Lehigh Valley high school football: Top 10 things to know for 2024

The start of the high school football season is here. Heat acclimatization workouts begin Monday across the Lehigh Valley.

Here’s a look at 10 things to know entering the 2024 season:

1. New members : Jim Thorpe and Lehighton in their first season as full-time Colonial League members in all sports.

2. New coaches : Bangor ( Vinnie Andrews ), Catasauqua ( Joe Henric h), Marian Catholic ( Billy O’Gurek ), Salisbury ( Kevin DiZenzo ) and Wilson ( Jim Brady ) are the first-year head coaches. Andrews was on Paul Reduzzi’s Slaters staff. Henrich previously was in charge at Bethlehem Catholic. O’Gurek was on Stan Dakosty’s Colts staff. Brady, the Warriors’ fourth head coach in four years, previously was a head coach at Palisades.

The four head coaches will be part of a newly aligned Colonial-Schuylkill League with three divisions determined by size and location. The biggest schools comprise Division A, regardless of location. Division B has the smaller schools from the Colonial League. Division C has the smaller schools from the Schuylkill League.

Pottsville (Mike Brennan), Shenandoah Valley (Dave Bench) and Mahanoy Area (Dave Holman) are the Schuylkill League’s new head coaches.

The EPC also has realigned. The old two-division format was replaced by three divisions based on county. The three Allentown schools, Emmaus, Parkland and Whitehall comprise the Lehigh County division. The Northampton County division features the three Bethlehem schools, Easton, Nazareth and Northampton. The Monroe County division has East Stroudsburg North and South, Pocono Mountain East and West, Pleasant Valley and Stroudsburg.

3. District 11 Class A shuffle : Because there are only three teams in District 11 Class A (Marian Catholic, Nativity BVM, Tri-Valley), there will be a subregional with District 2. Northern Lehigh, Minersville and Mahanoy Area moved up to 2A).

4. More shuffling : There are only four teams in 5A (Pleasant Valley, Whitehall, East Stroudsburg South and Pocono Mountain East), but no subregional. Southern Lehigh, last year’s 5A runner-up, is down to 4A).

5. First heat acclimatization workout : Monday

6. First practice date : Monday, Aug. 12

7. First regular-season playing date : Friday, Aug. 23

8. First District 11 playoff date : Friday, Nov. 1

9. First PIAA playoff date : Friday, Nov. 15

10. PIAA Football Championships : Dec. 5-7, at Cumberland Valley High School’s Chapman Field

Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com