It’s been more than three decades since Berwick and North Pocono played in one of the most memorable high school football games in NEPA history.
Two programs that were the talk of the 2025 season will clash when Berwick plays at North Pocono in a nonconference game Friday at 7 p.m. The matchup is sure to conjure up memories of that 1991 Eastern Conference championship game the Trojans won to complete a 12-0 record.
“This is like a huge rivalry-type game,” North Pocono senior Cole West said. “My dad was on that team in 1991, so I have heard all the stories of that game and what that meant to the community. Last year, both teams had outstanding seasons, and that’s why there is so much hype. It’s the Game of the Week. It’s awesome.”
Last season, North Pocono set a school record with 13 wins. The Trojans stormed to the Lackawanna Football Conference Division I and District 2 Class 4A championships. They earned the program’s first PIAA win before losing to Cardinal O’Hara in the quarterfinals.
Several of the star players, including West, the reigning Times-Tribune Defensive Player of the Year, return for the Trojans.
Starting quarterback Chase Zimmerman, an All-Region selection in the defensive secondary, was the top-rated passer in the LFC Division I. Joe Briskie led the team in rushing until an injury derailed his season. Jayden Taylor was a starting linebacker, and Max LaFave and Tate Bowen joined Zimmerman and West in the secondary.
Berwick won its first 11 games and was the top-rated team in District 2 Class 3A before losing to Scranton Prep in the final.
The Bulldogs graduated all-state running back Ty’Meere Wilkerson, who ran for more than 2,000 yards.
Berwick returns six starters on offense and five on defense.
Quarterback Brady Cleaver threw for 247 yards and ran for 419 yards with eight touchdowns last season. He also started in the secondary.
Berwick has experience up front with Mike Perry, Nico Lonczynski, and Henry Snyder anchoring the offensive line. Gabe Decker, last year’s starting tight end and second-leading tackler with 64, and Jake Lisnock are outstanding at defensive end, while Perry, Snyder, and Demarqus McMillan hold down the interior of the Bulldogs’ five-man line.
Linebacker Brock Simmons had a team-high 67 total tackles last season. Gavin Galutia had 50 tackles with 11 for loss for the Bulldogs.
“They are well coached,” West said. “Coach (CJ) Curry is bringing Berwick back. Their quarterback can move; we have seen that. I have seen their defense end/tight end (Decker) at a lot of the recruiting camps, so I know he’s a player. They have some good guys on the lines, so that will be a huge challenge for our guys up front. Hopefully we can get this done.”
BERWICK AT 1-NORTH POCONO
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: North Pocono Trojans Stadium
Last: Berwick, 28-14 (2022)
The buzz: North Pocono is the defending District 2 Class 4A champion and is coming off a 13-1 season. Berwick reached the District 2 Class 3A championship game last season and moved up to Class 4A for 2026. Berwick has won three of the last four meetings, with North Pocono’s win coming in the 2016 District 2 Class 3A championship game. Berwick is 856-373-43 all-time, and has won six PIAA Class 3A championships (1988, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997).
SCOUTING REPORT
Berwick: The Bulldogs enter the season needing to replace graduated all-state running back Ty’Meere Wilkerson and the 2,845 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns he had. Berwick will be physical up front with three starters. QB Brady Cleaver is an experienced dual-threat option. The defense is expected to be strong with the return ot two linebackers, Brock Simmons and Gavin Galutia.
North Pocono: The Trojans have an experienced quarterback in starter Chase Zimmerman, who was the top-rated passer in the Lackawanna Football Conference Division I in 2025. Cole West, a Cornell commit, is a returning Class 4A all-state defender and is a threat on both sides of the ball. The team’s offensive success will depend heavily on how quickly the line matures with four new starters up front.