Records and explosive returns highlighted another outstanding week of Pennsylvania high school football special teams performances.
Sun Valley’s Nick Nolek made history with a 53-yard field goal, establishing a new Delaware County record, while Montrose’s Evan McComb delivered the longest reported kickoff return for a touchdown with a 95-yard score.
Lewisburg’s Jaylen Walker led the punt-return category with an 85-yard touchdown, while South Western’s Chris Lupinacci connected on three field goals.
Central York’s Brady Burt and South Williamsport’s Kaiden Paulhamus each converted nine extra points, and Pennridge’s Austin Keller led the reported punting averages at 49.3 yards per punt.
Nolek Sets Delaware County Record with 53-Yard Field Goal
Sun Valley’s Nick Nolek delivered one of the week’s biggest special teams milestones.
Nolek connected on a 53-yard field goal, establishing a new Delaware County record.
He also made a 45-yard field goal, giving him two successful kicks of 45 yards or longer in the same game.
His 53-yarder was the longest reported field goal of the week, while his 45-yard kick ranked second.
Nolek’s record-setting performance highlighted a strong week for kickers across Pennsylvania.
McComb Leads Kickoff Returns with 95-Yard Touchdown
Montrose’s Evan McComb delivered the longest reported kickoff return for a touchdown, taking one back 95 yards.
Haverford High’s Liam Kilpatrick and Shikellamy’s Thomas Pollock followed with 94-yard kickoff-return touchdowns.
Midd-West’s Haven Bridge added a 90-yard scoring return, giving the week four kickoff-return touchdowns of at least 90 yards.
Chester’s Kanif Doward returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, while Central York’s Jerome LaRue scored on a 78-yard return.
Palisades’ Lincoln Cook went 70 yards for a touchdown.
Wyoming Area’s Dominic Bartell and South Williamsport’s Samir Moy each added 64-yard kickoff-return touchdowns.
Walker Breaks Loose for 85-Yard Punt Return
Lewisburg’s Jaylen Walker led the reported punt-return touchdowns with an 85-yard score.
Wyoming Area’s Luke Kopetchny followed with a 65-yard punt-return touchdown.
Valley View’s Cash Roe and South Williamsport’s Samir Moy each returned punts 48 yards for touchdowns.
Shippensburg’s Julio Gonzalez scored on a 45-yard return, while Dallas’ Tyce Mason added a 38-yard touchdown.
Dunmore’s Weston Yannone rounded out the group with a 36-yard punt-return touchdown.
Moy was one of the week’s most versatile return specialists, scoring on both a 64-yard kickoff return and a 48-yard punt return.
Lupinacci Connects on Three Field Goals
South Western’s Chris Lupinacci led the reported field-goal totals by connecting on three kicks.
Lupinacci made field goals from 33, 40 and 42 yards, giving him two successful kicks of at least 40 yards.
Sun Valley’s Nolek followed with two field goals from 45 and 53 yards.
La Salle College High School’s Jackson Lauffler connected from 24 and 34 yards, while Great Valley’s Ryan Wilsher made field goals from 24 and 31 yards.
The four kickers combined to make nine field goals.
Long-Distance Kicking Highlights the Week
Nolek’s Delaware County-record 53-yard field goal led the reported long-distance kicking performances.
His 45-yarder was the second-longest kick of the week.
South Western’s Lupinacci connected from 42 and 40 yards, while Lehighton’s Sawyer Hoffman made a 41-yard field goal.
Berks Catholic’s Alex Reali connected from 38 yards, while Wilkes-Barre’s John Mendola made a 35-yarder.
Northeastern’s Grant Stephens and La Salle College High School’s Lauffler each connected from 34 yards.
Berwick Area’s Caleb Yost, Bethlehem Freedom’s Nathan Stannard and Lampeter-Strasburg’s Tyler Schoffstall each made 33-yard field goals.
Governor Mifflin’s Gavin Belz connected from 32 yards, Great Valley’s Wilsher made a 31-yarder, and Solanco’s Tristan Brown finished the group with a 30-yard field goal.
Burt and Paulhamus Convert Nine Extra Points
Central York’s Brady Burt and South Williamsport’s Kaiden Paulhamus shared the reported lead in successful extra points with nine apiece.
Burt also recorded six touchbacks, giving him another strong performance in the kicking game.
Paulhamus’ nine PATs highlighted a productive special teams performance for South Williamsport.
Keller Leads Punting Averages
Pennridge’s Austin Keller led the reported punting averages with an impressive 49.3 yards per punt on three attempts.
Penn Manor’s Connor Smeigh followed with a 44.7-yard average on three punts.
Warrior Run’s Logan Stevenson averaged 40.3 yards on four punts.
Strath Haven’s Chase Shuster and Stroudsburg’s Gabe Ferguson each averaged 38.0 yards on three punts. Ferguson recorded a long of 49 yards.
East Pennsboro’s Calvin Hunsicker averaged 37.0 yards on four punts, including a long of 46 yards.
La Salle College High School’s Jackson Lauffler finished with a 36.5-yard average.
Archbishop Ryan’s Thanas Strati averaged 35.7 yards on three punts, including a long of 44 yards.
Tamaqua Area’s Ryder Holmberg rounded out the group with a 35.0-yard average on four punts.
Lauffler was also one of the week’s most versatile specialists, making two field goals while ranking among the punting leaders.
Burt Leads Touchbacks with Six
Central York’s Brady Burt led the reported touchback totals with six.
Coventry Christian School’s Christian Brown and Mount Carmel Area’s Josh Miller each recorded four touchbacks.
Burt’s six touchbacks, combined with his nine successful PATs, made him one of the week’s most productive kickers.
Blount and Stevenson Pin Opponents Deep
York Suburban’s Jacob Blount and Warrior Run’s Logan Stevenson shared the reported lead in punts placed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
Both players finished with three.
Stevenson also averaged 40.3 yards on four punts, combining distance with the ability to help his team control field position.
Special Teams Deliver Another Memorable Week
From record-setting field goals to long kickoff and punt returns, special teams continued to produce some of the biggest plays across Pennsylvania.
Nolek’s 53-yard field goal established a new Delaware County record, while Lupinacci connected on three field goals for South Western.
McComb’s 95-yard kickoff return led the return category, and Walker’s 85-yard punt return topped the punt-return performances.
Moy scored on both a kickoff and a punt return, while Burt and Paulhamus each converted nine extra points.
Keller averaged 49.3 yards per punt, and Stevenson placed three punts inside the 20-yard line.
With explosive returns, accurate kicking and strong punting performances, Pennsylvania’s special teams standouts once again showed how important the kicking game can be.