Two items in one, gloriously overstuffed post … L-L League Quarterback Club Week 9 Players of the Week, followed by my Week 10 picks.
Two big-ticket L-L football items for the price of one. Can’t beat that, right?
First up, the QB Club selections …
SECTION 1
BACK OF THE WEEK – Cedar Crest QB Gary Gristick completed 12-of-18 passes for 185 yards, had four touchdown throws and had a TD run in the Falcons’ electrifying 70-35 win over Reading.
LINEMAN OF THE WEEK – Manheim Township OT/DT Alex Vigilante had a high blocking grade on offense, and on defense he was in on six tackles (4 solos), including one tackle for a loss, in the Blue Streaks’ 35-6 victory over McCaskey.
SECTION 2
BACK OF THE WEEK – Solanco RB/DB B.J. Enck rushed 13 times for 212 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns on offense, on defense he made eight tackles and picked off three passes, including a pick-6 for a 40-yard TD return, and on special teams he returned a punt 45 yards in the Golden Mules’ 41-7 win over Garden Spot.
LINEMAN OF THE WEEK – Cocalico LB Andrew Prevoznik was in on 22 total tackles – including 6 solos and 4 tackles for losses – and he caught a pass and made an extra-point kick in the Eagles’ 21-14 win over Conestoga Valley.
SECTION 3
BACK OF THE WEEK – Lampeter-Strasburg RB/DB Chad Frey rushed 10 times for 172 yards and had three TD runs and caught three passes for 27 yards on offense, he had a 25-yard pick-6 on an interception, had a pair of QB hurries and was in on four tackles on defense, and he returned a punt 51 yards for a TD on special teams in the Pioneers’ 42-7 win over Northern Lebanon.
LINEMAN OF THE WEEK – DE Brandon Felus was in on 10 tackles (8 solo), had a tackle for a loss, knocked down three passes and registered a pair of sacks in the Crimson Tide’s 27-12 setback to Pequea Valley.
And now, on with the picks …
LAST WEEK: 10-2.
OVERALL: 95-31.
Final week of regular-season picks front and center, so I figure I’ll just dive right in headfirst …
MANHEIM TOWNSHIP @ HEMPFIELD – It’s the L-L League’s version of the Hatfields vs. the McCoys. More riding for Township here, which needs a win for a home game in the first round of the District 3 Quad-A playoffs. So we’ll go Blue Streaks, on the road, taking care of the Black Knights, 28-14. Cheap plug alert: I’ll be blogging live from this game at LancSports.com if you can’t make it to Landisville.
McCASKEY @ READING – This is Reading’s swan song in the L-L League for all you sentimental buffs. And Red Knights need a win to lock up a District 3 Quad-A playoff spot. Red Tornado needs a win to avoid back-to-back 0-10 seasons. Oy. Knights extend Tornado’s woes, push McCaskey’s streak to (gulp) 21, 34-12.
PENN MANOR @ CEDAR CREST – Comets need a rebound after a crusher loss at Wilson; Falcons have won two in a row and are playing spoilers quite nicely. But Penn Manor gets its focus back and locks up a top-6 seed in District 3 Quad-A playoffs here. You guessed it: Comets clip Falcons, 31-14. Had to drop that one on you one more time this season. I’m so original.
WARWICK @ WILSON – Remember what happened the last time the Warriors paid a visit to West Lawn in 2007? Warwick 14, Wilson 12. Bulldogs already have the Section 1 title wrapped up, and need a win to wrap up the No. 2 seed in District 3 Quad-A playoffs – where they’ll be out to defend their crown. Warwick needs a win (and major help) just to make playoffs. Going ‘Dawgs here, 30-17. Woof.
ELIZABETHTOWN @ LEBANON – Bears feeling frisky after triple-overtime victory over Ephrata; Lebanon stuck in the mud – and riding a three-game losing streak. Bears chop down Cedars (hey, couldn’t resist using that line one last time this season, either), 27-14.
EPHRATA @ CONESTOGA VALLEY – Mountaineers’ stinging after that triple-OT setback to Elizabethtown, and are jonesing for a two-win season after last year’s 0-10 ride. CV is safe for Districts but would love a smidge of a better seed. And have I mentioned that RB Kevin Kelley needs 200 rushing yards on the dot for a 2,000-yard regular season? I think he’ll get it. And I think he’ll get it in a victory. CV bucks Ephrata, 23-13.
GARDEN SPOT @ MANHEIM CENTRAL – It says here in my contract that I have to predict every game on the docket, and this game features the teams that are most likely the complete polar opposites in the league this season. Garden Spot is winless, has been shutout three times and has scored a league-low 55 points. Manheim Central is undefeated, has three shutout victories in a row and five overall, has the top-ranked defense in the league, has yielded the fewest points in the league, has scored the second-most points in the league, has the third-ranked offense in the league, is No. 1 in the District 3 Triple-A power-point tally and is ranked fourth in the state in the Harrisburg Patriot-News poll. You can stop me anytime here, gang. Barons crunch Spartans, 49-0.
COCALICO @ SOLANCO – Plenty riding here: Cocalico needs a win for a home game in the first round of the District 3 Triple-A playoffs; Solanco needs a win – period – and likely some help, to join to the Triple-A party. QB Matt Carty appears pretty much 100 percent healthy, so I’m leaning Cocalico here. Eagles soar over Golden Mules (ooh, that was bad, sorry), 31-13.
ELCO @ LANCASTER CATHOLIC – Game of the Week. Crusaders need a win to lock up Section 3 crown outright; Raiders need a win to force a tie for the title. Two explosive offenses. Two opportunistic defenses. Two dynamic quarterbacks (Catholic’s Kyle Smith vs. Elco’s Arron Achey). Playmakers aplenty. This could be a classic. Elco didn’t do so hot in its last big road tester (40-14 loss at L-S in Week 6). Catholic, to me, seems like its gearing up for a run. That run starts now. Crusaders swagger past Raiders, 38-17. Another cheap plug alert: Keith Schweigert blogging live from this showdown at LancSports.com if you can’t make it to Rossmere.
DONEGAL @ COLUMBIA – Couple of backyard rivals going at it in this one. All heck breaking loose in Columbia lately. Coach and two players are suspended – not fun. Donegal trying to get out of quicksand and end on a positive note. Believe it or not, the toughest game to pick this week. I kid you not. Leaning Donegal because of all the junk swirling around Columbia’s program at the moment. Gotta be tough on the concentration meter there at the moment. So I’ll go Indians to tame Tide, 21-13.
LAMPETER-STRASBURG @ ANNVILLE-CLEONA – Pioneers are scorching and need a win to guarantee a District 3 Triple-A playoff bid. A loss, and L-S would need a little help. But Pioneers are thinking big – like extending this four-game tear and then unleashing havoc in Districts. No way I want any part of L-S in the first round. Pioneers stay hot, polish off Little Dutchmen, 40-13.
NORTHERN LEBANON @ PEQUEA VALLEY – Braves are short two players after the unfortunate fracas with Columbia. But PV is feeling good after beating the Tide and earning first two-win season since 2003. Vikings need a win and an unbelievable run of luck to make the District 3 Triple-A playoffs for the third year in a row. But this will be three winning seasons in a row for Northern Lebanon. Vikes get a victory over the Braves, 35-13.
