2024 football preview: Northern Lebanon's seniors could be difference makers

Lebanon County begins its 2024 football campaign in a few days, and there's plenty of new storylines to watch for on each squad.

With each team's opening game set for Aug. 23, make sure to follow all coverage on LDNews.com through the season's first Friday night experience.

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Northern Lebanon Vikings

Northern Lebanon's 4-6 record in 2023 outcome wasn't ideal, but the Vikings can rebound in 2024 with an annual rematch for its season opener.

After dropping last season's Week 1 game, they'll see Pine Grove first once again in one of the Vikings' three games before league play. The Cardinals won 20-17 in overtime last season, and so this year's matchup should be marked on the schedule.

The upcoming year will be coach Jason Rice's fourth with the team, meaning this is the first returning group that were coached as freshman with the program. This year's team returns 10 starters from 2023 along with nine seniors, so there's plenty of experience coming back.

On offense, quarterback Kael Erdman will return to the backfield after a year with nine touchdowns, six interceptions and 1,065 passing yards. The Vikings' lost several seniors on last year's offense, but running back Myles Watson has been a consistent piece since he led the team's all-purpose yards in 2023. Watson led the Vikings' with 113 carries last season and finished with 650 total yards along with nine touchdowns. The 5-foot-11 senior's rushing ability will be needed once again, and so there's a good chance Watson leads Northern Lebanon in carries in 2024.

Additionally the Vikings will have four starters from 2023 back on the O-line , and so there's an experienced group behind its run game.

If Northern Lebanon's offense is going to take a step this year, it'll need to replace the production lost at receiver. The Vikings lost Luke Schaffer, their leading receiver from a year ago, but they have a few candidates to step up this year.

Senior receiver Brendan Ryan put up 19 catches, 208 yards and a touchdown last season and could fit in as the Vikings' top option at receiver. Ryan's the oldest of the group, but junior Bryan Mitzel and sophomore Brady Ryan are also options who've shown their talent at Frederick Gahres Stadium.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Vikings will also have to find new contributors at a few positions. Coach Rice's squad loses its top three leading tacklers from 2023, and so there's some new faces leading the defense.

After combining for 76 tackles last campaign, senior Karter Adams and sophomore Bryce Yocum should be among the group's leaders. Yocum was the team's fourth leading tackler as a freshman in 2023, and so his production should grow with added opportunity. There won't be as much of a transition in the secondary, as Northern Lebanon returns several defensive backs who made contributions last year.

The main question for the Vikings will be how they manage on the defensive front, as they lost key linebackers along with Tanner Feagley, who led the team with 11 sacks in 2023. Replacing several top tacklers isn't an easy task, but the team's shown there's young talent that can step up in that place.

Northern Lebanon's newest leaders will need to step up, but the growth of its returning seniors will also be a deciding factor for the season's success.

Key returnees: Hayden Adams (Sr. OL, DL), Eli Thompson (Sr. OL, DE) Russell Beers (Sr. OL, DL), Kale Lozer (Sr. OL, DL), Myles Watson (Sr. RB, DB), Brendan Ryan (Sr. WR, DB), Kael Erdman (Jr. QB, DB), Bryan Mitzel (Jr. QB/WR, DB), Brady Ryan (So. WR, DB), Bryce Yocum (So. TE, LB)

Key losses: Moises Gonzalez (WR,DB), Luke Schaffer (TE, LB), Tanner Feagley (WR, DE), Kade Erdman (WR, LB), Eli Ostermayer (RB, LB), Kyle Hitz (C, LB)

Head coach: Jason Rice (4th season; 10-21 overall)

Last season : 4-6

Offense : Spread

Defense : 4-3

Classification : 4A

Last District 3 appearance : 2021

Last District 3 playoff win : N/A

2024 North Lebanon football schedule

Week 1 vs. Pine Grove ; Week 2 at Oxford ; Week 3 vs. Delone Catholic ; Week 4 at Wyomissing ; Week 5 vs. Donegal ; Week 6 vs. Twin Valley ; Week 7 at Lampeter-Strasburg ; Week 8 at Octorara Area ; Week 9 vs. Daniel Boone ; Week 10 at Eastern Lebanon County

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: 2024 football preview: Northern Lebanon's seniors could be difference makers