Bruce Harbach-Schuylkill Valley

Bruce Harbach gave a very simple message to his team last week. “The last four games, you’re playing for a Section championship. You can determine your own fate,” he emphasized. The (6-1, 4-0) Panthers took care of business at Columbia last Friday 28-12. Schuylkill Valley extended its winning streak to six. Next up, the (4-3) Hamburg Hawks in the 49th edition of the Frost Bowl. The Hawks have a slight edge in the rivalry (24-23-1), but the Panthers won 41-34 a season ago. All-State running back Dom Giuffre finished with 300 rushing yards and four touchdowns in that shootout. Giuffre won’t be available on Friday due to an arm injury suffered at Kutztown on September 15th. The speedy 175-pound senior is practicing without contact, and is expected to return before the end of the season. Giuffre is averaging 6.1 yards per carry with six combined touchdowns. Despite missing a significant piece to the puzzle, Schuylkill Valley remains unbeaten in league play while putting up 31 points a night. “That says a lot about the character of our football team and the hard work the kids put in,” said Harbach. Logan Nawrocki has thrown for 1,300 yards with 16 TD and 5 INT. Kowen Gerner has emerged as the Panthers’ top receiver with 27 catches for 637 yards and nine scores. Dillon Lackner and tight end Luke Spotts (6’2, 200) are among the other targets in the passing attack. Nawrocki, Gerner, Lackner, and Spotts are all juniors. Versatile RB/DB Cooper Hohenadel is also part of that promising class. They helped Harbach surpass 150 career victories earlier this season. “I guess it means you’re getting older,” joked Harbach. The Wilson graduate has been in coaching for nearly 50 years. He went (139-55) over 16 years at Lancaster Catholic. Harbach guided the Crusaders to two state gold medals, four District titles, and eight Section championships in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. He’s trying to take Schuylkill Valley to the top of the Section 5 standings in his third season in Leesport. The road ahead is a bumpy one. After hosting Hamburg, the Panthers travel to (5-2, 4-0) Annville-Cleona and (6-1, 3-1) Lancaster Catholic. Harbach has been in plenty of big games over the years. He talked about the keys to building a successful program. “Surround yourself with good people; coaches, administration and players,” he replied.