JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com

Pull up a chair and get cozy … it’s my L-L League Section 3 preview capsules — everything and anything you need to know about your favorite Section 3 football teams, in capsule form, listed in predicted order of finish. Enjoy:

LANCASTER CATHOLIC CRUSADERS
ONLINE: crusaderfootball.vicid.com
COACH: Bruce Harbach (7th season; 50-20 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Double-A.
THE SCHEDULE: Trinity, Ephrata, @ Manheim Central; Donegal, @ Lampeter-Strasburg, @ Pequea Valley, Northern Lebanon, @ Columbia, Annville-Cleona, @ Elco.
REINHART SAYS: If that Week 3 tilt at Manheim Central doesn’t pick up your pulse rate, I’m not sure what will. … Yes, the opener with state-ranked Trinity is a whopper – the Shamrocks held off the Crusaders at the horn in last year’s opener, before reaching the District 3 Double-A title game and falling to Delone Catholic – but Lancaster Catholic at Manheim Central in Week 3 is the L-L League Game of the Year. Period. … Also circle: Week 5 at L-S, Week 7 against Northern Lebanon (you think the Crusaders will be out for some revenge in that one, considering the Vikings bumped them off in Week 10 last year, costing Lancaster Catholic the outright section title? Survey says: yes!) and Week 8 at Columbia.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple I/Spread.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-5/4-4.
LAST SEASON: 6-1 in Section 3 (co-champs with Lampeter-Strasburg), 9-3 overall. Lost to Delone Catholic (28-18) in the District 3 Double-A semifinals.
2007 PASSING LEADER: Kyle Smith – 155-of-242 (64 percent) for a league-high 2,595 yards, league-high 27 TD, 6 picks (league-high 186.0 passer rating).
2007 RUSHING LEADER: Chase Haberstroh – 124 carries for 669 yards (5.4 avg.), 16 TD.
2007 RECEIVING LEADER: Kevin Gibbons – 52 catches for 664 yards (12.8 avg.), 5 TD.
TEAM TOTAL OFFENSE: 346.3 yards per game (6th in the league).
TEAM TOTAL DEFENSE: 219.1 yards per game (3rd in the league).
KEY PLAYERS LOST: WR-DB Kevin Gibbons (Section 3 Defensive Back of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star DB; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star WR), OT-DT Chris Gulick (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OT), RB-LB Chase Haberstroh (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OLB; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), K-P Colin McCall (Section 3 First-Team All-Star K; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star P; Millersville), DT Corey Porta (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DT), OG Bryan Schlager (Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star OG; Lebanon Valley College), DB Ben Shenk (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star KR; Mt. Union College), OG Alex Stevens (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star OG; St. Francis), WR Dan Sweigart (Section 3 Wide Receiver of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star WR), DB Dwayne Worthy.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: NG Tony Anater, RB-LB Alan Berlucchi (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OLB), WR-LB Neal Fox, WR-CB Travis “Freddy” Jankowski (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DB; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star WR), LB Hans Kessler, TE Andrew Millay, OG Sean Reed, OT-DT Nick Schmalhofer (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OT; Section 3 First-Team All-Star DT), QB Kyle Smith (Associated Press Double-A Second-Team All-State QB; Pennsylvania Football News Second-Team Double-A All-State QB; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star QB), C Ben Wachsman.
ALL EYES ON: Junior QB Kyle Smith – The cool, calm and collective lefty had the breakout season of all breakout seasons last fall, throwing for a league-best 2,595 yards and a league-high 27 TD strikes in his first go-round as the varsity QB. … The kid is simply unflappable, and he’s already drawing comparisons to former Wilson and Michigan QB Chad Henne. … Spent the summer traveling all over the place to participate in premier QB camps, so he’s already all over the major D1 radar; Boston College, Pitt, Syracuse and Temple are already salivating, and Penn State and Notre Dame have expressed interest. … Scary to think the 6-3, 200-pounder has two full seasons to quarterback the Crusaders, because if he stays healthy, he’ll smash every passing record in L-L League annals. … Oh, and he’s still growing.
THE GOOD NEWS: I could go any number of places, but I better start here: All-State QB Kyle Smith will return for his second full season under center. If he tops his breakout sophomore season (2,595 yards, 27 TD tosses), watch out. “When he was a sophomore he played like a senior,” Lancaster Catholic senior OT-DE Nick Schmalhofer said Smith. “So now he’s like a second-year senior. He’s a leader, just like any of the seniors. … I was impressed with him last year, and I can tell you that he’s better than last year – which is kind of scary.” … Truth is, there is a bundle of talent here, and Smith will have any number of talented targets at his disposal, like WR Travis “Freddy” Jankowski (who averaged 26.0 yards per catch last season), Neal Fox, Steve Remley and Tyler Purvis (yep, another Purvis; and there’s one more on the way). … And did I mention that Lancaster Catholic has the only returning two-way First-Team section All-Star player in the L-L League in trenchman deluxe Nick Schmalhofer, who will anchor the o-line at tackle and should scare the heck out of opposing quarterbacks as a speed-rusher from the end. Schmalhofer will very likely be a D1 kid. … Three other names I want to drop: Alan Berlucchi should be a stud linebacker; speedster Quinn Houser, a junior, should be the feature back early on; and look for junior Jordan Stewart, a transfer from Ohio, to open a few eyes from his running back spot before too long. … There is plenty to like here, with tons of talent and plenty of motivation to go around. The Crusaders had the outright Section 3 title in their hands heading into Week 10 last fall, but slipped up at Northern Lebanon. That should fire them up – as will falling to Delone “Cinderella” Catholic in the District 3 Double-A semifinals. … I know I can’t wait to see what Smith does for an encore. If he can top last season, these guys could be scary good when it starts getting colder.
QUESTION MARKS: Lancaster Catholic lost some talented guys in the trenches, where (I know you’re sick of me telling you this, but I’m going to say it again, anyway) it all starts in prep football. … And the Crusaders will definitely miss wideouts Kevin Gibbons and Dan Sweigart, who were terrific senior leaders and awesome guys in the huddle and in the locker room. If you missed the small print above, Gibbons was the Section 3 Defensive Back of the Year and Sweigart was the Section 3 Wide Receiver of the Year last season. So they’ll be tough to replace on the field. … But it says here (on a blog preview in August) that Lancaster Catholic is the undisputed Section 3 favorite, especially if Smith keeps doing his thing. … Trinity will be tough. The whole week leading up to the Manheim Central game should be nothing short of breathtaking. But once the section slate gets started, the bull’s-eye is clearly on the Crusaders.
NOTABLE: Lancaster Catholic is ranked 10th in the Pennsylvania Football News preseason Double-A state poll.
QUOTABLE: Lancaster Catholic senior OT-DE Nick Schmalhofer – “There’s not an easy game in Section 3. You have to come to play every week. Last year we didn’t come to play every week, and that’s why we tied for the section title. We didn’t come to play against Northern Lebanon. That’s been in the back of our minds … even at the banquet at the end of last season we were talking about this season … taking it one step at a time and one game at a time, and not overlooking any opponent.”

REINHART’S TAKE: Section 3 favorites. No ifs, ands or buts. Baring injury, this is Lancaster Catholic’s section to lose. … Plenty of returning talent. Skill kids aplenty. Enough experience in the trenches. Tall wideouts with speed to burn. And Smith is just a special talent. You’ll see him a lot of times in the shotgun, working out of an empty backfield. He is an opposing defensive coordinator’s nightmare. … Enjoy the ride, Crusader Crazies. There might be more than one gold trophy at the end of this rainbow, because if everything goes as planned (even with an early season loss – or two), this team could be frighteningly good come late October.

LAMPETER-STRABURG PIONEERS
COACH: John Manion (11th season; 74-32 overall; reigning Section 3 Coach of the Year).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Cocalico, @ Penn Manor, Garden Spot, @ Columbia, Lancaster Catholic, @ Elco, Donegal, @ Pequea Valley, Northern Lebanon, Annville-Cleona.
REINHART SAYS: Groovy non-league slate with three L-L League neighbors on board, including an eye-popping opener at Cocalico. Don’t forget: The Eagles clipped the Pioneers on Opening Night last year, and Cocalico – one year after making a charge in the Section 2 race and qualifying for Districts – is thinking big. L-S will be breaking in at least 18 new starters in Week 1, so circle this one for sure (just a hunch, but I think I’ll be making the trip to Denver on Opening Night. Save me a seat). … Also like the Garden Spot matchup because the winner there will get some serious momentum heading into the section openers a week later. … Speaking of section openers – check out the Pioneers’ first two league games: at Columbia and home with rival Lancaster Catholic. Zoinks. … This might be one of the toughest first-five-week slates out there.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Wing-T.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.
LAST SEASON: 6-1 in Section 3 (co-champs with Lancaster Catholic), 12-3 overall. Beat Gettysburg (35-21) in the District 3 Triple-A championship game; lost to Garnet Valley (27-20) in the PIAA Eastern championship.
2007 PASSING LEADER: Brett Graeff – 78-of-154 (51 percent) for 1,466 yards, 16 TD, 6 picks (157.1 passer rating).
2007 RUSHING LEADER: Justin Taylor – 138 carries for 1,648 yards (11.9 avg.), 18 TD.
2007 RECEIVING LEADER: Justin Taylor – 16 catches for 315 yards (19.7 avg.), 7 TD; Seth Rolko – 16 catches for 287 yards (17.9 avg.), 2 TD.
TEAM TOTAL OFFENSE: 356.9 yards per game (4th in the league).
TEAM TOTAL DEFENSE: 229.5 yards per game (4th in the league).
KEY PLAYERS LOST: C Peter Baker (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star C), DE Anthony Cintron (Associated Press Triple-A First-Team All-State DE; Pennsylvania Football News First-Team Triple-A All-State DE; Section 3 Defensive Lineman of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star DE), DT Chris Eldredge, DB G.J. Frankford, DB Jonny Gainer, QB Brett Graeff (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star QB), WR-DB Derek Lefever (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), WR Abe Mellinger (Juniata), TE-DE Seth Rolko (Section 3 First-Team All-Star TE; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DE; Lycoming), OG-LB Blair Stevens (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OG; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star ILB), RB-DB-K-P Justin Taylor (Associated Press Triple-A Second-Team All-State RB; Manheim Touchdown Club Player of the Year; Lions Club Section 3 Player of the Year; Pennsylvania Football News Second-Team Triple-A All-State RB; Section 3 Offensive Back of the Year; Section 3 Outstanding Back of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star RB; Section 3 First-Team All-Star KR; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star K; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star P; Geez, I think that’s it; Shippensburg), LB Scott Woodruff (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OLB), OT-DT Nick Yingst (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star OT; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DT; Shippensburg), RB-LB Rob Zimmerman (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OLB; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star RB; Albright).
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: DE Christian DelRocini, OT Ted Force, FB Joe Good (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star FB), DE Zach Halpin, OG Andrew Krimmel (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star OG), DT Matt Maser.
ALL EYES ON: Senior FB Joe Good – The Pioneers’ ‘key players returning’ column isn’t exactly littered with names. Truth is, 18 starters moved on from last year’s powerhouse team, so no, there aren’t many key players returning. Good is a key, key, key guy returning. … Remember all of those mad dashes Justin Taylor made last season, when he got through a tiny crack, turned on the jets and was 20 yards down the field before anyone sniffed him? Remember all those times Rob Zimmerman took a pitch and got to the corner, knocking over a defender (or two or three) for a first-down run? You know who sprung those guys? Good. … A deft blocker and pass-protector, Good was also terrific at getting the tough yards between the tackles. You know those situations: third-and-1 or fourth-and-goal. If the Pioneers needed to move the chains in a short-yardage situation, more times than not Good got the ball. And more times than not, he delivered. … This kid is a thumper. He’s also got some major postseason experience. So when he’s not plowing his way between the tackles, he’ll be called upon to keep the new QB (senior Blake Brubaker) upright, and to help blow open holes for the new feature back (junior RB Chad Frey should get a bunch of touches). … Good will also stay busy from his OLB spot. Gotta love those grinder kids. And Good fits that bill perfectly.
THE GOOD NEWS: There is some good news in here, I promise. I just have to think for a second. … OK, here’s one: L-S has lost kids to graduation before, and came back just fine. Like last year, for example, when the Pioneers got hot at the right time and rolled to the first district championship in the history of the program. A few months later, 18 starters off that team sashayed across the stage and picked up their diploma. … But don’t fret, greater Lampeter/Strasburg area. A couple of key pieces from last year’s team return, like gritty FB Joe Good, who blew open holes for Justin Taylor and Rob Zimmerman last year. Like a pair of bookend o-linemen – Teddy Force at tackle and Andrew Krimmel, a returning All-Star, at guard – to help break in some new guys. And like rising sophomore Christian DelRocini, who got a lot of snaps on D last year, and was part of the Pioneers’ blitzing ‘Speed Rush’ package, which kept opposing quarterbacks on their toes – and shaking in their spikes. Zach Halpin, who also rotated in at DE last season, also returns. So the cupboard isn’t completely bare. … But this team – at least at the outset – will look nothing like last year’s powerhouse squad that turned Hersheypark Stadium into their own personal playground.
QUESTION MARKS: Wowzer. The Pioneers were gutted by graduation. Pick an area – any area – and it was hit hard by cap and gown losses. … All-State blitz-meister DE Anthony Cintron? Gone. Jack-of-all-trades back Justin Taylor and his overstuffed pile of postseason awards? Adios. Blood and guts/mountain man/team catalyst Rob Zimmerman? No longer here. Gritty QB Brett Graeff? See ya. Energizer bunny DE Seth Rolko? Moved on. And on and on and on. No less than 18 starters are gone. So there will be a lot of fresh faces in a lot of key places for the Pioneers. … But on a positive note, over the last several years L-S has reloaded; not rebuilt. So I won’t be stunned if some of the new guys come in and play like gangbusters. You shouldn’t be, either.
QUOTABLE: Sophomore DE Christian DelRocini – “We don’t wait until spring to start thinking about football. Last year we took three weeks off. That’s it. Then we were lifting every morning and doing optional speed drills. Even though it was optional, everybody was going because everyone wants to get better. … We might not be the same as last year, but who knows? Maybe we’ll end up being better than last year. We know what it takes to get there, and we think we have the right people to do that. … Now we’re the hunted. And that’s a bit of a new thing for us.”

REINHART’S TAKE: Raise your hand if you thought the Pioneers would be the last Triple-A team standing in District 3 last August? Under Manion, L-S has firmly established itself as an upper-echelon program – it proved that last year, winning the first district title in the history of the program. So I have no reason to believe that L-S won’t compete or won’t contend. It’s just not going to be as easy last year, when the Pioneers’ roster was basically a walking all-star team. … This could be a work in progress, especially during the non-league games. So be patient. And remember: L-S was 0-1 last year, and look where the Pioneers ended up.

DONEGAL INDIANS
COACH: Bill Groff (8th season; 24-47 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: Daniel Boone, @ Eastern York, @ Interboro, @ Lancaster Catholic, Pequea Valley, Annville-Cleona, @ Lampeter-Strasburg, @ Northern Lebanon, Elco, Columbia.
REINHART SAYS: We pay taxes in the Daniel Boone School District, so I’ll be keeping an eye on the scoreboard on Opening Night – not that I have a rooting interest or anything, you know. … After the home opener in Mount Joy, the Indians go on the road for three in a row, including a short trip over the river to Wrightsville and then to Interboro, which I know absolutely nothing about. The three-game road trip wraps up at Lancaster Catholic in the Section 3 opener. … Also circle Week 7, when Donegal pays a trip to L-S. The section race should be shaping up by then, and that could be a key game. As should the Indians’ Week 10 game at home against backyard rival Columbia. Could be a postseason date hanging in the balance on Halloween Night. Boo!
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Wing-T.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple Front.
LAST SEASON:  4-3 in Section 3, 6-4 overall.
2007 PASSING LEADER: Ryan Musser – 30-of-65 (46 percent) for 439 yards, 4 TD, 1 pick (118.8 passer rating).
2007 RUSHING LEADER: Blaine Miller – 175 carries for 1,245 yards (7.1 avg.), 13 TD.
2007 RECEIVING LEADER: Marty Moore – 7 catches for 101 yards (14.4 avg.), 0 TD.
TEAM TOTAL OFFENSE: 327.3 yards per game (7th in the league).
TEAM TOTAL DEFENSE: 270.3 yards per game (8th in the league).
KEY PLAYERS LOST: NG Matt Blackburn, RB-DB Nick Herbert (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DB), OG Jon Kunkle (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OG), QB Ryan Musser (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star QB), RB-LB Blaine Miller (Section 3 First-Team All-Star RB; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star ILB; Grove City), RB-DB Marty Moore (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star RB), DB Michael Nau, WR Bobby Peterson, TE-P Derek Pietsch (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star P), DT Cody Tillman (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DT), C-DT Nate Witwer (Section 3 First-Team All-Star DT; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star C), OG Chris Zerphey.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: TE-DE Richard Essig, K Jeff Heisey (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star K), WR David Hilton, OT J.D. Intrieri, LB Taylor Moran, OT Andrew Ross (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OT), DE Morgan Rupp (Section 3 First-Team All-Star DE), RB-LB Kyle Witmer.
ALL EYES ON: Senior RB-LB Kyle Witmer – His stats from last season don’t exactly jump off the page – 35 carries for 221 yards, which is a very respectable 6.3 average, and a pair of TD runs — but bigger and better things will be expected from Witmer, who will likely supplant Blaine Miller as the No. 1 fullback in the Indians’ Wing-T attack. And if you know anything about a Wing-T attack, you know the fullback is mucho important. … Miller was a three-time 1,000-yard rusher, and he’ll be tough to replace. It looks like Witmer will be first in line to fill Miller’s large shoes. If he can hang tough and stay aggressive, Donegal will be there in the end. Trust me.
THE GOOD NEWS: Nine total starters return for the Indians, who narrowly missed out on a trip to the postseason last fall, just one season after making the District 3 Triple-A playoffs. … Donegal is definitely covered at defensive end, where stalwarts Morgan Rupp – a First-Team All-Star pick last fall – and Richard Essig return. They should keep opposing quarterbacks occupied. … The o-tackles – J.D. Intrieri and Honorable Mention All-Star selection Andrew Ross – also return, so that should help out new feature back Kyle Witmer and the new starting QB, likely senior Devon Brumfield, who was batting it out with Josh Rudy and Matt Kolp in camp. This just in: Kolp, a sophomore, won the job in camp, and he’ll get the start against Daniel Boone. … Even more good news: former Indians’ player Tanner Edgell, a Section 2 First-Team All-Star for Conestoga Valley last season – has transferred back to Donegal, and he’s expected to start at RG and ILB. Nothing like a returning All-Star player falling into your lap, right?
QUESTION MARKS: There are some studs to replace here, particularly in the backfield, beginning with Blaine Miller, a three-time 1,000-yard rusher. His backfield mate, the speedy Marty Moore, must also be replaced, as well as triggerman Ryan Musser (who only threw one pick last season), plus the center and both offensive guards. It looks like Rupp will step in at center. … The D took a hit, too, with the loss of both tackles – First-Team All-Star Nick Witwer and Honorable Mention All-Star Cody Tillman.
QUOTABLE: Donegal senior C-DE Morgan Rupp – “We’re on the rise. The last two seasons turned out all right, but not the way we wanted. We were in Districts two years ago, and last year we went 6-4 but didn’t make Districts. So we’d love to get back to Districts and to get a district-playoff win under our belts. That drives us. I know not making it last year was rough. … This will definitely be a competitive section. You have to be prepared every week – and take it a week at a time. You can’t overlook anybody in Section 3.”

REINHART’S TAKE: If Donegal can plug some holes – some glaring, some not so much – then the Indians will be major players in the Section 3 race. Like I said, they must replace some serious studs (especially Miller). … Getting Lancaster Catholic right out of the chute in the Section 3 slate should help. First and foremost, Donegal will find out where it stands. If the Indians can knock off the Crusaders, they’d be sitting pretty. If not, Lancaster Catholic is out of the way and they have six more section games to get it right. … Donegal has put together two pretty solid seasons in a row. Despite some new faces, a third isn’t out of the question. But the new skill kids have to step up. Pronto.

NORTHERN LEBANON VIKINGS
ONLINE: norleb.k12.pa.us
COACH: Jack Beidler (10th season; 27-64 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: Pine Grove, New Oxford, Hamburg, @ Elco, @ Annville-Cleona, Columbia, @ Lancaster Catholic, Donegal, @ Lampeter-Strasburg, Pequea Valley.
REINHART SAYS: Talk about home cooking. All three of the Vikings’ non-league games are at home, followed by two short trips across town to open the Section 3 slate – at Elco (about 11 miles by bus) and at Annville-Cleona (about 12 miles by bus). I looked those up on Yahoo! Maps, by the way. Is the internet great, or what? … The Vikings will play six home games this season, and they won’t leave Lebanon County until Week 6. And they better take advantage of it, because two of the road games are at Lancaster Catholic and at L-S, and those should loom large in the section hunt. … Absolutely, positively circle (in ink): Week 7 at Lancaster Catholic. The Vikes knocked off the Crusaders 17-13 last year, costing Lancaster Catholic an outright section title. The rematch could also have a lot riding on it. You think the Crusaders will be jacked for that game, or what?
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Veer.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-5.
LAST SEASON: 4-3 in Section 3, 7-4 overall. Lost to Gettysburg (38-13) in the first round of the District 3 Triple-A playoffs.
2007 PASSING LEADER: Matt Nolan – 42-of-97 (43 percent) for 561 yards, 6 TD, 5 picks (102.0 passer rating).
2007 RUSHING LEADER: Travis Dresch – 215 carries for 1,342 yards (6.2 avg.), 15 TD.
2007 RECEIVING LEADER: Derek Peiffer – 14 catches for 170 yards (12.1 avg.), 3 TD.
TEAM TOTAL OFFENSE: 306.8 yards per game (10th in the league).
TEAM TOTAL DEFENSE: 256.3 yards per game (6th in the league).
KEY PLAYERS LOST: TE-LB Kerry Beamesderfer (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star OLB; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star TE), WR-DB Brad Beidler (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star KR; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DB; Lebanon Valley College), OT Bob Cunningham (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OT), RB-LB Travis Dresch (L-L League male A. Landis Brackbill award winner; Section 3 First-Team All-Star RB; Albright), C-DT Austin Hormel (Section 3 Offensive Lineman of the Year; Section 3 Outstanding Lineman of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star C; Section 3 First-Team All-Star DT; Bloomsburg), K Brady Kimble (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star K), RB-LB Jason Nolan (Section 3 First-Team All-Star ILB; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), WR-LB-P Derek Peiffer (Section 3 First-Team All-Star P), WR-DB Nate Ulm.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OT Luke Brungart, RB-DB Terry Clark (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DB), NG Mason Dechert, LB Nick Dzwonchyk, OG-LB Rob Dzwonchyk, OG Andrew Lessing, LB Graham Musselwhite, QB Matt Nolan (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star QB), DB Cameron Orwig, DT Chris Scotto.
ALL EYES ON: Senior QB Matt Nolan – With thumper Travis Dresch and his big brother, Jason, who rushed for 418 yards, behind him, Nolan didn’t have to heave many passes last fall; he went up top just 92 times in 11 games. Where he hurt opposing defenses was with his feet. The Veer specialist was second on the team in rushing, piling up 773 yards (6.2 avg.) on 137 keepers. He also scored nine times. … Without thumper Travis Dresch and his big brother, Jason, behind him this season, Nolan might be called upon to go up top a little more – at least until the new feature back, converted WR Terry Clark, gets his feet wet running the ball. … You can’t beat experience, and Nolan has the first-hand experience of piloting a team to Districts – oh, and to that unforgettable win over Lancaster Catholic. … With Nolan taking snaps (even without thumper Dresch and his big brother Jason behind him), the Vikings’ offense is in very good hands.
THE GOOD NEWS: There are definitely good vibes around this program, which went to the District 3 playoffs for the first time since 1991 last season. And there are several things to like about this year’s outlook, including the Vikings’ home-friendly schedule, which never hurts. Please don’t overlook that when sizing up how you think the Vikes might do this season. … Gritty QB Matt Nolan returns to pilot Northern Lebanon’s Veer attack – which lost some key components, but should have enough back to make another run at the postseason, especially if the Vikes can hold the fort in Fredericksburg and keep their heads above water on the road. … Three linebackers – the Dzwonchyk brothers, Nick and Rob, plus Graham Musselwhite – return to anchor the D, which finished a fine sixth in the league a year ago. … The secondary should also be in good shape with returning All-Star Terry Clark back there. … Question marks should come mainly on the offensive side of the ball. Which leads me to …
QUESTION MARKS: Regret to report first the three very large losses from last year – ultra-durable RB Travis Dresch and absolute stud linemen Austin Hormel and Bob Cunningham. … “Travis was one of the best – if not the best – we’ve ever had here,” senior QB Matt Nolan said about Dresch. “He’ll be hard to replace.” … How good was Hormel? He was a two-way section all-star in his junior and senior seasons, and he’s the reigning Section 3 Offensive Lineman and Outstanding Lineman of the year. He will be missed – no two ways around that; although the Hormel name will continue on at Northern Lebanon: Austin’s little bro, Brendon, a junior, will start at center, keeping the tradition alive. Their dad also played in the trenches for the Vikings back in the 80s. … Two o-linemen (tackle Luke Brungart and guard Rob Dzwonchyk) return to help keep Nolan upright. That leaves three new linemen to plug in – plus Dresch’s replacement. That player (Terry Clark, at least at the outset) will have some wicked large shoes to fill for sure. … And don’t overlook the loss of K Brady Kimble, who booted three field goals last fall, including the longest field goal in Section 3 last season – a 45-yarder against L-S. The Vikings also lost First-Team All-Section punter Derek Peiffer, so Northern Lebanon will also be breaking in some new kids on special teams. Definitely keep an eye on that department. That’s a mucho-important area.
QUOTABLE: Northern Lebanon senior QB Matt Nolan – “Last year was just a great season for us, and the only way to top it would be to get back to Districts and win some games there. … Last year was just great – unbelievable – especially the Lancaster Catholic game. That was definitely one of the most exciting games I’ve every played in. To beat them was great for our school and for our community – which both gave us a lot of support all season. … Our main goal last year was to make Districts, and we weren’t going to settle for anything less. We did that, so now the expectations have been raised around here. But I like that pressure. It has to make us all better.”

REINHART’S TAKE: The Vikings roared to a 6-0 start last season, lost three in a row when the weather started to change (Columbia, L-S and Donegal did the honors), then put a shiny bow on the regular season with an upset win over Lancaster Catholic, locking up a spot in Districts for the first time in 16 years. … Is another trip to the postseason (or even another victory over the Crusaders) in the cards for this crew? If five wins is enough to get in, definitely, especially with those ball-hawking linebackers and an efficient QB back in the fold (and even without Dresch and Austin Hormel). … If the Vikes need six wins to get in, they can do it by running the table at home. I’m telling you again: don’t underestimate this schedule. If these guys can pick up where they left off, keep the good vibes flowing, and just take care of business, they’ll play in November. And who knows? Maybe they’ll throw another slippery monkey wrench into the Section 3 chase before it’s all said and done.

COLUMBIA CRIMSON TIDE
COACH: Jason Shoff (5th season; 26-17 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Single-A – down from Double-A last year.
THE SCHEDULE: Eastern York, York Suburban, @ Daniel Boone, Lampeter-Strasburg, Elco, @ Northern Lebanon, @ Annville-Cleona, Lancaster Catholic, Pequea Valley, @ Donegal.
REINHART SAYS: Crimson Tide will host a pair of York County teams in Weeks 1 and 2, before embarking on a road trip to my neck of the woods: lovely Birdsboro in Berks County for a date with Daniel Boone, which went to the District 3 Triple-A semifinals last fall. … Talk about my worlds colliding: We pay taxes in the Daniel Boone School District, and my parents grew up in Columbia. Heck, my dad is the PA announcer for Tide home football games, so I’ll have conflicts of interested all over the place in this Week 3 non-league matchup. Well, not really. But you know what I mean. By the way, what is Daniel Boone doing playing a Single-A team? That’s a head-scratcher. … Section 3 opener at home with L-S, which will be opening defense of its co-crown with Lancaster Catholic, should be a doozie. Winner there gets the all-important early leg-up in the continuing soap opera saga that is usually the Section 3 race. And speaking of Lancaster Catholic … the Crusaders will pay a visit to the top of the Hill in Week 8 for their annual scrap. Hang a star next to that one, won’t you. … Six home dates for the Tide this year. Looks like my dad will be earning a little overtime pay this season.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple I.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-3.
LAST SEASON: 5-2 in Section 3, 8-3 overall. Lost to Delone Catholic (27-26 in OT) in the first round of the District 3 Double-A playoffs.
2007 PASSING LEADER: Mike Seibert – 117-of-202 (58 percent) for 1,825 yards, 18 TD, 12 picks (151.3 passer rating).
2007 RUSHING LEADER: Ben Guiles – 207 carries for league-high 1,665 yards (8.0 avg.), league-high 22 TD.
2007 RECEIVING LEADER: Colby Tuell – 46 catches for 769 yards (16.7 avg.), 10 TD.
TEAM TOTAL OFFENSE: 413.8 yards per game (1st in the league).
TEAM TOTAL DEFENSE: 264.2 yards per game (7th in the league).
KEY PLAYERS LOST: FB-DE Derrick Armold, DT Dan Gerfin, C-DE Brian Groff (Associated Press Double-A All-State C; Pennsylvania Football News Third-Team Double-A All-State C; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star C; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DE; Shippensburg), RB-LB Ben Guiles (Section 3 First-Team All-Star RB; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star OLB; Lebanon Valley College), LB Sebastian Lefever (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OLB), DT Andrew Moore (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DT), WR-DB Garrett Mowrer (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), OT Cody Ness, OG Aaron Rupp, QB Mike Seibert (Section 3 First-Team All-Star QB; Millersville for basketball), TE-LB Don Thompson (Section 3 Linebacker of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star ILB; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star TE; Millersville), WR-DB Colby Tuell (Section 3 First-Team All-Star WR; Section 3 First-Team All-Star DB; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star KR; Kutztown).
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: RB-DB Jason Combs, OT-DT Brandon Felus, RB-DB Dakotah Lightfoot (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star RB), OT Kevin McCarty (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OT), WR-DB Yahya McIntyre (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star WR), OL Rafael Mendez, DB Derrick Smith.
ALL EYES ON: Senior OT Kevin McCarty – Other than the popular blocking grade chart, there aren’t a whole heckuva lot of stats for offensive linemen. But I stumbled across this gem while putting all this preview stuff together: Last season, McCarty didn’t allow a single sack. Not one. He kept opposing blitzers off QB Mike Seibert 100 percent of the time. No wonder Columbia averaged a whopping 413.8 yards per game. … McCarty was part of a rugged line last year – a line that also featured Brian Groff, who tried to walk-on at Penn State before transferring to Shippensburg earlier this summer. McCarty will be the key cog this season, and he spent the off-season learning how to play center. So he’s a pretty flexible dude. … His job this year will be keeping oncoming blitzers off a new QB – senior Matt Kreiser, who was No. 1 on the depth chart heading into the scrimmages. … There will be a lot of new faces on the Hill this season. The Tide should be thankful they have a familiar face in McCarty, who will anchor the all-important trench area.
THE GOOD NEWS: The extremely cool good news for me is that two of the kids with some of the coolest names in the L-L League are back for the Tide – Second-Team All-Section 3 picks Dakotah Lightfoot and Yahya McIntyre. As sore as my fingers can get, I never grow tired of typing the words ‘Dakota Lightfoot’ and/or ‘Yahya McIntyre’. OK, I am certifiably goofy. … Anyway, that those guys are back is also great news for Columbia, because the Tide is going to need Dakota (642 rushing yards, 7 TD last season) and Yahya (21-371, 3 TD receiving last season), considering three of the best skill kids in the league last season graduated: QB Mike Seibert, RB Ben Guiles (the L-L rushing and touchdown-scoring champ) and WR Colby Tuell. Those three spearheaded an offense that pumped out 413.8 yards per game – tops in the league. … On the plus side, First-Team All-Section 3 selection Kevin McCarty returns to anchor the o-line from his tackle spot. He might play some center, too. He’ll be blocking for a new QB (by all accounts it’ll be senior Matt Kreiser) and for a new feature back (Lightfoot, who will be spelled by Jason Combs). But you can’t replace experienced trenchmen. Gotta love those guys. … That’s all the ‘good news’ I could find for now … unless you’d like me to go on and on about Dakotah and Yahya being back a little more?
QUESTION MARKS: Talk about taking a hit on the line – center Brian Groff was an Associated Press and Pennsylvania Football News All-State pick last fall, and he tried to walk-on at Penn State before transferring to Shippensburg. He will most definitely be missed in the trenches, as will OG Aaron Rupp, OT Cody Ness and FB Derrick Armold, who all helped blow open holes for the most prolific offense in the L-L League last fall. … The linebacker corps also took a major hit – Don Thompson, the reigning Section 3 LB of the Year is at Millersville – and I already mentioned the trio of playmakers who graduated in Seibert, Guiles and Tuell – plus Garrett Mowrer (who had 13 catches) and Thompson, who was an All-Star pick at TE after hauling in 17 passes – three for scores. So yeah, there are some question marks here for sure. And it’s not like the Tide will have the largest roster in the world, either (I count 30 names on the preseason roster).
QUOTABLE: Columbia coach Jason Shoff – “We have high expectations for this year. We did lose a lot of offensive weapons, but we’re confident in the players who will be starting this year. We also enter this year with more experience on the offensive line, so we expect that to be a strength of our team. … Defensively we have a lot of experience back on the line and in our defensive backs. We graduated all of our starting linebackers, so the development of the linebackers will determine the success of our defense. … We know we have a lot of inexperience, but we also know we have the athletes to be successful. We must work each week to get better and eliminate our own mistakes. If we’re able to do that, we’ll be able to reach the expectations that we’ve set for ourselves.”

REINHART’S TAKE: I see the Tide is back down in Single-A this season, so as long as Columbia has a pulse at the end of the season, it will make Districts. That was my sorry attempt at humor. Thanks, I’m here all week. Enjoy the veal… Seriously, despite some heavy duty losses on the line, at linebacker, and in the skill department, I still expect Columbia to challenge in the Section 3 derby. Beating L-S in the section opener would be large – as would a win at Northern Lebanon in Week 6. The Tide must get some momentum going into its Week 8 date with rival Lancaster Catholic if its hope to set up a winner-walks-out-with-sole-possession-of-first-place kind of a game. Wow, that was a lot of dashes. … Bottom line: Will the Tide average 413 yards a game again this season? Doubtful. Will Columbia have the Section 3 LB of Year or the L-L League’s leading rusher – or a pitch-and-catch tandem that puts up stats comparable to the numbers Seibert and Tuell rang up last season? Not likely. But the Tide will challenge – and make Districts. Oh, and I’ll get to type the names Dakotah Lightfoot and Yahya McIntyre a lot, which is always a good thing.

ELCO RAIDERS
ONLINE: raiderfootball.vicid.com
COACH: Mark Evans (11th season; 54-49 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A – up from Double-A a year ago.
THE SCHEDULE: Hamburg, @ Pine Grove, @ Lebanon, Northern Lebanon, @ Columbia, Lampeter-Strasburg, Pequea Valley, @ Annville-Cleona, @ Donegal, Lancaster Catholic.
REINHART SAYS: Hamburg was in the District 3 Triple-A playoffs last year, and Pine Grove went 5-5 in the Twin Valley Conference last fall. Can’t say either of those teams do a whole heckuva lot for me. But that Week 3 non-league game is mighty intriguing: at Lebanon in what I’ve now officially dubbed the ‘Bologna Bowl’. Think I can copyright that? … Tough Section 3 opener right out of the chute against Northern Lebanon in a nice backyard scrap, and the winner will get a major leg-up in the section race, which is always nice. … Doesn’t get any easier the next two weeks with a trip to Columbia and then L-S at home. … Finale at Lancaster Catholic could have some ramifications.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Pro Set.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 5-2.
LAST SEASON: 2-5 in Section 3, 4-6 overall.
2007 PASSING LEADER: Arron Achey – 64-of-137 (47 percent) for 808 yards, 6 TD, 4 picks (104.9 passer rating).
2007 RUSHING LEADER: Arron Achey – 133 carries for 659 yards (5.0 avg.), 6 TD.
2007 RECEIVING LEADER: Kyle Klingaman – 20 catches for 351 yards (17.6 avg.), 4 TD.
TEAM TOTAL OFFENSE: 258.1 yards per game (17th in the league).
TEAM TOTAL DEFENSE: 317.1 yards per game (18th in the league).
KEY PLAYERS LOST: RB-LB A.J. Carpenter, WR-LB Kyle Klingaman (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star WR; University of LaVerne), OT-DE Brandon Lawrence (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star OT; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DE), DB Duane Myer (Section 3 First-Team All-Star DB), DT Tommy Timmons, OT-DT Jake Walmer, WR-DB Adam Wenger (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star WR; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DB; Lebanon Valley College), OG Zach Zerbe.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: QB Arron Achey (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star QB), FB-DE Ben Arnold, C Matt Logan (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star C), DB Eric Ondo, LB Justin Weatherholtz (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star ILB), WR-LB-K-P Kyle Wenger (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star P; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star K; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OLB).
ALL EYES ON: Junior QB Arron Achey – The Raiders threw Achey into the fire, inserting him as the team’s starting QB as a freshman. He took some lumps early, but last fall, he firmly established himself as a serious dual threat in a really nice breakout sophomore season. Achey was the 17th-ranked passer in league, completing 64-of-137 passes for 808 yards and six TDs against just four picks. And he was the 24th-ranked rusher in the league (not too shabby for a QB), piling up 659 yards and six TDs on 133 keepers. He said he’d like to do even more; maybe return kicks and punts. It says here that the more the ball is in his hands, the better.
THE GOOD NEWS: There is a pretty nice returning nucleus here, including junior QB Arron Achey and two of his favorite weapons – FB Ben Arnold and WR Kyle Wenger. Wenger will also factor heavily in Elco’s special teams; he’s a returning All-Star at punter and kicker. … Trench stalwart Matt Logan, an All-Star pick last fall, also returns, as does All-Star pick Justin Weatherholtz, who should anchor the D from his ILB spot, and take over as the new feature back, running behind Arnold.
QUESTION MARKS: Just seven seniors on Elco’s roster, which is an awfully low number. That made me stop and scratch my head. … Raiders lost two solid cover corners (Duane Myer and Adam Wenger) and three o-linemen, including All-Star Brandon Lawrence. So there are some holes to fill here. Only problem is that there are just 35 players on Elco’s roster, so a lot of kids will be playing both ways.
QUOTABLE: Elco junior QB Arron Achey – “We’re excited for this season. One of our goals is to get that swagger back from like 2000, the last time we won the section. It’s been a little while. Right now, Lancaster Catholic and L-S have that swagger. So that’s our goal: To get that swagger back. … Our big thing is going to be playing the whole game. That was a concern last year. It seemed like we always played a great first half, but that was it. This year, we must play a complete game – every game.”

REINHART’S TAKE: Junior QB Arron Achey is definitely someone worth keeping an eye on. If there’s one kid on Elco’s 35-man roster that will bring a swagger to the field, it’s definitely Achey, who can make plays with his arm and with his feet. But he’ll need some help. … There is some talent here – but enough for the Raiders to catch Lancaster Catholic or L-S? Probably not. But Elco will keep everyone honest – and if the Raiders can get through the non-league slate, say, 2-1, they could push for a .500 season – and a trip to the postseason.

ANNVILLE-CLEONA LITTLE DUTCHMEN
COACH: Terry Lehman (22nd season; 110-100-1).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Double-A.
THE SCHEDULE: Palmyra, @ Hamburg, Cocalico (Thursday game), @ Pequea Valley, Northern Lebanon, @ Donegal, Columbia, Elco, @ Lancaster Catholic, @ Lampeter-Strasburg.
REINHART SAYS: Welcome home, Little Dutchmen. With construction at the high school finally complete (I drove by there recently and it looks pretty sweet, I must say), A-C will be back in its own stadium (and playing under the lights for the first time) this season – after spending the last two seasons playing all road games … nomad style. The grand re-opening of the Dutchmen’s new digs is Opening Night, when cross-town rival Palmyra (with former Manheim Central star and current AFL QB Matt Nagy on board as offensive coordinator) heads to Annville – or is it Cleona? – for a non-league tilt. … Thursday game at home against Cocalico in Week 3 should be a fun night. I’m expecting a full house, gang. It’ll be the only game in town. … Brutal home stretch: at Lancaster Catholic in Week 9 and at L-S in Week 10. But enjoy the five home games.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Option.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.
LAST SEASON: 1-6 in Section 3, 2-8 overall.
2007 PASSING LEADER: Nate Myers – 57-of-159 (36 percent) for 731 yards, 4 TD, 18 picks (60.1 passer rating).
2007 RUSHING LEADER: Andrew Batula – 123 carries for 649 yards (5.3 avg.), 4 TD.
2007 RECEIVING LEADER: Dean May – 18 catches for 308 yards (17.1 avg.), 3 TD.
TEAM TOTAL OFFENSE: 207.3 yards per game (23rd in the league).
TEAM TOTAL DEFENSE: 356.6 yards per game (22nd in the league).
KEY PLAYERS LOST: LB Seth Arnold (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star ILB), RB Andrew Batula (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), OT Alex Coffroth, DB Tyler Henning, WR Zack Johnson, OT-DT Willie Zerman (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OT), K Becky Zimmerman (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star K).
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: TE-LB Ryan Baker, OT-DT Dominic Frattaroli (Section 3 First-Team All-Star DT; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star C), OG-LB Jeremy Gibson, OG Ken Inman, DE Zach Longenecker, RB-WR-LB Dean May, QB-DB Nate Myers (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DB), DT Zach Smith, FB-LB Nick Young.
ALL EYES ON: Senior QB-DB Nate Myers – OK, so he finished dead last in the league in passing efficiency a year ago (the 18 picks certainly didn’t help), but Myers is an athletic QB who can make plays on the run. And he’ll have some pretty nice weapons at his disposal, like Dean May, a slot guy who can make big plays. … Myers should also get some terrific protection; three o-linemen are set to return. … Myers’ best spot is probably on defense, where he’ll roam as the free safety. He was a Section 3 Second-Team All-Star d-back a year ago, and the Dutchmen will call upon him to be the last line of defense. … Safe to say Myers be a pretty busy dude on game night. And if A-C wants to have a successful season, they’ll need Myers to come up big on both sides of the ball.
THE GOOD NEWS: A terrific nucleus returns, including bookend offensive guards (Ken Inman and Jeremy Gibson) and two-way tackle Dominic Frattaroli, a returning Section 3 First-Team All-Star at DT. … FB Nick Young also returns, as well as the pitch-and-catch combo of QB Nate Myers and slot guy Dean May, who is a real home-run hitter. … Best news of all is that A-C will be back in its own stadium, playing Friday night games under the lights for the first time. Don’t underestimate that.
QUESTION MARKS: Stud OT Willie Zerman, a First-Team Section 3 All-Star pick, will be missed, as will hard-hitting LB Seth Arnold and last year’s leading rusher, Andrew Batula, who went on to win a gold medal in the state track meet last spring. I know I’ll miss Batula’s hair, that’s for sure.
QUOTABLE: Annville-Cleona junior two-way lineman Dominic Frattaroli on having a home facility – “It’s indescribable. Finally! I remember being the water boy when I was in seventh and eighth grades, and running out there in front of the home crowd on a Saturday morning. Everyone was yelling and screaming. We can’t wait to experience that – especially playing under the lights now. It’s going to be great. … We have high expectations for this season. I’m sure some people will underestimate us, but we have some good players on this team, and we’ve been connecting pretty well. This is a close, tight team. The seniors have been together since they were 8. And now we have somewhere to play, so it’s even more exciting.”

REINHART’S TAKE: Annville-Cleona will be better. Book it. These guys finally have a home field. And they’ll be playing under the lights for the first time, which is pretty sweet. … If QB Nate Myers can cut down on the interceptions, he should get enough time to make plays – even if he’s scrambling around back there, which he’s pretty good at, anyway. … There are some horses back in the trenches, particularly Dominic Frattaroli, who will only get better. … Will the Dutchmen crash the party and have a shot at this thing in Week 10? I’m guessing no. But they will make life miserable for everyone.

PEQUEA VALLEY BRAVES
ONLINE: pequeavalleysports.com
COACH: Curtis Waltman (2nd season; 0-10 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Double-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Upper Dauphin, Springfield Township, Fleetwood, Annville-Cleona, @ Donegal, Lancaster Catholic, @ Elco, Lampeter-Strasburg, @ Columbia, @ Northern Lebanon.
REINHART SAYS: Same opener as last year against Upper Dauphin (which beat the Braves, then lost its next nine games in a row; nice), and same Week 3 game against Fleetwood (the last team Pequea Valley beat, by the way). … Springfield Township is new to the schedule. The Cougars are a District 1 Triple-A program located in Delaware County. They went 2-8 last year. Now you know. … Three early home games in a row for the Braves – Springfield Township, Fleetwood and the Section 3 opener against Annville-Cleona.
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-5.
LAST SEASON: 0-7 in Section 3, 0-10 overall.
2007 PASSING LEADER: Mike Rice – 133-of-312 (43 percent) for 1,591 yards, 11 TD, league-high 25 picks (81.1 passer rating).
2007 RUSHING LEADER: Sean Persch – 48 carries for 451 yards (9.3 avg.), 3 TD.
2007 RECEIVING LEADER: Sean Persch – League-high 71 catches for 1,029 yards (14.5 avg.), 8 TD.
TEAM TOTAL OFFENSE: 262.2 yards per game (16th in the league).
TEAM TOTAL DEFENSE: 425.0 yards per game (24th in the league).
KEY PLAYERS LOST: WR-DB Andrew Babetski, C-DT Creston Smoker, WR-DB Brandon Teijaro, WR Chris Wasson.
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: LB Jon Baker, LB Ryan Clarke, OT-LB Matt Hines, OT-DE Nick Lacock (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DE), OG Willie McCusker, OG-DE Derek Mercer, WR-DB Sean Persch (Associated Press Second-Team Double-A All-State WR; Pennsylvania Football News Second-Team Double-A All-State WR; Section 3 First-Team All-Star WR; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star KR), C-DT Michael Ray, QB Mike Rice, LB David Stickel.
ALL EYES ON: Senior WR-DB Sean Persch – You’re growing tired of me sharing Persch’s 2007 statistics with you, but I’m going to repeat them again anyway, just to be a wise guy – 1,029 receiving yards, 875 kick-return yards, 451 rushing yards, 86 punt-return yards and 35 passing yards for 2,476 all-purpose yards. ‘Nuff said. … OK, I’ll say a little more: This kid is simply a one-man wrecking crew. And here’s something I didn’t realize until recently – Persch opened last season as the Braves’ No. 1 running back, and he piled up most of his rushing yards in the first three or four games. Then Coach Waltman (man, I can still see him at Garden Spot, pulling up on the wing on a fast-break and drilling a 20-footer) switched Persch to wideout, where ended up with a league-best 71 receptions. And most of those 1,029 receiving yards came in the final five or six games of the season. That’s incredible. … Tickled to see him make All-State last season, considering he played for a 0-10 team. Now he’s got to top last year, which won’t be easy, considering he’s got a rep now, and he’ll likely see a plethora of double-coverages. He’d much rather get some wins, anyway.
THE GOOD NEWS: Multi-purpose threat Sean Persch returns, and that’s an extremely good thing for the Braves, who will trot out one of the top playmakers not only in the league, but in District 3 – and across the state. … The entire offensive line returns intact, which is also a big plus. They’ll be blocking for second-year signal-caller Mike Rice, who must cut down on his interceptions (25 of them last fall, most in the league, by a mile and a half). … Three linebackers – Jon Baker, Ryan Clarke and David Stickel – are also back in the saddle, as is hard-hitting DE Nick Lacock, who will also anchor the o-line from his left tackle spot.
QUESTION MARKS: Can Pequea Valley’s defense improve? That’s the biggest question mark hanging over the Braves at the moment. … The O will be OK with Persch and all of those returning linemen. But the D, ranked dead last in the league a year ago, when the Braves allowed 425 yards a game, must get better. Period.
QUOTABLE: Pequea Valley coach Curtis Waltman – “This is a very important season for our program because we took a gigantic step forward this off-season. We lifted and we competed in a lot of football competitions. We started lifting the week after the last game last season. That’s a huge step for our program, and we’re hoping that it pay dividends. … We are so much better from where we were at the end of last year. We’re stronger, we have a greater level of commitment, and we have a great mix of kids. These kids want to do whatever they have to do to be successful, and that’s a great thing.”

REINHART’S TAKE: If there is one program in the L-L League itching for some wins, it’s definitely Pequea Valley. The Braves did some nice things last year – they went from 24th in 2006 (121.8) to 16th last fall (262.2) in total offense; that’s quite an improvement, you’d agree – but their defense was a mess. … You can’t give up 425 yards a game and expect to win many games. In Pequea Valley’s case, the Braves didn’t win any games in Waltman’s rookie year on the sidelines. … If the D can improve, a couple of those non-league games look winnable – on paper, anyway. And any win – non-league or otherwise – would do wonders for the Braves, who have some weapons. Enough weapons to subdue the Lancaster Catholics, Lampeter-Strasburgs, Columbias and Donegals of the world? Um, no. But with Persch in tow, the Braves will definitely keep everyone honest.