A Season of Promise
The Pleasant Valley Bears finished the 2025 campaign with a five‑win record and a share of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Monroe Division title, a milestone that has set the stage for an ambitious 2026 season.
Head coach Blaec Saeger, who guided the Bears through a year of growth, says the program is hungry to take the next step and contend for a deeper playoff run.
Quarterback will be the focal point of the upcoming battle, as the team looks to replace Jaxson Haines, whose triple‑option mastery last season left a lasting imprint. Three names dominate the conversation: Brandt Wines, Max Vasquez and Cameron Ward, each vying to inherit the starting role.
Among the candidates, Chris Ward is expected to see increased playing time, while the offense also welcomes back Jacob George, Sean Cobb and Will Breuer, who figure to be key contributors in the new scheme.
Defensively, the Bears retain starters George and Chris Ward at linebacker and Breuer and Cobb at defensive back, while senior Collin O’Neil and junior Anthony Salvi have joined the defensive front, adding fresh depth.
The ultimate objective is clear: defeat Pocono Mountain East and reclaim the Oaken Bucket, a trophy the Bears have not held since the opponents captured it in the past two years.
Saeger emphasizes a culture of toughness and grit, a mindset he believes will carry the team through the rigors of a competitive schedule.