The Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 race will probably be the most interesting this season.
I say this because I think this section has the most parity – which is a good thing.
Elizabethtown and Solanco are the reigning co-champs, and they both return a pretty good nucleus. And you know they’re both feeling fine and dandy after last year’s great run, when both teams went to Districts for the first time in forever. Oh yeah, and they both beat Manheim Central, and you know they’re still loving that in E-town and Quarryville.
Cocalico came out of the middle of the pack last year and finished with a flourish, knocking off previously unbeaten E-town in Week 10, and then went to Districts.
Manheim Central will be better. Period.
Ephrata was in every game last season. And who knows? Maybe a new coach will help push them over the hump.
Conestoga Valley is just two years removed from a 7-0 jaunt through Section 2.
Garden Spot has some nice skill kids back in the mix.
And Lebanon, with its tricky “Air Raid” offense, should be able to out-score anyone. But the Cedars will need to stop people, too.
I needed a dart board for these predictions, because this section should be as tough as nails. Literally anyone could win it.
After plucking the darts off the board, here’s what I came up with. And remember, this is for entertainment purposes only.
L-L League Section 2, in predicted order of finish:
1. Manheim Central – Is it me, or is Central the preseason pick every year? Yeah, yeah, I’m giving the early nod to the Barons. I saw them scrimmage Bethlehem Catholic, and I must say that they wowed the pants off of me. Well, not really. But you know what I mean. Central looked more organized than last year and they played with a ton of confidence. The passing attack – with quarterbacks Jeremy Knosp and Justin Gorman rotating in and out – looked good, the running game, with speedy Danny Trafford back there, looked good, and Central’s defense was menacing. LB Travis Ebersole made a bunch of big sticks, and DE Dakota Royer is a monster. He’s part of a huge junior class that should inflict plenty of damage over the next two years. It all starts this year – the year Central gets back to the top of the Section 2 charts. And maybe (just maybe) back to the top of the District 3 Triple-A mountain.
2. Cocalico – Speed, speed and more speed. The Eagles are covered in that department with L-L League Speed King Kyle Fisher back at his familiar tailback spot. He’s the reigning league 100, 200 and 400 champ, and he’s hoping that success on the track last spring will carry over to the football field. I’m guessing it will. Fisher rushed for 1,200-plus yards and 20 TDs last fall (averaging 9 yards a pop), and once he and new FB Joe Lawville mesh – along with a pretty good line, which features returning all-star Pat McMillan – expect some special things from him. Also like returning QB Matt Carty, an option whiz and terrific decision-maker. If the D can dig in, Cocalico will be there at the wire.
3. Elizabethtown – Wanted to pick the Bears a little higher, but there are a ton of new starters here, plus, E-town fell to Cocalico a year ago. So if the Eagles can clip the Bears again, that would put them ahead in the section chase. But what do I know? Depth chart took a hit recently when returning o-lineman Evan Good went down with a season-ending knee injury. But there are some big guns here, like QB Kyle McNeil – he’ll get all the snaps this season after sharing the load with Preston Faith last season; and he’s already got a pair of scholarship offers on the table, from Hampton and Robert Morris – RB Conrad Heisey, plow horse RB/LB Shane Rosenberry and terrific two-way lineman Alex Kirchner, who plays like a bull in a china shop. These guys are hoping last year’s mojo carries over to this season. I think it will. Just can’t say that it will lead to a section title – not yet, at least. But do expect the Bears to be banging on the door – and back in the postseason for the second year in a row.
4. Solanco – Also wanted to pick the Golden Mules a little higher, but like I said up top, there is a ton of parity in Section 2 at the moment. I definitely think Solanco will carry over some terrific vibes from a year ago. But I don’t like the Mules’ schedule, which includes (gulp) seven road games, including all three non-league tilts away from home. They’re installing new grass playing surfaces at the school, so the stadium won’t be ready in time for the start of the season. So Solanco had to switch up the schedule. Seven road games won’t be easy, considering how far the Mules must travel (anywhere is a jaunt from Quarryville). There is some good talent here – particularly in the trenches and at QB, where Ben Miller returns to pilot the Spread Wing-T – and the program is feeling fine after beating Manheim Central, sharing the section crown and going to Districts last year. If Solanco can survive all of those road trips (including the one to Manheim) they’ll have a legit shot to match last year’s success.
5. Garden Spot – Hearing that the numbers are down a tad in New Holland, and that’s sad to hear because this is a proud football program – a program that was in Districts just two years ago. QB Tyler Horst and WR Sean Beahan have moved on, but there is a good mix of kids returning here, like LB Joe Strangarity, a hard-hitting defender. And RB Andersan Beamer, who could be a 1,000-yard back if the line meshes. New starting QB Weston Martin got some time under center when Horst went down with an injury late last season, so he knows the drill. And a healthy Zac Boley should anchor both lines. He’s a tough nut. There is definitely a good nucleus here, but with low numbers, depth could be a concern. But don’t overlook the Spartans. I think they’ll have a say in who wins this sucker before it’s all said and done.
6. Lebanon – I hope you’re geared up for another season of the Cedars’ pass-happy “Air Raid” attack, because with blue-chip QB James Capello back under center (well, predominately in the shotgun), expect Lebanon to air it out early and often this season. Capello’s favorite sidekick from a year ago – All-State WR Jordan Clentimack – is also set to return, so the Cedars could pile up some pretty staggering passing stats in the coming weeks. But Lebanon has to stop people. Period. The Cedars finished 23rd in the league in total D a year ago, and that number absolutely, positively must improve if Lebanon wants to crash the Section 2 race. All the swing passes and bubble screens and posts will be pretty. But if the Cedars don’t improve on D, they’re going to be looking up at the lead pack.
7. Conestoga Valley – First to worst to … The Bucks went 7-0 in 2006, then followed that up by going 0-7 last fall. Getting back to 7-0 certainly won’t be easy. But don’t expect the Bucks to go 0-7 in the league again. Doesn’t sound like such a bold prediction, but CV would probably take it, considering two top linemen (Ross Hall and Tanner Edgell) transferred, and that last year’s starting QB (Brandon Helm) opted not to come back to the team. There are some weapons here – junior scatback Kevin Kelley returns for his third season in the backfield and QB Adam Heiselman is a dual-threat kid – but there are some awfully big speed bumps in the road … like Central, E-town, Cocalico and Solanco, to name a few.
8. Ephrata – Welcome aboard, Jim Vieland. He takes over for Ken Grove, who spent the last 18 years pacing Ephrata’s sidelines. The Mounts might have been the best 2-8 team in the state last season. Don’t laugh. Ephrata had several teams on the ropes, and lost several games in heartbreaking, gut-wrenching fashion. And the Mounts had Section 2 Outstanding Back of the Year Blake Crowther, who was a first-team all-star QB and d-back. He will be missed. Heck, a lot of kids will be missed. Ephrata returns just eight total starters – four on each side of the ball. The backfield was gutted. There will be new skill kids starting everywhere. And there’s a new coach. I have heard that Ephrata scrimmaged well – and hopefully the Mounts gained some momentum going into their opener, because they have (hands down) the toughest non-league slate in the L-L League: at Manheim Township, at Lancaster Catholic and then home with Warwick in the annual George Male Trophy showdown. Wowzer.
