Ooooh, yeah. The Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 football predictions.
Trying to rank the big boys is never easy. And it won’t be again this year.
Had to flip a few coins to make the following projections, which are for entertainment purposes, by the way.
L-L League Section 1, in predicted order of finish:
1. Wilson – The Bulldogs are loaded for bear, especially on defense, where they’ll return seven starters from last year’s unit, which was ranked No. 1 in the L-L League in total defense, allowing a miniscule 156 yards a game. All four linebackers – including fourth-year starter and reigning Section 1 Linebacker of the Year Colton Weaver – and punishing DE Rodney Hill are all back. QB Steve Huber returns for his third year under center, so he knows the drill, and will do just fine, especially once the five new starting o-linemen in front of him pick up the pace. FB/LB Dylan Stopper also returns, and when he’s healthy, he’s a major force. When you break everything down and take everything into consideration, Wilson, which reached the District 3 Quad-A semifinal round a year ago, is the runaway pick here. Of course, I picked them last year, and they finished 5-2. Shows you what I know, right?
2. Manheim Township – The Blue Streaks lost some serious boss hogs in the trenches – all five starting o-linemen, for starters. Plus a flock of defenders and gritty skill kids moved on. But a couple of key cogs return, like 1,400-yard rusher Dan Wertz, gutsy QB Jon Yuko (who went 8-0 as a starter after Mark Mellinger went down with a bum shoulder) and heat-seeking missile LB Nick Sizemore, who just might be the heaviest hitter in the L-L League. That’s a pretty nucleus to start, and those three guys will be counted on heavily to make plays, particularly out of Township’s funky “Razorback” offensive package, when Yuko, Wertz and Sizemore will all take snaps. But there will be five new o-linemen up front, so that unit could take a while to get on the same page. The quicker they jell the better. The D will have some new looks too. Truth is, Township has a big roster, chock full of kids who have played (or practiced) in this system the last couple of years. And what a couple of years it’s been in Neffsville – a co-section crown in 2005 and an outright title last year … plus a trip to the District 3 Quad-A semifinals. This group won’t completely fall off the map. But it won’t be the same as last year. But I still love the Streaks’ chances to be there at the finish line. Oh yeah – Township must replace All-American kicker David Soldner. Had to mention that.
3. Hempfield – Yeah, the Black Knights third. And I had to throw another dart to see if I wanted to pick them up at No. 2. A terrific nucleus returns, led by option whiz Jarvis Cummings at QB and FB/LB Eric Macik, who is a total stud. Hempfield’s D held up well last year, and a lot of those guys are back. Three all-star offensive linemen also return, and that should be a huge advantage for the Knights, who will debut a new-look spread offense this season. Former Columbia coach Mike Burke was brought in to help out the O, and he’s installed this new package, which will likely feature Cummings – and his 4.5 speed – lined up all over the place. I have a sneaking suspicion that Hempfield is going to be better – a lot better. Keep an eye on Landisville, people.
4. Warwick – The only negative thing I’m hearing about the Warriors is that their numbers are down, meaning depth could be an issue. But I also heard that Warwick’s first-teamers scrimmaged very, very well. It’s been an awesome two years for this program – back-to-back trips to Districts and a 9-1 finish in the regular-season a year ago … including that whopper win at Wilson in the section opener. Good vibes and plenty of good mojo around the Warriors, who did lose all five o-linemen and all-league QB Jon Resch. Those are key losses. But with shifty RB Eric Resch back, the O should still move the ball – maybe not like last year at the outset, but once the new guys figure it out, there are some nice weapons here. QB is unsettled. Randy Yost, a wideout and all-star d-back, was playing under center. Warwick has a sophomore lefty named Jordan Donmoyer, who they’re very high on. Look for Yost to get some snaps until they think Donmoyer is ready to take over full-time. Will Warwick go 9-1 again? Hmmm. Can’t say for sure, but it will be tougher than last year with so many new kids in the trenches. But I fully expect the Warriors to keep riding this wave of success, and to be players in this race all the way to the wire.
5. McCaskey – The Red Tornado lost some speedsters – RB Jerome LaRue and WR Daniel Pena, to name a pair – but will likely reload in that department, especially with returning wideouts Leequan LaRue and Brandon Williams back in the mix – as well as QB Adrian Westbrook, who put up some good numbers when he came in late in the year when James Bouder went down with an injury. Westbrook was in a duel for the starting job in camp with Nate Schaeffer, but an injury slowed down Schaeffer a bit. Coach Scott Feldman said both guys will play QB when healthy. Keep an eye on that. And definitely keep an eye on the Tornado. There will be some new guys in some important places. But McCaskey might have enough speed to make things mighty interesting. Besides, Section 1 is much more fun when the Tornado is in the race.
6. Cedar Crest – Just a hunch, but the Falcons will be better this season. I’m not talking 10-0 better. But better, which is a step, considering this group has gone 1-13 in Section 1 games over the last two seasons. Junior QB Gary Gristick knows the ins and outs of Cedar Crest’s Wing-T attack – which got a shot in the arm when Duran Ramos transferred over from Lebanon this summer. He had 51 catches for the Cedars a year ago, so he should be a weapon for sure. The Falcons will take any help they can get on offense; Cedar Crest finished dead last in the league in total O last year, averaging just 199 yards a game. The Falcons should be very good in the kicking game, where senior Brendon Levengood returns. He’s got a big leg. And Cedar Crest will be strong in the linebacker corps, where returning all-star ball-hawker Joe Sarra should spearhead that unit. The Falcons will not be an easy out.
7. Reading – Preston McKnight is the Red Knights’ new coach, replacing Victor Brown, who stepped down after four years on the job. It wasn’t one of the greatest four-year runs in the history of this proud program; Reading went 9-31 over that stretch, and hasn’t sniffed the postseason since 2003, when the Knights were in the District 3 Quad-A final. The program has taken a downswing since, and McKnight is hoping to change directions. He’ll have to do it with a new QB – multi-purpose threat Malcolm Williams has moved on – and with some new kids in the trenches. But Reading has some thumpers – OT Darryl Pringle has a scholarship offer from Temple on the table, and DE Demrick Cook is a returning first-team all-star. Shifty RB Fruquan Gaston also returns. He should help take some pressure off the new QB – Freddy Pena or Yamil Echavarria, who were battling it out in camp. The Section 1 race is even better when Reading is good. I think the Knights will improve under McKnight. But I don’t see them crashing the party just yet.
8. Penn Manor – Todd Mealy is back for his second season as head coach, and I’m quite sure his kids are buying into his defense-first philosophy by now. The Comets are definitely going to need to stop some people. That’s a must in this section. The O took a hit when RB Carl Christmas was denied another year of eligibility. He shared the Section 1 rushing title with Warwick’s Eric Resch during the regular season (1,069 yards), but after petitioning the league and the PIAA for another year of eligibility, he was denied. And the Comets had to wave bye-bye to a 1,000-yard back they thought was coming back. Oft-injured QB Mike Treier, who runs the option really well, is back. Keeping him healthy is a must. If he ever played 10 games, he’d do some things. But his soph and junior seasons were wrecked by injuries. Coming off an 0-7 league season, a section win would do wonders for these guys, who are just two years removed from a trip to Districts. Be patient, Millersville.
