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Region 6 football all-stars announced (scroll down)
All eyes on 1,000
Noah Baughman, Rocky Grove
Break out the balloons and posters. These four local players -- all seniors -- have a chance to reach the 1,000 points milestone this season, which began this week.
PAyton Liederbach, Oil City
Cole Findlay, Cranberry
landen Carter, Rocky Grove
Other returning scoring machines this season: Darien Wenner and Blake Marchinke, Cranberry; Jameson Wofford, Franklin and Nevin Stinson and Sophia Garmong, Oil City. Findlay and Marchinke (D-9) and Baughman (D-10) have been named to pre-season All-District teams by YDL.com.
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By Jared Montalto
Reading Eagle
One-hundred and four days.
That’s how long it has been since the Twin Valley Raiders began their journey in Week 1 toward a state championship appearance.
When Brett Myers’ 2025 squad began the season, the sun was blazing down on their green helmets. Now, on Dec. 4, his team will be prepared not only for the biggest football game of their young lives, but also for the challenge of staying warm in the Pennsylvania cold.
But weather aside, the Raiders (14-0), in their first PIAA Class 4A state championship appearance, have their sights set on one thing and one thing only: winning a title.
They will meet District 11 champion Southern Lehigh (14-1) at 7 p.m. today at Cumberland Valley High School for the Class 4A championship.
It would be their third title of the season, having already captured the Lancaster-Lebanon Section 4 crown and the District 3 Class 4A championship, with a Class 4A state title now on the horizon.
The Raiders have certainly answered the call in every big matchup they’ve faced this season, whether it was taking down Section 4 foes Wyomissing and Lampeter-Strasburg, whom they beat by a combined score of 70-13, or defeating Susquehanna Township 41-21 in the District 3 championship.
Dominance is the simplest word you can use to describe the Raiders' season.
Almost unstoppable on the ground and impenetrable on defense, they’re the kind of team that’s incredibly hard to beat, especially when they’re as disciplined and mature as a high school football team can be.
But with only 48 minutes left in their season, win or lose, they’ll need to bring it one more time, on the state’s biggest stage at Cumberland Valley High School.
To punch their ticket to the championship, the Raiders are coming off their smallest margin of victory of the season, a 28-24 semifinal win over Aliquippa.
It was a tale of two halves at Mifflin County High School, but the Raiders hung on late to keep their season alive.
Twin Valley was held scoreless in the second half as the Quips rallied from a 28-6 halftime deficit.
Lucas Myers delivered a hat trick on the ground, while sophomore quarterback Maverik Foster added a rushing touchdown of his own, all in the first half.
But the Quips put themselves in position for a potential game-winning drive after shutting down the Raiders’ offense.
On fourth down, with the season on the line, Yale
Conquerers of Aliquippa, Twin Valley
looks to complete historic season
Spartans will face another old playoff foe
of the Oilers, Southern Lehigh, for state crown
Editor's note: Aliquippa ousted Oil City from the playoffs, 28-6, in the quarterfinals two weeks ago. The Oilers lost to Southern Lehigh, 41-0, in 2019. Kickoff for today's game is 7 p.m.
commit Marques Council Jr. dropped back and launched a prayer to the end zone, but Keenan Munn knocked it down, sealing the victory for Twin Valley.
On paper, without considering the final score, it might have seemed like Aliquippa dominated the game. The Quips outgained the Raiders 330-133 in total yards. (Webmaster note: Oil City had a 244-236 edge in total yards against the Quips, just sayin'.)
Drew Engle was held to a season-low 65 yards on 20 carries, averaging just 3.25 yards per attempt.
But when it comes time for big players to make big plays, the Raiders’ defense has shown why they’ve been one of the most feared units in the state all season.
This week, they’ll face their toughest opponent yet: Southern Lehigh.
The District 11 champion Spartans advanced with a 28-24 semifinal comeback victory over Cardinal O’Hara.
After falling behind 21-0 early, they battled back to secure the win.
Trailing with over six minutes left, the Spartans drove down the field, chewing up the clock, and Sean Steckert scored his third touchdown of the game to seal the victory.
It’s clear that both squads are battle-tested as they head into a game that could go either way.
Like the Raiders, the Spartans have an elite back in Steckert.
The All-State senior has rushed for 2,911 yards this season with 41 touchdowns, closing in on the 3,000-yard mark.
Handing off the ball isn’t the only weapon for the Spartans; they also have the school’s all-time leading passer, Colton Sams.
Only a junior, Sams has thrown for 2,543 yards and 34 touchdowns with just five interceptions, completing 72% of his passes this season.
It's another talented, electric offense that the Raiders will need to be fully prepared to stop once again.
On defense, senior Dariuz Lightner commands the field. He has recorded 95 tackles, 12 for loss, and four interceptions this season.
Southern Lehigh is coming off two tight, one-score victories over Shamokin and Cardinal O’Hara. Still, over the course of the season, they’ve been dominant, winning by an average of 40-16.
Their lone loss came at the hands of rival Northwestern Lehigh, who are 15-0 and playing in the 3A state championship game against Avonworth on Saturday.
Southern Lehigh will also be making its first state championship appearance. Last season, they fell in the semifinals, 55-26, to Bonner-Prendergast.
This will be Brett Myers’ fourth state championship appearance, but his first as head coach of Twin Valley.
He previously led Middletown to three state championship games, falling to Beaver Falls 30-13 in 2016, Quaker Valley 41-24 in 2017, and Aliquippa 35-0 in 2018.
So far this season, the Raiders’ offense is averaging 50 points per game, gaining the bulk of their production on the ground with 287 rushing yards per game.
Engle leads the charge, closing in on a 2,000-yard season with 1,920 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Myers has rushed for 1,147 yards and 24 touchdowns this season, averaging just under 10 yards per carry.
On defense, Twin Valley allows only 11 points per game and holds opponents to under 200 yards on average.
Like any state championship, it’s two heavyweights going head-to-head, each trying to etch their name in the history books.
The Raiders have been disciplined and rolling all season, but can they finish the job and complete a perfect season?
Photo by Richard Sayer
Cole Findlay shared Region 6 co-Player of the Year with General McLane's Matt Caro.
Region 6 Co-Player of the Year
Findlay, Heise, Sparks named two-way first team performers
Oilers Baker, Foster, Lucarelli, Stanton, Buzard, Stevens also on first team Along with Franklin's Ritchey
The teams were released Nov. 27 by the Erie Times News. They were selected by region coaches. All-District 10 teams will be announced in December after the state playoffs. Also pictured, besides Findlay, are Steven Heise (12) and Caleb Sparks (83).
FIRST TEAM
Offense
Caiden Holler – General McLane – 11 – TE
Kyle McConnell – General McLane – 12 – WR
Jackson Kiser – General McLane – 12 – WR
Landon Baker – Oil City – 12 – WR
Cole Findlay – Oil City – 12 – QB
Matt Caro – General McLane – 12 – QB
Cohen Beachly – General McLane – 12 – RB
Steven Heise – Oil City – 12 – RB
Jordan Lawrence – Meadville – 12 – RB
Jared Corwin – General McLane – 12 – AP
Tymir Phillips – Meadville – 12 – AP
Jacob Retterer – Warren – 12 – OL
Ryan Benoit – General McLane – 12 – OL
Lucas Conley – Meadville – 12 – OL
Carson Foster – Oil City – 12 – OL
Caleb Sparks – Oil City – 12 – OL
Hayden Chong – General McLane – 12 – OL
Special teams
Carter Sindlinger – General McLane – 12 – K
Charlie Blum – Warren – 11 – P
Connor Ritchey – Franklin – 12 – P
Defense
Noah Lucarelli – Oil City – 11 – DL
Caleb Sparks – Oil City – 12 – DL
Abdul Stanton – Oil City – 11 – DL
Mitch Kovski – General McLane – 11 – DL
Hudson Palmiero – Meadville – 10 – DL
Caiden Holler – General McLane – 11 – DL
Nick Swenson – General McLane – 12 – LB
Zach Carr – Meadville – 12 – LB
Brayden Buzard – Oil City – 12 – LB
Cohen Beachly – General McLane – 12 – LB
Blake Stevens – Oil City – 11 – LB
PJ Mitchell – General McLane – 11 – LB
Logan Squires – General McLane – 12 – DB
Cole Findlay – Oil City – 12 – DB
Steven Heise – Oil City – 12 – DB
Kyle McConnell – General McLane – 12 – DB
​
Second team
Offense
Zach Carr – Meadville – 12 – TE
Jayden Wilmoth – Franklin – 12 – WR
Jacoby Thompson – Meadville – 12 – QB
Caiden Mincer – Franklin – 11 – RB
PJ Mitchell – General McLane – 11 – RB
My'Saun Mills – Oil City – 11 – AP
Jacob Riddle – Franklin – 11 – OL
Cole Gillette – General McLane – 11 – OL
Mitch Kovski – General McLane – 11 – OL
Lucas Wolf – Oil City – 11 – OL
Deryk DeLong – Oil City – 11 – OL
Andrew Kennedy – General McLane – 11 – OL
Special teams
Connor Ritchey – Franklin – 12 – K
Matt Caro – General McLane – 12 – P
Defense
Cole Gillette – General McLane – 11 – DL
Jared Corwin – General McLane – 12 – DL
Aaron Moore – Franklin – 11 – DL
Jacob Riddle – Franklin – 12 – DL
Kaiden Kelselka – Franklin – 11 – DL
Tycen Sindlinger – Oil City – 10 – LB
Greedy Sharp – General McLane – 10 – LB
Caiden Mincer – Franklin – 11 – LB
Anthony Martin – Franklin – 10 – LB
Jayden Wilmoth – Franklin – 12 – DB
Charlie Bennett – General McLane – 10 – DB
Gabe Montroy – General McLane – 10 – DB
Spence Singleton – Oil City – 12 – DB
​
Region co-players of the year – Matt Caro, General McLane; Cole Findlay, Oil City
MEANWHILE, IN OHIO...
Kirtland reaches 14th state championship game
Kirtland became the first football program in Ohio history to reach 14 state championships in a 15-year span after beating Colonel Crawford, 49-22, Friday in the Class VI semifinals.
The Hornets, coached by Oil City grad Tiger LaVerde, will play Hopewell-Loudon at 3 p.m., Dec. 6 in Canton, for the state title.
John Silvestro, who scored four TDs for the Hornets, became the first player in Kirtland history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. He ran for 229 in the game with junior Ty Bledsoe adding 155.
Jake LaVerde scored two touchdowns and had 51 of the Hornets' 441 yards rushing. Last week in the Region 21 final, LaVerde became the first Kirtland player to reach 3,000 yards rushing and 3,000 passing.
Kirtland is the fourth team with nine straight region crowns, and Tiger LaVerde is the fifth coach to make 14 Final Fours.
Kirtland scored on every possession except the last against Colonel Crawford. The Hornets welcomed back junior 6-2, 300-pound tackle Jack Turk, who had been out with an ankle injury.
​
