This just in …

Some sad news to report:

Reigning Associated Press Double-A Second-Team All-State selection Sean Persch, Pequea Valley’s outstanding multi-purpose threat, and last year’s leading receiver in the Lancaster-Lebanon League, has very likely played his final game for the Braves.

Persch, who caught a league-high 71 passes for 1,029 yards in his junior season, suffered torn ligaments in his hand during the Braves’ 34-6 setback to Springfield (Montco) last Friday night in Kinzers, and he’s set for surgery this week.

Pequea Valley coach Curtis Waltman confirmed that Persch will need 6-to-8 weeks of rehabilitation, very likely ending his senior season just two games in.

During his All-State junior season, Persch piled up 1,029 receiving yards, 875 yards in kick returns, 451 rushing yards, 86 yards in punt returns and he also passed for 35 yards, giving him 2,476 all-purpose yards.

He was off to a fast start this season, too. In two games, he had 13 catches for 279 yards and two touchdowns. The 13 receptions were second-most in the league heading into Week 3.

“Losing Sean is obviously a heart-breaker,” Waltman said in an e-mail. “I’m incredibly saddened that he possibly has played his last high school football game. As a program, it’s gut-check time. Sean can’t be replaced by just one person – everybody on the team must step up and play better to make up for his loss. Life is all about facing and handling adversity, so this will be a great life lesson for our kids.”

Pequea Valley (0-2) hosts Fleetwood (2-0) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.