looks to get the team on track that will return QB Braden Rohn and his 1,765 passing yards and 13 TDs, to go with 530 rushing yards and 13 TDs on the ground. Braden’s younger brother and RB, Taylor, will look to be the team’s primary offensive weapon, as he recorded 461 rushing yards and 6 TDs and 26 catches for 359 yards and 2 TDs. Hunter Hill will anchor the defense as he had 100 tackles,8 TFLs, 2 INTs, and a fumble recovery last year.
Lehighton Indians
Head Coach: Tom McCarroll
Key players returning: Kyden Hauser, Ty Nansteel, Lukas Croizier
Outlook: The Indians will look to replace recently graduated starting QB, Jayse Lawrence, who 1,273 passing yards and 17 TDs, as well as 524 rushing yards and 7 TDs. SO QB, Brock Atwood and Jr QB, Jack Lucykanish are looking to win the job. However, RB Lukas Croizier returns, who had 1,130 rushing yards and 9 TDs, making the transition for the new QB a lot easier. WR Kyden Hauser will lead the passing attack, as he had 26 catches for 295 yards and 2 TDs last year and TE Ty Nansteel comes back after having 11 catches for 220 yards and 5 TDs.
Jim Thorpe Olympians
Head Coach: Mark Rosenberger
Key players returning: Bobby Levins, Spencer Gothard, Dominic Kiehl, Nick Faust, Gavin Baker
Outlook: With a recent move to 3A, The Olympians look to replace QB Cole Lazorick who threw for 5,687 yards and 50 TDs, as well as 24 rushing TDs in his time as starting QB. Jr QB, Tyler Hoherchak and Sr, QB Kaden Hess are currently battling for the spot. RB Bobby Levins returns after his 223 rushing yard season with 3 TDs, as well as 32 catches for 389 yards and 6 TDs through the air. Two-way player Spencer Gothard had 21 catches for 380 yards and 5 TDs, as well as 42 tackles and 2 INTs on defense. The defense also has other notable players returning in Dominic Kiehl, who had 76 tackles and 10.5 TFLs, Nick Faust, who had 64 tackles and 10 TFLs, and Gavin Baker, who had 45 tackles, 7 TFLs, and 3 sacks.
Wilson Area Warriors
Head Coach: Jim Brady
Key players returning: Jaxson Tadayesky, Ryan Bonham, J’son Johnson
Outlook: After losing their last 42 games, the Warriors finally earned a victory in their 2025 season finale against Belvidere. The Warriors hope to use that win as momentum into next season and start a new culture under 3rd year coach Jim Brady. QB Jaxson Tadayesky will return where he had 690 passing yards. Returning to the backfield is RB Ryan Bonham, who rushed for 479 yards and had 5 TDs. Also returning is fellow RB J’son Johnson who had 528 rushing yards and 3 TDs.
Bangor Slaters
Head Coach: Vinny Andrews
Key players returning: Lincoln Rehrig, Lucas Hurd, Cooper Karasek, Hunter Hopstetter
Outlook: The Slaters haven’t won a game since their 2024 season finale against Pen Argyl 14-13 and hope to change that to open 2026. They will be lead by their So. QB, Lincoln Rehrig, who threw for 80 completions, 1,031 yards and 5 TDs. RB Lucas Hurd registered 303 rushing yards and 2 TDs on offense, as well as 47 tackles an INT and a fumble recovery on defense. WR Cooper Karasek returns in their passing game after having 13 catches for 185 yards and a TD last season. Hunter Hopstetter lead the team with 72 tackes on defense and is set to return for his senior year.
