Last year the Tiger football team had a storybook season, going 16-0 and capturing the program’s first state title with an overtime win.

But it’s time for that book to move to the next chapter.

“It was a quick offseason,” said Tiger head coach Josh Snyder. “Last season went so long and then celebrating, snap your fingers and you’re back in the mix. It feels good to turn the page and get ready for this season. These guys are excited for their opportunity to play.”

After two straight trips to the state championship game, the defending champs will see some turnover on their roster.

While Shane Leh returns for his third season as the starting quarterback, four first-year starters will be in front of him on the offensive line and he won’t be handing the ball to Eli Zimmerman for the first time in his career as the 2025 PIAA Class 3A Player of the Year is now a Bloomsburg Husky.

Leh’s backfield might be new, but he will have some familiar targets to throw to as all-state defensive athlete Mason Bollinger (senior) returns at wide receiver along with junior Michael Lagowy.

Bollinger led the team with 520 receiving yards and six touchdown catches last year.

“This year our skill coming back, especially on offense, we’re really comfortable there,” said Snyder. “Even though we lost Eli, there’s enough there that we can share the ball and be productive.

“I think we can be a little more balanced than last year. That being said, at Northwestern we hang our hat on being able to run the ball and stop the run. We look forward to being able to do that again.”

Success in the pass game and the run game will likely depend heavily on how well the new offensive linemen adjust to the varsity level.

“It’s just how fast can that front five come together and jell as one,” said Snyder. “It takes a lot of communication and talking up there to be on the same page. We run a pretty sophisticated offense. We’re aware of that.”

On the front line, senior left tackle Colton Popp and tight end Shane Hulmes will be the leaders helping along four new starters up front.

Hulmes is a three-year starter who does a lot for the offense.

He can line up as a fullback or run a wildcat offense, which the team used effectively last season, especially around the goal line. Last season Hulmes caught five touchdown passes and ran for six scores.

“We’ll move him around,” said Snyder. “He’ll take some direct snaps like he did last year. We’ll line him up at fullback and sort of flex him to different areas.”

Leh started running the ball more at the end of last season. Look for that to continue into this year.

“I think we’ll probably rely on him earlier in the season to run the football,” said Snyder. “Last year we sort of waited for the postseason. He put on about 30 pounds so he’s a little bigger, more physical as a runner. He has a big frame to put it on. He carries it well. He’ll be able to take hits and play defense.

“We’re looking for big things from him in the air, on the ground, leadership on the field and off the field.”

Graduation also hit the Tigers hard on defense, taking the starting front three in their 3-5 defense.

But Hulmes returns after an all-state season at inside linebacker for his third full season as a starter. He led the team in solo tackles (53) last season and was second in total tackles (116).

Junior Brady Zimmerman returns at outside linebacker after leading the team with 121 total tackles last year. Bollinger, who earned recognition as an all-state defensive athlete last season, returns at the other outside linebacker position.

In the secondary, graduates Zimmerman (6) and Seth Kern (5) accounted for 11 interceptions last year and will be difficult to replace.

One advantage for the Tigers is that almost all of their first-year starters saw playing time last year, some over the past two seasons.

“Even though we lost a lot of starters, a lot of these guys played in a lot of football games,” said Snyder. “There were a lot of lopsided wins. Our backups last year probably played eight games because of how much we were able to get them in games.”

Northwestern has played 32 games over the past two seasons en route to reaching two state championship games. No other team in the state has played more. That also means the team has more experience and has had more time to form chemistry than any other team in the state.

“Combine the two years, we’ve played an extra season,” said Snyder. “All those weeks of practice, our scout team players and freshmen, they’re playing and practicing an extra season. That goes a long way. They’re ready. They’re eager.”

POSITION BREAKDOWN

QUARTERBACKS

Shane Leh returns for his third season as the starter. He’s started 32 games over the past two seasons. He completed 114 of 193 passes last year for 1,536 yards. He also ran 86 times for 401 yards and could get more carries this fall. Chase Sukanick and Trey Snyder will back up the senior.

RUNNING BACKS

Three players are in the mix to be the Tigers’ primary ball carriers in senior Braxton Lakatosh, junior Brady Zimmerman and sophomore Chase Sukanick.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Senior Mason Bollinger returns after leading the team with 38 receptions for 520 yards and six touchdowns last year. Junior Michael Lagowy had 11 catches for 149 yards and a pair of TDs last season. Senior Kemurry Morgan will also be a primary target.

OFFENSIVE LINE

With four graduates to replace, returning senior Colton Popp will lead the interior from the left tackle position. Sophomore Maddox Hurdle will play right tackle. Sophomore Nolan Koehler and junior Luke Rennels are battling for center, while three players, seniors Braidon Berk and Michael Boring, and sophomore Devin Rex are competing for the two guard spots. Tight end Shane Hulmes, a senior and three-year starter, scored 11 total TDs last season.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Popp, a nose tackle, will lead a three-man front of all new starters. Sophomore Fritz Scheirer will play one defensive end position while senior Ethan Steigerwalt and Michael Boring will be part of a rotation on the other side.

LINEBACKERS

All-State linebacker Hulmes returns as a starter in the middle of the team’s 3-5 look. The senior led the team in solo tackles (53) last year and was second with 116 total stops. On the outside, Brady Zimmerman (team-high 121 tackles in 2024) and Bollinger return. Bollinger was an all-state pick last year. In the mix for the other two LB positions are Koehler and senior Evan Wagstaff.

SECONDARY

Lagowy returns and will play corner or safety, depending on the match-up. Morgan was recently leading the battle to play the other cornerback spot. Leh and Sukanick will get reps at safety.