JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
Alrighty … my Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 All-Star football team for your reading pleasure.
I picked the top 11 players (in my humble opinion) on each side of the ball, plus a punter, a kicker and one special teams player.
These picks are based on my own observations, and include some notable items about each player that I selected.
The envelope please …
OFFENSE
QB – Jarvis Cummings, senior, Hempfield – Check the numbers: 1,189 rushing yards (most among L-L League quarterbacks) and 13 rushing TDs; 900 passing yards on the dot, plus five TD tosses. There was a lot of hype surrounding Hempfield’s new spread O, and Cummings piloted it just fine, thank you. Keep an eye on his recruiting progress. He’s going to make someone out there very happy.
RB – Zacc Groff, senior, Wilson – And to think that the Bulldogs didn’t know who their feature back was going to be coming out of camp. Groff certainly emerged, and he’s been fantastic, with 1,614 rushing yards and 23 TD runs heading into the state semifinals. Unique back in that he’s not huge, but he’s a bull – with breakaway speed. Slithery. Is that a word?
RB – Eric Resch, senior, Warwick – Workhorse back who continued to take the ball over and over and over again – and produce. Finished with 1,332 yards on 264 workmanlike carries and scored 19 touchdowns. The 264 attempts still lead the league – including the guys still alive in the state playoffs. So yeah, he was a workhorse, but super durable.
WR – Alex Fegley, senior, Wilson – All 5-11, 165 pounds of him. Up to 42 catches and 11 TD grabs for the Bulldogs, who are set to take on Bethel Park in the state semifinals. Gritty, determined playmaker who throws his body around like a champion.
WR – Leequan LaRue, senior, McCaskey – Not many bright spots in the Red Tornado’s camp this season (McCaskey went 0-10 for the first time since 1975), but LaRue had a memorable senior season with a team-high 35 catches for 471 yards (13.5 per) and six TD grabs.
TE – Tyler Beck, junior, Wilson – Solid, reliable receiver, particularly in the slot area. Second on the team with 15 catches for 259 yards and pair of TD grabs heading into the PIAA Final Four. Wilson just cranks out tight ends, don’t they?
C – Zach Gorddard, senior, Wilson – I need a good anchor on my line, and Goddard anchors the line on the only Section 1 team that’s still standing heading into the state semifinals. That’s pretty good in my book.
OG – Jason Dougherty, senior, Hempfield – Body-mover helped the Black Knights’ O crank out 330 yards per game. And he helped keep Cummings upright and mobile – not on his backside.
OG – Zack Fisher, senior, Penn Manor – Had to get some Comets on my list, since Penn Manor enjoyed its finest season ever with nine wins and a trip to the district quarterfinals. Fisher helped open holes for RB Sean Noll, and he helped keep QB P.J. Rehm off the ground. Underrated line here. Fisher was the cornerstone.
OT – Darryl Pringle, senior, Reading – He’s headed to Temple. Gotta love those D1 guys on the line. So yeah, he can block for me.
OT – Adam Bostick, senior, Manheim Township – Talk about a real trouper. The Blue Streaks switched Pat’s little brother from tight end (where you can at least get your hands on the football every once in a while) to offensive tackle. But he took it like a man and learned to block in Township’s multiple “Razorback” packages. Thought I heard he has an open invitation to walk-on at Pitt. That’s pretty cool.
SPECIAL TEAMS – Alex Fegley, senior, Wilson – Returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown against rival Reading. Superb return man in the punt and kick game. Total, 100 percent gamer. How this kid never gets cracked in half amazes me.
KICKER – Shane Witmyer, junior, Wilson – He’s booted four field goals for the Bulldogs, who are still dancing if you haven’t heard. Bunch of touchbacks, too. And he’s pretty much automatic on PATs.
DEFENSE
DE – Cody Booth, senior, Penn Manor – Great size and speed and he can really chase you down and make you pay. Anchored Penn Manor’s defense, which gave up just 220 yards per game – third-best in the league. Terrific athlete; gifted. Nice tight end, too.
DE – Jon Wagner, senior, Wilson – Let the cavalcade of Wilson defenders begin, right? Yeah, right. Bulldogs had the best D in the league all season, so they’ll be represented mightily, starting with Wagner, who is free to blitz and tee off on quarterbacks because he has so many playmakers around him. He can make plays too.
DT – Rodney Hill, senior, Wilson – This kid’s a monster. It’s a joy watching him play defense. Period.
LB – Colton Weaver, senior, Wilson – Freakishly good. Four-year starter (which is amazing) and he was the L-L League Linebacker of the Year in 2007. Probably will be in 2008, too.
LB – Pat Zerbe, senior Wilson – Tough, tough, tough dude. Big-time tackler and run-stuffer. Scary.
LB – Nick Sizemore, senior, Manheim Township – When this guy makes a tackle, you can hear it clear up in the top of the press box. Supersonic tackler who dominated in the middle the last couple of years for the Blue Streaks. Headed to D1 Buffalo on a full ride. They’ll love him up there. I’m sure we’ll hear his tackles down here in Pennsylvania.
LB – Jordan Holbert, senior, Wilson – Yeah, another Wilson linebacker. Why not? Not the biggest dude around (5-7, 165) but he’s a major hitter, playmaker and a serious firecracker. He stirs the pot on Wilson’s ferocious D. His forced fumble early in the Cumberland Valley game got the ball rolling for Wilson, which went on to force eight turnovers and win the district championship.
DB – Alex Fegley, senior, Wilson – Running out of things to say about Wilson’s defensive kids. Terrific in the secondary, with a knack for jumping routes and picking you off. He’ll blitz too – and knock your block off.
DB – Kori Meshaw, senior, Hempfield – Paced Section 1 in tackles from his safety spot, so he was a busy dude. Didn’t make all those tackles by accident either; he’s a heat-seeker.
DB – Mike Treier, senior, Penn Manor – Always admired how he bounced back from injuries – too many injuries. Played QB early in his career, but had a pair of season-altering injuries and played mostly WR this season – and DB, where he was a major pest. Here’s hoping Treier can get through the rest of his senior year without getting hurt.
PUNTER – Gary Gristick, junior, Cedar Crest – He averaged 39.4 yards per boot during the regular season, second-best in the league through 10 games. I hate to punt, but if I have to, Gristick can handle the duties for me.
