Are you ready for some football?

The 2024 Lancaster-Lebanon League gridiron season is right around the corner, with Media Day on tap for Aug. 2, heat acclimatization practices set for Aug. 5, scrimmages on tap for Aug. 17, and the Week 1 games scheduled for Aug. 23-24.

To get you prepped and ready for all the action, LNP|LancasterOnline and Mike Drago Sports — back in the saddle for its third season of wall-to-wall pigskin coverage — have compiled a list of the top returning players from around the L-L League.

Here is the Section 4 list, with capsules written by Jeff Reinhart and Mike Drago. Players are listed alphabetically …

12 FOR THE SHOW

Aris Drake, OT-DT, Twin Valley — He’s one of the biggest reasons why the Raiders produced a pair of 1,000-yard rushers and averaged a league-best 324 yards per game on the ground last season. The 6-6, 300-pounder is a force up front, and he collected more than a dozen Division I offers before deciding to join former TV teammate Paul McClune, a 2024 grad, at the U.S. Naval Academy. Drake is a 4-year starter who played primarily at left tackle last year, earning second-team all-star honors. He’s so versatile and mobile that he can be utilized at any spot up front, including TE. He’ll also see time on the D-line this fall. Drake is agile for his size; he's the starting center on the Raiders’ basketball team. Drake is also an outstanding student; he drew offers from Lehigh, Dartmouth, Colgate, Cornell, Richmond and Navy, among others.

Drew Engle, RB-DB, Twin Valley — A small crease in the line can turn into a huge gain for Engle, who has great open-field moves and breakaway speed. He had a breakout sophomore season, crushing the program's single-season rushing record by running the 1,599 yards yards last fall. His 10.5 yards-per-carry average was fourth-best in the 37-team league. Engle’s 15 TD runs were two off the program record — all this while sharing the RB spot with Evan Johnson. Engle went for a career-best 230 rushing yards in a key Section 3 win over Garden Spot, and he rushed for 190 or more yards on four occasions; he also reached 100 yards seven times, and he was a first-team All-Berks pick at RB. Engle is also a starter at DB, where he was second-team all-league pick last year. He’s also dangerous in the return game; he was a second-team all-league KR as a freshman.

Chase Eisenhower, RB-LB Wyomissing — He made an instant impact as a freshman, stepping into the starting lineup at LB at mid-season, and playing a key role as the Spartans went 13-1 and won league and district titles in 2022. Eisenhower then became Wyo’s go-to back last season, rumbling for a team-high 1,092 yards with 18 TD romps while averaging 7.2 yards per carry. That netted him second-team all-league honors in Section 4. The 5-11, 220-pound FB had four TD runs against Danville in a PIAA playoff win. Eisenhower is just as important to the Spartans in the middle of their D at inside ‘backer. He led the team in tackles with 70 last season, plus a pair of sacks. He returned an INT 86 yards for a TD in the D3-3A championship game vs. West Perry, as Wyo capped off its fifth district title in a row. The 3-year starter will be one of the strengths of a young Spartans’ defense, as they bid for Section 4 title.

Carter Faubel, OG-DE, Twin Valley — His arrival will help the Raiders maintain strong line play, even after the graduation of five all-league picks, including Ean Winchester, the Section 3 Defensive Lineman of the Year. The 6-1, 285-pounder was a 2-way first-team all-league lineman as a junior at Delaware Valley last season, helping DV win a D2-5A championship and a first-round PIAA playoff game. Faubel showed off his strength at the Chris Nunn Memorial Berks County Football Combine earlier this spring, winning the bench press competition. He recently had a PR with a 555-pound squat. TV coach Brett Myers said Faubel has proven to be the strongest player on the team in every lift, and he’ll be one of the few 2-way starters up front for a TV team that enters the season as one of the favorites to win the Section 4 title. Fauble was a 2-year starter at DelVal, and he’s getting FCS and PSAC looks. Come next spring, he’ll be a challenger for a D3 medal in the discus.

Justice Hardy, ATH, Wyomissing — Not many freshmen crack Wyo’s starting lineup, but Hardy started all of last season at DB or safety, and he was a part of a D unit that ranked No. 2 overall in the 37-team league in pass defense, and No. 3 in total team defense. Hardy, who earned second-team all-league honors at DB last fall, picked off a team-high four passes, and he took two of them to the house — a 45-yard pick-6 vs. Lampeter-Strasburg and a 23-yard pick-6 vs. Berks Catholic. His sprinter’s speed will be just as big a factor on offense this season, when he’s utilized as both a RB and WR — plus the kick-return game. Hardy didn’t have many touches last season because Wyo was so deep in the backfield. But he showed his game-breaking potential by averaging 8.6 yards per carry. He ended up second on the team with 488 rushing yards, and he led the way with 13 receptions. Hardy scored 12 touchdowns in all, second-most on the team. That included six rushing scores — with an 82-yard TD sprint vs. Conrad Weiser — plus the two picks on D, and four TD receptions. A hamstring injury last spring curtailed his potential for a county championship on the track in the 100; that’s a possibility in the future, as are top-level college offers for football.

Caileb Howse, QB-DB, Lampeter-Strasburg — Is poised to become a household name in L-L League neighborhoods this fall, especially if he clicks behind center as the Pioneers’ new full-time QB. Howse blew stuff up from his safety spot last fall, announcing his presence with authority with 48 tackles, including three sticks for losses, a forced fumble, seven pass breakups and four interceptions from his safety spot, as L-S won a D3-4A playoff game. He’s a lower-your-shoulder tackler, and he made a lot of big sticks on his way to earning honorable mention section all-star status at DB. Howse also did some things as L-S’s backup QB; he completed 3-of-4 passes while rushing for 232 yards with seven TD keepers. That’s a lot of TD runs in backup duty. He’s ready to unleash. Remember his name: Caileb with an i.

Evan Johnson, ATH, Twin Valley — He split time at RB last season with Drew Engle, and still managed to rip off 1,089 rushing yards with 15 TD runs — in 112 carries — earning second-team all-league honors. Johnson is an instinctive runner, with burst and a knack for busting big plays; he had a 97-yard TD run vs. Fleetwood — second-longest in program history — and he had a 71-yard game-winning TD catch vs. Solanco. Johnson averaged 9.7 yards per carry, and he’s averaging 9.5 yards per carry in his career. By season’s end, the 5-11, 165-pounder will likely be the Raiders’ all-time TD and scoring leader — and possibly their all-time leading rusher; he needs 1,259 yards to surpass Dominic Caruso’s mark of 3,684 rushing yards. Johnson can also join Caruso as just the second TV back with two 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He actually surpassed that milestone late in his sophomore season, only to end up at 993 yards after taking a big loss to dip back down under 1,000 yards in 2022. Johnson is also a key piece on the D side, where he’s a 4-year starter at DB. He’s getting Patriot League and PSAC looks.

Haydn Moyer, QB-DB, Daniel Boone — Proved himself quickly with the Blazers, being named a captain and taking over the lead RB duties last season as a sophomore. Now it’s time to step up again, as Moyer takes over at QB for rebuilding DB. Coach J.D. Okuniewski wants his best athlete and leader at QB, so Moyer will move behind center, even though he’s never played that position before. “We’re taking our best player and putting the ball in his hands every single play,” Okuniewski said. Moyer will be just as critical on D, where he’s also moving to a new position; he’ll start at safety, after playing inside ‘backer last year. It’s more of an area of need for the Blazers; that’s why Moyer is moving — that and the fact that he can be involved in more plays. “Haydn is a kid who’s going to find the football,” Okuniewski said. Moyer rushed for 339 yards last season, earning all-league second-team honors at RB.

Evan Myers, QB-DB, Twin Valley — He’s positioned to become just the second player in Berks history to pass for 1,000 or more yards in four straight seasons. The first to do that was Wilson’s Chad Henne. Myers stepped right in as a freshman and threw for a program-record 1,498 yards He’s gotten better each year since, adding a running element to his game and, most importantly, leadership qualities that helped the Raiders win 10 games, get a share of the Section 3 title and go to the D3-4A semifinals last fall. He’ll be a captain for the second straight season. Myers is getting Ivy League and Patriot League looks after completing 59.1% of his passes and throwing for 1,472 yards with nine TD tosses last year. He’s already TV’s career leader with 4,174 passing yards, and Myers should become just the fifth QB in Berks history to top 5,000 career passing yards. If the Raiders make a deep playoff run, he could hit 6,000. Myers is nimble, and he’s an instinctive runner who averaged 7.4 yards per carry with 10 TD keepers last season. The 5-10, 185-pounder will also see plenty of time at DB, and he’ll also handle the punting duties and possibly be utilized as a punt returner. Myers earned first-team All-Berks honors as an athlete last year.

Lucas Myers, RB-LB, Twin Valley — Made an instant impact for the Raiders in his freshman season last fall, recording a team-high 11 tackles in their season-opening win over Schuylkill Valley. Myers remained a stalwart on D the rest of the way, earning first-team all-star honors — the only ninth-grade field player in any of the league’s five sections to pick up first-team honors. Schuylkill Valley K Reese Wamsher picked up first-team honors in his freshman season last fall. Myers was the lone freshman on the All-Berks first team, after finishing with 97 solo tackles, four sacks and five pass breakups. He’s a student of the game, understanding what he needs to do on every play, and where his teammates need to be — as you might expect from being the son of the head coach. The sideline-to-sideline hitter figures to be even more of a dominating presence now that he’s tacked on 10 pounds to his sturdy 6-foot frame. Myers’ main role on O last season was as a blocker from the H-back spot. Pressed into ball-carrying duties because of injuries, he responded by rushing for 102 yards with four TD runs in a win over Daniel Boone.

Max Tipton, OG-DE, Wyomissing — The Spartans have some holes to fill up front after the graduation of Section 4 Offensive and Defensive Lineman of the Year Caleb Brewer, plus two other linemen. Tipton will be a key in helping Wyo fill those spots. The 6-2, 275-pounder was a standout on defense as a junior, making 24 tackles, with five hits for losses and nine QB hurries. The D-end earned second-team all-league honors. Tipton is expected to be even more of a force this season, with plans to move him up and down the line in order to take advantage of his mobility. Tipton has good feet, moves well in space, and he’ll make the switch on O from tackle to guard — a critical spot in Wyo’s Wing-T scheme. If he’s able to get out in front of runners to set the edge on sweeps, the Spartans’ O will hum again. Tipton is getting college looks from several levels; the multi-sport athlete also plays basketball, and he won a silver medal in the shot put at the D3 championships earlier this spring.

Paul Williams, OT-DE, Elco — It wouldn’t be a football season in Myerstown without a Williams brother partaking. Say hello to Paul, who is a behind-the-scenes dirty-worker in the trenches. Last fall, he helped open holes for big brother Jake, who zoomed for 2,402 rushing yards with 30 TD gallops as Elco won a D3-4A playoff game. The Raiders put up 3,487 rushing yards in all, as Paul earned section honorable mention kudos at O-tackle. He did plenty of damage on D, too, piling up 66 stops, including 13 tackles for losses, with a fumble recovery and three sacks, leading to a first-team section all-star nod at D-end. Another football season, another Williams leading the charge for Elco.

OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH

Hayden Adams, OT-LB, Northern Lebanon

Marcus Armistead, RB-DB, Wyomissing

Andrew Bresnahan, TE-LB, Wyomissing

Hudson Crutchfield, OT-DT, Lampeter-Strasburg

Kael Erdman, QB, Northern Lebanon

Peter Fiorello, K, Lampeter-Strasburg

Emory Fluhr, TE-LB, Lampeter-Strasburg

Ben Grundy, WR, Twin Valley

Max Heffner, ATH, Daniel Boone

Anthony High, RB, Daniel Boone

Ayden Jimenez, OG-DT, Wyomissing

Austin Kurtz, RB-LB, Octorara

Derek Macrina, RB-DB, Wyomissing

Brayden Malloy, OT-DT, Elco

Greyson Miller, OG-DT, Twin Valley

Tyler Niedrowski, RB-LB, Wyomissing

Keaton Piacine, OT-DE, Wyomissing

Steven Rosado, QB, Elco

Collin Shelley, OT-DT, Lampeter-Strasburg

Chandler Stoltzfus, QB-WR-DB, Octorara

Brady Stoops, DE, Elco

Eli Thompson, OT-DT, Northern Lebanon

Tupac Vasquez-Disla, OG-DT, Northern Lebanon

Myles Watson, RB-DB, Northern Lebanon

Carson Zook, OT, Lampeter-Strasburg

TWITTER-X: @JeffReinhart77

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