There was a 3,000-yard rusher, three passers with at least 2,600 yards, a defender with 165 tackles and a quarterback with at least 1,000 yards rushing and passing.
It was a banner year for the Colonial-Schuylkill League, evidenced by two teams making a state final in the same season for the first ever in the four-year existence of the league and the first time by two teams from the same league in District 11 history.
PIAA Class 3A finalist Northwestern Lehigh (9) and state 4A champion Southern Lehigh (8) dominate the first team, but seven other teams are represented in that group.
Panther Valley’s Brody Breiner was the only area player with 1,000 yards rushing and passing in 2025.
Saucon Valley’s Thomas Cahill was the only freshman to earn first-team honors after his breakout season as a receiver. He led all area players in receptions and was second in yards.
He is joined by Palisades junior Lincoln Cook, who led the area in receiving yardage and was second in catches while setting several school records.
Here is a look at the first and second teams plus honorable mentions who were selected after receiving input from the 17 head coaches:
All-Area Colonial League football team
First team
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Jr. Colton Sams, Southern Lehigh
Running back: Sr. Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh
Running back: Sr. Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh
Fullback/slotback: Jr. Brady Zimmerman, Northwestern Lehigh
Wide receiver: Jr. Lincoln Cook, Palisades
Wide receiver: Fr. Thomas Cahill, Saucon Valley
Tight end: Sr. Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh
Offensive line: Sr. Logan Anthony, Palmerton
Offensive line: Sr. Carter Giberson, Southern Lehigh
Offensive line: Sr. Colton Popp, Northwestern Lehigh
Offensive line: Jr. Lucas Sutyak, Southern Lehigh
Offensive line: Sr. Austin Casal, Notre Dame-Green Pond
Athlete: Sr. Shane Leh, Northwestern Lehigh
Kicker: So. Chase Sukanick, Northwestern Lehigh
DEFENSE
Defensive line: Sr. Silas Day, Palisades
Defensive line: Jr. Dylan Gretz, Southern Lehigh
Defensive line: Sr. Logan Anthony, Palmerton
Defensive line: Sr. Carter Giberson, Southern Lehigh
Linebacker: Sr. Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh
Linebacker: Sr. Dariuz Lightner, Southern Lehigh
Linebacker: Sr. Max Woerner, Palisades
Linebacker: Jr. Brady Zimmerman, Northwestern Lehigh
Defensive back: Jr. Michael Lagowy, Northwestern Lehigh
Defensive back: Jr. Chris Frame, Northern Lehigh
Defensive back: So. Jack Pavis, Southern Lehigh
Defensive back: Jr. Lukas Croizier, Lehighton
Athlete: Sr. Brody Breiner, Panther Valley (only area player to rush and pass for at least 1,000 yards)
Athlete: Jr. Drew Boyd, Notre Dame-GP
Punter: Sr. Clemente Cintron, Notre Dame-GP
Second team
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Sr. Matt Bodnar, Notre Dame-GP
Running back: So. Terrence McDowell, Tamaqua
Running back: Jr. Tray Dunn, Catasauqua
Fullback/slotback: Sr. Max Woerner, Palisades
Wide receiver: Jr. Michael Lagowy, Northwestern Lehigh
Wide receiver: Jr. Drew Boyd, Notre Dame-GP
Tight end: Sr. Silas Day, Palisades
Offensive line: Jr. Gabe Bogart, Southern Lehigh
Offensive line: So. Devin Rex, Northwestern Lehigh
Offensive line: Jr. Landen Klimek, Northern Lehigh
Offensive line: Sr. Joe Petersen, Saucon Valley
Offensive line: Sr. Cody Hartman, Notre Dame-GP
Athlete: Jr. Jonathan Striba, Notre Dame-GP
Kicker: Jr. Clemente Cintron, Notre Dame-GP
DEFENSE
Defensive line: Jr. Josh Scherer, Notre Dame-GP
Defensive line: Jr. Bill Slattery, Northern Lehigh
Defensive line: So. Fritz Scheirer, Northwestern Lehigh
Defensive line: Jr. Gavin Baker, Jim Thorpe
Defensive line: Sr. Marco Tessitore, Panther Valley
Linebacker: Sr. Faustie Capobianco, Notre Dame-GP
Linebacker: Sr. Blake Roberts, Lehighton
Linebacker: Sr. Caiden Faust, Pen Argyl
Linebacker: Sr. Jacoby Jacobs, Southern Lehigh
Defensive back: Sr. Terrell Estes, Pen Argyl
Defensive back: Jr. Lincoln Cook, Palisades
Defensive back: Sr. Jack Trickel, Palisades
Defensive back: Sr. Alex Keiper, Palmerton
Athlete: Sr. Cole Lazorick, Jim Thorpe
Punter: Sr. Mason Bollinger, Northwestern Lehigh
HONORABLE MENTIONS (alphabetical by team; players not listed on the first two teams)
Bangor: Sr. Kamal Crockett; Jr. Hunter Hopstetter; Jr. Lucas Hurd; So. Cooper Karasek; Fr. Lincoln Rehrig; Sr. Tyler Scholato
Catasauqua: Jr. Manny Bolmer
Jim Thorpe: So. Tyler Hoherchak
Lehighton: Jr. Preston DiGrazia; Sr. Jayse Lawrence; So. Carl Lingham; Sr. Josh Louk; So. Zayden Martinez; Sr. Caden Meek
Marian Catholic: Sr. Jah Bushati; Jr. Rory Dixon; So. Tyler Price; Sr. Damian Rodino; Jr. Dominick Rodino; Sr. Jake Tom
Northern Lehigh: Jr. Chase Gall; Jr. Colin Karetsky; Sr. Grady Newhard; Sr. Kaden Quinones; Jr. Garrett Smoyer
Northwestern Lehigh: Sr. Braidon Berk; Sr. M.J. Boring; So. Maddox Hurdle; So. Nolan Koehler; Sr. Kemurry Morgan
Notre Dame-GP: Sr. Alex Clark; Jr. C.J. Diaz; Jr. Aaron Gordon; Sr. Garrett Grants; Sr. Daniel Higgins
Palisades: Jr. Matt Casterline; Sr. Ashton Fitzgerald; Jr. Carter Kilhefner; Sr. Blake Oglialoro; Sr. Chase Smith; Sr. Rowan Tharp
Palmerton: So. Ben Negley; Sr. Vincent Taglieri; Jr. Jacob Walkowiak
Panther Valley: Sr. Ben Baneravage; Sr. Pete Kruslicky; So. Chase McArdle; Jr. Carlos Maldanado; Sr. Marcus Rodriguez; Sr. Gavin Yurichek
Pen Argyl: Anthony Beltran; Sr. Rocco DeCesare; Sr. Jakob Pietraszkiewicz; Sr. Mason Soos; Zach Metzgar
Salisbury: Sr. Jadan Claudio; Sr. Jamanni Cruz; Sr. Sam Krauss
Saucon Valley: So. Angel Avila; Jr. Ezekiel Diely; So. Sahalay Hernandez; Jr. Hunter Hill; Fr. Mickie McClarin; Jr. Braden Rohn; So. Eli Szlachtianshyn
Southern Lehigh: Sr. Samad Harriatt; Jr. Noah Hoppel; Sr. Luke Kawczenski; Sr. Darius Roman; Jr. Cody Wesner; So. Otto Young
Tamaqua: Sr. Shawn Chen; Sr. Luke Frohnheiser; Sr. Brady McCabe; Jr. Teegen Phillips; Sr. Malachi Stewart
Wilson: So. Ryan Bonham; Jr. J’son Johnson
Offensive player of the year: Sr. Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh
Defensive player of the year: Jr. Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh
Newcomer of the year: Sr. Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh
Teams of the year: Northwestern Lehigh, Southern Lehigh
Co-coaches of the year: Josh Snyder, Northwestern Lehigh; Phil Sams, Southern Lehigh
