It’s a recipe for success.

Experience + talent = wins.

Northern Lehigh proved that formula to be true last season, and the Bulldogs are hoping to take it a step further in 2025.

Two years ago, the program was forced to start numerous freshmen and sophomores which resulted in a 3-7 record.

That playing time proved to be beneficial, though, as the team flipped their mark around, going 7-3 in the regular season last year before losing to Pen Argyl in the district quarterfinals.

With a bulk of the roster back again — now bigger, stronger, faster and oozing with on-field savvy — expectations are high for another winning year and a possible run in the postseason.

“The reps that they have, the experience that they have, we feel really good about that,” said Joe Tout, who is in his 20th season as head coach of the Bulldogs. “We’ve tried to do a little more 11 on 11s this summer and even though it’s non-contact we kind of upped the teams that we felt we were going to see. We went against Stroudsburg and Pocono Mountain West. We saw Schuylkill Haven, so you get a little bit more out of those than you do just having an in-house workout.

“We took our lumps two years ago playing some of those freshmen. Last year, the playoff loss left a bad taste in our mouth ... But take that out of it and reflect on it, to go 7-3 with starting a ton of sophomores and juniors, I felt pretty happy with where we ended last year. This year our mentality, our motto is just win now ... When we get out there, our goal is to win that game. Our first two weeks, we know Northwestern is a returning state champion and Lehighton’s got a lot back. But our goal is to win those games ... We don’t want to just keep games close. We believe every team on our schedule we can beat.”

One of the reasons many anticipate a big year from Northern Lehigh is an offense that could put up some big numbers.

Combining returnees at the skill positions, as well as the offensive line, the Bulldogs are primed to score plenty of points.

Garrett Smoyer is back at quarterback, a year removed from being the first player in program history to throw for over 1,000 yards as a sophomore. The team’s top ground gainer, senior Grady Newhard (821 yards), returns, as well as junior Chris Frame, who led Nolehi in touchdowns (16) and receiving yards (632) and is a threat to go the distance whenever he touches the ball. Ryan Zambo is another top receiver back, while Colin Karetsky is also a weapon.

“When you start looking at that production, we have to have about 95 percent of it back,” said Tout. “We’re going to lean on those guys big time ... We’re trying to look at some things in the passing game that might be different than what we’ve done traditionally. Between Frame, Zambo and Karetsky, they’re all No. 1s. Any other year, those guys would easily be our top wideout, so we’re blessed to have all three this year. And they’re all juniors.

“Our offensive line, we have both guards back and then we have both tackles back. The only replacement we have is at center. I feel really good line wise where we are. Assignment wise, you can’t replace reps. So having all those guys get those reps last year, we’re looking forward to this year having those guys back.”

The offense isn’t the only place where the Bulldogs have experience. The defense boasts a number of returnees, including their leading tackler from a year ago.

Probably the only concern is the front four.

“Our back seven is our strength on defense,” said Tout. “Our secondary, we return all four ... “At linebacker, we return two of three but to me it’s almost like we’re returning all three. Kaden Quinones, we call him Q, was our leading tackler last year. I think our guys feed off of him. He’s a guy that goes one way and puts everything into that defensive spot. To have him back is huge.

“Our d-line is still a work in progress. We bring back a d-end in Bill Slattery, who started all 11 games last year ... We just don’t want to have a bunch of two-way guys on the line. We feel really good about our back seven. We don’t have major losses on the front line, but we still have to build that depth, especially if we’re trying to stay away from a lot of two-way guys, and especially early on when we’re going against bigger schools.”

While all signs lead to a strong season and Northern Lehigh being a contender in the district’s Class 2A, Tout does point out that the class is one of the strongest in the state.

But no matter what happens, the longtime mentor is thrilled with the progression from the past.

“It’s been enjoyable to watch them buy in to now become leaders,” said Tout of his players. “To watch them kind of be thrown into the fire and maybe not be prepared for it to now step through and have that confidence. And now I think they realize now they kind of reap the rewards.

“This could be the most loaded 2A bracket we’ve seen in a long time. Williams Valley and Schuylkill Haven are strong, and Minersville has a Division 1 quarterback. Executive is a wild card and then you also have Pen Argyl. I don’t get into the ‘if we don’t do this the season’s a bust.’ But I put it this way. We feel we’re capable of winning a district championship as well as any other team.”

POSITION BREAKDOWN

QUARTERBACKS

Junior Garrett Smoyer returns after a stellar sophomore season that saw him throw for 1,253 yards and 12 TDs. Backing him up will be sophomore Caleb Oswald.

RUNNING BACKS

Grady Newhard, a senior, led the team in rushing (821 yards) a year ago and will be back to lead the Bulldog ground game. Junior Chris Frame is also a threat in the backfield. Others who could see time include junior Mason Rothrock and sophomore Keith Lectora.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Besides Frame, who caught 22 passes for 632 yards and seven scores, Smoyer’s main targets will be juniors Ryan Zambo (16-222) and Colin Karetsky. Chris Vargas, a senior, and Carter Thomas, a junior, will get reps as receivers.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Bulldogs return both starting guards from a year ago in junior Landen Klimek and senior Kayden Novicki, as well as their two tackles — seniors Nate Kuhns and Adam Neff. The center spot figures to go to sophomore Dawson Newhard. Novicki could slide to center if needed. Others that figure to see time include senior Ethan Grozier, juniors Bill Slattery and Gio Marino, sophomores Bryce Nance and Bill Kennedy, and freshman Riley Shimko.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Returning end Bill Slattery played in all 11 games a year ago, while Landen Klimek and Chase Gall will trade off at the other end spot. Nate Kuhns, a DE last year, will slide to tackle with the other spot to be decided between sophomore Bryce Nance, Kayden Novicki and Adam Neff.

LINEBACKERS

Grady Newhard will be a four-year defensive starter and line up outside with senior Kaden Quinones — last year’s leading tackler — on the opposite end. In the middle will be Mason Rothrock. If needed, Ethan Grozier could move to a linebacker spot. Chase Gall will also see playing time.

SECONDARY

An experienced group returns. Corners Ryan Zambo and Chris Frame, and safety Ryan Zambo started all 11 games a year ago. Ethan Grozier, who started before being injured, will man the other safety spot. Backups are Caleb Oswald, Garrett Smoyer, Keith Lectora and Carter Thomas.