North Pocono Trojans 2026 Football Season Preview: The Standard Has Changed

The standard has changed in Moscow. Following a historic 13-1 season in 2025 that featured a District 2 Class 4A championship and a run all the way to the state quarterfinals, the North Pocono Trojans enter 2026 with expectations higher than they have been in decades. Head coach Greg Dolhon and his squad aren’t interested in simply trying to recreate last year’s success, however. This is a new team, a new season, and a new opportunity to forge its own identity.

Fortunately for the Trojans, several key pillars from last year’s championship run are back on the field.

At the center of that identity is senior quarterback Chase Zimmerman, who returns for his fourth season as a starter and third year commanding the Trojans’ offense under center. Zimmerman was instrumental in North Pocono’s historic run last fall, throwing for 930 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 429 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground.

Coming off a season in which the Trojans reached heights the program hadn’t seen in decades, Zimmerman will be counted on to keep the locker room focused while guiding a new group of contributors on what it takes to compete at an elite level.

"Get better every game, just keep running the ball," Zimmerman told SportzWire. He also expressed strong confidence in his offensive front, noting how much the group grew through last year's postseason experience. "I am really excited to see what our line can do, and of course we have the playmakers."

After everything Zimmerman and the 2025 Trojans accomplished, the senior leader understands that this season cannot be spent looking in the rearview mirror.

One of the most intriguing storylines heading into the fall is the return of Joe Briskie. The junior running back is one of the Trojans’ premier returning starters and provides North Pocono with a bruising, physical presence in the backfield.

When Briskie is on the field, the Trojans operate with an entirely different dimension. His downhill running style consistently wears down opposing fronts, creating what teammates and coaches call the Joe Briskie effect.

Briskie does not necessarily have to touch the football on every snap to alter the flow of a game; his mere presence dictates defensive alignments and opens up the entire playbook. After battling through injuries last fall, having a fully healthy Briskie back in the lineup could be one of the biggest catalysts for North Pocono in 2026.

If Zimmerman provides the leadership and Briskie brings the hammer, Cole West supplies the pure electricity. West returns for his senior campaign as one of North Pocono’s most dynamic weapons and one of the premier athletes in the Lackawanna Football Conference.

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 210 pounds, West is a returning starter at both wide receiver and defensive back. He is also committed to play Division I football at Cornell beginning in 2027. West is the caliber of athlete capable of changing a game on a single snap. Whether hauling in a deep shot, breaking tackles in space, or shutting down passing lanes on defense, he demands constant attention from opposing coaching staffs every Friday night.

"One more season with the boys," West told SportzWire. "We have worked all summer for this. We've got the target on our backs, which we love. So the pressure is on, but it’s 1-0 every week."

West also emphasized his physical mindset heading into his final high school campaign, noting he plans on "more downhill running this year to knock some guys over."

With Zimmerman, West, and Briskie leading the charge, North Pocono boasts a veteran quarterback, a Division I playmaker, and an explosive ground threat forming the foundation on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, North Pocono looks to set the tone up front. The defensive line is tasked with controlling the line of scrimmage, neutralizing opposing ground attacks, and freeing up a fast linebacking corps to make plays in space. The unit features experienced playmakers including Garrett Gillette, Michael Bell, Mikey Hatala, Will Eisley, Brody Bull, and Alexander Garibaldi.

"This is my first year on defense," Gillette told SportzWire. "I'm excited to be back out on the field and looking forward to another district trip." Playing on both sides of the football, Gillette is poised to be a major two-way factor for the Trojans this fall.

The formula for the 2026 Trojans remains direct: relentless pressure up front, sideline-to-sideline speed at linebacker, and disciplined coverage in the secondary. North Pocono has all the ingredients to once again field one of the most suffocating defenses in the Lackawanna Conference.

The Trojans do not need to reinvent their defensive philosophy. They simply need to execute the North Pocono standard: play fast, hit hard, and make opposing offenses earn every single blade of grass.

The Trojans open the 2026 campaign at home on August 28 against Berwick, a matchup West, Zimmerman, and Gillette all highlighted as an exciting opportunity to renew a storied regional rivalry.

North Pocono travels to Scranton in Week 2, followed by pivotal matchups against Honesdale, Valley View, and Abington Heights before navigating a grueling October stretch. That late-season slate includes battles against Wilkes-Barre, Scranton Prep, Delaware Valley, Wallenpaupack, and West Scranton.

As the reigning District 2 champions, the Trojans know they will get every opponent's absolute best shot every single week.

A year ago, North Pocono was on the hunt. In 2026, the roles are reversed and everyone is chasing the Trojans.

North Pocono proved in 2025 that it could conquer District 2 and compete among the state's best. Now comes the challenge of staying at the top. The Trojans aren’t dwelling on duplicating last year’s 13-1 mark; instead, their focus is locked on the process: one game, one week, and one opportunity at a time.

If all the pieces click into place once again, North Pocono will be right back where it expects to be playing championship-caliber football when November arrives. The 2025 Trojans raised the bar. Now the 2026 team gets to determine just how high it can go.