Cooper Hohenadel-Schuylkill Valley

Schuylkill Valley and Hamburg were both averaging more than 30 points entering the 49th Frost Bowl. Both teams have exciting skill position players. However, it was the Panthers’ defense that stole the show in front of a big crowd in Leesport. Schuylkill Valley forced four turnovers in a 28-13 victory. The (7-1, 5-0) Panthers are tied with Annville-Cleona for first place in Section 5 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. They square off next week. Cooper Hohenadel isn’t surprised by their success. “All summer we worked our butts off. We really were practicing hard all the time,” he stressed. Hohenadel gave Schuylkill Valley an early 7-0 lead on a 3-yard touchdown run. That 30-yard drive came after Daniel Brady fumbled the opening kickoff. Logan Nawrocki hit Kowen Gerner in stride down the right sideline for a 72-yard score with 7:27 left in the first quarter. Gerner finished with six catches for 186 yards and an interception. “That’s my guy. He’s amazing. He’s him,” emphasized Hohenadel. The Panthers made it 21-0 with three minutes remaining in the first half when Hohenadel took an interception 97 yards to the house. “I just read the quarterback’s eyes. He threw it right to me and I had a couple good blocks,” he explained. The 5’10, 175-pound RB/S added 17 carries for 57 yards. His workload has increased since All-State running back Dom Giuffre suffered a right arm injury in Week 4 at Kutztown. Hamburg quarterback Ty Shuey’s 4-yard run got the (4-4) Hawks on the board with 38 seconds to play in the first half. Schuylkill Valley responded in dramatic fashion. Gerner ripped a potential interception away from Ethan Horvath for a 50-yard gain down the right sideline. That huge swing in momentum was followed by a 3-yard touchdown pass from Nawrocki to Dillon Lackner with 5 seconds on the clock. The 28-7 halftime advantage was too much for Hamburg to overcome. Shuey raced 22 yards for a score with 3:47 left in the third period. The 5’10 junior tossed interceptions to Gerner and Luke Spotts on the Hawks’ final two possessions. “Our defense is insane. We play really well together. We all respect each other,” said Hohenadel. Hamburg outgained Schuylkill Valley 356-316, but the Panthers were +3 in turnover margin. Nawrocki passed for 208 yards with 2 TD and a pick. Shuey was 19-of-39 for 201 yards. Cohen Correll had seven receptions for 68 yards. 6’2 junior Ty Werley provided 72 yards on five catches for the Hawks. The rivalry, which started in 1970, is now even at (24-24-1). I asked Hohenadel what it would mean for Schuylkill Valley to win a Section 5 championship. He replied, “It would be huge. We always talk about changing the culture around here and it’s finally starting to happen.”