JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
Just back from L-L League football Media Day, where a good time was had by all. Here’s my sneak peek column from Friday’s New Era …
Don’t look now, but Lancaster-Lebanon League football is upon us.
After today’s media day festivities at Four Seasons in Landisville — where many a hot dog will be downed — it will be just two days before the helmets, shoulder pads and cleats come out of the closet.
With camps set to open bright and early Monday morning — and the season-openers set for Aug. 29 — here are 10 items I already have my eyes on:
1. Game of the year:
Circle this one on your calendars — in ink: Lancaster Catholic at Manheim Central in the granddaddy of all non-league games on Sept. 12.
Absolutely, positively do not miss this showdown between two of the most storied programs in District 3.
Oh, by the way, Central is at Wilson the Friday before, so that’ll be one heck of a two-week stretch for the Barons.
2. Can Lampeter-Strasburg defend its District 3 Triple-A title and make a return trip to the PIAA playoffs?
Um, the short answer is no.
But raise your hand if you thought the Pioneers were going to win the district title last August? OK, besides the folks in the greater Lampeter/Strasburg area …
FYI: L-S lost 18 starters from last year’s powerhouse squad — including dynamic back Justin Taylor and sack-master Anthony Cintron, a First-Team All-State selection — making a repeat run, well, unlikely.
But under coach John Manion, the Pioneers usually reload, not rebuild. So like last year, expect the unexpected with this bunch.
3. Can Lancaster Catholic quarterback Kyle Smith top his breakout sophomore season?
Absolutely — and don’t forget: he passed for 2,595 yards and 27 touchdowns last fall.
Smith, a cool and calm lefty, will have at least three tall targets to throw to in Travis Jankowski, Steve Remley and Neal Fox, which will help.
By the way, Jankowski — his friends call him “Freddy” — averaged 26.0 yards per catch last season. He is a home-run threat personified.
Smith will also have a solid o-line in front of him, anchored by returning two-way section all-star Nick Schmalhofer at tackle.
And Smith will spend most of his time working out of the shotgun, so good luck laying a hand on him.
Keep an eye on Catholic for sure. The Crusaders will have weapons all over the place — and they want some revenge after falling to Cinderella Delone Catholic in last year’s District 3 Double-A semifinals.
4. What will Pequea Valley senior wideout Sean Persch do for an encore?
All he did last year was catch a league-high 71 passes for 1,029 yards, pile up 875 yards in kick returns, 451 yards rushing, 86 yards in punt returns, and he passed for 35 yards.
That’s 2,476 all-purpose yards — and a spot on the Double-A All-State Second-Team … playing for a team that went 0-10.
Don’t be surprised if those numbers go up. But Persch and the Braves are hankering for a win.
5. Will we see Manheim Township’s “Razorback” offensive package again?
Yes.
Coach Mike Melnyk debuted “Razorback” early last season when QB Mark Mellinger went down with a bum shoulder.
His replacement, Jon Yuko, who filled in quite admirably, thank you, returns this season — as does durable RB Dan Wertz, who took a lot of those direct snaps last fall.
So expect a steady diet of “Razorback” from the Blue Streaks.
6. Who will win the L-L League rushing title?
Cocalico senior scatback Kyle Fisher — who finished seventh in the league last season with 1,203 yards, plus 20 TDs — will win the derby because:
He’s the fastest kid in the league; look it up: he won the 100, 200 and 400 sprints in the L-L League track finals last spring.
He should have a rugged fullback in front of him — Joe Lawville, who will stick you.
He’s got a stud lineman to open some gaps — returning all-star tackle Pat McMillan.
And he’s got an option whiz QB — junior Matt Carty — who knows when to pitch it.
Also keep an eye on Wertz, who rushed for 1,470 yards in 13 games last year, and Warwick’s Eric Resch, who had a league-high 274 carries for 1,193 yards last fall.
7. Can Township run the table in Section 1 again?
I was surprised the Streaks went 7-0 last year, considering Mellinger went down with an injury and Township completely junked its offense four weeks into the season.
But it worked.
With a lot of new faces, I would definitely be surprised if the Streaks did it again.
But with stud linebacker Nick Sizemore back to anchor the D, and good old “Razorback,” you never know.
But Wilson is the team to beat in Section 1.
8. Will Manheim Central get its Section 2 title back?
The Barons haven’t won a section crown since — gulp — 2005.
Elizabethtown and Solanco shared the title a year ago after the Bears and the Golden Mules both beat Central for the first time in over a decade.
The Barons’ non-league slate is tricky — Susquehannock, Wilson, Lancaster Catholic — but it should toughen them up for the section wars.
Central also has revenge on its mind. The Barons would love some payback against E-town and Solanco, and you know they’ve spent the last nine months lifting every weight in sight.
So yeah, Central can definitely win Section 2. The motivation is certainly there.
9. Can anyone catch Lancaster Catholic in Section 3?
The Crusaders shared the section title with L-S last fall after Catholic fell at Northern Lebanon in Week 10.
Just a hunch, but coach Bruce Harbach’s crew isn’t going to let that happen again — especially with Smith back there winging passes around.
10. Fearless predictions sure to go wrong:
Yeah, yeah, it’s Aug. 8. But here’s how the section races will shake down (trust me):
Section 1: Wilson, Manheim Township, Hempfield, Warwick, McCaskey, Cedar Crest, Reading, Penn Manor.
Section 2: Manheim Central, Cocalico, Elizabethtown, Solanco, Garden Spot, Lebanon, Conestoga Valley, Ephrata.
Section 3: Lancaster Catholic, L-S, Columbia, Donegal, Northern Lebanon, Elco, Annville-Cleona, Pequea Valley.
