In a remarkable turnaround, former Dieruff High football coach Kyle Beller has successfully led Pennridge High to the District 1 semifinals in his third season at the helm. With a record of 11-1, Beller”s Rams are set to host Coatesville at 7 p.m. on Friday, just two victories away from clinching the school”s first district title and three from reaching the state finals.
Beller, a graduate of Dieruff High in 1997, previously coached the Huskies for seven seasons, but his record there was a challenging 22-47 before he resigned in 2019. After stints at Bethlehem Catholic and Whitehall, he sought a new opportunity as a head coach, which he found at Pennridge. Following a 3-8 record in his debut season and a slightly improved 4-7 in 2024, this year has proven to be a breakthrough for the program.
The Rams launched their season with a 31-21 victory over Liberty and currently hold the 10th spot in state rankings, according to Pennlive.com. “It has been a great journey,” Beller remarked. “At Dieruff, we just couldn”t get over the hump, but I took valuable lessons from my time at other schools. Each experience helped me refine my approach.” At Pennridge, he has found a supportive environment that includes dedicated facilities and a passionate fan base.
“The commitment level from everyone has been inspiring,” he expressed. “For me, the biggest reward is witnessing the players grow in confidence and excitement.” Beller emphasized that while he will reflect on the season later, the focus remains on the ongoing process of improvement.
Pennridge boasts a well-rounded team, averaging 28.4 points scored per game while allowing just 14.9. Senior quarterback Noah Keating has thrown for 1,340 yards and 13 touchdowns, in addition to running for 303 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior running backs William Dougherty and Ryan Rowe have each contributed close to 700 rushing yards, combining for 13 touchdowns, while junior receiver Sean Leuthe leads the receiving corps with 27 catches for 471 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, sophomore Blake Landherr and Rowe lead the team with 94 and 84 tackles, respectively.
Beller acknowledges the competitive nature of the conference, noting that three of the four teams remaining in the District 1 6A playoffs are from the Suburban One National Conference. “I came from the EPC, which is a strong league, but we play great football here as well,” he stated.
Having faced Liberty in back-to-back seasons, Beller appreciated the chance to reestablish connections with his former league. “Winning against them in Week 1 was a huge boost for our momentum, especially after they defeated us decisively last year,” he recalled. “Our players executed well across all phases, which set the tone for the rest of the season.”
Beller noted that the offseason preparation was crucial. “We were in the weight room every day, competing and pushing each other. Our kids embraced that challenge and learned how to win,” he said. As a business teacher at the school, Beller has also been impressed by the level of community support, which he anticipates will be vital as they prepare to face Coatesville, a formidable opponent.
“The Pennridge community truly loves their football,” he remarked. “It”s reminiscent of my time at Whitehall. Regardless of our record in previous years, we”ve always had great crowds. This year, the support has been phenomenal. The administration backs all sports, which shows how important our program is to them. We aim to keep pushing forward and see how far we can take this.”
