Last season, the Parkland High School football team got back to winning gold. At the conclusion of the 2022 season, the Trojans took home the District 11 title, their first since 2017. They took down the reigning champ, Freedom, 35-10. Before that game, sixth seeded Parkland also knocked out top-three seed Nazareth and Northampton.

But that championship and the quest there did not come easy. Parkland started the season winning just two of its first five games and went 6-4 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. A lot of the adversity faced was due to injuries, especially to skill position players.

This season, the Trojans should be more equipped to handle injuries with a large senior class to depend on.

“We’re bringing back around 25 seniors, last year, we had about 10 or 11,” said eighth-year head coach Tim Moncman. “We need our seniors to lead some of the guys who will be playing who don’t have as much experience.”

Parkland is set to return eight senior starters, including three-year starting quarterback Luke Spang, and running back Trey Tremba, both of whom missed time during the season due to injury. They’ll be protected up front by senior offensive linemen Kale Kumernitsky, All-EPC guard Russell Clark and tackles Owen Broadhead and Ali Wezza. Safety Nolan Coen is another returning starter. Senior Jake Beidleman and juniors Leo Dauberman, Reid Andrush and Mason Marcks are also back and saw significant time last season.

Tremba rushed for 1,238 yards and 21 touchdowns and caught 28 passes for 428 yards and five TDs. He also averaged 15.4 yards per punt return and 20.2 yards per kickoff return.

Outside of Tremba, who can go out and catch passes as well, Spang has a tall and athletic receiving corps to throw to, including 6’4” tight end Robbie Ruisch and 6’3” Connor Johns and Jendel Sanchez.

“If we can stay lucky and avoid injuries, our offense can be very high-scoring,” Moncman said. “There are some athletes and some experience on that side of the ball.”

Some key newcomers to the varsity this season include senior Alex Kelchner, sophomore Nassim Adams and freshman TJ Lawrence.

Parkland begins its regular season at home with a conference game against Pocono Mountain West on Friday night, Aug. 25, for youth night at Parkland School District stadium. The Trojans then face a rematch with the Patriots the following Friday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.