Luke Spotts-Schuylkill Valley

Three years ago, Schuylkill Valley was (2-9). Times have changed quickly in Leesport. The Panthers won nine games a season ago to set a school record. They’re currently riding a seven-game winning streak and making their third straight appearance in the District 3 playoffs. “It’s great changing the culture here at SV to a winning culture and a winning program. I’m blessed that I get to be a part of it,” said Luke Spotts. The 6’2, 215-pound senior leads the team with 50 catches for 849 yards and 8 TD. Spotts had eight receptions for 143 yards and a score in a 40-29 victory over Lancaster Catholic last week. He added ten tackles and a sack from his linebacker position. That win put the (8-2, 7-0) Panthers alone atop the Section 5 standings in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. “It’s everything to me and my teammates. It’s our first outright championship in Schuylkill Valley history so it feels great,” noted Spotts. The Panthers shared the Section 5 title with Lancaster Catholic and Annville-Cleona last fall. Spotts, who averaged nine points for the basketball team as a junior, finished with nine catches for 131 yards and 2 TD against Hamburg three weeks ago. Schuylkill Valley prevailed 30-21 in the 50th edition of the Frost Bowl. The Panthers have a lot of weapons at the skill positions including Kowen Gerner, Dillon Lackner, Cooper Hohenadel, and Logan Cammauf. Quarterback Logan Nawrocki runs the show. The 6’1, 170-pound senior is the school’s all-time passing leader with 4,705 yards. Nawrocki was 21-of-36 for 265 yards and 3 TD last Friday. He has 2,154 yards and 32 TD this season. “I can’t say enough good things about him. Having him throw me the ball, it’s really like a dream come true,” stated Spotts. Schuylkill Valley hosts sixth-seeded Littlestown in the District 3-3A quarterfinals on Friday. The third-seeded Panthers beat the Thunderbolts 45-21 in the 2023 playoffs. Schuylkill Valley head coach Bruce Harbach knows a lot about winning in the postseason. He guided Lancaster Catholic to state championships in 2009 and 2011. The Crusaders claimed four District titles and eight Section crowns over Harbach’s 16 years at the helm. This is his fourth season with the Panthers. They’ve come a long way and Spotts is a big reason why. “He’s a great athlete. We can put him outside. We can put him at tight end. He’s a hard worker, hard-nosed kid. He’s meant so much to this program,” said Harbach.