If Lehigh Valley teams want to win district titles and to go deep in the state playoffs, they have to be able to run the ball.
It’s easy to throw downfield on a balmy early September night, but try that in mid-November.
Teams that run the football effectively in November, and stop the run on the other side of the ball, are usually wearing gold medals.
Here are seven running backs who have the ability when the weather turns nasty to help their teams get a “W.”
Jarel Jackson (senior), Stroudsburg
The Mounties have a standout quarterback, Jack Mitchell, and a stellar running back in Jackson. Give them an offensive line, and Stroudsburg could be the surprise of the 2026 season. Johnson ran for 1,421 yards and 13 scores a year ago. A balanced attack will go a long way in the EPC’s Monroe County Division. The question is: How far will it go in the District 11 6A playoffs?
Lashawn Johnson (senior), Freedom
Freedom opens the season against District 1 stalwart Downingtown West, and expect Johnson to be the main focus of the Whippets’ defense, and for good reason. He rushed for 822 yards a year ago on 122 carries before his season ended in Week 9 because of an injury. A year ago, Downingtown West throttled the Patriots, 47-7, but Johnson and his teammates would love to send a message to the other EPC teams that he, and the team, are for real this year.
J’son Johnson (senior), Wilson
As the Warriors climb out of the bottom of the Colonial League, Johnson will play a key role in that ascent. As a junior, he gained 528 yards and scored three touchdowns. He also is a key part of their defense as a linebacker.
Chase Kessler (junior), Northampton
When your team’s nickname is the Konkrete Kids, you’d better be tough. Example A: Chase Kessler. As a sophomore in the rough-and-tumble EPC, he rushed for 1,501 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. As Northampton breaks in a new quarterback, Kessler’s toughness will get tested even more.
Parkland’s T.J. Lawrence gained 1,127 yards rushing last season and scored 26 touchdowns on the ground. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)
TJ Lawrence (senior), Parkland
Year-in and year-out, Parkland has expectations of winning a conference and district title. With Lawrence in the backfield again this season, the Trojan faithful have reason to believe gold medals will be in the offing. The Villanova commit is recovered from last year’s injury in the District 11 6A final against Easton and is ready to build on his stats from 2025 – 1,127 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns, and 16 pass receptions for 237 yards.
Christian Stiehler (junior), Pocono Mountain West
Winter-like weather comes early in the upper reaches of the Poconos, and that’s why having a standout running back is important if you want to win games in October in the EPC Monroe County Division. Stiehler, just a junior, is that man for the Panthers. The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder ran for 1,147 yards and 16 TDs last year in a season cut short by injuries. A standout linebacker, he also had 105 tackles, including 26 in one game.
Jonathan Striba (senior), Notre Dame-GP
The Crusaders are a pass-happy team, but when they do need to run the ball, Striba is more than capable of clicking off big gains. His athletism will keep opposing defensive coordinators sleepless. He actually gained more yards receiving last season than running the ball – 766 yards (45 receptions, 7 touchdowns) to 403 yards (8 touchdowns).
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