HANOVER, Pa. (WHTM) – The Hanover Nighthawks open the 2023 season on Aug. 25 against Annville-Cleona under the guidance of new head coach Jarrel Burnett.

The Nighthawks finished 3-7 overall last season and 2-5 in the third division of the York-Adams league. They didn’t have a head coach, but instead had coaching by committee.

Their full 2023 schedule is as follows:

DateOpponentKickoff time
Aug. 25at Annville-Cleona7 p.m.
Sept. 1at Columbia7 p.m.
Sept. 8Pequea Valley7 p.m.
Sept. 15Littlestown*7 p.m.
Sept. 21at Fairfield*6 p.m.
Sept. 29Bermudian Springs*7 p.m.
Oct. 6York Catholic*7 p.m.
Oct. 13at Biglerville*7 p.m.
Oct. 20Delone Catholic*7 p.m.
Oct. 28at York County Tech*10 a.m.
*Conference game

Hanover will have three-year starter Joey Wilkinson will be returning at running back and outside linebacker. The Nighthawks are also bringing back starting quarterback Gavin Trish. Head Coach Jarrel Burnett predicted that Trish will be taking over the top spot in career passing in the York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Players to watch:

  • Joey Wilkinson, RB/OLB, senior
  • Gavin Trish, QB/FS, junior

Hanover will be relying on veteran talent and new leadership to revive the program. The Nighthawks haven’t seen a winning record in seven years since the 2015 season.

Friday Night Football returns for its 27th season on abc27. Started in 1997 by longtime abc27 Sports Director Gregg Mace, FNF was the first of its kind in Central PA.

Back in 2018, the show was expanded to 45 minutes of highlights, analysis and reaction. It remains the longest show in the Midstate highlighting high school football for thirteen weeks of the season.

You can watch abc27 Friday Night Football starting at 11:15 p.m. each Friday night on television, or on the web on our Watch Live page. Sports Director Allie Berube, Jared Phillips and John Repetz break down the best games in the area, bring you closer to the action and give you a comprehensive look at the Mid Penn Conference, Lancaster-Lebanon League and YAIAA each week.