LAST WEEK: 14-3
OVERALL: 39-15

Ah yes, the part of the week I look forward to the most … making the picks.

Just wish I felt a little more awake as I make my Week 4 selections … as we speak I’m going on little sleep, and in a couple of hours I’m getting up and driving to East Rutherford, New Jersey for a U2 concert Thursday night.

So my mind is all over the place. And my body is running on adrenaline.

Excuses, excuses, Reinhart. Right?

But duty calls, so it’s back to the drawing board for another week of fearless L-L League gridiron predictions.

I never use the term ‘gridiron’ by the way, so yeah, I’m losing my mind, and I definitely could use some sleep.

But the picks must get done, so away we go.

Did I mention the section openers are on Friday night?

Hempfield @ Penn Manor – We’ll begin with a shameless plug: I will be blogging live from this game at LancSports.com from Millersville University. Looking forward to the trip, and I’m hoping I can muster up enough energy to sit and type all evening after my excursion to New Jersey and back all day Thursday. Oh yeah, the game … Like that Hempfield has won two in a row and that the Black Knights’ O – with QB Mike Farace developing an efficient passing attack and RB Spencer Lehr carving teams up and scoring touchdowns at an alarming rate – continues to shift gears. But I really, really like what Penn Manor is doing on both sides of the ball. Despite new starters all over the place, the Comets have been stingy on D. And the offense – with QB P.J. Rehm and his nine TD tosses leading the way – has been scary. So I’m leaning Comets here. Penn Manor tops Hempfield, improves to 4-0, 27-14.

Reading @ Manheim Township – Red Knights are coming off first win this season, a 13-0 shutout over rival Governor Mifflin. Township is coming off a nice bounce-back victory, a 31-21 win over Elizabethtown, snapping a two-year jinx against da Bears. Really like Jason Stewart and Reading’s running attack. He rumbled for 193 yards and two scores vs. Mifflin. But I have a feeling the Blue Streaks’ D will be ready for Stewart. Could be a slugfest, defensive struggle kind of game here. Township survives Reading, 20-17.

Warwick @ Cedar Crest – Warriors will bring the league’s top-ranked defense and best scoring defense to South Lebanon to take on a Falcons team flying high after a clutch come-from-behind win over previously unbeaten Conestoga Valley in Week 3. Cedar Crest’s O has been tough with QB Gary Gristick making good reads and RB Charles Kyeremeh barreling over people. But I’m going to ride the hot hand of Warwick’s top-ranked D here. Call this a hunch pick. Warriors win a close one, 23-20.

Wilson @ McCaskey – For the first time this season the Red Tornado will have pretty much its full squad in full uniform, with a bushel of defensive starters back in the mix after missing the first three games. I’m sure McCaskey will be thrilled to have those guys back, considering the Tornado is last in the league in total D. But it’s going to take them a little while to get acclimated. And in three games, Wilson’s O has generated 42 points, 27 points and 40 points. Uh oh. Bulldogs – bow-wow – take a bite out of Tornado, 40-13.

Cocalico @ Manheim Central – Game of the Week alert. And Keith Schweigert will be in Manheim blogging live at LancSports.com if you can’t make it. Been hyping the trench guys all week, and this game very well should be decided at the line of scrimmage. Can Cocalico’s o-line keep Royer/Johnson/Gruber and Co. off QB Matt Carty while opening holes for Austin Hartman and his backfield mates, who lead the league in rushing and total offense? And can Central’s o-line continue to keep defenders off QB Justin Gorman and give him time to pick out targets in the Barons’ Spread Gun? Central’s line has drawn rave reviews through three weeks, so I have no reason to believe they won’t keep doing their thing. So I’m leaning Central here, especially at home, on turf, and with scads of momentum after wins over Wilson and Catholic, which had to be terrific for their psyche. Barons clip Eagles, 35-21. But don’t worry: I’m sure Cocalico will get a rematch in, say, late November. Stay tuned.

Conestoga Valley @ Garden Spot – Buckskins need of a snap-back after a gut-wrencher 3-point home loss to Cedar Crest. Spartans are just looking for a spark and some consistency. If CV wants to prove its 2-0 start was no fluke, and that they’re going to make waves in the section race, a win here is pertinent. And I think the Bucks will get-r-done. CV over GS, 31-7.

Lebanon @ Ephrata – The good news here is that someone is winning its first football game this season. And in Ephrata’s case, the Mountaineers are hoping to get this 13-game losing streak off the books. Pequea Valley ended its 29-game skid last week. I think Ephrata has its turn this week. I’m going Mounts here. Enough is enough already. Ephrata escapes Lebanon, 14-13.

Solanco @ Elizabethtown – Having a tough time picking a winner here, but I will guarantee you this: There will be some major hitting, pad-cracking and trench play in this old-school, slug-it-out Section 2 rivalry. Always plenty of hand-to-hand combat when the Golden Mules and Bears renew pleasantries, and this one shouldn’t be any different. Solanco is feeling frisky after back-to-back wins. Bears are feeling grouchy after back-to-back losses. So what gives? Call this another one of my infamous gut picks. Bears edge Mules, 17-16. That one might come back to haunt me. We shall see.

Elco @ Northern Lebanon – Another week, another really good Lebanon County rivalry game. And man, are the Raiders sailing or what? Elco leads the league in points scored and are humming along quite nicely at 3-0. And do not underestimate the Vikings’ 2-1 start. All three games were on the road, and Northern Lebanon is chewing up huge chunks of yards with a sophomore QB and pair of soph running backs. And this is the Vikes’ home opener, so you know they’ll be thrilled to finally be in their own locker room for a night. But Elco seems to be on another level at the moment. Tricky road tester, yes. But I really like the vibe around the Raiders at the moment. So I’ll stick with them. Elco goes to 4-0, 28-14.

Columbia @ Lampeter-Strasburg – Two teams going in opposite directions here. The Crimson Tide is 0-3, can’t find any offensive consistency and has struggled on D (not exactly a great recipe, right?). The Pioneers hung with 3-0 Cocalico and 3-0 Penn Manor before falling, then put up 42 points last week in a win over Garden Spot. Sensing another struggle for Columbia here; L-S wants more momentum going into next week’s showdown against Lancaster Catholic. L-S clips Columbia, 40-14.

Lancaster Catholic @ Donegal – Still no official word on Crusaders’ QB Kyle Smith, who – for the 1.57 millionth time – did not play last week in the loss to Manheim Central because of a high right ankle sprain. I was told he is rehabbing – and was even throwing a football – but I was told he will not play until he is 100 percent. And nobody is 100 percent nine days after suffering a high ankle sprain and hobbling around on crutches for a few days. So don’t be stunned if Smith doesn’t go Friday. Either way, the Crusaders have more than enough weapons to take care of business here; Donegal is flat struggling. Catholic rolls, 42-7.

Pequea Valley @ Annville-Cleona – So can the Braves go from a 29-game losing skid to a two-game winning streak? Here’s their chance. And what a chance; the Little Dutchmen are 0-3 and are near the bottom of the league in pretty much every major statistical category. Confidence is a funky thing, and if anyone has it at the moment, it’s definitely Pequea Valley. So I’ll jump on that bandwagon and ride it out. Hey, why not? Braves make it two straight, 27-20.