DISTRICT 11 NOTES (Week 3):
RUNNINGBACKS:
Quintin Rucker of Mahanoy Area rushed for 233 yards on 13 carries and scored 4 td’s in their win over Pine Grove. In the same game, the Grove’s Logan Troup carried the ball 45 times for 326 yards and 3 td’s and is the District leader after 3 weeks with 598 yards rushing. Troup’s 326 yards is the third highest game total for a Cardinal. Ryan Heim holds the record when he rushed for 352 yards vs Juniata in 2013, and Nick Frantz has the second highest total when he rushed for 336 yards vs Upper Dauphin in 2002. TJ Lawrence of Parkland has the second highest total this season with 528 yards after rushing for 186 yards and 3 td’s in their win over Easton. Lawrence and Rucker lead the District with each scoring 8 td’s this season. Lawrence also moved up 10 spots on the all-time list to 60th place with 55 career td’s. He joins Bob Tarola of Bethlehem Catholic (55 from 1965-67), John Gruver of Palisades (55 from 2005-08), and Darnell Ferrell of Central Catholic (55 from 2014-16). TJ also went over 3,000 yards rushing for his career (3,124). Tyler Price of Marian Catholic is the third player to rush for over 500 yards in the first 3 weeks. Price has rushed for 506 yards and scored 7 td’s this season. Jack MoDavis of Southern Lehigh rushed for 209 yards and 2 td’s in their win over Jim Thorpe. There are 7 players who scored 7 td’s in the first 3 games. They are Colton Reber of Schuylkill Haven, Terrence McDowell of Tamaqua, Chase Keeler of Northampton. Lukas Croizier of Lehighton, Evan Garrett of PM East, Carson Eckhart of Palmerton and the already mentioned Price of Marian Catholic.
QUARTERBACKS:
Thomas Murphy of Notre Dame threw for 297 yards and 6 td’s in their win over Salisbury. The 6td’s ties the school record held by Cole Defranco and Collin Quintano. Defranco threw 6 td’s vs Saucon Valley in 2018 and Quintano threw 6 td’s vs Jim Thorpe in 2021. Murphy joined the chart this week with his 1,008 career yards passing and also leads the District with 10 td passes this season. We have three QB’s that threw for 200 yards in all 3 games this season. They are Axel Burkart of Bethlehem Catholic (774 yards), Jackson Mitchell of Stroudsburg (726 yards), and Cooper Madson of Nazareth (686 yards). But, Colton Sams of Southern Lehigh leads the District with 826 passing yards based off his two 300-yard passing games. His 7,127 career passing yards move him into 10th place all-time in the District, leaping over Cole Hidabrant of Pius X, who threw for 6,991 yards from 2003-06. Sams now stands alone in 4th place all-time for td passes in the District with 88. Cohen Kirby of Blue Mountain threw for 234 yards and 3 td’s in their win over Schuylkill Haven putting him over 700 yards passing for the season (705). Julian Pagen of Allen threw for 229 yards and 3 td’s in their loss to PM East. Tanner Dogmantis of Whitehall threw for 218 yards and a score while also rushing for 156 yards and 3 td’s in their win over Northampton. Michael Stofanak of Freedom and Finn Coen of Parkland both went over 2,000 yards passing for their careers in week 3. Five players have thrown 9 td passes this season and trail Murphy by one. They are Sams (SL), Kirby (BM), Madson (Naz), Pagen (Allen), and Ethan Bench of Shenandoah Valley. Garrett Smoyer of Northern Lehigh threw 4 td passes in their win over over Pen Argyl and is now tied for the school record for career td passes with his brother Dylan, who threw 38 td passes from 2020-21.
RECEIVERS:
Carter Vassa of Bethlehem Catholic caught 11 passes for 153 yards and 2 td’s in their win over Berks Catholic. Vassa moves up 3 notches to 10th place on the yardage list with his 2,694 yards. Dropping down a notch were Matt Camilletti of Pius X (11th place 2,642 yards from 2008-11), Kowan Scott of Wilson (12th place 2,602 yards from 2008-10), and Damian Tyminski of Pen Argyl (12th place 2,556 yards from 2021-23). Vassa’s 159 receptions move him up 5 spots into a tie with Miguel Hernadez of Catasauqua (2014-17) for 11th place all-time in the District. He went ahead of Jake Pukszyn of Liberty (149 from 2023-25), OJ Grow of Williams Valley (150 from 1987-90), Zack Gillen of Wilson (153 from 2018-21), and Andrew Olesh of Southern Lehigh (156 from 2012-24). Vassa has 29 career td catches and is tied for 13th place all-time with already mentioned Grow of (WV), Scott of (Wil), and Jeff McGeehin of Central Catholic (1971-73). Vassa leads the District for this season with 24 catches for 445 yards and is tied with Chase Guers of Blue Mountain with 5 td receptions. Guers caught 6 passes for 155 yards and 2 td’s vs Schuylkill Haven and now owns the school record for career td reception with 13. He was tied at 11 with Jeremy Miller (1994-95), Charlie Schultz (1998-00), and his brother Gaige (2021-24). Four other Eagles had 10 career td receptions with head coach Chuck Kutz leading the way with his 10 from 1982-84. Jake Cryts caught 10 from 2009-10 and then decided to forgo his senior season for baseball. Nate Calderone (2015-17), and Bryce Hensley (2019-20) were the last 2 players to catch 10 td passes. Jonathan Striba of Notre Dame caught 3 passes for 113 yards with all 3 going for td’s vs Salisbury. Otto Young from Southern Lehigh is the other player to have 20 catches on the season besides Vassa. Davyan Moore of Freedom is averaging 48.6 yards per catch (7-340 yards) this season with 4 going for td’s. Easton receiver Sean McPeek, who caught 17 passes for 326 yards this season, picked off 2 passes vs Parkland and now has 10 int’s for his career. Two new receivers joined the chart in week 3. They are Jaylen Walker of Allen (512 yards), and Spencer Gothard of Jim Thorpe (509 yards).
KICKERS:
Lucas Angst of PM East kicked a 45-yard field goal in their 24-20 win over Allen in week 3.
Nate Hillard of Tri-Valley kicked a 41-yard field goal in a 31-22 win over Upper Dauphin in week 3.
District 11 longest field goals: (more added)
54 yards Carson Long (North Schuylkill) vs Mount Carmel in 1972 (lost 21-3)
53 yards Alexander Sahaydak (Liberty) vs Central Catholic in 2019 (lost 14-6)
52 yards Brian Happel (Pius X) vs Bangor in 1977 (won 16-12)
52 yards Tom Cochran (Bethlehem Catholic) vs Parkland in 1989 (won 3-0)
52 yards Alexander Sahaydak (Liberty) vs Southern Lehigh in 2020 (lost 27-23)
52 yards Jordan Bowers (Minersville) vs Jim Thorpe in 2026 (lost 42-10)
51 yards Luke Meyers (Central Catholic) vs Emmaus in 2023 (27-24 win)
51 yards Austin Martellucci (Easton) vs Nazareth in 2021 (lost 16-9)
51 yards Gavin Mentzer (North Schuylkill) vs Lehighton in 2024 (won 58-21)
TIDBITS:
1st recorded 200-yard receiver(s) for a game:
Bill Pilconis of Panther Valley vs Parkland in 1966 (200 yards on 7 catches) lost 33-26.
Joe Donaher of Liberty vs Neshaminy in 1967 (211 yards) more info coming
2025 single-game highs: ( ) is the week the player accomplished the stat
Single Game Touchdowns (4)
6 (2) Terrence McDowell (Tamaqua) *Modern Day School Record*
5 (1) Brock Holmes (North Schuylkill)
4 (2) Evan Garrett (Pocono Mountain East)
4 (3) Quintin Rucker (Mahanoy Area)
Single Game Rushing Yardage (200)
337 (2) Terrence McDowell (Tamaqua)
326 (3) Logan Troup (Pine Grove)
312 (1) Colton Reber (Schuylkill Haven)
255 (2) TJ Lawrence (Parkland)
250 (2) Tyler Price (Marian Catholic)
241 (1) Christian Stiehler (PMW)
233 (3) Quinton Rucker (Mahanoy Area)
226 (2) Evan Garrett (PME)
210 (1) Chase Kessler (Northampton)
209 (3) Jack MoDavis (Southern Lehigh)
Single Game Passing Yardage (200)
363 (1), 304 (2) Colton Sams (Southern Lehigh)
321 (1), 297 (3) Thomas Murphy (Notre Dame)
310 (2), 234 (3) Cohen Kirby (Blue Mountain)
279 (1), 255 (3), 240 (2) Axel Burkart (Bethlehem Catholic)
279 (1) Trey Snyder (Northwestern)
262 (2), 244 (1), 220 (3) Jackson Mitchell (Stroudsburg)
255 (1) Gregory Tirpak (Marian Catholic)
248 (2) Ethan Bench (Shenandoah Valley)
246 (2), 225 (3), 215 (1) Cooper Madson (Nazareth)
242 (2) Iovani Lopez (Salisbury)
237 (1) Michael Stofanak (Freedom)
229 (3) Julian Pagen (Allen)
222 (2) Bradyn Diehl (Schuylkill Haven)
218 (3) Tanner Dogmantis (Whitehall)
212 (1) Greyson Fuller (ESS)
206 (1) T.K. Gursky (Palmerton)
Single Game TD Passes (4)
6 (3) Thomas Murphy (Notre Dame) *Ties School Record*
5 (2) TJ Gursky (Palmerton)
5 (2) Cooper Madson (Nazareth) *Ties School Record*
4 (1), 4 (2) Colton Sams (Southern Lehigh)
4 (1) CeeJay Serfass (PME)
4 (1) Julian Pagan (Allen)
4 (2) Axel Burkart (Bethlehem Catholic)
4 (2) Ethan Bench (Shenandoah Valley)
4 (2) Iovoni Lopez (Salisbury)
4 (2) Jack Lucykanish (Lehighton)
4 (3) Trey Snyder (Northwestern)
Single Game Receptions (10)
11 (3) Carter Vassa (Bethlehem Catholic)
Single Game Reception Yardage (140)
202 (1), 153 (3) Carter Vassa (Bethlehem Catholic)
200 (2) Kole Luckenbill (Blue Mountain) *School Record*
193 (1) Davyan Moore (Freedom)
155 (3) Chase Guers (Blue Mountain)
153 (1) Brady Zimmerman (Northwestern)
147 (1) Rocco Griguoli (Marian Catholic)
143 (2) Jadiel Gonzalez (Salisbury)
Single Game Reception TD’s (3)
3 (2) Luke DiPietro (Nazareth)
3 (2) Jayden Rapoli (Wilson) *Ties School Record*
3 (3) Jonathan Striba (Notre Dame)
Field Goals (40 yards)
52 (2) Jordan Bowers (Minersville) *School Record*
48 (2) Bryson Baker (Central Catholic)
45 (3) Lucas Angst (Pocono Mountain East)
43 (2) Andrea Giroudon (Parkland)
41 (3) Nate Hillard (Tri-Valley)
District 11 Season Leaders
Rushing (400)
596 Logan Troup (Pine Grove)
528 TJ Lawrence (Parkland)
506 Tyler Price (Marian Catholic)
499 Terrence McDowell (Tamaqua)
476 Chase Kessler (Northampton)
474 Colton Reber (Schuylkill Haven)
449 Christian Stiehler (Pocono Mountain West)
444 Lashawn Johnson (Freedom)
436 Chris Ward (Pleasant Valley)
432 Fletcher Thompson (Williams Valley)
Touchdowns (7)
8 TJ Lawrence (Parkland)
8 Quintin Rucker (Mahanoy Area)
7 Colton Reber (Schuylkill Haven)
7 Terrence McDowell (Tamaqua)
7 Chase Kessler (Northampton)
7 Lukas Croizier (Lehighton)
7 Evan Garrett (Pocono Mountain East)
7 Tyler Price (Marian Catholic)
7 Carson Eckhart (Palmerton)
Passing Yards (600)
826 Colton Sams (Southern Lehigh)
774 Axel Burkart (Bethlehem Catholic)
726 Jackson Mitchell (Stroudsburg)
705 Cohen Kirby (Blue Mountain)
686 Cooper Madson (Nazareth)
686 Thomas Murphy (Notre Dame)
627 Trey Snyder (Northwestern)
Touchdown Passes (8)
10 Thomas Murphy (Notre Dame)
9 Colton Sams (Southern Lehigh)
9 Cohen Kirby (Blue Mountain)
9 Cooper Madson (Nazareth)
9 Ethan Bench (Shenandoah Valley)
9 Julian Pagen (Allen)
8 Axel Burkart (Bethlehem Catholic)
Receptions (12)
24 Carter Vassa (Bethlehem Catholic)
20 Otto Young (Southern Lehigh)
17 Luke DiPietro (Nazareth)
17 Sean McPeek (Easton)
16 Chase Guers (Blue Mountain)
16 Kole Luckenbill (Blue Mountain)
16 Henry Shultz (Whitehall)
15 Jaylen Walker (Allen)
14 Joshua Ivers-Green (Stroudsburg)
14 Prince David Albino (Pocono Mountain East)
13 Chase McArdle (Panther Valley)
13 Zyaire Davis (Liberty)
13 Michael Lagowy (Northwestern)
12 Tahir Edmondson (Central Catholic)
12 Brady Zimmerman (Northwestern)
12 Mason Marinelli (Nazareth)
Reception Yardage (260)
445 Carter Vassa (Bethlehem Catholic)
340 Davyan Moore (Freedom)
326 Sean McPeek (Easton)
318 Kole Luckenbill (Blue Mountain)
308 Chase Guers (Blue Mountain)
295 Joshua Ivers-Green (Stroudsburg)
285 Luke DiPietro (Nazareth)
274 Henry Shultz (Whitehall)
268 Blake Nassry (Parkland)
266 Otto Young (Southern Lehigh)
Reception Touchdowns (4)
5 Carter Vassa (Bethlehem Catholic)
5 Chase Guers (Blue Mountain)
4 Jonathan Striba (Notre Dame)
4 Luke Dipietro (Nazareth)
4 Davyan Moore (Freedom)
4 Blake Nassry (Parkland)
4 Gene Sinkus (Shenandoah Valley)
4 Amin Fideen (Easton)
