If you haven’t noticed, the Cocalico vs. Manheim Central football games have become quite the hot little rivalry the last couple of years.
It looked like the Eagles were finally going to pickoff the Barons last year, when Cocalico zoomed to a 14-0 first-quarter lead, and then saw another touchdown called back because of a penalty.
A switch here and a switch there, and Central roared from behind for a wacky 56-33 victory. The Barons completed the season sweep with a 26-7 win – also at Cocalico – in the District 3 Triple-A quarterfinals.
So you know the Eagles, who are 0-5 against the Barons in league play since joining Section 2 in 2004, are jonesing for some payback.
I caught up with Cocalico coach Dave Gingrich and players Jon Smoker and Ben Brugger, who all broke down Friday’s big game …
After watching Manheim Central dismantle Lancaster Catholic 42-12 last Friday night, Cocalico coach Dave Gingrich said scouting the Barons gave him a headache because of all of Central’s weapons – on both sides of the ball, and special teams.
Like practically every other Section 2 coach, Gingrich is very well aware of the fact that Central has been the measuring stick for a lot of years. And while teams like Solanco and Elizabethtown have picked off the Barons in recent years, Cocalico still hasn’t tasted a victory against their rivals.
Coming up short in the District 3 Triple-A playoffs a couple of times has served as more motivation as well.
So how are Gingrich and his troops prepping for this season’s first – hey, they could meet again later – encounter with the Barons?
I chatted with Gingrich about Friday’s game and about his team’s fabulous 3-0 getaway.
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.
Jon Smoker is part of a Cocalico backfield that has produced 1,234 rushing yards in the first three games – far and away the most in the L-L League.
He’s also part of a Cocalico offense that his churning out 478 yards a game over the Eagles’ first three game – far and away the most in the L-L League.
He’s also part of a Cocalico defense that is allowing just 198.3 yards a game through three weeks – fourth-best in the L-L League.
Cocalico has done a lot of good things in its first three games. But Smoker, a slug-it-out power back and an inside linebacker for the Eagles, knows he and his teammates will have to be firing on all cylinders Friday, when Cocalico heads to Manheim for a major battle against the Barons.
Both teams are 3-0.
Both teams have major firepower on both sides of the ball.
These teams have become feisty rivals the last couple of years.
And the winner walks out of Manheim with a 1-0 Section 2 record.
I chatted with Mr. Smoker about all those things – and more.
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.
If there is one area that will be under the spotlight Friday night when Cocalico takes on Manheim Central in a much-anticipated Section 2 showdown between a pair of 3-0 teams, it will be the trenches.
The quarterbacks and all the skill kids and the linebackers and the secondary? Yeah, those spots are key.
But the odds are whichever team can dominate in the trenches and control the line of scrimmage is going to win this baby. And both teams are stacked on the line. So it very well could come down to those big boys in the middle before the final siren goes off in Manheim.
I caught up with Cocalico trenchman Ben Brugger, and we chatted about the Eagles’ line and how it is progressing, and about going up against Central’s line, which, like Cocalico’s, is gnarly and nasty and physical and all that good stuff.
Whoa, Nellie. This should be a trench battle that Keith Jackson would absolutely love.
You can listen to the interview with Mr. Brugger by clicking on the ‘play’ button above.
You can also download the Podcast and play it on your favorite mp3 device by clicking here.
