Back by popular demand, it’s another year (and a fresh edition) of Reinhart’s Preseason Lancaster-Lebanon League All-Star Football Team.
The following is my hand-selected all-star team, featuring my picks for the top returning 11 offensive players, 11 defensive players, kicker, punter and special teams player in the L-L League this season.
Trust me when I say this was a painstaking process. I checked the list. I checked it twice. I even checked it a third time before I put my stamp on it.
Paring down this list was excruciating. If you know me, you know how much I hate leaving people out – especially when it comes to kids.
If I could have, I would have picked a second team and a third team and a fourth team and probably an honorable mention team.
But I drew a line in the sand, gosh darn it, and went with one team and one team only.
My picks were based on personal observations from last season, plus other data, like statistics and postseason honors from a year ago. Trust me: I did my homework.
The suspense must be absolutely killing you by now, so on with my picks …
OFFENSE
QB – Kyle Smith, Lancaster Catholic
HEIGHT: 6-3.
WEIGHT: 200.
CLASS: Junior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Finished first in the L-L League in passing efficiency after completing 155-of-242 passes (a sweet 64 percent) for a league-best 2,595 yards and a league-best 27 touchdown tosses against just six picks for an uber-awesome NCAA passer rating of 186.0. … Yeah, uber. Dropping some German on you …
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Associated Press Second-Team Double-A All-State QB selection; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star QB pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: If possible, to top last year’s breakout sophomore season, when he whipped up a storm by piloting Catholic to a co-Section 3 title and into the District 3 Double-A semifinals. … Smith took the league by storm, slipping into Nick Downey’s spot and going up top early and often on the way to some prolific numbers – especially for a first-year varsity kid. And at age 15, he certainly was a kid; but didn’t play like it. … With all kinds of weapons at his disposal – and a beefy, experienced line in front of him – I see no reason why Smith won’t top last year’s scary numbers, while leading a Catholic team with gigantic expectations. … Oh yeah, did I mention Smith, who has already been compared to former Wilson and Michigan QB Chad Henne, is already getting Division 1 looks? Man, two more seasons of Smith? Wow.
HEIGHT: 6-0.
WEIGHT: 170.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Finished seventh in the L-L League in rushing yards (1,203 on 133 totes), second in the L-L League in rushing touchdowns (20) and third in the L-L League in yards per carry among the overall rushing leaders (9.0) in one whopper of a breakout junior season, when he firmly established himself as one of the top breakaway backs in the league. … Went on top cap his junior year in style, winning all three sprint events – 100, 200 and 400 – in the L-L League track and field championships, becoming the first boys’ competitor in the history of the league to win all three of those events in the same league final.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 2 First-Team All-Star RB pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: Fisher will go into this season as the L-L League’s unquestioned King of Speed, so he will be the hunted, for sure. … If he turns on the jets and gets to the outside, forget it. But he will have a new fullback in front of him, so keep an eye on that. … Fisher had one of the top lead blockers in the league in front of him last fall – Albright recruit Kyle Keller, who finished sixth in the league in rushing with 1,212 yards, giving Cocalico a pair of 1,000-yard backs – so it might take him a little time to get used to a new FB in front of him. … It looks like senior Joe Lawville will be that guy, and the quicker he and Fisher get on the same page the better. … Fisher will be able to outrun a lot of defenders on his own. But if he gets that bullish FB in front of him, he could have a special season. … Fisher will get college looks for football and track – particularly track, after what he pulled off last spring.
RB – Dan Wertz, Manheim Township
HEIGHT: 6-2.
WEIGHT: 180.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Operating out of Township’s now-famous “Razorback” package, Wertz piled up 1,470 yards (third-most in the league) on 271 carries (5.4 per pop) and scored 15 touchdowns in 13 games for the Blue Streaks, who won the Section 1 title outright with a 7-0 mark.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 1 Second-Team All-Star RB pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To be just as lethal running out of Township’s modified “Razorback” package. … Wertz will again be the centerpiece of the Streaks’ rushing attack. And once again, Township will line him up all over the place in the backfield – sometimes at quarterback, where he’ll have the option to take off, to hand the ball off to someone else, or, heck, to even attempt a pass. … I call it a modified package because the Streaks will likely do even more out of “Razorback” this season, if you can believe that. Stay tuned. … Wertz takes a pounding, but he always bounces up for more, so he’s very durable back there. And once again, he should get scads of touches. … Also an outstanding lacrosse player.
WR – Sean Persch, Pequea Valley
HEIGHT: 6-0.
WEIGHT: 175.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: I’ve typed these numbers so many times that I don’t need to go back and look them up every time (as far as you know). In 2007, Persch: Caught a league-high 71 passes for 1,029 yards; piled up 875 yards in kick returns; rushed for 451 yards; had 86 yards in punt returns; and passed for 35 yards. That’s a grand total of 2,476 all-purpose yards, which is a ton … especially for a kid who started the season as the No. 1 running back before switching over to wideout around midseason – and for a kid who played for a team that went 0-10.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Associated Press Double-A All-State WR selection; Section 3 First-Team All-Star WR pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: The expectation is for Persch’s numbers to go up, if that’s possible. … Now known more for his prowess as a wideout, he should draw all sorts of funky coverages in the coming weeks. We’ll have to wait and see how he handles that. And unless Pequea Valley’s defense tightens up, the Braves could be receiving a lot of kickoffs, which means more touches for Persch. … He might not hit 2,476 total yards again, but I’ll bet he comes close. I also know that he’d give up all the fancy numbers for some wins. The Braves are starving for victories. … Recruiters are keeping an eye on Persch for sure. I know Cal (Pa.) has inquired, and he could land in the PSAC (Division 2) before its all said and done.
WR – Jordan Clentimack, Lebanon
HEIGHT: 5-11.
WEIGHT: 175.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Finished third in the L-L League in receptions (60), third in the L-L League in receiving yards (885) and first in the L-L League in touchdown catches (11) while playing in the Cedars’ pass-happy “Air Raid” attack, which made its debut last fall.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Associated Press Triple-A Second-Team All-State WR selection; Section 2 First-Team All-Star WR pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To once again be senior QB James Capello’s top target in Lebanon’s pass-first scheme, masterminded by current Auburn University offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, who has taught the spread offense everywhere he’s gone. … This will be Year 2 of “Air Raid” for Lebanon, and in Capello and Clentimack, the Cedars have an excellent triggerman and sure-handed receiver to make it work. … Last fall, Capello passed for 2,077 yards – third-most in the league. He’s popped up on everyone’s recruiting radar. … Clentimack, who can beat you in the slot and deep, also has the goods to play at the next level, but will likely have to take the juco route.
HEIGHT: 6-5.
WEIGHT: 205.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Caught 25 passes for 400 yards (16.0 yards per grab), including three TD catches. … Pretty good receiving numbers for an option-oriented team that usually didn’t pass until third down at the earliest. … Booth was an extremely reliable target, and he was pretty good at dragging would-be tacklers along for a ride.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 1 Second-Team All-Star TE pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: With the return (knock on wood) of senior QB Mike Treier under center, the Comets could (I said could) open up the passing game a smidge more, especially after what Booth showed he could do last season. … Treier, who has fought the injury bug since his sophomore season, can throw a nice ball (when he’s not taking on linebackers), so don’t be surprised if he goes up top a little more – especially to Booth, who wears uniform jersey No. 1 … not your typical number for a TE/DE type. But how cool is that?
C – Riley Clugston, Manheim Central
HEIGHT: 6-1.
WEIGHT: 246.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Last time I checked, a center can’t compile too many stats in football. So I’ll go with this one: Clugston anchored the Barons line, which helped Central’s offense compile 2,166 rushing yards and 1,004 passing yards, good for 288.2 yards a game – 12th-best in the L-L League.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Shared Section 2 First-Team All-Star honors at center with Elizabethtown senior Sean McMullen.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: Practically every dominant Central team over the past decade or so has had that key cog guy in the middle of the offensive line. Like Mike Byrne, who went on to star at Delaware, and now he’s close to making the Miami Dolphins roster. Clugston needs to be that guy this season for the Barons, who are hoping to wipe away two years of frustration. In 2006, Central fell to archrival Conestoga Valley on the last night of league play, watching the Buckskins clinch the outright Section 2 title in Manheim. Then the Barons fell to South Western in the district semifinals. Last season, Central fell to Elizabethtown and Solanco in league games, was denied a section title for the second year in a row, and fizzled out in the first round of Districts for the first time in years. … If Clugston can be an animal in the middle of the o-line, it says here the Barons have the weapons to get back to the top of the Section 2 charts – for starters.
OG – Tanner Edgell, Donegal
HEIGHT: 6-3.
WEIGHT: 191.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: If you thought finding statistics for a center was impossible, then try finding something (anything) for an offensive guard. … Last fall, playing for Conestoga Valley for the second year after transferring from Donegal, Edgell helped the Buckskins pile up 1,369 rushing yards from his OG spot. … He helped open holes for one of the L-L League’s top scatbacks, Kevin Kelley, who followed up his breakout freshman season from 2006 with 855 rushing yards (15th-best in the league) and seven touchdowns last season.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 2 First-Team All-Star OG pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: Now back at Donegal after two years at CV, Edgell rejoins the program where he got started in his prep career. And he should fit in quite nicely, thank you. … Nothing like a returning league all-star dropping into your lap, eh? … Edgell is expected to line-up at RG, where he’ll be flanked at LG by senior Randall Lewis (5-10, 175), along with senior C Morgan Rupp (6-0, 185) and senior tackles Andrew Ross (6-2, 250) and J.D. Intrieri (6-1, 245). … Getting Edgell back definitely helped that crew out for sure.
OG – Andrew Krimmel, Lampeter-Strasburg
HEIGHT: 5-11.
WEIGHT: 175.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Krimmel was a key cog on a line that helped the Pioneers’ offense put up some mind-boggling numbers. … L-S finished fourth in the L-L League in total offense (3,851 rushing yards, 1,503 passing yards, 356.9 yards a game), and he helped open gaps for one of the best players in the league: multi-purpose back Justin Taylor, who averaged an eye-popping 11.9 yards per carry (1,648 yards on 138 attempts, plus 18 TD runs).
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 3 Second-Team All-Star OG pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: Let me say that the Pioneers’ expectations have not wavered, even though L-S took it on the chin in graduation losses. In fact, Krimmel is just one of four full-time starters from last year’s District 3 Triple-A championship team that is back in the saddle this year. Rugged FB Joe Good and OT Ted Force are the only other returning players on offense, and T Matt Maser is the lone holdover back on D – although L-S returns several players who played a lot of snaps last fall, when the Pioneers shared the Section 3 crown with Lancaster Catholic, before making a spirited run to the first district title in the history of the program, and into the PIAA playoffs. … Krimmel has a big job: blocking for a new QB (senior Blake Brubaker) and for a new feature back (junior Chad Frey, who has some wheels), while helping to break in three new starters on the line (C Luke Richmond, LG Colin Lindsley and Maser at RT).
OT – Kevin McCarty, Columbia
HEIGHT: 6-3.
WEIGHT: 250.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Wow, a stat for an offensive lineman – and it’s a good one. How good was McCarty in the trenches last season? He did not allow a single sack in 11 games. Impressive. … These numbers aren’t too shabby, either: McCarty helped the Crimson Tide’s high-flying offense average 413.8 yards a game – tops in the league. And he helped open holes for the league’s leading rusher (Ben Guiles, who piled up 1,665 yards and a league-high 22 TD runs) and kept QB Mike Seibert upright long enough not only not to get sacked by his man, but to throw for 1,825 yards and 18 TDs.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 3 First-Team All-Star OT pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: With Brian Groff gone, McCarty will be the unquestioned leader of the Tide’s o-line. … Groff, an Associated Press Double-A Second-Team All-State pick last season, tried to walk-on at Penn State before opting to transfer to Shippensburg. … Without Groff, McCarty will be called upon to do a lot of heavy lifting. And apparently he’s up for the job; he learned to play center this off-season, so he’ll be flexible. He’ll also be blocking for a new QB (senior Matt Kreiser) and two new feature backs (seniors Dakotah Lightfoot and Jason Combs), who will be stepping in for Guiles.
OT – Pat McMillan, Cocalico
HEIGHT: 5-11.
WEIGHT: 205.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: That’s it! Other than blocking grades, somebody needs to come up with statistics for offensive lineman. … McMillan was part of unit that had plenty of success opening holes last fall. Check it out: Cocalico cranked out 2,936 rushing yards and averaged 349.8 yards a game – fifth-best in the L-L League. And McMillan held his blocks long enough for the Eagles to produce not one, but a pair of 1,000-yard rushers: Kyle Keller had 1,212 yards; Kyle Fisher 1,203. … It was the first time teammates rushed for at least 1,000 yards in a season in the L-L League since 2004, when Cedar Crest’s Nick McConnell (1,134) and Tobias Robinson (1,080) pulled off the double-dip. … All that team offense and all of those yards by Keller and Fisher should tell you how good of a job McMillan and his mates did in the trenches.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 2 First-Team All-Star OT pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To pick up right where he left off, blocking for Fisher and for returning QB Matt Carty, who had a dynamite sophomore season in his varsity debut last fall. … With McMillan protecting his back, Carty completed 54 percent of his passes (38-of-70) for 739 yards and 9 TDs against just five picks. Carty also scrambled for 297 yards and three scores on 57 keepers. … I already tabbed Fisher as a preseason all-star, and Cocalico is expecting enormous things from him. If McMillan can keep Carty upright and keep making holes for Fisher, there’s no telling how high the Eagles will soar.
K – Brendon Levengood, Cedar Crest
HEIGHT: 6-0.
WEIGHT: 177.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Nailed 12-of-15 extra points and (even more impressively) booted 8-of-9 field goals for the Falcons, including a pair of 38-yarders – against Penn Manor on Sept. 21 and against Wilson on Sept. 28.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star K pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To kick more extra points, which, of course, would mean Cedar Crest finds the end zone a little more often than a year ago, when the Falcons finished dead last in the L-L League in total offense (199.4 yards a game) and were outscored 292-136 (a minus-156 scoring ratio). … Never, ever underestimate the importance of a good kicker (see: Manheim Township, David Soldner). And in Levengood, the Falcons should have one of the top kickers in the L-L League.
SPECIAL TEAMS – Alex Fegley, Wilson
HEIGHT: 6-0.
WEIGHT: 160.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Returned 44 punts for 327 yards (7.4 per return) including a long return of 35 yards; and returned 24 kickoffs for 633 yards (26.4 per return) including a long return of 50 yards. … That’s 960 yards in returns, if you’re calculator isn’t handy.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 1 Second-Team All-Star KR pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To play for a section-championship team. … With seven starters back from last year’s top-ranked D unit, the Bulldogs are thinking big. And they should have plenty of motivation, considering they dropped a pair of section games a year ago (coming off a 7-0 season, and they were the preseason pick to repeat as Section 1 champs). … The ‘Dawgs were tripped up by Warwick at home, and they lost in a driving rainstorm to eventual outright champ Manheim Township in Neffsville. … Still, Wilson led the league in total D and advanced to the District 3 Quad-A semifinals. And with a bunch of those kids back – including Fegley, who will play wideout, d-back and return kicks and punts – Wilson is the Section 1 favorite. … Fegley should get plenty of touches, no matter where he’s lined up. If he’s lined up on special teams, watch out. … One of the most underrated items in any football game is field position. And with Fegley returning kicks, Wilson should win plenty of field position battles – not to mention plenty of games.
DEFENSE
DE – Dakota Royer, Manheim Central
HEIGHT: 6-3.
WEIGHT: 220.
CLASS: Junior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Blitz-happy d-end led the Barons in solo tackles (48), assisted tackles (51), total tackles (99) and sacks (10 ½) in his first season with Central’s program. … Royer transferred over from McCaskey prior to his sophomore year with the Barons, and he did not disappoint, chasing quarterbacks with reckless abandon while quickly establishing himself as one of the best all-around defensive players in the league.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 2 First-Team All-Star DE pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To help lead the Barons back to the Promised Land – OK, maybe not back to the state championship game. But perhaps to Central’s first Section 2 and/or District 3 Triple-A championship since 2005 would be a great start. … This kid’s got a huge ticker, he’s fundamentally strong and he’s relentless. … He will tackle everyone and anyone in sight – especially quarterbacks; that’s his specialty. He tackled so many quarterbacks last season that he’s already popping up on Division 1 recruiting radar. And he has two full seasons to ply his trade for the Barons. Wow, watch out. Could be a D1 kid if he keeps growing.
DE – Morgan Rupp, Donegal
HEIGHT: 6-0.
WEIGHT: 185.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Active d-end had 20 solo stops, assisted on 35 tackles, piled up 14 tackles for losses, had 5 ½ sacks, picked off two passes, hurried the QB four times and recovered a pair of fumbles for the Indians, who allowed just 270.3 yards a game – eighth-best in the L-L League.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 3 First-Team All-Star DE pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To help Donegal get back in the postseason. … The Indians went 6-4 a year ago, but didn’t accumulate enough power points to crack the District 3 Triple-A playoffs – one year after going to Districts. And even though Donegal will be breaking in some new skill kids (particularly at QB and FB, where stalwart Blaine Miller has finally moved on), the Indians are still thinking big, especially with Rupp chasing quarterbacks from his DE spot. … Also a baseball standout who will likely play baseball in college – but not before he inflicts a little more damage on the high school football field first.
DT – Alex Kirchner, Elizabethtown
HEIGHT: 6-0.
WEIGHT: 215.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Piled up 36 solo tackles, assisted on 35 and registered 12 tackles for losses. Also recovered three fumbles and had a pair of sacks for the Bears, who finished fifth in the L-L League in total team D, yielding just 230.0 yards a game.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 2 First-Team All-Star DT pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To somehow, some way help E-town recapture the magic of last year’s unbelievable run, when da Bears opened the season 9-0, shared the Section 2 crown with Solanco and beat Shippensburg in a first-round District 3 Triple-A playoff game before bowing out to eventual champ L-S in the district quarterfinals. … Did I mention 21 seniors from that team graduated? So this will be a new-look E-town team. In fact, just eight total full-time starters are set to return. But one of them is Kirchner, and he’s a gamer – on both sides of the ball. … He’ll also play in the trenches on offense at LG, which means he’ll have QB Kyle McNeal’s back. And he’ll anchor the D from his DT spot. … Kirchner, who will have the dirtiest uniform after every game this season (book it), showed up for L-L League football media day sporting a Mohawk haircut. You think he’s ready to get things started, or what?
DT – Nick Schmalhofer, Lancaster Catholic
HEIGHT: 6-4.
WEIGHT: 235.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Despite missing the last two games of the season with an ankle injury, Schmalhofer still piled up 15 solo tackles, assisted on 35 other stops, defended seven passes, recovered a fumble and had 3 ½ sacks for Catholic’s stingy D, which yielded just 219.1 yards a game – third-best in the L-L League.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 3 First-Team All-Star DT pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To help Catholic win the Section 3 title outright (no ties this time), and to get back in the winner’s circle in the District 3 Double-A playoffs. … Schmalhofer will do it from a new spot – defensive end, where he is getting beaucoup college looks. Yep, beaucoup. I think that’s the first time in my journalism career that I dropped beaucoup in a story. Anyhoo … I listed Schmalhofer as a DT, since that’s where he spent last year. Hey, it’s my team, remember. … Now healthy after off-season ankle surgery, Schmalhofer should be a force on the edge for the Crusaders, who have big goals. Schmalhofer, who could very well end up at a D1 program, should help Catholic reach them.
LB – Colton Weaver, Wilson
HEIGHT: 6-0.
WEIGHT: 215.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Registered a team-high 103 total tackles, plucked two fumbles, picked off a pass and had five sacks for the Bulldogs, who allowed a scant 156.2 yards a game – tops in the league. And seven starters – spearheaded by Weaver – are set to return to that unit.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 1 First-Team All-Star LB pick; Section 1 Linebacker of the Year selection.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To once again help Wilson lead the league in total team D – and to bring the Section 1 championship trophy back to West Lawn. The hardware currently rests in Neffsville. But all of those ball-hawkers back on D – led by Weaver, who is back for his fourth season as a starter – the ‘Dawgs are the favorites to win it back. … Weaver is the ringleader. He’s got a nose for the ball and an uncanny knack for getting to it before anyone else.
LB – Nick Sizemore, Manheim Township
HEIGHT: 6-2.
WEIGHT: 225.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Punishing tackler finished first on the team in assisted stops (47) and second on the team in solos (51), including seven tackles for losses; he also caused five fumbles, recovered a fumble, had one pick and made six sacks.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 1 Second-Team All-Star LB pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To help Township top (or at least match) last year, when the Blue Streaks ran the table in Section 1 and won their first outright section crown in eons before advancing to the District 3 Quad-A semifinals. … Sizemore will be the key cog on defense, where he’ll be parked right in the middle, free to roam and search out and destroy ball-carriers. … And talk about your heavy hitters – this kid made a stick in the L-S scrimmage last Saturday that you could hear miles away. OK, not miles. But you know what I mean. … I would absolutely hate to get tackled by this guy.
HEIGHT: 6-3.
WEIGHT: 225.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Racked up 38 solo tackles and assisted on 18 others, had nine tackles for losses, had a pair of QB hurries, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles and had six sacks for the Black Knights, who had the 10th-best D in the league, allowing 282.7 yards a game.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 1 First-Team All-Star LB pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To be the ringleader of a defense that could help push the Knights back into the lead pack in Section 1. … Coach Bob Forgrave has installed a new spread offensive attack, and if that flies, Hempfield should improve on last year’s offensive numbers, which added up to 249.4 yards a game – just 19th-best in the L-L League. … With or without an improved O, Hempfield’s D must stand tall. And they’ll have a heck of catalyst in Macik, one of those high-energy, heat-seeking missile kids who somehow finds a way to be in on every play.
LB – Joe Strangarity, Garden Spot
HEIGHT: 5-10.
WEIGHT: 190.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Was the Spartans’ leader in solo tackles (61), assisted tackles (64) and total tackles (125), while playing in a defense that yielded 337.4 yards a game – just 20th-best in the L-L League.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 2 First-Team All-Star LB pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To be in on even more tackles, thanks to a beefed up summer workout routine that saw Strangarity put on about 15 pounds of muscle. … What he did as an undersized LB was amazing; I’m anxious to see what he does with some more weight on him. … All reports out of New Holland indicate he’s still quicker than ever. Now Strangarity will have the muscle to shed more blockers – and get to the ball-carrier even more. He did plenty of that a year ago, averaging 12 ½ total tackles a game. That’s all you need to know about this guy – ball-hawker, tackle machine, knows where the action is and can find the shortest path to it. … Said it before and I’ll say it again – Strangarity might have the biggest ticker in the L-L League.
CB – Randy Yost, Warwick
HEIGHT: 5-8.
WEIGHT: 157.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Picked off three passes, made 19 solo tackles and assisted on 13 more for the Warriors, who gave up 304.5 yards a game.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 1 Second-Team All-Star DB pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To be just as solid on the corner, considering he could have some other high-priority responsibilities. … Yost definitely has the rep of being one of the top cover corners in the league. But when the Warriors break camp, there’s a pretty good shot he’ll be the starting quarterback on offense. That would be his first starting gig as the varsity QB, so he’d probably still be learning some things on the fly there. … By the way, if he doesn’t play QB, Yost will return to his familiar spot at WR, where he caught 17 passes for 380 yards (22.4 yards per grab) and seven TDs last fall. … One way or the other, Yost will play a key role on O. If he’s also solid on D, he’s got the skills to shut down the top wideouts Section 1 has to offer.
CB – Travis Jankowski, Lancaster Catholic
HEIGHT: 6-2.
WEIGHT: 175.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: While he garnered a lot of attention for his prowess at wideout (8 TD grabs, 26.0 yards per catch), Jankowski was also a one-man wrecking crew from his DB spot, where he piled up 17 solo tackles, assisted on 18 others, had a team-high six sacks, forced a fumble, defended five passes and picked off a pair of passes for the Crusaders, who were third in the L-L League in total team D (219.1).
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DB pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: The Crusaders have so much depth that Jankowski – his friends call him “Freddy” – might shift over and play some outside linebacker from time to time to take advantage of his size and speed. … But when he’s at his customary DB spot, he’ll mark the opposition’s top threat. And more times than not – thanks to his frame and speed – he’ll shut him down. … Also an All-State baseball player.
HEIGHT: 5-10.
WEIGHT: 170.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Had 28 solo stops and 29 assisted tackles for 85 total tackles – third-best on a D that yielded 304.5 yards a game.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 1 Second-Team All-Star DB pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: To hit as many unsuspecting ball-carriers as humanly possible. Resch should get plenty of opportunities to do that, now that he’s made the switch to free safety. … If he’s not too tired from lugging the ball so many times from his RB spot (where he put up some fine numbers last fall), he should be able to level the boom quite nicely from his new perch on D.
P – Logan Smith, Hempfield
HEIGHT: 6-0.
WEIGHT: 170.
CLASS: Senior.
LAST YEAR’S KEY STATS: Dropped back and punted 20 times last year, averaging 38.4 yards per boot (that’s 767 yards in punts, by the way). Smith’s longest effort was a 55-yard bomb.
LAST YEAR’S HONORS: Section 1 First-Team All-Star P pick.
THIS YEAR’S EXPECTATIONS: Not to punt as much. Hardy-har-har. But seriously folks … nobody likes to punt. And with a new spread offense, Hempfield is hoping to have more scoring drives and less fourth-and-long situations. … When called upon to punt, Smith was one of the best in the league a year ago. This season, he’d much rather contribute more at wideout and help make first downs and touchdowns – not punt the ball away.
