Colonial-Schuylkill League football predicted order of finish

New players. New coaches. New divisional setup. It all adds up to unpredictability in Colonial-Schuylkill League football.

Some programs, however, rarely seem to take a step back from contention: Northwestern, Southern Lehigh, North Schuylkill, Notre Dame-Green Pond.

That figures to be the case again in 2024.

But several of the new coaches aren’t really new. They have track records of producing winners, including Joe Henrich at Catasauqua and Mike Brennan at Pottsville. Jim Brady was part of a winner at Wilson until 2009.

Vinnie Andrews (Bangor) and Billy O’Gurek (Marian Catholic) have been studying alongside outstanding coaches (Paul Reduzzi and Stan Dakosty, respectively).

Kevin DiZenzo (Salisbury), Dave Holman (Mahanoy Area) and Dave Bench (Shenandoah Valley) are first-year head coaches looking to reverse recent fortunes.

Holman spent eight years previously in the charge of the Golden Bears.

Graduation also plays a role every year. Northwestern lost only five seniors from last year’s PIAA Class 3A runner-up team, but those five were fantastic. Palmerton graduated a large senior class led by one of the best players in Colonial League history.

Williams Valley lost a record-setting running back, but that’s it.

Here’s a look at this season’s predicted order of finish:

Colonial-Schuylkill League football predicted order of finish

Division A

1. Northwestern

2. Southern Lehigh

3. North Schuylkill

4. Tamaqua

5. Blue Mountain

6. Pottsville

7. Bangor

8. Jim Thorpe

9. Lehighton

Division B

1. Notre Dame-Green Pond

2. Saucon Valley

3. Northern Lehigh

4. Pen Argyl

5. Palmerton

6. Salisbury

7. Palisades

8. Wilson

9. Catasauqua

Division C

1. Schuylkill Haven

2. Williams Valley

3. Minersville

4. Nativity BVM

5. Marian Catholic

6. Tri-Valley

7. Panther Valley

8. Mahanoy Area

9. Pine Grove

10. Shenandoah Valley

Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com