The Kutztown Cougars finished the 2025 campaign with a 2‑8 record, but the season will be remembered for a historic offensive achievement: for the first time in Lancaster‑Lebanon League history, three different rushers eclipsed the 1,000‑yard mark.
A Bittersweet Milestone
Coach Larry Chester, now in his 32nd year at the helm, called the feat bittersweet, noting that the team’s inability to protect the ball and a defense that surrendered an average of 35 points per game kept them from a winning record.
Returning standouts such as Ryan Walters, who posted 1,031 yards last season, will be joined by a revamped backfield that includes Hunter Amata and Levi Martin, while former 1,351‑yard halfback Mason Sherry and fullback Ian Bahr Jr. will be missing from the lineup.
The coaching staff is emphasizing fundamentals — cutting turnovers, which placed the Cougars second in the league last year, and tightening a defense that gave up too many big plays — to turn those narrow defeats into victories.
If the Cougars can translate those improvements into wins, they could finally break a drought that has stretched since 2004, when they last posted a winning season, and become a serious contender in Section 5.