WILLIAMSTOWN — Schuylkill Haven’s Colton Reber put together another dominant performance with over 200 total yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, leading the Hurricanes to a crucial 43-29 win over Williams Valley on Friday night.
While Reber and the Hurricanes’ offense was the story of the night, it was the Schuylkill Haven defense that struck first.
On Williams Valley’s first offensive drive of the evening, junior linebacker Chase Leibensperger intercepted a Brady Shomper pass and returned it for a 52-yard touchdown, giving the Hurricanes an early 7-0 lead in the opening minutes.
Shomper and the Vikings responded immediately to the opening score, and marched 59 yards on a nine-play drive aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty. Shomper’s legs led the way on the scoring drive with four carries for 27 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown with 5:15 remaining in the first quarter. The extra point was no good.
After forcing a Schuylkill Haven turnover on downs on the ensuing possession, the Vikings quickly scored again to take a 13-7 lead on a 10-yard touchdown run by Fletcher Thompson. The sophomore tailback also broke free earlier on the drive for a 41-yard gain.
In what quickly developed into a back-and-forth affair, Schuylkill Haven answered the Thompson touchdown quickly, needing just seven plays and under four minutes to regain the lead, this time with Max Heim finding Niko Castillo for a 48-yard touchdown reception. With the extra point, the Hurricanes took a 14-13 lead early in the second quarter.
An action-packed second quarter produced a third-straight scoring drive as the Vikings turned to their passing attack.
On the scoring drive, Shomper connected with wide receiver Evan Achenbach twice for 52 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown pass with 6:28 remaining in the second. Achenbach on the touchdown made a tremendous catch while fully extended, falling hard to the ground but maintaining control in the process, giving the Vikings a 19-14 lead.
Shomper accounted for over 230 total yards in the game.
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Williams Valley senior Brady Shomper (7) readies to pass as Williams Valley and Schuylkill Haven face off at Viking Stadium in Williamstown, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Schuylkill Haven junior Colton Reber (26) runs the ball as Williams Valley and Schuylkill Haven face off at Viking Stadium in Williamstown, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Schuylkill Haven senior Niko Castillo (8) reaches up for a pass but misses as Williams Valley and Schuylkill Haven face off at Viking Stadium in Williamstown, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Schuylkill Haven senior Adam Balulis (9) intercepts a pass as Williams Valley and Schuylkill Haven face off at Viking Stadium in Williamstown, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Schuylkill Haven senior Max Heim (15) yells out after scoring as Williams Valley and Schuylkill Haven face off at Viking Stadium in Williamstown, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Williams Valley senior Brady Shomper (7) readies to pass as Williams Valley and Schuylkill Haven face off at Viking Stadium in Williamstown, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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The teams would trade leads twice more before halftime. After both offenses posted a turnover on downs, Schuylkill Haven recaptured the lead as Heim hit Reber for a 27-yard touchdown reception with 37 seconds remaining, putting the Hurricanes back on top, 21-19.
But Williams Valley, as they did the entire first half, struck back quickly. In just two plays, the Vikings covered 53 yards, setting up Quin Smeltz to hit a 27-yard field goal, sending the Vikings to halftime with a 22-21 lead.
Coming out of the break, Schuylkill Haven wasted no time, seizing the lead early in the third quarter thanks to a 54-yard touchdown run to the outside from Reber. The touchdown put the Hurricanes up 29-22, a lead they never relinquished the remainder of the game.
“When you get around that corner and you see green field, you just go,” Reber said, recalling his touchdowns.
The Hurricanes would lean on Reber late as the junior totaled eight fourth quarter carries for 52 yards and a touchdown.
“It means a lot,” Reber said when asked about the confidence the Hurricanes’ coaching staff showed in him. “Me and Niko Castillo really had to step it up in this game. This was the biggest game of the regular season by far.”
While Castillo didn’t have as big of a night as his backfield mate, the senior still put together a stellar performance with over 130 yards from scrimmage, including his 48-yard touchdown reception earlier in the evening.
Schuylkill Haven coach Mike Farr spoke highly of Reber, who has stepped up in a major way for the Hurricanes since losing starting running back Niko Carestia to injury.
“He wants to be the dog,” Farr said. “Dogs want to eat. He’s the feature back now, and we circle everything around him, and we do everything that we can for him. He’s a great football player, so I’m glad he’s on my team.”
Later in the third quarter, Schuylkill Haven’s lead was extended to 14 points as Heim scored on a quarterback keeper from 1 yard out. Reber would then put the game fully out of reach for Williams Valley with a 12-yard touchdown run, giving the Hurricanes a 19-point lead with under nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Williams Valley added one final score as Trevon Bair scored on a 27-yard touchdown in the closing minutes, cutting the deficit to 43-29. The Vikings did threaten once again on their final drive of the evening, but ultimately turned the ball over on downs, sealing the win for Schuylkill Haven.
“We have so much respect for each other,” Farr said. “It’s just a great, little high school rivalry. We know the next game is going to be a slug fast and we’re waiting for it.”
Farr was also sure to mention the unsung heroes following the game including center Aiden Flannery.
“What a game,” Farr said about his center who stepped in for the injured center Ethan Kline. “ That’s unbelievable for a kid that’s 5-foot-5, 200-pounds. No one even realized we didn’t have our starting center. There were no issues the whole night and that’s an attribute to his preparation and the process.”
Now 6-0 on the season, Schuylkill Haven will host the Marian Catholic Colts next Friday. Williams Valley will look to bounce back at home against Panther Valley.
Schuylkill Haven 43, Williams Valley 29
SH (6-0, 5-0) ; 7 | 14 | 14 | 7WV (5-1, 4-1); 13 | 9| 0 | 7
SCORING
1st Quarter
SH — 9:32 Chase Leibensperger 30-yard interception return, XP good, 7-0
WV — 5:15 Shomper 2-yard run, XP no good, 7-6
WV — 1:54 Thompson 10-yard run, XP good 13-7
2nd Quarter
SH — 9:38 Niko Castillo 48-yard reception, XP good 14-13
WV — 6:28 Evan Achenbach 27-yard reception, 2pt failed 19-14
SH — 0:37 Colton Reber 26-yard reception, XP good 21-19
WV — 0:47 Quin Smeltz 27-yard field goal, 22-21
3rd Quarter
SH — 9:58 Colton Reber 52-yard run, 2-pt. Run 29-22
SH — 1:22 Max Heim 1-yard run, XP good 36-22
4th Quarter
SH — 8:45 Colton Reber 12-yard run, XP good 43-22
WV — 7:19 Trevon Bair 27-yard run, XP good 43-29
