Here they are – your Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 team-by-team preview capsules.

I tried to put as much love as I could into these caps, which also include audio Podcast interviews with all eight coaches.

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

LANCASTER CATHOLIC CRUSADERS
ONLINE: crusaderfootball.vicid.com
COACH: Bruce Harbach (8th season; 63-22 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Double-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Trinity, @ Ephrata, Manheim Central, @ Donegal, Lampeter-Strasburg, Pequea Valley, @ Northern Lebanon, Columbia, @ Annville-Cleona, Elco.

REINHART SAYS: The Week 3 date at home with Manheim Central is not only the L-L League Super Bowl, but just might be the best game in District 3 this regular season. Heck, PCN-TV will be broadcasting live, so everyone across the state will be watching. And I’ve already been informed that I’ll be covering this one this year, so I’m stoked. Annual opener against Trinity is usually interesting. And circle Week 5, when L-S comes calling. Someone will get an early leg-up in the section race in that one. And Week 10 should also be mighty interesting, when Elco visits Rossmere. That was a first-place showdown last year in Myerstown, and very well could be again this time around.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple-I/Spread.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-5-3.

LAST SEASON: 7-0 Section 3 (champs), 13-2 overall (Lost to Philadelphia West Catholic in the PIAA Double-A Eastern Final).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Trinity (L 20-0), Ephrata (W 44-7), @ Manheim Central (W 21-8), Donegal (W 35-12), @ Lampeter-Strasburg (W 21-17), @ Pequea Valley (W 68-14), Northern Lebanon (W 61-0), @ Columbia (W 49-13), Annville-Cleona (W 55-13), @ Elco (W 42-7), Biglerville (W 42-14; District 3 Double-A playoffs), Wyomissing (W 45-7; District 3 Double-A semifinals), Middletown (W 41-0; District 3 Double-A championship), Mount Carmel (W 41-28; PIAA Eastern quarterfinals), Philadelphia West Catholic (L 37-14; PIAA Eastern Final).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Kyle Smith (181-of-278 for 3,193 yards, 42 TD, 5 picks, 207.8 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Jordan Stewart (170 carries for 1,001 yards, 5.9 avg., 15 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Travis Jankowski (57 catches for 1,192 yards, 20.6 avg., 20 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 392.9 yards per game (3rd in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 202.1 yards per game (2nd in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: K Joe Anastasio (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star K), FB-LB Alan Berlucchi (Section 3 First-Team All-Star ILB; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), WR-LB Neal Fox (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OLB), WR-DB Travis Jankowski (Associated Press Double-A First-Team All-State WR; PA Football News All-State WR; Eastern PA Football.com All-State WR; Section 3 Wide Receiver of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star WR; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DB), LB Sean Reed (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OLB), WR-DB Steve Remley, OT-DE Nick Schmalhofer (Associated Press Double-A Second-Team All-State DE; PA Football News All-State DE; Eastern PA Football.com All-State DE; Section 3 Offensive Lineman of the Year; Section 3 Defensive Lineman of the Year; Section 3 Outstanding Lineman of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star OT; Section 3 First-Team All-Star DE), C Ben Wachsman, DT Julian Williams (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DT).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: K Geoffrey Arentz, WR-DB Kevin Cotchen, OG Andrew Foltz (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OG), WR-DB Seth Graham, OT-DT Ross Hall (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star OT), OG-DE Andrew Heise (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star OG; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DE), RB-DB Quinn Houser (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DB), FB-LB Hans Kessler (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star ILB), WR-DB Greg Kirchner, RB-DB Rhys McCall, TE-LB Andrew Millay (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star TE), WR-DB-P Tyler Purvis (PA Football News All-State WR; Section 3 First-Team All-Star P; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star WR; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star KR; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), QB Kyle Smith (Associated Press Double-A First-Team All-State QB; PA Football News All-State QB; Eastern PA Football.com All-State QB; Lions Club L-L League Section 3 Player of the Year; Section 3 Offensive Back of the Year; Section 3 Outstanding Back of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star QB), WR-LB Trevor St. Clair, RB-LB Jordan Stewart (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star RB), FB-LB Kyle Wanchalk.

ALL EYES ON: Kyle Smith – When I asked coach Bruce Harbach about his senior quarterback at Media Day he paused and smiled. “What else is there to say?” Harbach said. Yeah, I’m running out of material, too. What Smith has done the last two years under center is simply staggering; mind-blowing even. If he has his ‘typical’ season, he will shred state passing and touchdown records. Think about that for a second. And think of all the great quarterbacks that came out of PA while you’re at it. Smith will never, ever talk about the numbers (which is cool), but here they are again – after passing for 3,193 yards and 42 TD – against just five interceptions – last season, Smith is sitting on 5,807 yards and 69 TD passes. He needs 2,302 yards to pass Pat Devlin (Downingtown East; University of Delaware), and 26 TD passes to pass Pat Bostick (Manheim Township; Pitt) in the state record book. He should/could top those marks before the Crusaders even hit the postseason. Incredible. Richmond and Akron have offered scholarships. And he really likes Harvard and Princeton. Smith said he’d also like to throw the javelin in college (he won the Double-A state title in that event last spring, don’t forget; he’ll likely be the preseason favorite to repeat next spring), so we’ll see how all of that plays out over this school year. And I have a sneaking suspicion that during this football season, I’ll be typing the name ‘Kyle Smith’ a gazillion and one times between now and the middle of December.

THE GOOD NEWS: Holy smokes. I don’t even know where to begin here. Pick a spot and Catholic has a returning starter in it. Like Kyle Smith behind center. And speed-backs Jordan Stewart and Quinn Houser, plus rugged FB Hans Kessler. And wideout Tyler Purvis. And TE Andrew Millay. What a flock of skill kids that is. And the news just keeps getting better with stalwarts Ross Hall (RT), Andrew Foltz (LG) and Andrew Heise (RG) all back to anchor the o-line. Accurate K Geoffrey Arentz also returns; he should be busy kicking extra points. The D is also loaded with returning kids, like Purvis and Jordan at end, Hall and Millay at DT, Heise and Kessler at LB and Houser to anchor the secondary. And Purvis was an all-star punter last fall – you know, when Catholic actually needed to punt. Depth aplenty here. It’s frightening how good this team should be come playoff time – even if there is a slip-up (Manheim Central, perhaps?) along the way.

QUESTION MARKS: A few. Catholic must replace studs Nick Schmalhofer (who was the O line and D line Player of the Year in Section 3 and an All-State pick last season) and Travis Jankowski, an All-State wideout. It looks like Catholic will plug in Mikey Svetecz on the o-line – along with a new center, Michael Meck – and Purvis will slide up and play more DE.

REINHART’S TAKE: Section 3 favorite. District 3 Double-A favorite. Will be flabbergasted if Catholic isn’t back in the Eastern Final. And with all this talent and experience – plus extra motivation from coming up just short last fall – I won’t be the least bit surprised if the Crusaders are in Hershey the third week in December.

 

PODCAST: Lancaster Catholic coach Bruce Harbach is excited about his troops – and he has every reason to be psyched about his Crusaders, who return a ton of top-flight talent from last year’s team, which won the Section 3 title, captured the District 3 Double-A crown, and advanced all the way to the state semifinals. This could be another special season for the Crusaders, and Harbach sets it up in this interview. 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.

ELCO RAIDERS
ONLINE: raiderfootball.vicid.com
COACH: Mark Evans (12th season; 60-54 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Hamburg, Pine Grove, Lebanon, @ Northern Lebanon, Columbia, @ Lampeter-Strasburg, @ Pequea Valley, Annville-Cleona, Donegal, @ Lancaster Catholic.

REINHART SAYS: Without looking too, too far ahead, go ahead and circle that Week 10 encounter at Lancaster Catholic a while. Last fall, when the Crusaders invaded Myerstown, Elco had a shot to tie Catholic for the Section 3 title, but the Crusaders won handily (42-7). And I can’t forget the Bologna Bowl in Week 3 against Lebanon. I’m going to get to one of these Bologna Bowls one of these years. I promise. Hey, I’m the one who dubbed it the Bologna Bowl, so the least I could do is show up, right? Hopefully the Raiders and Cedars continue the series, because it’s a great week for Lebanon County athletics. Oooh, the L-S game is also on the road, so the Raiders will have some tough testers behind enemy lines.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Pro set.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 5-2.

LAST SEASON: 5-2 Section 3, 6-5 overall (Lost to eventual runner-up Manheim Central in the first round of the District 3 Triple-A playoffs).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Hamburg (W 21-20), @ Pine Grove (L 40-16), @ Lebanon (L 45-10), Northern Lebanon (L 24-21), @ Columbia (W 58-26), Lampeter-Strasburg (W 35-28), Pequea Valley (W 47-6), @ Annville-Cleona (W 49-42), @ Donegal (W 44-9), Lancaster Catholic (L 42-7), @ Manheim Central (L 45-14; District 3 Triple-A playoffs).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Arron Achey (84-of-180 for 991 yards, 7 TD, 9 picks, 95.7 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Arron Achey (157 carries for 1,184 yards, 7.5 avg., 17 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Kyle Wenger (29 catches for 250 yards, 8.6 avg., 2 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 340.4 yards per game (7th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 346.9 yards per game (18th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: FB-DE Ben Arnold (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star RB; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DE), OT-DT Nate Bicher (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OT; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DT), WR-DB Lucas Sandoe.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: QB-DB Arron Achey (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OLB; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star QB; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star KR), WR-DB Brendan Auman, TE-DE Bryan Bowman (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star TE), OG-DT Kevin Bryan, WR-DB Tyler George, OL-DL Justin Gilbert, OG-DE Zach Hickernell, OG-DT Steve Kahler, C-DE Matt Logan (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star C), WR-DB Eric Ondo (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DB), OT Nicolo Vivona, RB-LB Justin Weatherholtz (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), WR-DB-K-P Kyle Wenger (Section 3 First-Team All-Star K; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star WR; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star P).

ALL EYES ON: Arron Achey – The Raiders’ senior standout returns for his fourth season under center, and what a career this kid is having. Last season he rushed for 1,184 yards and 17 touchdowns and passed for another 991 yards and seven scores. And he was also named a section all-star at OLB and kick returner. He will also shift over and play safety. Achey does it all. And he does it all quite well for Elco, which is thinking big after going to the District 3 playoffs last season for the first time since 2001. Special athlete who just wants to help his team win. Period.

THE GOOD NEWS: Plenty. The Raiders have a slew of talent back in the fold. Once again, they will not have one of the largest rosters around. But seemingly every kid on that roster was a full-timer or key contributor a year ago, when Elco was in the Section 3 hunt right up until Week 10, and went to the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Achey has plenty of weapons at his disposal, like RB Justin Weatherholtz (709 yards, 9 TD last year) and wideouts Kyle Wenger, Eric Ondo and Tyler George; TE Bryan Bowman. And four full-timers are set to return on the o-line, including center Matt Logan, guards Zach Hickernell and Kevin Bryan and tackles Justin Gilbert and Nicolo Vivono. All-Star OT Nate Bicher will be missed, but everyone else returns, which is a massive advantage for Elco. The D is also in good hands with Logan and Hickernell back at DE, Bryan and Justin Gilbert in the middle, Bowman, Wenger and Weatherholtz at LB and Ondo, George, Achey and Brendan Auman all back roaming the secondary. Whew. Lots and lots to like here. These guys are all household names around Section 3 – and they’re all back again.

QUESTION MARKS: Depth will be a concern for sure. Most – if not all – of these guys will play both ways – and on special teams. And Elco must replace a pair of steady playmakers: FB Ben Arnold (668 yards, 5 TD last fall) and WR Lucas Sandoe (12 catches). But that’s about it.

NOTABLE: Evans was named Section 3 Coach of the Year by his peers last fall.

REINHART’S TAKE: It’s a mighty fine time to be an Elco fan, let me tell you. The Raiders are in really good shape with a boatload and a half of returning kids. And they should have plenty of motivation after coming up just short in the Section 3 chase – and in that District 3 Triple-A opener against Manheim Central, which didn’t turn out so hot, either (in fact, Elco was outscored 87-21 over those two weeks; sorry Myerstown). But the Raiders rampaged to five wins in a row late to get in the race, and they certainly had everyone’s attention down the stretch. Now Elco has to finish the job. The Raiders have to take advantage of all these returning players, continue building momentum, and get to Week 10 with a legit chance to slay Catholic – again. The weapons are here. The time is now.

 

PODCAST: Elco coach Mark Evans guided his Raiders back to the District 3 playoffs for the first time since 2001 last fall. Elco ran into L-L League measuring stick Manheim Central in the first round, but it was still an excellent season for the Raiders, who were in the Section 3 chase right up until Week 10. A slew of talented players from last year’s team are back in the fold for Elco this time around, so the Raiders are thinking big – as Evans chats about in this Podcast. 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.

LAMPETER-STRASBURG PIONEERS
COACH: John Manion (12th season; 79-37 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: Cocalico, Penn Manor, @ Garden Spot, Columbia, @ Lancaster Catholic, Elco, @ Donegal, Pequea Valley, @ Northern Lebanon, @ Annville-Cleona.

REINHART SAYS: Really like the Pioneers’ non-league slate, with three games against Lancaster County teams all coming off solid runs in the District 3 playoffs last season. And I’ll be at that opener against Cocalico, by the way. That should be a good one. Should boil down to the Week 5-6 gauntlet of at Lancaster Catholic and home with Elco for these guys. Those are absolute make-or-break games if the Pioneers want to win this sucker. ‘Nuff said.

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

LAST SEASON: 5-2 Section 3, 5-5 overall.
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: @ Cocalico (L 35-21), @ Penn Manor (L 17-0), Garden Spot (L 31-0), @ Columbia (W 41-0), Lancaster Catholic (L 21-17), @ Elco (L 35-28), Donegal (W 39-0), @ Pequea Valley (W 54-6), Northern Lebanon (W 34-6), Annville-Cleona (W 42-7).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Nate Shank (43-of-97 for 723 yards, 10 TD, 3 picks, 134.8 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Joe Good (134 carries for 950 yards, 7.1 avg., 10 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Joe Good (17 catches for 287 yards, 16.9 avg., 2 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 311.3 yards per game (9th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 232.2 yards per game (3rd in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: DT Ryan Brown (Section 3 First-Team All-Star DT), QB-DB Blake Brubaker, WR-DB Jon Carlson (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DB), WR-DB Eric Denlinger, OT-DT Teddy Force (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OT), LB Nate Fowler (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star OLB), WR-DB Elliot Frost, RB-LB Joe Good (Section 3 Linebacker of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star RB; Section 3 First-Team All-Star OLB), OG Devin Keller, OG Andrew Krimmel (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OG), OT-DT Matt Maser.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: RB-LB Alex Cintron (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), QB-DE Christian DelRocini, LB A.J. Flick, RB-DB Chad Frey (Section 3 First-Team All-Star KR), TE-DE Zach Halpin (Section 3 First-Team All-Star TE; Section 3 First-Team All-Star DE), DB Jon Pugliese (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), C-DT Luke Richmond (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star C), QB Nate Shank, OT-DT Nate Talamantez (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DT).

ALL EYES ON: Christian DelRocini – The Pioneers’ junior two-way threat has had quite an eventful career already for L-S. He hit the ground running as a freshman, drilling unsuspecting quarterbacks from his DE spot while helping L-S win the District 3 Triple-A title in 2007. Then last season, he was penciled in to be the Pioneers’ starting quarterback – while still inflicting pain from his DE spot – but he got hurt early in the season and was never the same. Gritty soph Nate Shank stepped in and played QB admirably, but L-S got off to an un-L-S-like 1-5 start before finishing fast. If DelRocini can recapture the magic of his freshman season and, more importantly, stay healthy, he could be a monster at DE for sure – and be a pocket guy at QB. He and Shank were battling it out for starting QB honors in camp (and could end up sharing the duties early in the season). No matter what, DelRocini will make plays – wherever he’s lined up. He and Zach Halpin will be a total handful from their DE spots. L-S very quietly finished third in the league in total D last season. That unit could be even better this time around – but staying healthy is the key.

THE GOOD NEWS: Should be some serious momentum here after the Pioneers finished off last season with a rip-roaring 4-0 run, outscoring their opponents 169-19 in the process. And they were in the thick of the district-playoff chase, but needed one too many scenarios to pan out on the last night to get in. Plenty to like in the holdover department, particularly Christian DelRocini and Zach Halpin back at DE. Both played there as freshmen, and they should both wreak plenty of havoc from that spot this fall. QB spot will be in good hands no matter who is back there – DelRocini or Nate Shank, who have both run the show. Speedster Chad Frey also returns to the backfield and on special teams. He can flat-out motor, and is poised to join the ranks of elite running backs in the league. He must stay healthy, too.

QUESTION MARKS: Graduation was not kind to the o-line, with just two regulars back in the mix: center Luke Richmond and tackle Nate Talamantez. Replacing Section 3 Linebacker of the Year Joe Good is another concern. He was also the team’s leading rusher from his FB spot. Zach Halpin, an all-star TE last fall, will switch to FB and try and fill Good’s spikes this season. A.J. Flick and Evan Derr at guard and Matt Feiler at tackle will be newcomers to the o-line.

REINHART’S TAKE: L-S is back. Baring any injuries (knock on wood), I fully expect the Pioneers to be right there in the mix for the section crown in Week 10 and most definitely back in the postseason, proving last year was just a fluke. Keep an eye on the o-line early on. But if that group clicks, there is plenty of talent here; more than enough for L-S to be on Lancaster Catholic and Elco’s heels from start to finish.

 

PODCAST: L-S coach John Manion could only watch last season when a couple of his key kids struggled with nagging injuries, and his Pioneers – fresh off winning the District 3 Triple-A title – struggled to a 1-5 start. But L-S finished fast, winning its final four games in a row to salvage a .500 season – and make a late push for a playoff spot, which came up just short. Several talented players – including a couple of kids who played for the district title team in 2007 – return to the Pioneers this season. And if L-S can stay healthy, they’re thinking big – really big. Manion talks about that, and more, 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.

ANNVILLE-CLEONA LITTLE DUTCHMEN
COACH: Terry Lehman (23rd season; 115-105-1 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Double-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Palmyra, Hamburg, @ Cocalico, Pequea Valley, @ Northern Lebanon, Donegal, @ Columbia, @ Elco, Lancaster Catholic, L-S.

REINHART SAYS: Really like the Week 3 non-league game – on a Thursday night – at Cocalico, when teacher (Lehman) and pupil (Eagles’ coach and A-C grad Dave Gingrich) will do battle. Cocalico won handily last year on a Thursday night in Annville. Last three weeks are a killer – at Elco and home dates with Lancaster Catholic and L-S. Might be one of the toughest closing three-week stretches in the L-L League, if not District 3. Period.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Option.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.

LAST SEASON: 4-3 Section 3, 5-5 overall.
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Palmyra (W 27-15), @ Hamburg (L 21-14), Cocalico (L 41-7), @ Pequea Valley (W 43-7), Northern Lebanon (W 21-20), @ Donegal (W 48-18), Columbia (W 35-0), Elco (L 49-42), @ Lancaster Catholic (L 55-13), @ Lampeter-Strasburg (L 42-7).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Nate Myers (66-of-139 for 1,126 yards, 12 TD, 9 picks, 131.1 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Nate Myers (136 carries for 724 yards, 5.3 avg., 10 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Dean May (26 catches for 502 yards, 19.3 avg., 7 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 305.5 yards per game (10th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 339.7 yards per game (16th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: TE-LB-P Ryan Baker (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star P), OT-DT Ken Inman (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OT; Section 3 First-Team All-Star DT), WR-LB Dean May (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star WR), QB-DB Nate Myers (Section 3 Defensive Back of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star DB; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star QB), DE Matt Wagner (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star ILB), DB-K Aaron Youtz (Section 3 First-Team All-Star K; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DB).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OT-DE Adam Bixler (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DE), OG-DT Dominic Frattaroli (Section 3 First-Team All-Star DT; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star OG), WR-DB Josh Henning, DT Zack Smith, RB Rickey Snyder (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), OG-LB Jordan Spitler, C Nick Wanamaker, FB-LB Nick Young.

ALL EYES ON: Rickey Snyder – Just a hunch, but the Dutchmen’s junior RB will be among the rushing leaders in the L-L League this fall. And I’m talking like way up there with the leaders. After opening some eyes last fall – his 207-yard rushing effort against Elco certainly got everyone’s attention – Snyder is poised for a complete and total breakout season this time around. Playing in an option-style offense with playmakers Nate Myers and Dean May a year ago, Snyder had to share touches. And he certainly shined when he got his hands on the ball (624 yards, 7.0 yards per carry, 4 TD). But this season, with a new QB (junior Jordan Jones) at the helm, Snyder will very likely be called upon to take the ball more. And he’ll take it, all right. Keep an eye on this kid for sure.

THE GOOD NEWS: RB Rickey Snyder will have an experienced line in front of him, which is enormous, with center Nick Wanamaker, tackles Jeremy Gibson and Adam Bixler and guard Dominic Frattaroli all back in the trenches. Frattaroli is one of the best in the league; he’s a two-time Section 3 all-star pick, and will also anchor A-C’s D from his tackle spot on that side of the ball. The more returning trench kids the better, and the Dutchmen are OK in that department. While Jordan Jones will be learning on the fly at QB (he did take a few varsity snaps a year ago), he will have some returning weapons around him, like Snyder and wideouts Josh Henning and Brad Hostetter. Zack Smith and Frattaroli return at DT, heavy hitter Nick Young is back at MLB and Henning will anchor the secondary. There are definitely some positives here.

QUESTION MARKS: Two glaring things right out of the chute – A-C must replace two-way first-team all-star OT-DT Ken Inman, who was really solid in the trenches. Second, the secondary took a major hit when Nate Myers and Aaron Youtz moved on. Myers was the Section 3 DB of the Year last fall, so he will most definitely be missed. And Youtz was also an all-star kicker, so the special teams unit also took a hit. Pencil in Jordan Spitler on the o-line to step in for Inman. The secondary was still being sorted out in camp. Other than that, not too many red flags here. The maturation of Jordan Jones under center will be a key. And keeping RB Rickey Snyder and his legs healthy is an absolute must.

NOTABLE: Least-penalized team in the L-L League last fall with just 25 flags for 204 yards in march-offs.

REINHART’S TAKE: I have a sneaking suspicious that the Dutchmen will have a major say in who wins Section 3 – particularly because of that mega grueling Elco-Lancaster Catholic-L-S gauntlet at the wire. I wouldn’t wish that finish on anyone. So A-C should be in some whopper games in crunch time, when the weather will be getting colder and the spotlights a little brighter. So a fast start – with a new QB in there – would do wonders for A-C, which would love for all three of those closing games to be meaningful – not simply playing out the string or playing spoiler. If A-C wants to be in the race, the first seven weeks are crucial – and at least a 2-1 start in the non-league would be a major confidence booster. Don’t forget about these cats.

 

PODCAST: A-C coach Terry Lehman was thrilled to finally have his troops back on home turf last season, when the Little Dutchmen returned to their home stadium after two years on the road because of construction on campus. A-C responded with a .500 season and kept everyone honest – fighting the good fight in a rough-and-tumble Section 3 race to finish with the lead pack. The Dutchmen lost some key kids from that team, but with an ace RB back in the fold, and some returning thumpers in the trenches, A-C should very much be in this race again, as Lehman discusses 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.

NORTHERN LEBANON VIKINGS
ONLINE: norleb.k12.pa.us
COACH: Jack Beidler (11th season; 34-68 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Pine Grove, @ New Oxford, @ Hamburg, Elco, Annville-Cleona, @ Columbia, Lancaster Catholic, @ Donegal, Lampeter-Strasburg, @ Pequea Valley.

REINHART SAYS: The Vikings feasted on three home games against non-L-L League participants to open the season last fall – and went 3-0. No such luck this season, with three road games right out of the chute (and six overall) which, if nothing else, should toughen up Northern Lebanon for the daunting Section 3 slate which lays ahead. Good news: The Vikings get Elco (in the section opener), Lancaster Catholic and L-S all at home, which is nice.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Veer.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-5.

LAST SEASON: 4-3 Section 3, 7-4 overall (Lost to Conrad Weiser in the first round of the District 3 Triple-A playoffs).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Pine Grove (W 27-0), New Oxford (W 28-12), Hamburg (W 19-14), @ Elco (W 24-21), @ Annville-Cleona (L 21-20), Columbia (W 40-14), @ Lancaster Catholic (L 61-0), Donegal (W 18-13), @ Lampeter-Strasburg (L 34-6), Pequea Valley (W 46-7), @ Conrad Weiser (L 28-18; District 3 Triple-A playoffs).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Matt Nolan (31-of-53 for 615 yards, 7 TD, 5 picks, 180.7 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Terry Clark (190 carries for 1,180 yards, 6.2 avg., 9 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Terry Clark (11 catches for 199 yards, 18.1 avg., 5 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 291.5 yards per game (11th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 276.2 yards per game (10th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: RB-DB-K Terry Clark (Section 3 First-Team All-Star DB; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star RB; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star K), RB-LB Nick Dzwonchyk, OG-LB Robert Dzwonchyk (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OG), LB Abraham Escobar (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star OLB), OG Andrew Lessing (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OG), LB Graham Musselwhite (Section 3 First-Team All-Star ILB), QB-DB Matt Nolan (PA Football News All-State DB; Section 3 First-Team All-Star DB; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star QB), DT Chris Scotto.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: RB-DB-P Robby Boyer (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star P), OT-DT Mason Dechert (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DT), LB Dominic DiAngelis, OG-DT Joe Hoke, C-DT Brendon Hormel (Section 3 First-Team All-Star C), WR-DB Brian Keaton, OT-LB Tyler Kulp, QB-LB Nate McKillop, WR-DB Cameron Orwig (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star KR), WR-LB Brenton Yost.

ALL EYES ON: Tanner Dresch – The Vikings’ sophomore QB was thrown into the fire after senior first-year starting QB Nate McKillop suffered a season-ending collarbone injury in Northern Lebanon’s first scrimmage against Upper Dauphin. Ugh. Dresch, whose cousin, Travis Dresch, had a standout career for the Vikings, has the keys to the car. He’s never taken a varsity snap. But the job is his. And he has some big, big shoes to fill – not only McKillop’s, but Matt Nolan’s. Nolan mastered Northern Lebanon’s Veer attack the last two seasons, guiding the Vikings into the postseason the last two years in a row. So the bar is set at Northern Lebanon. Dresch’s job – while learning everything on the fly – is to keep raising that bar. Welcome to the show, kid.

THE GOOD NEWS: With 11 total starters back in the fold, the Vikings are in pretty good shape. Losing QB Nate McKillop early on was a major setback for sure, but I’ve been told Northern Lebanon is very comfortable with Tanner Dresch’s skills, and that he should fit in just fine. Thankfully for him, he’ll have one of the best centers in the section in front of him in Brendon Hormel – plus both tackles, Manson Dechert and Tyler Kulp, are back. That should help with Dresch’s maturation. Wideouts Cameron Orwig and Brenton Yost are also back in the fold, but the Vikings will be breaking in a new feature back to replace 1,000-yard rusher Terry Clark. Robbie Boyer, who did get some touches last season (185 yards, 2 TD), should see an increased load in touches.

QUESTION MARKS: Two areas of concern – on top of breaking in a new starting quarterback – are the secondary and offensive guard. Northern Lebanon got cleaned out in those areas. Terry Clark and Matt Nolan were first-team all-star picks at d-back, and they’re gone. And all-star picks/plow horses Rob Lessig and Rob Dzwonchyk vacated the guard spots on the o-line. Look for Joe Hoke and Steven Beck to step in on the o-line, and for Cameron Orwig, Robbie Boyer and Brian Keaton to step in and really have to step it up in the secondary.

REINHART’S TAKE: Losing your starting QB in camp is a big blow, no matter where you’re at. So the Vikings’ O might be a tad behind the 8-ball early on. But don’t fret: newbie Tanner Dresch has some help around him, including some thumpers on the line, and that’s a plus. First three games are the key here. Northern Lebanon must get on a bus the first weeks and travel – with everything else swirling around. If they can come out of that stretch unscathed, there’s no reason to believe the Vikings won’t keep raising that bar and be in line for a playoff spot.

 

PODCAST: Plenty of good vibes around Northern Lebanon’s football program at the moment, what with back-to-back playoff trips and all. And coach Jack Beidler is very much aware of that vibe. He’s also aware of the bar that’s been raised around his program, and that expectations will be high once again for the Vikings – despite some tricky graduation losses, and the loss of their new starting QB, before the season even started. Beidler chats about expectations and raising the bar 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.

COLUMBIA CRIMSON TIDE
COACH: Jason Shoff (6th season; 29-25 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Single-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Eastern York, @ York Suburban, Daniel Boone, @ Lampeter-Strasburg, @ Elco, Northern Lebanon, Annville-Cleona, @ Lancaster Catholic, @ Pequea Valley, Donegal.

REINHART SAYS: Six away games for the Crimson Tide, which is quirky. And wouldn’t you know it? Columbia gets the three section preseason favorites (L-S, Elco – in back-to-back weeks – and Lancaster Catholic, according to the schedule) all on the road. Hmmm. And be on your toes for those four home dates; construction on the main parking lot on top of the hill next to the high school should make for some interesting parking and traffic jams. But I’ve been told it should be cleared up before the start of basketball season – which will be here before we all know it. As far as L-L League schedules go, this is one of the toughest, from start to finish.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple-I.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-4.

LAST SEASON: 2-5 Section 3, 3-8 overall (Lost to eventual state-champ Steel-High in the first round of the District 3 Single-A playoffs).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Eastern York (L 20-14), York Suburban (L 61-26), @ Daniel Boone (W 48-47), Lampeter-Strasburg (L 41-0), Elco (L 58-26), @ Northern Lebanon (L 40-14), @ Annville-Cleona (L 35-0), Lancaster Catholic (L 49-13), Pequea Valley (W 52-20), @ Donegal (W 41-27), @ Steel-High (L 39-6; District 3 Single-A playoffs).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Matt Kreiser (48-of-134 for 976 yards, 9 TD, 15 picks, 96.8 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Dakotah Lightfoot (223 carries for 1,823 yards, 8.2 avg., 17 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Yahya McIntyre (34 catches for 762 yards, 22.4 avg., 6 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 291.2 yards per game (12th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 397.3 yards per game (23rd in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: DB Jason Combs, QB Matt Kreiser, RB-DB Dakotah Lightfoot (Associated Press Single-A Second-Team All-State RB; PA Football News All-State RB; Section 3 Offensive Back of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star RB; Section 3 First-Team All-Star DB), OT-DE Kevin McCarty (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OT; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DE), WR-DB Yahya McIntyre (PA Football News All-State WR; Section 3 First-Team All-Star WR; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star KR; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), OG-DT Rafael Mendez (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star OG), WR-DB-K Clark Meshey (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star K), C Bobby Schoelkopf.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OT-DT Brandon Aukamp, FB-LB Joey Charles (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star TE; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star ILB), WR-LB Alex Beckley, OG-DE Brandon Felus, OG-LB Marcus Fischer, WR-DB Jimmy Fisher, OT-LB Byron Germer, WR-DB John Markley, WR-DB Felix Mendez, C-LB Brian Mentzer, WR-DB Raymond Mitchell, TE-DE Dominic Trout, RB-LB Johnny Vazquez, FB-LB Cain Warfel, RB-DB D.J. Wells.

ALL EYES ON: Seth Lefever – The sophomore lefty QB was handed the keys to Columbia’s offense after leading the Tide’s freshman team to an undefeated season last fall. So he has some skills and he can guide a team. And he’s been working out with the varsity since January, which is a plus. Always plenty of expectations in this program. I get the feeling everyone in Columbia is anxious to see how Lefever handles the spotlight as a first-year varsity starter – coming off a season in which the Tide went a very un-Tide-like 3-8. Shoff preached baby steps – he called the same five plays over and over at 7-on-7 competitions this summer – but said he’s expecting big things for his rookie QB. On a positive note, Lefever has some experienced guys back in front of him to block. We’ll see how it all plays out. But be patient with this kid, Tide fans.

THE GOOD NEWS: Despite that 3-8 finish and some major lapses on defense – the Tide allowed more than 3,000 rushing yards, most in the L-L League – Columbia did go to the playoffs last season, and put up a pretty good fight against eventual Single-A state champ Steel-High in the first round. There are 12 total returning starters back from that team, including seven on defense, who must clean it up, particularly against the run. “We gave up a lot of yards last year,” senior OLB Joey Charles acknowledged. “It comes down to people wanting to hit people. Last year we were out there just to be out there, and we didn’t want to do the work.” With six road games – including the section heavyweights away from home – Tide defenders must put in the work if they want to be in the race. That means NG Brandon Aukamp, DE Brandon Felus, LB’s Charles, Brian Mentzer, Alex Beckley and Johnny Vazquez and DB Jimmy Fisher – all back from last year – will be under the spotlight to make more plays. Charles returns at FB and Beckley is back at WR, and three o-linemen return – guards Fisher and Felus and Aukamp at tackle. Those guys should help keep new QB Seth Lefever upright.

QUESTION MARKS: Here’s a trivia tidbit to drop on your friends – Columbia has produced the last two L-L League rushing champs: Ben Guiles in 2007 (1,665 yards, 22 TD) and Dakotah Lightfoot last fall (1,823 yards, 17 TD). D.J. Wells, come on down. You’re the next Tide tailback to take a shot at the league rushing crown. “He’s ready for it,” Joey Charles said. “But we’ll all have to do our jobs around him to help.” Lightfoot was a one-man wrecking crew for the Tide last fall; he rushed for 331 yards against Daniel Boone and for 360 yards against Donegal. Opposing defenses won’t miss him; the Tide certainly will. Columbia must also replace all-star WR/KR/game-breaker Yahya McIntyre, and two-way lineman Kevin McCarty, who did a lot of heavy lifting in the trenches for the Tide the last couple of seasons. Another Burke at Columbia – Michael Burke will play WR and safety and should help Lefever in the passing department.

NOTABLE: Columbia yielded 3,197 rushing yards last season – most in the league.

REINHART’S TAKE: I didn’t think Columbia would fall that further down in the pack last season. And to get back in the lead pack, the Tide will need major contributions from a rookie QB (Seth Lefever), a rookie RB (D.J. Wells) and a much more spirited effort from the guys on D. Two road games across the river out of the chute will set the tone. Columbia was 0-2 coming out of those same games (at home) a year ago. A role reversal would help out in the confidence and momentum departments. Might be tough for these guys to break into the Lancaster Catholic/L-S/Elco lead pack. But the Tide should most definitely make the District 3 Single-A field – and could do some damage there if they’re peaking at the right time.

 

PODCAST: Columbia coach Jason Shoff is itching to guide his Crimson Tide back to the top of the Section 3 charts. Last season wasn’t much fun on the hill, as Columbia struggled defensively and just never got in the race. The Tide did go to the postseason in Single-A, so that should help with momentum. But Columbia has some holes to fill, and the Tide will go at it with a rookie QB and a rookie feature RB. But, as always, Columbia will have high hopes, as Shoff talks 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.

DONEGAL INDIANS
COACH: Jeff Polites (1st season; 54-59 overall in 11 seasons at Elizabethtown).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Triple-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Daniel Boone, Eastern York, Interboro, Lancaster Catholic, @ Pequea Valley, @ Annville-Cleona, Lampeter-Strasburg, Northern Lebanon, @ Elco, @ Columbia.

REINHART SAYS: Not an easy lid-lifter in Polites’ Donegal debut at Daniel Boone, which features pass-happy QB Jon Monteiro, who is closing in on Berks County passing marks held by guys like Chad Henne and Kerry Collins. That deserves a yo. But a three-game home-stand follows, which is nice. A fast start in the non-league would help out with momentum, which Donegal would love heading into its Section 3 opener in Week 4 against Lancaster Catholic – which will be coming off a game the week before against Manheim Central. So the Crusaders will either be feeling extra fine or looking to take their frustrations out on the Indians – if you know what I mean.

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

LAST SEASON: 1-6 Section 3, 2-8 overall.
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Daniel Boone (L 40-0), @ Eastern York (W 36-7), @ Interboro (L 34-0), @ Lancaster Catholic (L 35-12), Pequea Valley (W 55-13), Annville-Cleona (L 48-14), @ Lampeter-Strasburg (L 39-0), @ Northern Lebanon (L 18-13), Elco (L 44-9), Columbia (L 41-27).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Matt Kolp (45-of-119 for 451 yards, 6 TD, 7 picks, 74.5 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Kyle Witmer (180 carries for 1,307 yards, 7.3 avg., 11 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Richard Essig (14 catches for 179 yards, 12.8 avg., 2 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 273.0 yards per game (18th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 344.1 yards per game (17th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: OG-LB Tanner Edgell (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OG; Section 3 Second-Team All-Star ILB), TE-DE Richard Essig, WR-DB David Hilton, OT-DT J.D. Intrieri (Section 3 First-Team All-Star OT), RB-DT Taylor Moran (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star DT), OT-DT Andrew Ross, C-DE Morgan Rupp (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DE), FB-LB Kyle Witmer (Section 3 First-Team All-Star RB).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: OG-LB Ryan Boccagno, C-DT Eric Boyer, RB-DB Drake Brumfield, WR-DB Brandon Johnson, QB Matt Kolp, C-DE Jimmy Morrissey, FB-LB Adam Rohrer, RB-LB A.J. Pacana (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), RB-DB Mike Shipman (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DB).

ALL EYES ON: Two kids, actually. Hey, it’s my preview. Keep an eye on junior QB Matt Kolp, who is back for his second full season under center. And on senior FB Adam Rohrer, who steps in for all-star 1,300-yard grind-it-out back Kyle Witmer. If you know anything about the Wing-T, you know the FB is the feature guy – especially at Donegal, which seems to pump out workhorse fullbacks year after year. Witmer certainly was a handful. Now the job belongs to Rohrer. Kolp, meanwhile, is an efficient QB – just seven picks in 119 attempts last season – but he’ll be under fire to make some more plays this season while the Indians break in a new FB (Rohrer), new every-down running backs (A.J. Pacana and Drake Brumfield, who both got some touches last season), a new go-to WR (Brandon Johnson) and three new starters on the o-line. If Donegal is going places, Kolp and Rohrer will have to make plays.

THE GOOD NEWS: From all accounts, the program is in pretty good shape with Polites calling the shots. He guided E-town to the playoffs the last two years, and he’s picked up where he left off, as far as preaching fundamentals and getting the kids to believe in themselves and to play as a team. So I’m not expecting too many more 2-8 seasons from this crew. And Polites didn’t junk anything – just some tweaks here and there – so everyone is on the same page. Like Matt Kolp at QB, which is a nice start. And A.J. Pacana should help out in the speed department. And center Jimmy Morrissey and RG Ryan Boccagno return to anchor the o-line.

QUESTION MARKS: Looks like just three full-time regulars from a year ago return on defense – Tony Burkhart at DT and Brandon Johnson and Mike Shipman at cover corner. So there could be some growing pains on that side of the ball for the Indians, who gave up 344 yards a game on D last year. The o-line took a hit when all-stars Tanner Edgell, J.D. Intrieri and Morgan Rupp moved on. So guys like Joe Ruf (LG), Burkhart (RT) and Josh Allen (LT) will be learning on the fly from the O trenches – not to mention a new-look linebacker corps.

REINHART’S TAKE: It took a little while, but Polites put E-town firmly back on the Section 2 map – and in District 3 Triple-A and Quad-A circles. So how long before he has Donegal in the winner’s circle? Section 3 is extremely top heavy at the moment, but there’s no reason to believe that after he puts his fingerprints on this program that Donegal can’t crack that lead pack once again – and prove last year was just a blip. Be patient greater Mount Joy/Marietta area. You have the right guy for the job. Once the kids buy into what he’s preaching (and translate that over into Friday nights), the Indians will be major players in this race.

 

PODCAST: It didn’t take Jeff Polites very long to find a new gig after he resigned his post at Elizabethtown after last season. Polites spent 11 seasons prowling the Bears’ sideline, and the last two seasons in particular were quite good, when he led E-town to a share of the Section 2 crown in 2007 and into the district playoffs the last two years. And then he took the Donegal job, which was right down the road. Polites didn’t make a ton of major chances when he jumped onboard. The Indians’ will stick with their familiar Wing-T and 4-4 sets. Now Polites is working on putting his stamp on the program, as he discusses 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.

PEQUEA VALLEY BRAVES
ONLINE: pequeavalleysports.com
COACH: Curtis Waltman (3rd season; 0-20 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Double-A.
THE SCHEDULE: Upper Dauphin, @ Reading Central Catholic, @ Fleetwood, @ Annville-Cleona, Donegal, @ Lancaster Catholic, Elco, @ Lampeter-Strasburg, Columbia, Northern Lebanon.

REINHART SAYS: Three non-L-L League opponents out of the box for the Braves, who are jonesing to snap this ugly 27-game losing streak. Three road games in a row early, capped off with Section 3 opener at Annville-Cleona. Week 6-8 stretch is at Lancaster Catholic, home with Elco and at L-S. Oy.

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

LAST SEASON: 0-7 Section 3, 0-10 overall.
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: @ Upper Dauphin (L 41-20), Springfield, Montco (L 34-6), Fleetwood (L 27-6), Annville-Cleona (L 43-7), @ Donegal (L 55-13), Lancaster Catholic (L 68-14), @ Elco (L 47-6), Lampeter-Strasburg (L 54-6), @ Columbia (L 52-20), @ Northern Lebanon (L 46-7).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Ben Myers (155-of-298 for 1,762 yards, 11 TD, 21 picks, 99.8 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Nick Lacock (52 carries for 247 yards, 4.8 avg., 1 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Sean Persch (71 catches for 1,152 yards, 16.2 avg., 6 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 268.1 yards per game (20th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 353.4 yards per game (19th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: OT-LB Matt Himes, FB-DE Nick Lacock (Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star DE), OG-DT Willie McCusker, WR-DB Sean Persch (Associated Press Double-A Second-Team All-State WR; PA Football News All-State WR; Eastern PA Football.com All-State WR; Section 3 Wide Receiver of the Year; Section 3 First-Team All-Star WR; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star KR; Section 3 Honorable Mention All-Star P).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: C George Baker, RB-LB Ray Ball, OT-LB Mitch Ball, WR Ryan Clarke, DT Brandon Gerlitzki, DE Randell Green, K Brooke Lacock, FB-DB Charles Mercer, QB Ben Myers (PA Football News All-State QB), OG Zach Pratt, WR Mike Rice, LB Chris Schmid, WR-DB Tyler Schmitt, WR-DB Chad Tyson (Section 3 Second-Team All-Star WR), OT Kevin Weinrich.

ALL EYES ON: Ben Myers – The Braves’ junior QB was thrown into the fire early on last season when holdover starter Mike Rice went down with a broken ankle. After coming in from the bullpen, Myers went up top – a lot. He attempted 298 passes and passed for 1,762 yards. But the 21 picks were a tad high. Rice has returned from his ankle injury, but the Braves moved him to wideout. So they’re impressed with what Myers brought to the table last season, and all systems are go for him to pick up where he left off. Myers will not have two-time All-State pick WR Sean Persch at his disposal, but there are some weapons here. The key for him is cutting down on turnovers and finishing drives. But expect him to go up top – a lot – again.

THE GOOD NEWS: With 17 total starters back and a roster with 40-plus kids, that’s a pretty good start for the Braves, who have really fallen on hard times here recently. The losing streak, as mentioned, is up to 27, and coach Curtis Waltman – while he has injected a ton of good vibes and techniques into the program – is 0-20 heading into his third season. He, more than anyone, would love to get that turned around. And he’s got some kids who will definitely keep everyone honest – and finally get over the hump. Having Ben Myers back to direct the Spread O is a plus. And while he’ll miss Sean Persch and his 164 career receptions, sure-handed wideouts Chad Tyson and Ryan Clarke are back. And converted QB Mike Rice will step into Persch’s spot. RB Ray Ball also returns, and Waltman said during the preseason that he hopes to mix the running game in a little more this season – after Pequea Valley launched an incredible 373 pass attempts last year. More good news: George Baker (center), Brandon Gerlitzki (right guard), Mitch Ball (right tackle) and Kevin Weinrich (left tackle) all return to the o-line. Plenty of returning talent on D, as well, including Randell Green (DE), Gerlitzki (DT), Chris Schmid (LB), Mike and Mitch Ball (LB), Roy Bell (LB), plus Jon Baker, Tyler Schmitt, Charles Mercer and Tyson all returning to the secondary. Their job is crystal clear: Improve on a defense that allowed 353 yards and 46 points per game last season. By the way, K Brooke Lacock also returns. And she, to my knowledge, is the only female player in the league this season. You go, Brooke.

QUESTION MARKS: Can the Braves balance things out on offense and not be one-dimensional? Ben Myers attempted like 48 passes in one game last season and that’s probably a smidge too many. More importantly, can the Braves stop people? The offense has been pretty steady the last couple of seasons – all-stater Sean Persch definitely helped out in that department. But Pequea Valley just hasn’t come up big on defense. It’s as simple as that. So keep your eye on the defensive unit. If they can stop people, this 27-game losing streak will be snapped.

NOTABLE: As mentioned (sorry, Kinzers), Pequea Valley’s losing skid is up to 27 games in a row, dating back to a Week 3 non-league win in 2006 over Fleetwood. The Braves play Fleetwood on the road in Week 3.

REINHART’S TAKE: When will it end? It’s always tough watching a program go through this. And I’ve been to Pequea Valley a few times over the last two years, and their practices are just as rough-and-tumble as everyone else’s. But when the lights pop on Friday night, something just doesn’t click. And then something goofy happens – a special teams breakdown, a missed tackle, an injury. And then it snowballs. Safe to say a win would do wonders for the Braves, who are tired of being reminded of this streak.

 

PODCAST: Braves’ coach Curtis Waltman is set for his third season in the saddle, and while the 0-20 record isn’t so hot, Pequea Valley has made some serious strides under his watch. The offense – with Waltman’s trademark spread attack – has every opponent on its toes, and the defense improved a couple of notches in the total team D category last fall. But forever whatever reason – or reasons – the Braves just can’t seem to bust through and get some wins. This season, Pequea Valley will try and snap its 27-game losing skid with its largest roster since Waltman came on board. He chats about that, and more, 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 device by clicking here.