Some random L-L League football nuggets for you …
COACHING NEWS – It didn’t take former Donegal head coach Bill Groff long to land a new gig. Groff, who resigned his post with the Indians after eight years on the job, is now an assistant coach under John Manion at Lampeter-Strasburg. Manion also brought on former Conestoga Valley standout Nate Bagley as an assistant. Bagley was a RB/S on the Buckskins’ team that went to the district final in 2000 with young-pup QB Jordan Steffy at the wheel. By the way, I expect L-S to be back in business next fall after this past season’s 5-5 head-scratcher. The Pioneers did have some youth (and some major injury issues), but don’t be surprised if L-S is back in the lead pack next fall. Go ahead and circle their season-opener at home against Cocalico. That could be mighty interesting, with the Eagles set to return QB Matt Carty and FB Austin Hartman.
IN THE NAVY – Hempfield senior Eric Macik will join teammate Jarvis Cummings at the U.S. Naval Academy and will play football for the Midshipmen. Macik was a dominating two-way brute for the Black Knights, kicking butt and taking names from his fullback spot and from his linebacker spot. He helped Hempfield go 8-3 overall this past season, including a trip to Districts for the first time in a couple of years. Macik was the Knights’ second-leading rusher last fall, piling up 674 yards on 111 carries (6.1 avg.) and he scored 11 touchdowns. And he gained the reputation as one of the hardest-hitting LB’s across the L-L League. Macik was voted a First-Team Section 1 All-Star at running back, and he was a Second-Team Section 1 All-Star at linebacker. And now he’ll take his game to Navy. I’ve been trying to track down Eric for an interview. If and when that happens, I’ll get it posted here.
CLASSIFICATION DISCUSSION – According to this published report, the PIAA is still considering adding two classifications and shortening the football season from 16 weeks to 15 weeks, beginning in 2010. The PIAA steering committee advanced the proposal, and the PIAA Board of Directors voted 18-10 to keep the motion going. Read the story for more details.
ROYER DRAWS RAVE REVIEWS – Manheim Central junior DE Dakota Royer is all over the recruiting radar. According to Rivals.com, the Barons’ QB-chaser has official offers from Penn State, Pitt, Illinois, Stanford, Temple, Maryland and Rutgers. And he’s also drawing interest from Colorado, Cincinnati, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, UConn and West Virginia. Penn State’s Mike McQueary was at Central in the last few days to catch up with Royer’s progress. I know he’s a big Penn State fan, so if I were a betting guy, I’d have to say Penn State is right at the top of Royer’s list. But who knows? Royer caught 56 passes for 1,099 yards and had 11 QB sacks last fall for the Barons, who reached the District 3 Triple-A championship game. He’ll be one of the best blitzing DE’s in the state next season, and might also see some time at OLB. … Speaking of the Barons, kindly keep Central coach Mike Williams in your thoughts this week as he preps for some knee surgery. That’ll help his 40 time, no doubt. … And all the best to Central assistant Dave Hahn, who continues to battle a blood clot in his leg.
MR. SMITH AND THE RECRUITING TRAIL – Lancaster Catholic junior QB Kyle Smith has no official offers on his plate at the moment, but according to Rivals.com, the Crusaders’ All-State lefty signal-caller has feelers from Penn State, Pitt, Georgia, Florida State, Maryland, Duke, Virginia, Rutgers and UConn. Smith also visited Notre Dame last fall. I know he’s very interested in Georgia; Smith has relatives in that area. ‘Smitty’ passed for a gaudy 3,192 yards and 42 touchdowns last fall, leading Catholic to the District 3 Double-A title and into the PIAA Final Four. He’ll begin his senior season with 5,807 passing yards and 69 TDs. Smith will need just 2,302 passing yards to pass Pat Devlin for the state’s all-time mark.
L-L EXPANSION — Still no word from Palmyra on whether it will make the jump from the Mid-Penn Conference to the L-L League. School officials there have until April to formally apply to the L-L League to join for the 2010-2011 sports season. Since Palmyra is a member of the L-L IU 13, the Cougars wouldn’t need a majority vote to join; they would just slide right in. If Palmyra does join, the L-L League won’t be left scrambling trying to figure out what to do with an odd number of teams in the football league.
COACHING CAROUSEL – Four jobs open in the L-L League if you forgot: Conestoga Valley, Donegal, Elizabethtown and Cedar Crest. I’d love to tell you who will get those gigs, but all is quiet on the hiring front at the moment. The things I have been told, well, I was sworn to secrecy. Sorry. About the only thing I can say is that interviews have either been set up, or are in the works. I’ve heard some names in some places, and no names in others. So if the fine folks in those AD departments are trying to keep this hush-hush, they’re doing an excellent job so far. I will keep my ears open, and will pass along any info once it’s official. So don’t believe everything you read on Pennlive, OK? There have been massively bad rumors posted there in the last several weeks. Trust me.
