I guess I must have too much time on my hands these days, because here’s some more L-L League football news and notes to pass along … while waiting as patiently as possible for Game 1 of the World Series. Thanks, Fox.
FOUR FOR THE SHOW? As it stands, all four Lebanon County football teams are poised to qualify for the District 3 playoffs – Elco, Lebanon and Northern Lebanon in Triple-A and Annville-Cleona in Double-A. How about that? Not sure off the top of my head the last time those four teams all qualified for Districts in the same season. Will have to do some major digging for that nugget. But an excellent season so far for those four.
FOUR GRAND: Four L-L League running backs have cracked the 1,000-yard plateau already – Cocalico’s Kyle Fisher (1,281), Columbia’s Dakotah Lightfoot (1,196), Warwick’s Eric Resch (1,112) and Donegal’s Kyle Witmer (1,101). … Two more players are poised to join the club on Friday – Cocalico’s Austin Hartman (974) and Elco’s Arron Achey (907). … Achey leads all L-L League quarterbacks in rushing. … If Hartman tops 1,000 yards, he would join teammate Kyle Fisher with that number. Fisher and Cocalico’s fullback last year, Kyle Keller, also both rushed for more than 1,000 yards. … Fisher is averaging an eye-popping 12.9 yards per carry – tops in the league among backs with 300 or more yards. He’s the only back in the league averaging at least 10 yards per pop. What a weapon.
PASSING FANCY: Five L-L League quarterbacks have topped 1,000 passing yards already this season – James Capello, Lebanon (1,986), Lancaster Catholic’s Kyle Smith (1,587), Manheim Central’s Jeremy Knosp (1,568), Garden Spot’s Weston Martin (1,327) and Pequea Valley’s Ben Meyers (1,109). … In his last two games, Meyers, who is playing for the injured Mike Rice (ankle), is 46-of-91 for 584 yards. He went 23-of-45 for 279 yards and a TD against Elco, and 23-of-46 for 305 yards and a TD against Lampeter-Strasburg. Meyers was picked off five times in the Elco game. … Ephrata’s Lance Kopp (989) and Elizabethtown’s Kyle McNeil (966) should join the 1,000-yard passing club on Friday. … Capello is poised to shatter his own school record for passing yards in a season (2,077, which he set last year).
LIVE BLOGS: Just got it posted today, but if you missed it, Keith Schweigert will be blogging live from the Annville-Cleona at Lancaster Catholic Section 3 game on Friday night, and I’ll be blogging live from the Wilson at Penn Manor Section 1 game on Friday night. You can find those blogs on the L-L League Insider at lancsports.com. … Keith and I will provide you with scoring updates, analysis and news and notes from the games, as well as answer your questions and respond to your comments. We’ll also post scores from around the league. Don’t miss it.
ONE MORE: Manheim Central coach Mike Williams is now tied with former Cedar Cliff and Newport coach Bob Craig for the most career football coaching victories (282) in District 3 history. Williams will snap the tie with the Barons’ next victory, which could come as early as Friday, when Central travels to Lebanon for a Section 2 game.
FIVE TIMES TWO: A pair of L-L League quarterbacks tossed five touchdown passes in Week 8 – Cedar Crest’s Gary Gristick against McCaskey and Solanco’s Ben Miller against Ephrata. … Miller is the New Era Player of the Week. Check back here Tuesday for the story and Podcast interview with the Golden Mules’ QB.
TD TOSSES: Here are your L-L League leaders in touchdown passes through Week 8 – James Capello, Lebanon (21), Weston Martin, Garden Spot (19), Kyle Smith, Lancaster Catholic (19), Kyle McNeil, Elizabethtown (13), Jeremy Knosp, Manheim Central (11), Ben Miller, Solanco (11), Nate Myers, Annville-Cleona (10).
JUST CALL HIM EMERIL: Betcha didn’t know Solanco senior Brock Snider is a cooking whiz. He won first place for his coffee cake entry at the Solanco Fair. “That brought a lot of pride to Solanco football,” Mules’ senior QB Ben Miller told me. … You can hear all about Snider’s exploits in the kitchen on my Podcast interview with Miller, the New Era Player of the Week. That interview should be posted Tuesday morning. So take a click, won’t you.
ODDS AND ENDS: Columbia has only intercepted one pass. … Manheim Central has only recovered one fumble, and the Barons, who are 5-0 and alone in first place in Section 2, are a minus-7 in turnover ratio. Odd. … McCaskey has lost 15 fumbles, most in the league. … Pequea Valley QB’s have been picked off 20 times, most in the league. … Elco and Lebanon are tied for the league lead in fumbles recovered (13). … Garden Spot has picked off 13 passes, most in the league.
That is all.
(Phillies in 6)
