Keith’s District 3 playoff-chase update from ‘Huddle’ blog here.Past L-L League football section champions here.
Updated random stats through Week 9 here.
Week 10 … the finale.
In what could go down in one of the fastest regular seasons ever – wow, where did those 10 weeks go? – the last week of L-L League Football 2009 is staring us right in the eyes.
Not much intrigue section-race-wise in Week 10. Wilson, in Section 1, and Manheim Central, in Section 2, have already locked up outright section championships.
The only race still bubbling is in Section 3, where Lancaster Catholic takes a 1-game lead over Elco and Lampeter-Strasburg into Friday’s games. And Catholic hosts Elco, meaning a Crusaders’ win would equal an outright crown, but a Raiders’ win would force a tie for the title.
And if Elco wins and Lampeter-Strasburg wins, there would be a three-way tie for the title.
Plenty to decide in the District 3 playoff picture as well, so make sure you check for scores come late Friday. There is still a lot riding out there.
Here’s my Week 10 breakdown …
THE GAME: Manheim Township (4-2 Section 1, 6-3 overall) @ Hempfield (2-4 Section 1, 4-5 overall), Friday, 7 p.m.
LIVE BLOG/ON THE RADIO: I will be blogging live from this game at LancSports.com. So if you can’t make it to Landisville for this battle of longtime fierce rivals, please find me online, where I’ll prove instant updates, analysis, post scores from around the league and take your questions and comments. … This game will also be broadcast live by WPDC-AM 1600. You can also listen online at shoutcast.com (keyword: WPDC).
LAST WEEK: Manheim Township streaked past McCaskey 35-6. … Hempfield was whitewashed by Warwick, 16-0.
NOTABLE: Hempfield blanked Manheim Township 13-0 last year in Neffsville. … Manheim Township is No. 8 in Quad-A in the latest District 3 power-point list. So a win here should give the Blue Streaks a home game in Round 1. … Hempfield is No. 21 in Quad-A in the latest District power-point list, so needless to say, the Black Knights need a win and for a whole bunch of other teams to lose to get in.
KEY STATS: Manheim Township’s key stat is 10 – the Streaks have only turned the ball over 10 times, least among Section 1 teams and second-least in the L-L League. … Hempfield’s key stat is 81 – in a must-win game last Friday against Warwick, the Knights were held to just 81 yards of total offense.
ABOUT MANHEIM TOWNSHIP: Snapped a 2-game losing skid (and jumped into a tie for second place with Penn Manor) with a 35-6 win over McCaskey in Week 9 – which also kept the Streaks in the thick of the District 3 Quad-A playoff chase. A home game in Round 1 might be a stretch, but another win here in Week 10 – against the school’s biggest rival, regardless of sport – would certainly help. … RB Brian Sourber is third in the L-L League in rushing (1,222 yards) and second in TD runs (18).
ABOUT HEMPFIELD: Crusher 16-0 loss to Warwick in Week 9 all but eliminated the Black Knights in the District 3 Quad-A playoff hunt. … Hempfield’s O struggled mightily in loss to Warwick, netting just 81 total yards and four first downs. … Mike Farace and Pat Brogan split the QB duties against Warwick. Keep an eye on that spot Friday.
Audio Podcast interview with Manheim Township coach Mike Melnyk here.
Audio Podcast interview with Manheim Township’s Brian Sourber here.
THE GAME: McCaskey (0-6 Section 1, 0-9 overall) @ Reading (3-3 Section 1, 4-5 overall), Friday, 7 p.m.
LAST WEEK: McCaskey saw its losing streak hit 20 games in a row after a 35-6 loss to Manheim Township. … Reading scored 35 points – and lost by 35 points, 70-35 to Cedar Crest.
NOTABLE: Reading rolled over McCaskey 24-8 last year in Lancaster. … Reading leads the all-time series 42-38-5. This will be Reading’s swan song in Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 play. The Red Knights jump to Section 1 of the Berks Inter-County League next fall. … Reading is No. 16 in Quad-A in the latest District 3 power-point rankings. Baring anything nutty, the Knights should get in with a win.
KEY STATS: McCaskey’s key stat is 20 – the Red Tornado’s losing streak is up to 20 games in a row, dating back to a Week 9 win over Cedar Crest in 2007. … Reading’s key stat is 70 – the Red Knights surrendered 70 points to Cedar Crest last Friday, the most points Reading has allowed in a game since 63 to Pennsbury back in 1982.
ABOUT McCASKEY: Another week, another controversy for the Tornado. Two weeks ago it was a pack of angry parents waiting outside the locker room for coach David Given after a pull-your-hair-out 27-22 loss to Cedar Crest. Then last week, according to this published report, Given wasn’t exactly thrilled that Manheim Township was attempting passes up by 29 points in the fourth quarter. Long, long season for McCaskey. … Some good news: RB Markeith Williams needs 75 yards for 1,000. That would definitely be a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable season.
ABOUT READING: It was all cut and dried for the Knights – beat then-3-5 Cedar Crest in Week 9 and 0-9 McCaskey in Week 10 and Reading would sail into the postseason. Uh-oh. After suffering a (gulp) 70-35 loss to the Falcons to fall to 4-5 overall, the Knights will need a win here and likely some help to make the playoffs. … RB Jason Stewart is fifth in the league in rushing (1,078 yards).
QUOTABLE: Reading coach Preston McKnight (to the Reading Eagle, after surrendering 70 points in the loss to Cedar Crest) – “I’ve never seen the ups and downs like we have with this situation. If it were an attitude thing, I’d understand. But these are good kids. It’s a very close-knit team. We care about them and they care about us. … I don’t understand it. If I had an answer I’d let you know. It’s been a roller coaster all year.”
Audio Podcast interview with Reading coach Preston McKnight here.
THE GAME: Penn Manor (4-2 Section 1, 7-2 overall) @ Cedar Crest (2-4 Section 1, 4-5 overall), Friday, 7 p.m.
LAST WEEK: Penn Manor couldn’t hold onto a late lead and lost to Wilson 24-20. … Cedar Crest piled up the most points in an L-L League game this season and romped over Reading 70-35.
NOTABLE: Penn Manor rolled Cedar Crest 39-7 last year in Millersville. … Penn Manor is No. 6 in Quad-A in the latest District 3 power-point rankings. … Cedar Crest is No. 20 in Quad-A in the latest District 3 power-point rankings, so the Falcons need a win and a ton of help to squeak into the bracket.
KEY STATS: Penn Manor’s key stat is 19 – the Comets have 19 takeaways on defense, most among Section 1 teams and third-most in the L-L League. … Cedar Crest’s key stat is 42.5 – the Falcons are averaging 42.5 yards per punt, the top punting unit in the L-L League.
ABOUT PENN MANOR: Stinger of a loss in Week 9 to Wilson, when the Comets had the Bulldogs on the ropes – in West Lawn – and were minutes from upsetting Wilson on its home field and tying up the Section 1 race with a week to go. But the ‘Dawgs took their first lead with 4:57 to play, then held off Penn Manor and locked up the section crown outright. So the Comets are tied for second place with Manheim Township.
ABOUT CEDAR CREST: Make that two wins in a row for the Falcons, who put up a 70 spot on Reading last Friday after rallying past McCaskey 27-22 in Week 8. So Cedar Crest is feeling frisky, and would love to knock the Comets down a peg in the District 3 Quad-A playoff chase. … Cedar Crest had a pair of 100-yard rushers in the win over Reading – Charles Kyeremeh (160 yards, 2 TD) and Sean Sellers (101, 2 TD). … QB Gary Gristick was finally picked off for the first time this season in the Reading game, but he’s been sizzling hot the last two weeks – 22-of-33 for 382 yards and six TD passes. And the Falcons are 2-0 in those games.
QUOTABLE: Penn Manor coach Todd Mealy (to Lancaster Newspapers, after gut-wrenching 24-20 loss to Wilson) – “What we wanted to do was make sure our kids had peace of mind after the game, knowing that we prepared and that we competed at our maximum level. And I think they did.”
Audio Podcast interview with Penn Manor coach Todd Mealy here.
Audio Podcast interview with Penn Manor QB P.J. Rehm here.
Audio Podcast interview with Cedar Crest QB Gary Gristick here.
THE GAME: Warwick (3-3 Section 1, 5-4 overall) @ Wilson (6-0 Section 1, 8-1 overall), Friday, 7 p.m.
LAST WEEK: Warwick blanked Hempfield 16-0. … Wilson rallied past Penn Manor 24-20 and clinched the Section 1 title outright – the Bulldogs’ 18th section championship.
NOTABLE: Wilson whitewashed Warwick 24-0 last year in Lititz. … Wilson leads the all-time series 11-3. Warwick’s last win came in 2007, in the section opener in West Lawn by a 14-12 score. … Wilson is an honorable mention pick in Quad-A in the latest Harrisburg Patriot-News state rankings. … Wilson is No. 2 in the latest District 3 Quad-A power-point list. Bulldogs, who won the District 3 Quad-A crown last year, should wrap up the No. 2 seed – and three home games – with a win here. Bishop McDevitt, the No. 1 team in the state, has already locked up the top seed. … Warwick is No. 17 in Quad-A in the latest District 3 power-point list, meaning the Warriors are on the outside looking in at the moment. Long story short: Warwick needs a win and plenty of help. Say a prayer, Lititz.
KEY STATS: Warwick’s key stat is 127 – the Warriors have given up 127 points, least among Section 1 teams and fifth-least in the L-L League. … Wilson’s key stat is 147 – the Bulldogs have 147 first downs, most among Section 1 combatants.
ABOUT WARWICK: Warriors’ D opened up a can against Hempfield, holding the Black Knights to 81 total yards and four first downs in Week 9. … Chris Schaffer is the reigning LancSports.com Player of the Week. In the last four games, he’s rushed for 641 yards and seven TD.
ABOUT WILSON: Bulldogs have punted 16 times, least in the L-L League. … Weirdest Wilson stat: ‘Dawgs are a minus-7 in turnover ratio (with 18 giveaways), which is second to last in the L-L League. … Coolest Wilson stat: Other than the mundane TD run and TD pass, the ‘Dawgs have scored five (5) different other ways this season – punt return (Johnny Morgan 65 yards vs. Cedar Crest); kickoff return (Johnny Morgan 93 yards vs. Penn Manor); fumble recovery (Louis Weaver recovered in end zone vs. Manheim Central); interception pick-6 (Erik Schmeck 45 yards vs. Manheim Township); blocked punt return (Sheldon Hannibal-Nixon twice: 28 yards vs. McCaskey and 20 yards vs. Downingtown East). Shane Witmyer has also has a pair of field goals for Wilson.
QUOTABLE: Wilson coach Doug Dahms (to the Reading Eagle, after the Bulldogs pulled off the comeback and picked off Penn Manor) – “It was a great comeback for the kids. They played hard and had a great second half. They played like champs.”
Audio Podcast interview with Warwick coach Bob Locker here.
Audio Podcast interview with Warwick RB/LB Chris Schaffer here.
THE GAME: Elizabethtown (3-3 Section 2, 4-5 overall) @ Lebanon (3-3 Section 2, 3-6 overall), Friday, 7 p.m.
LAST WEEK: Elizabethtown outlasted Ephrata 35-34 in triple-overtime. … Lebanon was blanked by Manheim Central 47-0.
NOTABLE: Lebanon held off Elizabethtown 28-21 last year in E-town.
KEY STATS: Elizabethtown’s key stat is 256 – Brendan Kain (144 yards, 2 TD) and Jared Danneker (112 yards, 2 TD) combined to rush for 256 yards in the Bears’ thrill-a-minute 35-34 triple-OT win over Ephrata. Danneker scored the go-ahead TD and blocked Ephrata’s potential game-tying extra point in the third OT to ice the win for E-town. … Lebanon’s key stat is 11 – the Cedars have turned the ball over 11 times (six interceptions and five fumbles) in their last three games – all losses.
ABOUT ELIZABETHTOWN: Picked up the funkiest win of the season last Friday in 35-34 triple-OT victory over Ephrata. … RB Brendan Kain has picked up the pace from the feature back spot since Mitch Weidman went down with a season-ending foot injury. Kain rolled for 144 yards and a pair of scores in the Ephrata game, and he’s up to 549 rushing yards and five TD.
ABOUT LEBANON: Losing streak hit three in a row after a 47-0 loss to Manheim Central in Week 9; Cedars have lost three in a row, then won three in a row, and have now lost three in a row. … First three Section 2 games: 3-0; outscored opponents 89-27; plus-10 in turnover ratio. … Last three Section 2 games: 0-3; outscored by opponents 109-21; minus-8 in turnover ratio.
QUOTABLE: Elizabethtown coach Mike Cottle (to Lancaster Newspapers, after the Bears survived Ephrata 35-34 on a blocked PAT kick in the third OT) – “It’s a shame for a team to lose that one. I know how they fell because I know how I’d have felt. It was just a shame that one of us had to lose that game.”
Audio Podcast interview with Lebanon coach Gerry Yonchiuk here.
THE GAME: Ephrata (1-5 Section 2, 1-8 overall) @ Conestoga Valley (4-2 Section 2, 6-3 overall), Friday, 7 p.m.
LAST WEEK: Ephrata took Elizabethtown to triple-overtime but dropped a 35-34 gut-wrencher. … Conestoga Valley was clipped by Cocalico 21-14.
NOTABLE: In a battle of winless teams, Conestoga Valley edged Ephrata 26-21 last year in Ephrata, pinning a 0-10 season on the Mountaineers and salvaging a second straight 1-9 season of its own. … This will be Ephrata’s final game in L-L League Section 2 – for at least the next two years. The Mountaineers will bump to Section 1 next year in the league’s next scheduling cycle. Lampeter-Strasburg will jump from Section 3 to Section 2, leaving Section 3 with seven teams – and four non-league games apiece. … Conestoga Valley is No. 11 in Triple-A in the latest District 3 power-point list. Bucks have clinched a spot in the postseason, but will likely need a win and help to get a first-round home game. This will be CV’s first postseason trip since 2006, when the Bucks won a first-round game over Muhlenberg.
KEY STATS: Ephrata’s key stat is 200.7 – the Mountaineers are averaging 200.7 yards per game, 22nd-best in the league. But it’s the first time this season Ephrata is averaging 200 or more yards per game. … Conestoga Valley’s key stat is 8 – the Buckskins are a plus-8 in turnover ratio, tied for third-best in the L-L League.
ABOUT EPHRATA: Oy. Mounts just can’t catch a break. Ephrata scored in the fourth quarter to force overtime against Elizabethtown, but fell in the third OT when an extra point kick was blocked. Been that kinda two-year run for the Mounts, who have now lost 18 of their last 19 games dating back to Week 10 of 2007.
ABOUT CONESTOGA VALLEY: The injury bug has bitten the Buckskins in a big way. A couple of starters missed last Friday’s game at Cocalico. And now two major two-way players have been banged up pretty good (sorry – sworn to secrecy as to their identity). So CV will be shorthanded against Ephrata, but the Bucks will have RB Kevin Kelley chasing history. The league’s leading rusher (1,800 yards) needs 200 yards for a 2,000-yard regular season. The last L-L League back to do that was Lebanon Catholic’s Tommy Long back in 1996.
QUOTABLE: Ephrata coach Jim Vieland (to Lancaster Newspapers, after the Mountaineers dropped a 35-34 triple-overtime heartbreaker to Elizabethtown when the Bears blocked a PAT kick) – “It seemed like that’s how the game was going to end, on something like a missed snap or a fumble, because both teams just wouldn’t be denied.”
Audio Podcast interview with Ephrata coach Jim Vieland here.
Audio Podcast interview with Ephrata RB George Murray here.
Audio Podcast interview with CV coach Tom Nichols here.
Audio Podcast interview with CV QB Alex Dienner here.
Audio Podcast interview with CV RB Kevin Kelley here.
Audio Podcast interview with CV WR/DB Stefan Sensenig here.
Audio Podcast interview with CV WR/DB Leonard Williams here.
THE GAME: Garden Spot (0-6 Section 2, 0-9 overall) @ Manheim Central (6-0 Section 2, 9-0 overall), Friday, 7 p.m.
ON THE TUBE: This game will be broadcast live by Blue Ridge TV-11.
LAST WEEK: Garden Spot saw its losing skid hit 10 games in a row in a 41-7 loss to Solanco. … Manheim Central waxed Lebanon 47-0 and clinched its 20th Section 2 championship. Yep, 20.
NOTABLE: Manheim Central survived Garden Spot 24-19 last year in New Holland. … Manheim Central is No. 4 in Triple-A in the latest Harrisburg Patriot-News state rankings. … Manheim Central is currently No. 1 in Triple-A in the latest District 3 power-point update. The Barons will clinch the No. 1 seed – and three home games – with a win here.
KEY STATS: Garden Spot’s key stat is 55 – the Spartans have scored 55 points this season, least in the L-L League. … Manheim Central’s key stat is 76 – the Barons have allowed 76 points this season, least in the L-L League.
ABOUT GARDEN SPOT: Spartans have been penalized just 31 times, least in the L-L League. … Looking to avoid first 0-7 Section 2 season since 2001.
ABOUT MANHEIM CENTRAL: Barons haven’t given up a point since Ephrata QB Jeremy Franck hit Andrew Burkholder for a 56-yard TD in the fourth quarter in Week 6; Central hasn’t given up a point in 12 quarters. … Central has scored 365 points, second-most in the L-L League (Lancaster Catholic has 366). And the Barons have outscored their opponents 365-76 for a plus-289 scoring margin, tops in the L-L League. … Central has won via shutout in three games in a row and in four of its last five games. In their last five games, the Barons have outscored their opponents 219-23. Central has five shutout victories overall. … Central is tied with Elco for most first downs in the L-L League (157). … Locks up No. 1 seed in District 3 Triple-A playoff chase with a win here. … Coach Mike Williams has 296 career victories.
QUOTABLE: Manheim Central coach Mike Williams (to Lancaster Newspapers, after the Barons beat Lebanon and clinched the outright Section 2 championship) – “If we would have won a section title 20 years ago, we’d have a flatbed truck waiting out there and we’d parade around town. It’s one more step toward 10-0 and the first seed in Districts. That’s really the bigger prize here. … We had a goal to go 10-0, so this was a big step.”
Audio Podcast interview with Manheim Central coach Mike Williams here.
Audio Podcast interview with Manheim Central QB Justin Gorman here.
Audio Podcast interview with Manheim Central WR/LB Dakota Royer here.
Audio Podcast interview with Manheim Central RB/LB Lowen Johnson here.
Audio Podcast interview with Manheim Central WR/DB Dan Trafford here.
Audio Podcast interview with Manheim Central’s Joe Weaver here.
Audio Podcast interview with Manheim Central kicker Taylor Groff here.
THE GAME: Cocalico (4-2 Section 2, 7-2 overall) @ Solanco (3-3 Section 2, 5-4 overall), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
LAST WEEK: Cocalico came from behind and conquered Conestoga Valley 21-14. … Solanco sailed past Garden Spot 41-7.
NOTABLE: Cocalico shutout Solanco 28-0 last year in Denver. … Cocalico is currently No. 8 in Triple-A in the latest District 3 power-point ratings, meaning the Eagles are right on the bubble line for a home game. A victory here should get Cocalico a Round 1 game in Denver. … Solanco is currently No. 17 in Triple-A in the latest District 3 power-point ratings, so the Golden Mules are out on the outside looking in. Math is simple for Solanco: Win and get help and they have a shot. Mules will be scoreboard watching come last Friday.
KEY STATS: Cocalico’s key stat is 2,861 – the Eagles have rushed for 2,861 yards, tops in the L-L League. … Solanco’s key stat is 3 – the Mules are riding a 3-game winning streak, and will likely need to make it 4 if they want a shot at the District 3 Triple-A playoffs. Solanco is on the bubble, and needs a W and help.
ABOUT COCALICO: QB Matt Carty rejoined the lineup after missing the last 2 ½ games with a leg injury. And he looked good in the win over Conestoga Valley with 70 rushing yards and a TD on offense, and a clutch interception from his safety spot late in the game to ice the Eagles’ come-from-behind win over the Bucks, who were bumped from the Section 2 hunt. … Cocalico has the top-ranked offense in the L-L League, cranking out 386.8 yards per game. … Eagles have the third-ranked D in the league, yielding just 208.6 yards per game. … Cocalico did a good job bottling up CV’s Kevin Kelley, limiting him to a season-low 113 yards and, more importantly, no touchdowns or even long runs. Kelley’s longest carry was an 11-yard gainer. Eagles’ D has allowed 843 rushing yards, fourth-lowest in the L-L League.
ABOUT SOLANCO: Mules’ punting unit is averaging 25.6 yards per boot, last in the L-L League. … Solanco has passed for 451 yards, least in the L-L League. … RB B.J. Enck is averaging 10.5 yards per carry, tops in the L-L League among backs with 400 or more rushing yards.
QUOTABLE: Cocalico coach Dave Gingrich (to Lancaster Newspapers, after the Eagles ‘held’ CV standout Kevin Kelley to a season-low 113 yards) – “The philosophy was I didn’t want him to beat us. I know he could. But I didn’t want him to beat us. If we’re going to lose this game, it wasn’t going to be because No. 31 (Kelley) ran for 350 yards.”
Cocalico’s Andrew Prevoznik (to Lancaster Newspapers, on the Eagles’ D keeping tabs on Kelley) – “We focused on him. We knew he was going to get the ball close to 40 times. We knew they were just going to keep going back to him and feeding him until he broke a big one. We just didn’t want to let that happen.”
Audio Podcast interview with Cocalico coach Dave Gingrich here.
Audio Podcast interview with Cocalico QB/DB Matt Carty here.
Audio Podcast interview with Cocalico FB Austin Hartman here.
Audio Podcast interview with Cocalico RB/LB Jon Smoker here.
Audio Podcast interview with Cocalico’s Ben Brugger here.
Audio Podcast interview with Cocalico WR/LB Kyle Rissell here.
Story about Solanco’s Matt Gibson and his fight against Asperger’s Syndrome here.
Audio Podcast interview with Solanco coach Joe Pearson here.
THE GAME: Elco (5-1 Section 3, 8-1 overall) @ Lancaster Catholic (6-0 Section 3, 8-1 overall), Friday, 7 p.m.
LIVE BLOG: Keith Schweigert will be blogging live from this game at LancSports.com. So if you can’t make it to Rossmere, check out Keith online for analysis and instant updates, scores from around the league and your questions and comments.
LAST WEEK: Elco erupted for a 44-14 victory over Donegal. … Lancaster Catholic rocked Annville-Cleona 49-7.
NOTABLE: Lancaster Catholic flattened Elco 42-7 last year in Myerstown. … Lancaster Catholic is No. 6 in Double-A in the latest Harrisburg Patriot-News state rankings. … Elco is No. 9 in Triple-A in the latest District 3 power-point list. A win would jump the Raiders into a home game in Round 1. A loss would knock them down a few pegs, meaning a trickier road tester in Round 1. … Lancaster Catholic, the reigning champ, is No. 1 in Double-A in the latest District 3 power-point ratings. A win Friday would mean the No. 1 seed and two home games for the Crusaders.
KEY STATS: Elco’s key stat is 24 – the Raiders have 24 takeaways on D, tops in the L-L League. … Lancaster Catholic’s key stat is 366 – the Crusaders have scored 366 points this season, tops in the L-L League.
ABOUT ELCO: Raiders piled up 26 first downs in Week 9 win over Donegal. It’s the second time Elco had 26 first downs in a game this season (Week 4 vs. Northern Lebanon), and that’s the most first downs in a game in the league this season. … QB Arron Achey career numbers: 3,757 passing yards and 3,584 rushing yards. … Survived 11 penalties for 110 yards in the win vs. Donegal. … Raiders have 157 first downs, tied for most in the L-L League with Manheim Central. … Elco is a plus-17 in turnover ratio, tops in the league, with just seven giveaways, least in the league.
ABOUT LANCASTER CATHOLIC: Crusaders have given up 815 rushing yards, least in the L-L League, and the Crusaders are second in the league in total team D (181.3).
QUOTABLE: Lancaster Catholic QB Kyle Smith (to Lancaster Newspapers, after setting the state TD-passing record in the victory over Annville-Cleona) – “The pressure didn’t bother me too much. My teammates kept things loose this week. It’s great to share this with such a great bunch of guys.”
Audio Podcast interview with Elco QB Arron Achey here.
Audio Podcast interview with Lancaster Catholic coach Bruce Harbach here.
Audio Podcast interview with Lancaster Catholic QB Kyle Smith here.
Audio Podcast interview with Lancaster Catholic RB Jordan Stewart here.
Audio Podcast interview with Lancaster Catholic LB Hans Kessler here.
Audio Podcast interview with Lancaster Catholic’s Andrew Heise here.
THE GAME: Donegal (1-5 Section 3, 1-8 overall) @ Columbia (0-6 Section 3, 0-9 overall), Friday, 7 p.m.
LAST WEEK: Donegal dropped a 44-14 decision to Elco. … Columbia fell to Pequea Valley 27-12.
NOTABLE: Columbia defeated Donegal 42-27 last year in Mount Joy.
KEY STATS: Donegal’s key stat is 162.3 – the Indians are averaging 162.3 yards per game on offense, least in the L-L League. … Columbia’s key stat is 371 – the Crimson Tide has yielded 371 points this season, most in the L-L League.
ABOUT DONEGAL: Indians had just 162 yards and four first downs in Week 9 loss to Elco. … Donegal has 63 first downs, least in the L-L League. … Indians have punted 51 times, most in the L-L League. … WR Michael Shipman has a team-best 10 catches and five of them have gone for touchdowns. He’s scored all five of Donegal’s receiving touchdowns this season, and he’s averaging 29.4 yards per catch.
ABOUT COLUMBIA: Crimson Tide was penalized (gulp) 21 times for 182 yards in the Week 9 loss to Pequea Valley. Columbia coach Jason Shoff was ejected from the game, and PIAA rules state he may not coach this week; assistant coach Dave Mowrer will guide the team. Tide will also be short two players, who were ejected late in the Pequea Valley game. … Columbia has been penalized a league-high 83 times for a league-high 636 yards in march-offs. … Tide has 27 giveaways on offense, most in the league, and minus-16 turnover ratio is last in the league. … Looking to avoid first ever winless Section 3 campaign; worst was a 1-7 finish in 1976 in Les Schoelkoph’s only season as head coach. … Columbia has yielded 1,344 passing yards, most in the L-L League.
Audio Podcast interview with Donegal coach Jeff Polites here.
THE GAME: Lampeter-Strasburg (5-1 Section 3, 6-3 overall) @ Annville-Cleona (3-3 Section 3, 3-6 overall), Friday, 7 p.m.
LAST WEEK: Lampeter-Strasburg remained hot in its 42-7 victory over Northern Lebanon. … Annville-Cleona scored first, then gave up 49 unanswered points in a 49-7 loss to Lancaster Catholic.
NOTABLE: Lampeter-Strasburg axed Annville-Cleona 42-7 last year in Lampeter. … This is Lampeter-Strasburg’s final game in L-L League Section 3 – for now. The Pioneers will bump up to Section 2 next season in the L-L League’s next scheduling cycle. Nobody will replace Lampeter-Strasburg in Section 3, which will feature seven teams – with four non-league games each – for at least the next two years. Ball’s in your court, Palmyra. And without looking too far ahead: Manheim Central is slated to go down to Section 3 for the 2012-2013 cycle. Donegal would go up. And nobody has asked for the Hornberger Rule yet to switch with the Barons. Sit tight on that one. … Lampeter-Strasburg is No. 13 in Triple-A in the latest District 3 power-point list. Pioneers are lurking toward the bubble, but a victory should safely put them into the playoffs – but they will travel in Round 1.
KEY STATS: Lampeter-Strasburg’s key stat is 21 – the Pioneers have 21 takeaways on defense, second-most in the L-L League. … Annville-Cleona’s key stat is 225 – the Little Dutchmen have 225 yards in penalty march-offs this season, least in the L-L League.
ABOUT LAMPETER-STRASBURG: Winning streak is at four in a row, and the Pioneers have outscored their foes 163-21 over that torrid clip, with a pair of shutout victories tossed in for good measure. … Chad Frey scored three different ways in the win over Annville-Cleona: TD run on offense, punt return on special teams and a pick-6 on D. … Frey needs 143 rushing yards for 1,000 in the regular season. No L-S RB under coach John Manion has rushed for 1,000 yards in a 10-game regular season. This is Manion’s 12th season as the Pioneers’ head coach.
ABOUT ANNVILLE-CLEONA: RB Rickey Snyder is sixth in the L-L League in rushing (1,029 yards). … Dutchmen have passed for 438 yards, least in the L-L League.
QUOTABLE: Lampeter-Strasburg’s Chad Frey (to Lancaster Newspapers, after he scored five touchdowns in the Pioneers’ 42-7 win at Northern Lebanon) – “This was a must-win game. If we lost we probably weren’t going to go to Districts, so we knew we had to come out and win.”
Audio Podcast interview with L-S coach John Manion here.
Audio Podcast interview with L-S FB/DE Zach Halpin here.
Audio Podcast interview with L-S TE/DE Christian DelRocini here.
THE GAME: Northern Lebanon (3-3 Section 3, 5-4 overall) @ Pequea Valley (1-5 Section 3, 2-7 overall), Friday, 7 p.m.
LAST WEEK: Northern Lebanon was tripped up by Lampeter-Strasburg 42-7. … Pequea Valley picked off Columbia 27-12.
NOTABLE: Northern Lebanon knocked off Pequea Valley 46-7 last year in Fredericksburg. … Northern Lebanon is currently No. 20 in Triple-A in the latest District 3 power-point list, so the Vikings will need a win and some major help from around the district to make the playoffs for the third year in a row.
KEY STATS: Northern Lebanon’s key stat is 8 ½ - LB Dom Diangelis has 8 ½ sacks this season, a new single-season program record. … Pequea Valley’s key stat is 22 – the Braves have 22 giveaways on offense, second-most in the L-L League.
ABOUT NORTHERN LEBANON: Right on the bubble line for the District 3 Triple-A playoffs, so the Vikings will need a win and some major help in Week 10 to go to the postseason for the third year in a row. Keep your fingers crossed, Fredericksburg. … Only team in the league with a trio of 500-plus –yard rushers: RB Colton Ryan (661 yards, 7 TD), RB Ryan Daub (630 yards, 5 TD) and QB Tanner Dresch (559 yards, 7 TD).
ABOUT PEQUEA VALLEY: First 2-win season for the Braves since 2003, when Pequea Valley went 2-8 (with wins over Donegal and Northern Lebanon). … Will be minus a player after an ejection in last Friday’s wild, flag-filled win over Columbia. … Braves are last in the league in total team defense, yielding 384.1 yards per game. Pequea Valley has also given up 2,405 rushing yards, most in the L-L League. … QB Ben Myers leads the L-L League in completions (153), pass attempts (286) and passing yards (1,941). … WR Chad Tyson leads the L-L League with 43 catches; WR Tyler Schmitt is second with 38.
QUOTABLE: Northern Lebanon coach Jack Beidler (to the Lebanon Daily News, after the Vikings fell to L-S last Friday) – “We need to take care of business and see where the chips fall. Even if we don’t move on, a win gives us a third straight winning season, which is great for the program.”
Audio Podcast interview with Pequea Valley coach Curtis Waltman here.
Audio Podcast interview with Pequea Valley QB Ben Myers here.
Audio Podcast interview with Pequea Valley RB Ray Ball here.
