Section 2 is under the microscope in this post … my L-L League Section 2 preview caps for the upcoming season.

These caps also feature audio Podcast interviews with all eight Section 2 coaches.

Teams are listed based on the order of how they finished in the section race in 2008.

Go crazy …

MANHEIM CENTRAL BARONS
ONLINE: baronsfootball.com
COACH: Mike Williams (29th season; 287-59-3 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Susquehannock, Wilson, @ Lancaster Catholic, Cocalico, @ Solanco, Ephrata, @ Conestoga Valley, @ Elizabethtown, Lebanon, Garden Spot.

REINHART SAYS: Week 3 trip to Lancaster Catholic just might be the best game in District 3 this season. Barons are the reigning Triple-A runners-up and the Crusaders are the reigning Double-A champs, and both teams are completely stacked and are very likely the preseason favorites to win district titles (hey, it is only August). And they should both bring state-rankings into that whopper. Hang a star next to Week 2 as well, when Wilson visits Manheim. That might be one of the best two-week stretches in the state. Section opener at home with Cocalico in Week 4 should also be a dandy.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Spread Gun.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-4.

LAST SEASON: 7-0 Section 2 (champs), 11-3 overall (Lost to West York in the District 3 Triple-A title game).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Susquehannock (W 32-10), @ Wilson (L 20-15), Lancaster Catholic (L 21-8), @ Cocalico (W 56-33), Solanco (W 24-14), @ Ephrata (W 61-14), Conestoga Valley (W 34-7), Elizabethtown (W 28-19), @ Lebanon (W 33-28), @ Garden Spot (W 24-19), Elco (W 45-14; District 3 Triple-A playoffs), @ Cocalico (W 26-7; District 3 Triple-A quarterfinals), @ Mechanicsburg (W 26-21; District 3 Triple-A semifinals), West York (L 15-7; District 3 Triple-A title game).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Jeremy Knosp (102-of-185 for 1,802 yards, 13 TD, 6 picks, 153.7 QB rating; Justin Gorman (60-of-108 for 929 yards, 6 TD, 4 picks, 138.7 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Joe Gruber (149 carries for 814 yards, 5.5 avg., 9 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Dakota Royer (56 catches for 1,099 yards, 19.6 avg., 5 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 367.5 yards per game (4th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 249.9 yards per game (6th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: C-DT Riley Clugston (Section 2 First-Team All-Star C; Section 2 Second-Team All-Star DT), LB Travis Ebersole (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star ILB), OG Austin Groff (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star OG), QB Jeremy Knosp (PA Football News All-State QB; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star QB), RB-LB Alex Shenk, DT Adam Smith (Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star DT), P Jeff Strait (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star P).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: LB Joe Brubaker (Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star OLB), WR-DB Casey Ebersole (PA Football News All-State DB; Section 2 Defensive Back of the Year; Section 2 First-Team All-Star DB), OT-DL John Fair (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star OT), QB-DB Justin Gorman, K Taylor Groff (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star K), FB-LB Joe Gruber (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star RB; Section 2 Second-Team All-Star DE), WR-DB Derek Hart, OL-DL Peter Ireland, LB Lowen Johnson, WR-DE Dakota Royer (Associated Press Triple-A First-Team All-State DE; PA Football News All-State DE; Eastern PA Football.com All-State DE; Section 2 Defensive Lineman of the Year; Section 2 First-Team All-Star WR; Section 2 First-Team All-Star DE), RB-WR-DB Dan Trafford (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star DB; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), OL Joe Weaver.

ALL EYES ON: Dakota Royer – The Barons’ two-way senior stud has already given a verbal commitment to Penn State, so he has the college recruiting thing off his shoulders, which should free him up to play without all that pressure swirling around him. And play he will – as a multi-purpose back on offense (think wideout, running back, tight end and h-back all rolled into one) and d-end and some OLB on defense. Royer garnered all of those accolades as a d-end last seasons, but in Central’s 3-4 scheme, Williams promises that Royer will rotate between end and LB. That should cause a lot of headaches for offensive coordinators around District 3. Truth is, you could line up Royer just about anywhere on D and he’d still make plays. His ticker is always running, and he’s got an incredible knack for sniffing out plays and running guys down from behind. Royer was so explosive on D last year that his offensive output was often overlooked. Lining up in the backfield, at tight end and at wideout, who caught 56 passes for 1,099 yards, and was a major threat over the middle, especially in crunch time. This kid’s an animal. And from all accounts, he’s poised to have a monster senior season.

THE GOOD NEWS: Plenty of good news to go around here, including the return of Dakota Royer on both sides of the ball. And he’ll have tons and tons of talent flanking him, like QB Justin Gorman, who is getting DI looks from Colorado, Memphis and North Carolina State. And Joe Gruber, Central’s slug-it-out FB who will often times be alone in the backfield in the Barons’ ultra-cool sounding Spread Gun attack. Nine starters are set to return on O, including sure-handed wideouts Dan Trafford, Casey Ebersole and Derek Hart, plus o-linemen Joe Weaver (RG), Peter Ireland (RT) and John Fair (LT). And Shaun Buller, who transferred in from rival Elizabethtown, is vying for the center spot. So Central should be solid in the trenches. The D is in good hands with Royer roaming around, and Gruber – another hit machine – shifts from DE to ILB, where he’ll join holdovers Lowen Johnson and Joe Brubaker. And returning all-star picks Ebersole and Trafford will anchor the secondary. Tons of returning weapons here on both sides of the ball – I could go on forever and ever. Long story short: Central is loaded. Heard that one before?

QUESTION MARKS: Not many. The Barons caught a break when Buller transferred over from E-town, giving them depth on the line, which is huge. It looks like Rob LaPorte will step into the left guard spot. Sniffing around for some more question marks, but I can’t seem to find any. The Barons even return their kicker (Taylor Groff). Next …

NOTABLE: Williams has the most coaching victories in District 3 history.

REINHART’S TAKE: Goodness gracious, where to start? The Barons are loaded for bear and, based on the returning personnel and payback/revenge meter, should have some mighty lofty goals. Just from snooping around a bit this preseason I get the idea that winning the Section 2 title just won’t be enough for this group, which shoulda/coulda/woulda won the District 3 Triple-A title last season. Anything less than a district crown and a legit run in States won’t be good enough for this crew, which has the firepower for another one of those patented Barons’ postseason runs. Gear up, Manheim.

 

PODCAST: Central coach Mike Williams has been here before – staring a boatload of expectations square between the eyes. With a plethora of returning players from a team that just missed winning the District 3 Triple-A championship, there will be plenty of bull’s-eyes swirling around Williams and his Barons this season. No problem, he says. Bring it on. Williams chats about those expectations and all things Central football here. You can listen to the interview by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the Podcast and listen to it on your favorite mp3 device by clicking here.

COCALICO EAGLES
ONLINE: cocalicofootball.com
COACH: Dave Gingrich (6th season; 33-21 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Lampeter-Strasburg, Exeter, Annville-Cleona, @ Manheim Central, Ephrata, @ Lebanon, Elizabethtown, @ Garden Spot, Conestoga Valley, @ Solanco.

REINHART SAYS: Love the opener at L-S (In fact, save me a seat; I think I’ll make an appearance in Lampeter for that one). The Pioneers are out for bear after an injury riddled 2008. And hang a big star next to the Week 4 game at Manheim Central in the Section 2 opener for both teams. The Barons swept the Eagles last year – the second game in the District 3 Triple-A quarterfinals – so Cocalico will be out for major revenge in that one. Central-Cocalico has become quite a feisty little rivalry the last couple of years. Dig it. The home date with E-town and the trip to Garden Spot in Week 7-8 should also be crucial, and Week 10 at Solanco could have some major ramifications for both teams.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Veer.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.

LAST SEASON: 6-1 Section 2, 10-2 overall (Lost to eventual runner-up Manheim Central in the District 3 Triple-A quarterfinals).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Lampeter-Strasburg (W 35-21), @ Exeter (W 35-21), @ Annville-Cleona (W 41-7), Manheim Central (L 56-33), @ Ephrata (W 42-14), Lebanon (W 53-38), @ Elizabethtown (W 35-34), Garden Spot (W 31-17), @ Conestoga Valley (W 54-35), Solanco (W 28-0), Susquehanna Township (W 49-30; District 3 Triple-A playoffs), Manheim Central (L 26-7; District 3 Triple-A quarterfinals).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Matt Carty (35-of-62 for 578 yards, 7 TD, 5 picks, 155.9 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Kyle Fisher (137 carries for 1,714 yards, 12.5 avg., 25 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Kyle Fisher (14 catches for 240 yards, 17.1 avg., 3 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 428.3 yards per game (2nd in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 325.7 yards per game (15th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: RB-DB Kyle Fisher (Associated Press Triple-A Second-Team All-State DB; PA Football News All-State DB; Eastern PA Football.com All-State DB; Lions Club L-L League Section Player of the Year; Section 2 Offensive Back of the Year; Section 2 Outstanding Back of the Year; Section 2 First-Team All-Star RB; Section 2 First-Team All-Star KR; Section 2 First-Team All-Star DB), LB Joe Lawville, OT-DT Pat McMillan (PA Football News All-State OT), OG-DE Ethan Quint (Section 2 First-Team All-Star DE; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star OG), LB Kyle Ueberroth (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star ILB), OL-DL Dylan Ulrich.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: WR-DE Kevin Antol, C-LB Blake Bomberger, OG-DT Ben Brugger, QB-DB Matt Carty (Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star QB; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), OT-DE Kyle Eberly, OG-DT Brad Entzminger, WR-DB Taylor Gerhart, OT-LB Zach Gosling (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star OT), FB-LB Austin Hartman (PA Football News All-State RB; Section 2 Second-Team All-Star RB), RB-LB Roman High, RB-DB Shiron Hudson, TE-DE Earvin Johnson (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star TE), RB-LB Jordan Martin, WR-DB Corey Nixon, WR-LB Andrew Prevoznik, WR-LB Kyle Rissell (Section 2 First-Team All-Star ILB), RB-LB Jon Smoker, OT-DE Taylor Yost.

ALL EYES ON: Matt Carty – The Eagles’ senior two-way threat has been at the wheel of Cocalico’s Veer attack and has anchored Cocalico’s defensive backfield the last two seasons, and you know he’s jonesing to do even bigger and better things in his final go-round for the Eagles. Like finally slaying Manheim Central and winning the Section 2 title, perhaps? Or leading his team to a deeper trip in the playoffs – where those pesky Barons could be waiting again, just like last season? Carty is know for his uncanny ability to read defenses and make the right calls on pitch plays – Cocalico’s bread-and-butter out of the Veer. It seems like he always makes the right read, whether he’s making the pitch, tucking it under for a keeper, or using the play-action pass. He completed 57 percent of his passes last fall (35-of-62 for 578 yards and 7 TD against just 5 picks), and he also churned out 823 yards and 13 TD on keepers. Plus, he had the best 1-2 punch backfield in the L-L League with speedster Kyle Fisher (1,714 yards, 25 TD) and punishing FB Austin Hartman (1,587 yards, 10 TD) behind him. Hartman, who rushed for 344 yards and 3 TD in Cocalico’s wild 49-30 win over Susquehanna Township in the first round of Districts last year, returns for his junior season this year. But keep an eye on Carty for sure. If he’s doing his thing in the Veer – and sticking to wideouts on D – Cocalico is going places – big places.

THE GOOD NEWS: Experienced QB under center? Matt Carty. Check. Slug-it-out fullback who is ultra important in Cocalico’s Veer option attack? Austin Hartman. Check. Trench guys to help blow open holes for said fullback? Blake Bomberger (C), Ben Brugger (RG) and Zach Gosling (RT) are all back in the fold. Check. Those are three pretty good checkmarks right out of the gate. And here’s some more good news: all-star Earvin Johnson returns at TE and DE, all-star Kyle Rissell returns at WR and OLB, and speedsters Shiron Hudson and Jordan Martin are poised to step into Fisher’s spot as the feature back behind Hartman. Plus steady K Andrew Prevoznik is back in the special teams department. Plenty to like in this category if you’re a Cocalico fan. Good news all around.

QUESTION MARKS: The biggest is at feature back, where Shiron Hudson, a converted slot guy, and Jordan Martin should get first dibs at replacing Kyle Fisher, who was named to pretty much every all-star team in the book last season. They’ll be running behind a revamped left side of the line, which should feature Brad Entzminger at guard and Kyle Eberly and/or Taylor Yost at tackle. So there will be some depth there, which is nice. Just six regulars return on D, spearheaded by Kyle Rissell and Jon Smoker at LB, Ben Brugger at DT, and the DB tandem of Matt Carty and Hudson should be ultra stingy. Not really a question mark, but keep an eye on super soph Kyle Felpel, who should/could see time at TE and DE. Remember that name for sure.

NOTABLE: Cocalico rushed for 4,478 yards last season – far and away tops in the L-L League. … Gingrich was named Section 2 Coach of the Year by his peers last fall.

REINHART’S TAKE: Tons to love here. This was the year I thought Cocalico would burst on the scene, but with Kyle Fisher and his speed game leading the way, the Eagles won a district-playoff game and finished alone in second place in a rough and tumble section last season. Cocalico should set its sights even higher this time around because this roster is oozing with talent, and oozing with plenty of motivation. Section opener at Manheim Central is gigantic. Hang a huge star next to that one. Win or lose, the Eagles will be right there in section race come Week 10. And another top-4 seed for Districts certainly isn’t out of the question.

 

PODCAST: The Eagles are thinking big in Denver, and coach Dave Gingrich has the returning talent to give Manheim Central a run for its money in Section 2 – and to make a serious run in the District 3 Triple-A playoffs. But both of those will be decided down the road a bit. For now, Gingrich is concerned with keeping his kids focused, so when those big games hit, the Eagles will be ready to unleash. You can listen to the interview with Gingrich by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the Podcast and play it on your favorite mp3 device by clicking here.

ELIZABETHTOWN BEARS
ONLINE: etownfootball.com
COACH: Mike Cottle (1st season).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Quad-A.
THE SCHEDULE: McCaskey, @ Muhlenberg, @ Manheim Township, Solanco, Conestoga Valley, @ Garden Spot, @ Cocalico, Manheim Central, Ephrata, @ Lebanon.

REINHART SAYS: Should be a special Opening Night in E-town, when Mike Cottle makes his Bears’ debut against McCaskey’s new coach, David Given. Are you feeling the love? Circle Week 3 as well, when E-town travels to Neffsville for a clash against Manheim Township. Those two have played two instant-classics the last two seasons, and E-town will try and make it three wins in a row this year. Huge stretch here is Week 6-9 with trips to Garden Spot and Cocalico, followed up with Manheim Central in E-town. I kinda like that Week 2 date at Muhlenberg, too. And, as usual, I’m looking forward to my first trip to E-town; one of my favorite stadiums and press boxes in the L-L League.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Wing-T.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-3.

LAST SEASON: 4-3 Section 2, 6-5 overall (Lost to eventual champ Wilson in the first round of the District 3 Quad-A playoffs).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: @ McCaskey (W 53-7), Muhlenberg (L 28-27), Manheim Township (W 28-27), @ Solanco (W 13-7), @ Conestoga Valley (W 39-13), Garden Spot (W 35-19), Cocalico (L 35-34), @ Manheim Central (L 28-19), @ Ephrata (W 28-21), Lebanon (L 28-21), @ Wilson (L 35-14; District 3 Quad-A playoffs).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Kyle McNeil (88-of-172 for 1,375 yards, 16 TD, 10 picks, 137.4 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Conrad Heisey (131 carries for 905 yards, 6.9 avg., 9 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Mitch Weidman (21 catches for 312 yards, 14.9 avg., 2 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 351.8 yards per game (6th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 311.0 yards per game (12th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: OT Evan Good, RB Conrad Heisey (Section 2 First-Team All-Star RB), WR-DB Jeremi Jones, OG Jamie Kehler, OG-DE Alex Kirchner (PA Football News All-State OG; Section 2 First-Team All-Star OG; Section 2 First-Team All-Star DE), WR-P Josh McMasters, QB Kyle McNeil (Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star QB), WR-DB Steven Nunez, RB-LB Shane Rosenberry (Section 2 First-Team All-Star ILB; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star RB).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: WR-DE Dylan Allison, RB-LB Jarred Danneker (Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star OLB), OT-DL Travis Eppley, C Andrew Haldeman, RB-LB Brendan Kain, OG-LB David Kennedy (Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star ILB), TE-DE Broc Rutherford, RB-DB Mitch Weidman (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star RB; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star DB).

ALL EYES ON: Andy Breault – If the name sounds familiar, it should. It’s like déjà vu all over again in Bear Country: Andy Breault is playing QB for the hometown team. The elder Breault, of course, led E-town to the district playoffs and went on to play for Kutztown University. He’s an assistant coach on Cottle’s staff, and now the Bears have handed the keys to their Wing-T offense to Breault’s son, who did take a few varsity snaps a year ago (1-for-1 passing for 7 yards; 1 carry for negative yards). But now the full-time job is all his – and he has some big shoes to fill; not only Kyle McNeil’s shoes, but his daddy’s. Should be an interesting season tracking the young Breault’s progress in E-town.

THE GOOD NEWS: E-town should benefit from the return of speedster Mitch Weidman, who should get a bunch of touches out of the backfield and the slot. Remember Jordan Hallman, who helped the Bears share the Section 2 crown and make a playoff run in 2007? Weidman is Hallman’s clone. And like Hallman, he should make a truckload of plays – and he’ll have to until Breault gets the passing game down pat. Three o-linemen are also back in the mix, which is nice: center Andrew Haldeman, RG David Kennedy and RT Travis Eppley return. But the left side is new, with Ryan Heistand at guard and Joe Martin at tackle stepping in. Bruising TE Broc Rutherford also returns – he’s tough in goal-line situations and should help out Breault in the back-of-the-end-zone-throw-the-fade-department. Dash overload. Sorry. Rutherford and Eppley also return to their DT spots, and the LB spot – despite the loss of heavy hitter Shane Rosenberry – is in excellent hands with holdovers Kennedy and Jarred Danneker, who should shine in Cottle’s new 4-3 scheme. Dylan Allison also returns at DE, so E-town should have plenty of big stickers on D; nothing new there – the Bears usually leave you black and blue. And keep an eye on Brendan Kain at FB and LB. He’s a tough nut. There is a lot to like here, especially if Breault can pick up where his daddy left off – all these years later.

QUESTION MARKS: Speaking of tough nuts, E-town lost some key guys in the trenches, like Shane Rosenberry and Alex Kirchner. Someone will have to step up and fill their shoes – not only on the field, but as ringleaders off it. Those guys policed the locker room and kept everyone’s head on straight. How will Andy Breault handle the spotlight and the pressure? How long will it take three new wideouts (Mitch Light, Roy Guzman, Alex Muniz) to get on the same page as Breault? How will the two new o-line guys mesh? Who will handle the kicking/punting chores? How will the team react to new coach Mike Cottle calling the shots? Those are my only other concerns. But this program seems to be in good place at the moment, and Cottle didn’t exactly blow everything up and start from scratch. That stuff will get ironed out – probably pretty quickly. I fully expect E-town to be in the Section 2 race.

NOTABLE: Two-way lineman Shaun Buller transferred to Manheim Central. … Back-to-back trip to Districts, including last year’s venture into Quad-A, when E-town fell to eventual champ Wilson in the first round.

REINHART’S TAKE: Anxious to see what – if anything – changes now that Mike Cottle has taken over the reins from Jeff Polites, who had guided the Bears the last 11 seasons before jumping ship and going to Donegal. That’s a pretty long time, and this program, from top to bottom, was used to doing things his way. On paper, E-town will stick with the Wing-T on offense, with the only tweak so far on D, where the Bears will switch from a traditional 4-4 set to a 4-3, meaning holdover LB’s David Kennedy and Jarred Danneker – both all-stars last season – will be under the microscope to make plays. Good years or bad, E-town will stick you and battle you tooth and nail in the trenches. And I have no reason to believe that will change, even with a new head coach. By the way, Cottle was on Polites’ staff, so he knows the drill. And the drill lately for E-town has been winning games and going to the postseason. The firepower is definitely here to make that happen again.

 

PODCAST: Welcome aboard, Mike Cottle, who took over as head coach of the Bears when his former boss, Jeff Polites, decided to step down after 11 seasons. So Cottle is familiar with the ins and outs of E-town’s program. In fact, he didn’t mess around with the product too much when he got the kids. The Wing-T is staying. There will be one minor tweak on D, where the Bears will switch from 4-4 to 4-3. Everything else will pretty much be status quo. Cottle chats about his new gig, and what he hopes to bring to the program here. You can listen to the Podcast by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the interview and play it on your favorite mp3 device by clicking here.

GARDEN SPOT SPARTANS
ONLINE: gsfootball.com
COACH: Matt Zamperini (4th season; 16-18 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: Warwick, @ Hempfield, Lampeter-Strasburg, Conestoga Valley, @ Lebanon, Elizabethtown, @ Ephrata, Cocalico, @ Solanco, @ Manheim Central.

REINHART SAYS: Tricky non-league gauntlet with two Section 1 heavyweights out of the box, followed up by a much-improved L-S team antsy to get back into the postseason. Three-week final stretch drive will be no walk in the park either, with Cocalico, followed by road trips to Solanco and Manheim Central. But that’s when the Spartans got hot last year, and they’re hoping for a repeat performance this time around.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: I.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 50.

LAST SEASON: 4-3 Section 2, 8-5 overall (Lost to eventual champ West York in the District 3 Triple-A semifinals).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: @ Warwick (W 17-14), Hempfield (L 28-14), @ Lampeter-Strasburg (W 31-0), @ Conestoga Valley (W 51-14), Lebanon (W 35-21), @ Elizabethtown (L 35-19), Ephrata (W 30-0), @ Cocalico (L 31-17), Solanco (W 41-14), Manheim Central (L 24-19), @ Lebanon (W 46-34; District 3 Triple-A playoffs), @ Greencastle-Antrim (W 20-0; District 3 Triple-A quarterfinals), @ West York (L 20-0; District 3 Triple-A semifinals).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Weston Martin (117-of-239 for 1,924 yards, 25 TD, 19 picks, 135.2 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Andersan Beamer (166 carries for 919 yards, 5.5 avg., 6 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Tyler Eby (49 catches for 976 yards, 19.9 avg., 12 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 283.1 yards per game (15th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 321.3 yards per game (14th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: RB-LB Andersan Beamer (PA Football News All-State RB; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star RB; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star ILB), OG-DT Zac Boley (PA Football News All-State OG; Section 2 Second-Team All-Star OG; Section 2 Second-Team All-Star DT), WR-DB Derek Deshaw (Section 2 First-Team All-Star DB; Section 2 Second-Team All-Star KR), WR-DB Tyler Eby (PA Football News All-State WR; Section 2 First-Team All-Star WR; Section 2 Second-Team All-Star DB), TE-DE Max George, WR-DB Kyle Kelley (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star WR; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), QB-DB-P Weston Martin (PA Football News All-State QB; Section 2 First-Team All-Star P; Section 2 Second-Team All-Star QB), TE-DE Nic Olsen, K David Stoltzfus (Section 2 First-Team All-Star K), FB-LB Joe Strangarity (PA Football News All-State LB; Section 2 Linebacker of the Year; Section 2 First-Team All-Star ILB; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star RB).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: RB-LB Jared Fox, WR-DB Jordan Fox, TE-DE Anthony Huber, OT-DT Steve Kidhart, FB-LB Chad McGarvey, OT-DT Mike Peljae, OG-DT Ian Portaro, RB-DB Nic Rosales.

ALL EYES ON: Jon Armbrust – The Spartans’ soph lefty QB has never taken a varsity snap, but he’ll be in there on Opening Night, stepping in for Weston Martin, who had a bust-out senior season a year ago, leading the Spartans all the way to the district semifinals. Martin was super as a rollout passer, throwing for 1,900-plus yards and 25 TD. Anxious to see if Armbrust is in that same mold; can he escape traffic and makes throws on the run? Can he dodge oncoming blitzers and still get the ball down the field? He won’t have the same weapons as Martin, as fleet all-star wideouts Tyler Eby and Kyle Kelley also moved on. He won’t have durable RB Andersan Beamer to hand the ball off to, either. So Armbrust will be learning on the fly. It might take a little while for him to get his feet wet. But once he’s on dry land, expect Armbrust and the Spartans to be pounding on the door.

THE GOOD NEWS: The Spartans are coming off a magical season, when they not only made Districts, but bumped off the No. 1 seed (Greencastle-Antrim) and steamrolled into the semifinals, where Garden Spot was ousted by eventual champ West York – on a snow-covered field on a bone-chilling night on West York’s home field. The Spartans are hoping some of those good vibes carry over to this season, because a good chunk of those players have moved on. Just eight kids who had major varsity snaps are set to return. But the good news is that they were on that ride last fall. They remember the thrill of the journey, and they hope to have a carryover effect. Three o-linemen will return, which is a plus: tackles Steve Kidhart and Mike Peljae and guard Ian Portaro know the drill in the trenches. And Nic Rosales is a slug-it-out back with some breakaway speed that should be a threat. He also made 75 total stops and picked off a pair of passes from his DB spot last season, and he will anchor the secondary.

QUESTION MARKS: Lots of new faces here, including Jon Armbrust, who will call the shots at QB. The Spartans will also be plugging in two new o-linemen, a new TE, a new feature RB, some new wideouts and practically an entire new front on D. And they must replace K David Stoltzfus, who was one of the best in the business last fall. And I haven’t even mentioned that the Spartans must replace jack-rabbit LB Joe Strangarity, who was the blood and guts of the D the last couple of years. This will be a different looking team for sure.

REINHART’S TAKE: Can the Spartans do it again? Heck, not many people thought they’d make that glorious run a year ago. So why not, right? Guessing it won’t be as easy this time around, simply because of the overhaul in personnel. So do expect some growing pains. But also expect some carryover from last year – momentum is a great thing, even if all of these new guys didn’t play large roles a year ago. Still digging the vibe in New Holland.

 

PODCAST: What a fun ride for Garden Spot last fall, when the Spartans got hot at the right time, and ended up going all the way to the district semifinals. Coach Matt Zamperini was certainly proud of his troops for that accomplishment. But at the same time, he knows the bar was raised in New Holland, and that this year’s crew has to uphold that standard. There are a lot of new faces in the Spartans’ camp, and Zamperini knows there is a lot of work to do if his team can equal last year’s glorious ride. He discusses that, and more, here. You can listen to the interview by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the Podcast and listen to it on your favorite mp3 player by clicking here.

LEBANON CEDARS
COACH: Gerry Yonchiuk (4th season; 11-20 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Cedar Crest, Spring Grove, @ Elco, @ Ephrata, Garden Spot, Cocalico, @ Solanco, Conestoga Valley, @ Manheim Central, Elizabethtown.

REINHART SAYS: Annual Cedar Bowl right out of the chute against Cedar Crest and its new coach, Tom Waranavage. And circle Week 3 – the Bologna Bowl at Elco, featuring another all-Lebanon County rivalry. The at Manheim Central/E-town at home finish looms large, especially if the Cedars need wins for postseason scenarios. 

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Air Raid.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-4.

LAST SEASON: 4-3 Section 2, 7-4 overall (Lost to Garden Spot in the first round of the District 3 Triple-A playoffs).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Cedar Crest (W 39-7), @ Spring Grove (W 38-32), Elco (W 45-10), Ephrata (W 42-20), @ Garden Spot (L 35-21), @ Cocalico (L 53-38), Solanco (W 41-35), @ Conestoga Valley (W 39-14), Manheim Central (L 33-28), @ Elizabethtown (W 28-21), Garden Spot (L 46-34; District 3 Triple-A playoffs).

2008 PASSING LEADER: James Capello (220-of-326 for 2,897 yards, 31 TD, 9 picks, 168.0 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: James Capello (145 carries for 792 yards, 5.5 avg., 8 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Jordan Clentimack (84 catches for 1,412 yards, 16.8 avg., 18 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 433.9 yards per game.
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 372.4 yards per game.

KEY PLAYERS LOST: OT-DE Brian Boyd (Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star DE), C Cameron Burke (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star C), QB-DB James Capello (Associated Press Triple-A First-Team All-State QB; PA Football News All-State QB; Eastern PA Football.com All-State QB; Manheim Touchdown Club L-L League Player of the Year; Section 2 Outstanding Back of the Year; Section 2 First-Team All-Star QB; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), WR-DB Jordan Clentimack (Associated Press Triple-A First-Team All-State WR; PA Football News All-State WR; Eastern PA Football.com All-State WR; Section 2 Wide Receiver of the Year; Section 2 First-Team All-Star WR), OT-DE Charles Lee (PA Football News All-State OT; Section 2 Offensive Lineman of the Year; Section 2 Outstanding Lineman of the Year; Section 2 First-Team All-Star OT; Section 2 First-Team All-Star DT), WR-DB Colton Muraira (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star WR), RB-LB Chris Seltzer (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star OLB; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star RB).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OT Chris Ahnert, OT-LB Jason Capello, OG-DT Arthur Doakes (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star DT; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star OG), RB-DB Jonathan Fureman, WR-DE Anthony Mojica, WR-DB Brian Quinones.

ALL EYES ON: Arthur Doakes – The Cedars’ menacing 6-6, 350-pound senior two-way enforcer is hard to miss. He’ll anchor both lines for Lebanon, particularly on offense, where he’ll be one of the top guards across District 3. Hence his full ride to Pitt; he gave a verbal commitment to the Panthers last month, meaning the Cedars will have a DI recruit protecting new “Air Raid” QB Alex Trautman – and plugging holes and chasing quarterbacks on D.

THE GOOD NEWS: After going to the District 3 playoffs for the first time in the history of the program last fall, there is definitely a good vibe around the Cedars’ program. Unfortunately for Lebanon, the roster won’t look quite the same as a year ago, when All-State picks James Capello and Jordan Clentimack were leading a high-powered offense at breakneck pace. But “Air Raid” will be back for Year 3, with a soph, Alex Trautman, behind center. He’ll have one of the best o-lineman in the state in front of him – guard/Pitt recruit Arthur Doakes – and holdover wideout Brian Quinones should be a major go-to threat. Look for Jason Capello and Chris Ahnert to help out Doakes on the o-line, and for Anthony Mojica to to be another one of new QB Alex Trautman’s top targets. Overall, there are a lot of holes to plug here.

QUESTION MARKS: The biggest concerns are replacing James Capello at QB, Jordan Clentimack at WR and Charles Lee at OT. Those three stalwarts were a big reason why the Cedars reached the district playoffs for the first time in school history last fall. Lebanon must also clean it up defensively, where the Cedars have struggled the last couple of seasons. The O has been mighty fine. The D, not so much. That might be the be biggest question coming into this season.

REINHART’S TAKE: Anxious to see how the “Air Ride” operates without James Capello and Jordan Clentimack in there. Those guys inflicted so much damage the last two seasons that it was silly. But this is high school football: kids grow up and graduate, and the backups have to be ready to step in there and play. That’s where the Cedars stand heading into the season – one season after going where no Lebanon team had gone before: Districts. If the new guys can pick up where Capello, Clentimack and Co. left off, Lebanon will be back in the chase. But if they don’t clean it up on D, they could be playing spoilers.

 

PODCAST: Coach Gerry Yonchiuk has stuck with his futuristic “Air Raid” offense for two-plus seasons now, and he swears by it. That O paid off in huge dividends last season, when he guided the Cedars to the district playoffs for the first time in school history. It wasn’t a happy ending – Lebanon coughed up a huge second-half lead and fell to Garden Spot at home – but it validated that offense and the kids who practiced it every day. This season, a new flock of kids will get their feet wet with the “Air Raid”. How will they do? And can Lebanon get tough on D? Yonchiuk takes on those topics here. You can listen to the interview by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the Podcast and play it on your favorite mp3 device by clicking here.

SOLANCO GOLDEN MULES
ONLINE: goldenmulesfootball.com
COACH: Joe Pearson (5th season; 15-26 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: Penn Manor, Kennard-Dale, Oxford, @ Elizabethtown, Manheim Central, @ Conestoga Valley, Lebanon, @ Ephrata, Garden Spot, Cocalico.

REINHART SAYS: Gotta love those seven home games on the slate, including all three non-league testers right out of the box. The Oxford game is a Saturday, by the way – the only Saturday game on the entire L-L League schedule this season. Bottom line: If Solanco can take advantage of the home cooking, the Mules could do some damage – just two short years removed from sharing the Section 2 crown with E-town and going to the District 3 playoffs for the first time since 1991. Key section clashes against favorites Manheim Central and Cocalico are also in Quarryville, so that should help. Only three bus trips out of Quarryville for these guys? Lucky devils.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Shotgun Wing-T.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-5.

LAST SEASON: 2-5, Section 2, 4-6 overall.
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Penn Manor (L 14-13), @ Kennard-Dale (W 12-7), @ Oxford (W 25-0), Elizabethtown (L 13-7), @ Manheim Central (L 24-14), Conestoga Valley (W 24-14), @ Lebanon (L 41-35), Ephrata (W 48-28), @ Garden Spot (L 41-14), @ Cocalico (L 28-0).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Ben Miller (78-of-157 for 1,125 yards, 12 TD, 15 picks, 116.0 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Ben Miller (74 carries for 361 yards, 4.9 avg., 4 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Jared Cartwright (22 catches for 371 yards, 16.9 avg., 1 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 282.4 yards per game (16th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 252.8 yards per game (7th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: OG-DT Bryan Boulden (Section 2 Outstanding Lineman of the Year; Section 2 First-Team All-Star OG; Section 2 First-Team All-Star DT), TE-LB Mike Buffington (Section 2 First-Team All-Star TE), WR-LB Jared Cartwright (Section 2 First-Team All-Star OLB), OL-DL Zac Chubb, RB-LB Jordon Elvey, LB Sam Johnson, WR-LB Trevor Marsh, QB Ben Miller, RB-DB Jeremy Trimble (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star DB).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: C Andrew Ausel, WR-LB Ralph Brown, OT-NG Nolan Crawford, NG Neil Donahue, RB-DB B.J. Enck (Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), OG-DE Jordon Giffing, TE-LB Dexter Jennings, LB John Kirk, FB-LB Ryan Kutz, OT-DE Tim Latham (Section 2 First-Team All-Star OT), DE Steve Lam, RB-DB Brock Snider, QB Justin Zellman.

ALL EYES ON: Tim Latham – The Golden Mules’ 6-4, 250-pound senior trenchman has a lot of responsibility. Not only must he anchor Solanco’s O and D lines, but he has to step into the leadership role of the departed Bryan Boulden, who is the reigning Section 2 Outstanding Lineman of the Year. That guy made the Mules tick in the trenches each of the last two seasons, and he was a weight-room fiend who made everyone on the line around him better. That’s one of Latham’s gigs this season – along with blocking for new starting QB Justin Zellman, blowing open holes for scatbacks B.J. Enck and Brock Snider, and making plays from his spot on the d-line.

THE GOOD NEWS: Justin Zellman steps in at QB for Ben Miller, who had a nice handle on Solanco’s funky Spread Wing-T the last two seasons. On the positive side, Zellman started a game last season. On the negative side, he completed just 9-of-22 passes and was picked off three times. But by all indications he has a pretty good grasp of the Spread Wing-T, so the transition should be smooth. Having B.J. Enck, Brock Snider and FB Ryan Kutz back in the fold should also help out tremendously. Plus holdovers Ralph Brown (WR) and Dexter Jennings (TE) will help in the passing department. O-line will also be ahead of the curve with Tim Latham (OT), Andrew Ausel (C), Nolan Crawford (OT) and Jordon Giffing (OG) all back in the trenches. Good mix of kids back here. And if there’s one thing this team always seems to have, it’s camaraderie. In a season when they’ll get seven home games, that’s an important thing.

QUESTION MARKS: Bryan Boulden and his trench tactics is a huge loss; he anchored both lines and, as mentioned, was a great leader. Solanco also lost some offensive firepower and some heavy hitters and heavy lifters. So some holes must be plugged, like two new starters on the o-line; someone must step up at LB for Sam Johnson; and the pass-catchers must replace the talents of last year’s top two targets, TE Mike Buffington and WR Jared Cartwright.

REINHART’S TAKE: If the Mules want a repeat of two years ago, when they tied E-town for the Section 2 title and advanced to the District 3 playoffs for the first time in 16 years, this might be their best chance to do it. Home cooking for seven games – including the first three of the season – is an enormous advantage, plus, Solanco gets the two current section heavyweights (Manheim Central and Cocalico) in Quarryville. If Justin Zellman can master the Spread Wing-T like his predecessor, and, more importantly, if the guys in the trenches can stand tall and keep the pile moving, the Mules will most definitely be in the lead pack come late October.

 

PODCAST: Solanco did not get back to Districts last fall, but the Golden Mules were in a ton of games and left practically everyone black and blue thanks to their ferocious trench play. Expect that trend to continue again. And with some nifty skill kids back in the rotations – plus those seven home games – don’t be surprised if Solanco is back with the lead pack, just like 2008, when the Mules shared the Section 2 crown with Elizabethtown. Coach Joe Pearson chats about this year’s team here. You can listen to the Podcast by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the interview and play it on your favorite mp3 device by clicking here.

CONESTOGA VALLEY BUCKSKINS
COACH: Tom Nichols (1st season).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: Hempfield, @ Warwick, Cedar Crest, @ Garden Spot, @ Elizabethtown, Solanco, Manheim Central, @ Lebanon, @ Cocalico, Ephrata.

REINHART SAYS: Nichols, a CV grad and former Buckskins’ player and assistant coach, will make his debut at home against Hempfield, which has dominated this non-league series as of late. Tough Section 2 opener with back-to-back road dates at Garden Spot and at Elizabethtown, so the Bucks should find out where they stand early on in the section race. I do like the three Section 1 foes in the non-league. Wondering if Nichols will try and get Coatesville – his former coaching employer – on future schedules?

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: One-back/I.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.

LAST SEASON: 1-6 Section 2, 1-9 overall.
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: @ Hempfield (L 41-13), Warwick (L 35-0), Cedar Crest (L 27-13), Garden Spot (L 51-14), Elizabethtown (L 39-13), @ Solanco (L 24-14), @ Manheim Central (L 34-7), Lebanon (L 39-14), Cocalico (L 54-35), @ Ephrata (W 26-21).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Alex Dienner (41-of-88 for 488 yards, 1 TD, 11 picks, 71.9 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Kevin Kelley (166 carries for 1,030 yards, 6.2 avg., 11 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Stefan Sensenig (37 catches for 539 yards, 14.6 avg., 3 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 284.1 yards per game (14th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 394.3 yards per game (22nd in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: WR-DB Julian Morales, OT-DE Oceng Loluk, OG-DT Joel Slaymaker (Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star OG; Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star DT).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: RB-DB Alexander Brown, OT-DE Andrew Burkholder, QB Alex Dienner, OG-DT Cole Dillman, RB-LB Kevin Kelley (Section 2 First-Team All-Star RB), WR-LB Conor Kruis, TE-DE Joel Lapp, FB-LB Joel Leicy, WR-DB Stefan Sensenig (Section 2 First-Team All-Star DB; Section 2 Second-Team All-Star WR), C-DT Bryce Stillman, OG-DE Travis Switzer, WR-DB Leonard Williams.

ALL EYES ON: Kevin Kelley – He’s back. Again. CV’s sturdy senior I-back returns for his fourth – and finally final – season as the Bucks’ feature RB. Still hard to believe he started the night the Bucks beat Manheim Central – in Manheim – to win the Section 2 crown way back in 2006. Seems like ions ago. Kelley finally broke through with a 1,000-yard season a year ago, and he was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise forgettable 1-9 season; CV’s second 1-9 season in a row. That win last year came in Week 10 against winless Ephrata, and it sent 14-year coach Gerad Novak out a winner in his final game before he stepped down from his post. Kelley is durable, he can find tiny cracks, and he’s got some breakaway speed. And in Nichols’ new one-back set, Kelley should get a ton of touches in CV’s run-first, grind-it-out scheme. Solid basketball player too, by the way. Kelley was a key cog in CV’s run to the L-L League boys’ basketball title last winter.

THE GOOD NEWS: The aforementioned Kevin Kelley is back yet again, and he should get a million and one touches in Nichols’ one-back set. There are also four holdovers from the o-line, which is a bonus: Bryce Stillman at center, Travis Switzer at right guard, Cole Dillman at left guard and Blayde Eberly at right tackle – plus TE Joel Lapp returns. CV will also have one of the top two-way threats in the section in Stefan Sensenig, an all-star performer at DB and a sure-handed WR. He caught 37 passes last fall, and this season Nichols is switching Sensenig from cover corner to free safety, where he’ll anchor the secondary. Two-way threat Joel Leicy (FB/OLB) is also back in the mix, which is another positive.

QUESTION MARKS: Quite a few. CV will need a new anchor in the trenches, now that two-way all-star Joel Slaymaker has moved on. He was a horse at OG and DT. And – drum roll please – who is playing quarterback? Alex Dienner, Adam Heiselman and Jared Platt have all taken varsity snaps. Nichols, who is preaching run first and efficient play from his quarterbacks, was going to let that competition play out in camp. So stay tuned. I guess the biggest question mark for me is how well – and how quickly – the Bucks adapt to Nichols’ new schemes. He’s an old-school coach who stresses fundamentals. And he’s coming home again, and wants to make a good impression – and get the program turned around. Be patient, Buckskin Nation. Baby steps.

NOTABLE: Remember when CV beat Central in Week 10 in 2006 to clinch the Section 2 championship? The Bucks are just 3-19 since, including back-to-back 1-9 seasons.

REINHART’S TAKE: Nichols played for CV during the Bucks’ glory days, when Jim Cantafio was calling the shots and CV was winning Section 2 titles and going to Districts on a yearly basis, so you just know he’d love to get the program back to that status. Nichols preached patience during the preseason, and it’s going to take a little time for him to put his fingerprints on the program. But when he does – and the kids buy into what he’s selling – CV will be back on the map. I promise. Don’t expect another 1-9 campaign. But I don’t think the Bucks are quite ready to hang with the Centrals and Cocalicos quite yet.

 

PODCAST: Welcome home, Tom Nichols. The CV grad and former Buckskins’ player and assistant coach is back as head coach of his alma mater. True, he inherits a team that is 2-18 over the last two seasons. But he has won everywhere he’s gone, and once he gets everyone on the same page – weight-lifting, training, fundamentals, practice, etc. – it’s only a matter of time before the Bucks are back challenging Manheim Central and Cocalico, et al, for section bragging rights. Nichols says he’s glad to be home, which he chats about here. You can listen to the Podcast by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the interview and play it on your favorite mp3 device by clicking here.

EPHRATA MOUNTAINEERS
ONLINE: ephratafootball.com
COACH: Jim Vieland (2nd season; 0-10 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Quad-A.
THE SCHEDULE: Manheim Township, Lancaster Catholic, @ Warwick, Lebanon, @ Cocalico, @ Manheim Central, Garden Spot, Solanco, @ Elizabethtown, @ Conestoga Valley.

REINHART SAYS: Manheim Township and Lancaster Catholic out of the gate won’t be easy, but at least they’re in Ephrata this season. And two dastardly road games are sitting out there on the horizon: Week 5 at Cocalico and Week 6 at Manheim Central. Definitely circle the Week 3 date at Warwick, where the Mounts and the Warriors will square off in the annual George Male Trophy game.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Pro-I/Multiple-I.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.

LAST SEASON: 0-7 Section 2, 0-10 overall.
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: @ Manheim Township (L 53-0), @ Lancaster Catholic (L 44-7), Warwick (L 28-12), @ Lebanon (L 42-20), Cocalico (L 42-14), Manheim Central (L 61-0), @ Garden Spot (L 30-0), @ Solanco (L 48-28), Elizabethtown (L 28-21), Conestoga Valley (L 26-21).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Lance Kopp (123-of-250 for 1,402 yards, 12 TD, 16 picks, 99.3 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: George Murray (167 carries for 691 yards, 4.1 avg., 4 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Greg Forstater (38 catches for 560 yards, 14.7 avg., 8 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 235.2 yards per game (22nd in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 416.6 yards per game (22nd in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: WR Greg Forstater (Section 3 First-Team All-Star WR), OT-DE Zach Hoffman, C-DT Zach Zimmerman.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: LB Andrew Burkholder (Section 2 Second-Team All-Star LB), TE-DE Andrew Donnelly, K Chris Fassnacht, OT-DT Dan Guerra, QB Lance Kopp, WR-DB Andrew Kujowski, FB-LB Brody Myers, RB-LB George Murray (Section 2 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), WR-DB Justin Richardson, WR-DB Zac Sandoe, OG-DT Darren Stauffer, OG-DE Chazz Storm, C-DT Chad Tothero.

ALL EYES ON: Andrew Donnelly – The Mounts’ senior two-way stud made the recruiting rounds this summer, and colleges like Temple and West Virginia have expressed interest in Ephrata’s TE/DE. And why not? He’s a sturdy 6-5, 220-pounder who can catch and block on O and chase you down and hit you on D. Hence his 60 total tackles last fall. Donnelly’s mug popped up on ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com this summer. Just a hunch, but Donnelly would trade in some of that face time for a couple of victories for him and his teammates, who struggled through last year’s 0-10 finish. He should be a major reason why the Mounts should start getting some payback this time around.

THE GOOD NEWS: Lance Kopp put together a pretty solid season under center last fall, when the lefty QB completed 123 passes for 1,402 yards and 12 TD. The 16 picks were a bit high, but he flashed a good arm and rollout abilities. He’s back again to pilot the O – an O that has some pretty good weapons and experience, like RB George Murray, who rushed for 691 yards, and WR Justin Richardson, who caught 36 passes last fall. Most importantly, Ephrata returns four o-linemen, which is huge. C Chad Tothero, an Ivy League recruit, is the anchor, and he’s flanked by holdovers Dan Guerra at tackle and guards Darren Stauffer and Chazz Storm, a three-year starter. Andrew Donnelly is also back at TE, don’t forget. I know those guys took some major lumps last year, but they’ve been through the wars, and you can’t top that experience. More good news: LB is covered with Brody Myers (87 tackles last year) and Andrew Burkholder (103 tackles last year) back in the fold. Myers is on the college recruiting radar; he already has offers from Central Connecticut and Bryant University. Return man Zac Sandoe, all-star K Chris Fassnacht and P Joel Wells all return to the special teams unit, another bonus. You know all of those guys have serious payback on their minds.

QUESTION MARKS: With nine returning starters on offense and eight returning starters on defense – plus the kicker and the punter back in the mix – there aren’t many red flags in the personnel department. And that’s definitely a plus for this group, which should have more motivation than any other team in Section 2 to inflict some damage. Now it comes down to learning from last year’s mistakes, and hoping a year of seasoning – albeit unkind in the win-loss category – pays off with some positive results.

NOTABLE: Last fall, the Mounts went 0-10 for the first time since 1974. Ephrata also went winless in 1973 and 1972. Oy. So if you thought last year wasn’t fun, imagine what that lean three-year stretch must have been like. … Seven of Ephrata’s 10 opponents last season ended up going to Districts.

REINHART’S TAKE: First and foremost, the prediction – Ephrata will not go 0-10 again this season. I can’t tell you whom the Mounts will beat. And I certainly don’t know how many games they’ll win. But they will not take the goose egg again. Book it. This group is driven and this group has a bad taste in its mouth after going winless a year ago. Andrew Donnelly told me during the preseason that he and his mates never got down last year. They kept fighting. They kept battling. They kept showing up at practice every Monday afternoon thinking that would be the week they’d break through. And he said this group is dedicated to getting back on track and getting back in the win column. I believe him.

 

PODCAST: Gotta hand it to Ephrata second-year coach Jim Vieland. While his team was struggling through a 0-10 finish last year, he kept plugging and he kept preaching. And he never once lost his team’s attention. The Mountaineers were young, and they – and everyone else around the league – knew it. They suspected that they’d be taking some lumps. And they did. But Vieland and his team never wavered. And he says that year of experience – and continually picking themselves up off the proverbial mat – is paying off for this season’s prep work. Don’t expect a complete turnaround with a 10-0 campaign. But Ephrata will be better, as Vieland talks about here. You can listen to the Podcast by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the interview and listen to it on your favorite mp3 player by clicking here.