Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football coaches had a lot of great options and tough decisions to make when it came to selecting the EPC’s all-conference teams for the 2026 season.
When it came to the league’s offensive MVP, they had several top-notch quarterbacks such as Bethlehem Catholic’s Axel Burkart, Nazareth’s Cooper Madson and Whitehall’s Tanner Dogmanits to choose from along with star running backs in Northampton’s Chase Kessler and Freedom’s Lashawn Johnson and a extraordinary playmaker at wide receiver in Bethlehem Catholic’s Carter Vassa.
On the defensive side, there were also plenty of talented athletes that would have made excellent choices.
In the end, the coaches chose Dogmanits as offensive MVP and Easton’s Sean McPeek as the EPC’s top defensive player.
Dogmanits, a senior, enters Friday night’s District 11 6A quarterfinal against Stroudsburg with 2,068 yards passing and 17 passing TDs. He also has run for 718 yards and nine TDs.
McPeek, a senior who will play lacrosse at Lafayette, has 49 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries for an Easton team that will visit Freedom at 7 p.m. Friday.
Here is a complete look at the EPC all-star teams:
All-EPC First Team
Offense
Tight end: Mason Marinelli, Jr., Nazareeth
Wide receiver: Carter Vassa, Sr., Bethlehem Catholic; Zyaire Davis, Sr., Liberty; Henry Shultz, Jr., Whitehall
Tackle: Myles Lysek, Sr., Parkland; Justin Heckert, Sr., Whitehall
Guard: Mason Weber, Sr., Emmaus; Nasir Kennedy, Jr., Parkland
Center: Ky Moore, Jr., Freedom
Quarterback: Tanner Dogmanits, Sr., Whitehall
Running back: Lashawn Johnson Sr., Freedom; T.J. Lawrence, Sr., Parkland
Placekicker: Nate Stannard, Sr., Freedom
Athlete: Chris Ward, Sr., Pleasant Valley
Easton’s Sean McPeek makes a tackle against Bethlehem Catholic on Sept. 19, 2024, at BASD Stadium in Bethlehem. (Jonathan Broady/Special to The Morning Call)
Defense
Defensive Ends: Great Chifirst, So., Bethlehem Catholic; Michael Car, Sr., Parkland
Linemen: Myles Lysek, Sr., Parkland; Jamaury Queen, Sr., Easton; Mason Weber, Sr., Emmaus
Inside linebackers: Cooper Wenrich, Sr., Nazareth; Jonathon Ayache, Sr., Bethlehem Catholic; Mason Lenig, Sr., Emmaus; Keegan Munch, Sr., Stroudsburg
Outside linebackers: Jaren Sanchez, Sr., Parkland; Iskander Blanco, Sr., Whitehall
Cornerbacks: Sean McPeek, Sr., Easton; Carter Vassa, Sr., Bethlehem Catholic
Safety: Tahir Edmondson, Jr., ACCHS; Matt Leluga, Sr., Nazareth
Athlete: Jackson Medlar, Jr., Nazareth
Punter: Owen Hall, Sr. Nazareth
Special teams player: Tahir Edmondson, Jr., ACCHS
All-EPC Second Team
Offense
Tight end: Teshon Gaynair, Sr., Allen
Wide receiver: Tahir Edmondson, Jr., ACCHS; Josh Ivers-Green, Sr., Stroudsburg; Marquise Chapman, Jr., Freedom; Timajh Plott, Jr., Allen; William Breuer, Sr., Pleasant Valley
Tackle: Jalen Hall, Sr., Freedom; Hasson Traore, Sr., Northampton
Guard: Jamaury Queen, Sr., Easton; Izzy DeJesus, Sr., Freedom
Center: Brett Steiner, Sr., Whitehall
Quarterback: Axel Burkart, Sr., Bethlehem Catholic
Running back: Jeziah Gregory, Sr., Whitehall; Chris Ward, Sr., Pleasant Valley
Placekicker: Andrea Giroudon, Sr., Parkland
Athlete: Axel Burkhart, Sr., Bethlehem Catholic
Defense
Defensive end: Jackson Medlar, Jr., Nazareth; Ben Gil, Sr., Whitehall
Linemen: Patrick Floyd, Sr., Freedom; Felix Ross, Sr., PM West
Inside linebackers: Reshaun Jones, Sr., Freedom; Christian Stiehler, Jr., PM West
Outside linebackers: Chris Ward, Jr., Pleasant Valley; Jahaire Hughes, Sr., Freedom
Cornerbacks: Grayson Schmell, Jr., ACCHS; MJ Bolinger, Jr., PM East
Safety: Lance Zuercher, Sr., Nazareth; Jackson Geroulo, Sr., Parkland
Athlete: Christian Stiehler, Jr., PM West
Punter: Lucas Angst, Sr., PM East
Special teams player: Luke DePietro, Sr., Nazareth