football

Columbia has a rich history in athletics and football. Last year was one of the toughest for the Crimson Tide team, going 0-10. Columbia will try to rebound this year with a number of returning starters back for new Coach Nate Bagley. He says it's "important to do the little things right."

Xavion Jones (left in photo), a tight end and linebacker, will be a key player.

He says, "It's important to stick together, and last year built character." He likes to play both sides of the ball, but defense may have an edge: "You get to hit people."

Penn Manor's Justin Onderonk reflects on last football season, 2-4 in Section 1, 2-7 overall, as being one of adversity, but he has plans to tackle that opponent this coming season. 

Players attending media day:

(from left)

Justin Onderonk, senior, offensive tackle, defensive end

Collin Robinson, senior, quarterback, defensive back

Jalen Dupree, junior, slot receiver, safety

Elijah Hess, senior, offensive guard, defensive tackle

Lancaster Catholic is looking to improve on a 7-5 record last season. Coach Chris Maiorino (left, below) says "expectations are to to get better each and every day. There's excitement about the talent coming back."

That talent includes running back Brandon Way Jr., a Villanova commit. He's coming off a big season when he rushed for 1,816 yards and scored 28 touchdowns. The Crusaders will be looking for Way to lead the way on offense.

Bryan Strohl calls it a “next-man-up mentality.” 

Strohl, Cocalico’s head coach since 2020, has won two-thirds of his games and a pair of section championships, and now he wants his new crop of seniors to carry the ball, literally, in 2025. 

“We’ve had a pretty good run the last few years,” he notes. “We’ve lost some good, quality kids, but we have some good, quality kids to replace them.” 

After a trip deep into the District 3 playoffs, Ephrata football just missed the playoffs a year ago and Austin Bryant says the team has a remedy. "I think we build off of that by correcting those little things that we made last year," he says.

Players attending media day:

Dustin Hoover (top), senior, fullback, inside linebacker

Carson Martin (below left), junior, quarterback, linebacker

Austin Bryant (below right), senior, wide receiver, safety, cornerback

Manheim Central's football team is finding plenty of motivation in last season's 3-7 record as they aim to return the program to its usual level of winning almost every week.

Players attending Media Day:

(from left)

Cooper Nied, senior, offensive and defensive lineman

Daniel Gertler, senior, offensive and defensive lineman

Jayvior Marales, senior, receiver, free safety

Cody Hess, senior, wide receiver, outside linebacker

Elizabethtown High quarterback Trent Kauffman has a few reasons he wants to do well this upcoming season.

First off, he’s entering his senior year, the last time he’ll suit up before graduating.

Despite its stellar legacy, McCaskey has found few wins recently on the football field, but that hasn't hindered the expectations of this year's team. With inspiration from a new coach, players say they're aiming to qualify for the District 3 playoffs.

McCaskey players attending media day:

Dieumel Gerard (left), senior, guard, defensive tackle

Johnzell Sibley (center), senior, wide receiver, outside linebacker

Khali Sloan (right), senior, running back, defensive end

The Lancaster stars beat their counterparts from Lebanon and Berks counties 49-39 in the Manheim Touchdown Club's 23rd annual Tri-County All-Star Football Game played Friday May 23, 2025, at Elden Rettew Field, Manheim Central High School.

Manheim Central’s Tyler Groff won lineman of the year honors. Player of the Year honors were split among those listed below.

Manheim Township Coach Mark Evans coached the Lancaster squad against the Berks and Lebanon team led by Twin  Valley Coach Brett Myers.

Scoring

Lancaster-Lebanon League football coaches selected the following players as all-stars for the 2024 season. (Pictured is Lancaster Catholic's Brandon Way, Section 5 Outstanding Back of the Year.)

2025 LL Football All-Stars

Section 1

Outstanding Back of the Year: Declan Clancy, Manheim Township, and Madyx Gruber, Wilson

Outstanding Lineman of the Year: Tristan Long, Cedar Crest