Representing Lehighton at the Colonial League Media Day at The Phoenix in Nazareth were, from left: Yadi Acosta-Rodriguez, Jayse Lawrence, head coach Tom McCarroll, Blake Roberts and Joey Houser. Photo by Leroy Boyer

Lehighton

Head coach: Tom McCarroll

2023: 2-9

Story by Leroy Boyer

Lehighton opened the 2023 season on a relatively positive note. The Indians alternated competitive losses to Palmerton and Pottsville with impressive victories over Tamaqua and Wilson to forge a 2-2 record as the regular season neared the midway point.

Things went south from there, however, as Tom McCarroll’s club ended the season with seven straight defeats, including a 58-14 setback to Northwestern Lehigh in the District 11 Class 3A quarterfinals. The Indians struggled on both sides of the ball, getting outscored 292-85 over that seven-game stretch.

Despite some key graduation losses, Lehighton has a positive outlook for the 2024 campaign. The Indians return nine key players from last year’s club, including their top two receivers and four offensive linemen.

Junior Jayse Lawrence takes over as the starter at quarterback after seeing extensive action the past two seasons. He replaces the graduated Brady O’Donnell, who threw for 1,404 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago, ranking among the area leaders. O’Donnell finished as the Indians’ career record-holder in pass completions (361), passing attempts (663) and passing yards (4,136), throwing 32 career touchdown passes.

The Indians will also need to find a new No. 1 tailback, as Dylan Moyer departs after rushing for 794 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago. Sophomore Lucas Crozier is expected to take over that No. 1 tailback role. Lawrence will have a bevy of receivers to throw to, as junior Blake Roberts and senior Joe Roth return. Roberts hauled in 42 passes for 428 yards and two touchdowns last season, while Roth had 33 catches for 378 yards and three scores. Senior Logan Kent, junior Caden Meek and sophomore Kaden Hauser will also be in the receiver mix.

“We have returning players with significant experience,” said McCarroll, entering his 13th season at the helm. “(Our) skill players have the potential to be very dynamic.”

Up front, seniors Joey Houser, Yadiel Acosta-Rodriguez and Brock Gower and sophomore Marc Macias return. A key position battle in preseason camp will be at offensive guard, where juniors Julian Edwards and Anthony Dietrich and sophomores Preston DiGrazia and Jonathan Mayers will be fighting for playing time. Another key position battle is at tight end, with junior Hunter Kintz, senior Deven Armbruster and Bodie Hawk vying for that position.

Defensively, linebackers Roberts and Roth and defensive backs Kent, Lawrence and Crozier are among the key returnees. Armbruster, DiGrazia, Kintz and Ashton Traylor will also be in the mix at linebacker, while McCarroll lists defensive linemen Mayers and senior Jacob Ferguson and defensive backs Meek and Hauser as other players to watch.

McCarroll said his team’s keys to a winning season were, “If our offensive line reaches its potential and gels quickly, along with seeing improvement with our defense.”

Lehighton will compete in the big-school Red Division (Division I) of the Schuylkill/Colonial Football Cooperative along with Bangor, Blue Mountain, Jim Thorpe, North Schuylkill, Northwestern Lehigh, Pottsville, Southern Lehigh and Tamaqua.

In districts, the Indians will be part of a 10-team D-11 Class 4A field in which eight teams qualify for the postseason. Lehighton opens its season Friday, Aug. 23, at Northern Lehigh.