Here is a sneak peep at the six District 3 football Round 2 playoff games involving Lancaster-Lebanon League teams …
THE GAME: No. 7 Central York Panthers (8-3 overall; York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 1) @ No. 2 Wilson Bulldogs (10-1 overall; Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 outright champ), Friday, 7 p.m.; District 3 Quad-A quarterfinal.
WINNER GETS: No. 3 Central Dauphin (9-2) or No. 6 Cumberland Valley (9-2) in the semifinals.
LAST WEEK: Central York, shorthanded on D because of injuries, scored a pair of defensive touchdowns, and shifty RB Charles Anderson rushed for 78 yards and had 31-yard TD run for the Panthers, who beat YAIAA foe Dallastown 28-10 in a first-round game. … Wilson rode hot-handed QB Zach Zweizig, who completed 12-of-20 passes for 210 yards and three TD passes in the Bulldogs’ 31-7 first-round win over York High.
CENTRAL YORK SEASON REVIEW: West York (L 20-6), Lower Dauphin (L 10-7), Northeastern York (W 45-10), Spring Grove (W 28-0), New Oxford (W 34-7), Dallastown (W 34-7), Dover (W 49-6), South Western (W 13-12), Red Lion (L 29-28), York High (W 28-7), Dallastown (W 28-10).
WILSON SEASON REVIEW: Governor Mifflin (W 42-7), Manheim Central (L 29-27), Downingtown East (W 40-35), McCaskey (W 24-14), Cedar Crest (W 31-0), Hempfield (W 28-7), Reading (W 61-19), Manheim Township (W 35-16), Penn Manor (W 24-20), Warwick (W 31-13), York High (W 31-7).
COMMON OPPONETS: None.
NOTABLE: Central York rallied nicely from a 0-2 start, ripping off six wins in a row – including a 13-12 squeaker over Quad-A No. 4 seed South Western for the Mustangs’ lone loss this season. Loss to Red Lion in Week 9 was a bit of a head-scratcher. But the Panthers have won two in a row by an aggregate 56-17 – and feature Penn State recruit LB Kyle Baublitz. … Wilson won District 3 Quad-A championships in 1989 (over Cedar Cliff), 1990 (over Cumberland Valley), 1999 (over Cumberland Valley) and last year (over Cumberland Valley). Wilson also fell in District 3 Quad-A title games in 1996 (to Cedar Cliff) and 2002 (to Central Dauphin). … Central York has appeared in two District 3 championship games, and lost in both of them – to Hershey in the 1984 Double-A title game, and to Manheim Central in the 1990 Triple-A title game. … Central York lost to Governor Mifflin in last year’s quarterfinal round.
THE GAME: No. 5 Penn Manor Comets (9-2 overall; Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1) @ No. 4 South Western Mustangs (10-1 overall; York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 1), Friday, 7 p.m.; District 3 Quad-A quarterfinal.
WINNER GETS: No. 1 Bishop McDevitt (10-0) or No. 9 Governor Mifflin (7-4) in the semifinals.
LAST WEEK: Jared Shearer rushed for 101 yards and two scores and LaRonn Lee caught a TD pass and had a TD run for Penn Manor, which overcame an early 14-0 deficit and zoomed past Chambersburg 35-14 in a first-round game. … South Western jumped ahead of Cedar Cliff 19-0, then fell behind 34-27, only to rally for a wild 41-34 victory when Mike Felton returned an interception 76 yards for the go-ahead score in a 41-34 first-round win over coach Jim Cantafio and his Colts.
PENN MANOR SEASON REVIEW: Solanco (W 47-21), Lampeter-Strasburg (W 14-10), Exeter (W 49-14), Hempfield (W 34-6), Reading (L 32-27), McCaskey (W 41-12), Manheim Township W 28-18), Warwick (W 14-12), Wilson (L 24-20), Cedar Crest (W 36-35), Chambersburg (W 35-14).
SOUTH WESTERN SEASON REVIEW: Gettysburg (W 21-7), Hollidaysburg (W 34-14), Bermudian Springs (W 34-3), Dover (W 61-38), Dallastown (W 24-10), Spring Grove (W 21-0), Red Lion (W 41-0), Central York (L 13-12), York High (W 28-0), New Oxford (W 42-13), Cedar Cliff (W 41-34).
COMMON OPPONENTS: None.
NOTABLE: Neither team has won a District 3 championship; South Western fell to Red Land in the 2006 Triple-A title game. … South Western did not make the playoffs a year ago; Penn Manor fell to eventual runner-up Cumberland Valley in the quarterfinals; it was the Comets’ first District 3 playoff win in program history.
THE GAME: No. 9 Daniel Boone Blazers (9-2 overall; Berks Inter-County League Section 1) @ Manheim Central Barons (11-0 overall; Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 outright champ), Friday, 7 p.m.; District 3 Triple-A quarterfinal.
WINNER GETS: No. 4 Conrad Weiser (9-2) or No. 5 Hershey (9-2) in the semifinals.
LAST WEEK: All-State QB Jon Monteiro passed for 184 yards and four TD and Brian Evans and Kelly Saylor each hauled in a pair of TD catches for Daniel Boone, which trounced Greencastle-Antrim 35-7 in first-round game. It was the second time in three years Boone ousted G-A in Districts – the Blazers beat the Devils 17-10 in OT in 2007. … Manheim Central saw its four-game shutout streak come to an end – the Barons surrendered a safety and a TD late in the fourth quarter – but QB Justin Gorman rushed for 100 yards and two scores and passes for 161 yards and a TD to lead the Barons to a 49-8 romp over Shippensburg in a first-round game.
DANIEL BOONE SEASON REVIEW: Donegal (W 42-6), Susquehannock (W 46-0), Columbia (W 49-7), Twin Valley (W 27-20), Blue Mountain (W 28-0), Conrad Weiser (L 47-26), Governor Mifflin (W 17-0), Pottsville (L 19-13), Muhlenberg (W 13-0), Exeter (W 21-7), Greencastle-Antrim (W 35-7).
MANHEIM CENTRAL SEASON REVIEW: Susquehannock (W 58-0), Wilson (W 29-27), Lancaster Catholic (W 42-12), Cocalico (W 17-14), Solanco (W 45-0), Ephrata (W 64-23), Conestoga Valley (W 36-0), Elizabethtown (W 27-0), Lebanon (W 47-0), Garden Spot (W 49-0), Shippensburg (W 49-8).
COMMON OPPONENTS: One – Susquehannock. Manheim Central spanked Susquehannock 58-0 on Opening Night, and Daniel Boone rocked Susquehannock 46-0 the very next week.
NOTABLE: Manheim Central edged Daniel Boone 26-19 in overtime in a District 3 Triple-A quarterfinal game in Birdsboro in 2006. … Both times Daniel Boone lost this season, it responded with a shutout victory the following week. … No District 3 championships or finals appearances for Daniel Boone, which fell to Mechanicsburg in last year’s quarterfinals. Mechanicsburg lost to Manheim Central in the next round. … Manheim Central has won 15 District 3 titles – 1989 (over Elizabethtown), 1990 (over Central York, 1992 (over Conestoga Valley), 1993 (over Gettysburg), 1994 (over Conestoga Valley), 1995 (over Garden Spot), 1996 (over New Oxford), 1997 (over Cocalico), 1998 (over Muhlenberg), 1999 (over West Perry), 2000 (over Conestoga Valley), 2001 (over Spring Grove), 2003 (over Lower Dauphin), 2004 (over Mechanicsburg) and 2005 (over Muhlenberg). The Barons also lost in District 3 Triple-A title games in 2002 (to Lower Dauphin) and last year (to West York). … Manheim Central coach Mike Williams has 298 career victories. … The Barons had gone 19 quarters in a row without giving up a point before Shippensburg got a safety – and then tacked on a TD at the horn – in the district opener. … Manheim Central has outscored its opponents 208-8 in its last five games. … Barons have six shutout wins, most in a season by a Manheim Central team since 2003, when the Barons had eight shutout victories on the way to a 15-0 season and the PIAA Triple-A crown.
THE GAME: No. 7 Cocalico Eagles (9-2 overall; Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2) @ Susquehanna Township Indians (10-1 overall; Mid-Penn Conference Colonial Division), Friday, 7 p.m.; District 3 Triple-A quarterfinal.
WINNER GETS: No. 3 West York (10-1) or No. 11 Conestoga Valley (7-4) in the semifinals.
LAST WEEK: Jon Smoker rushed for 257 yards and five touchdowns, Austin Hartman rushed for 115 yards and Matt Carty rushed for 101 yards and three scores as the Eagles piled up 549 rushing yards in a crazy 56-31 first-round win over L-L League foe Elco. … Super speedy QB Ben Dupree rushed for 84 yards and a TD and passed for 164 yards and three scores in Susquehanna Township’s 42-7 first-round rout over New Oxford.
COCALICO SEASON REVIEW: Lampeter-Strasburg (W 34-21), Exeter (W 35-10), Annville-Cleona (W 62-12), Manheim Central (L 17-14), Ephrata (W 28-10), Lebanon (L 33-13), Elizabethtown (W 26-6), Garden Spot (W 34-0), Conestoga Valley (W 21-14), Solanco (W 34-17), Elco (W 56-31).
SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP SEASON REVIEW: Steel-High (W 27-14), Red Land (W 40-14), Mechanicsburg (W 40-0), West Perry (W 61-6), Gettysburg (W 48-0), Chambersburg (L 36-32), Greencastle-Antrim (W 27-24), Hershey (W 15-13), Northern York (W 35-14), Waynesboro (W 41-19), New Oxford (W 42-7).
COMMON OPPONENTS: None.
NOTABLE: This is a rematch of first-round game last year, won by Cocalico, 49-30, when Austin Hartman rumbled for 344 yards and four TD. … Cocalico won District 3 Double-A championships in 1985 (over East Pennsboro) and 1994 (over Juniata) and also lost in District 3 Double-A championship games in 1992 (to Bermudian Springs) and 1995 (to Bishop McDevitt). Cocalico also lost to Manheim Central in the 1997 District 3 Triple-A title game. Cocalico also lost to Littlestown in the 1984 District 3 Single-A championship game … Susquehanna Township has appeared in one District 3 title game, falling to York Suburban in the 1986 Double-A championship.
THE GAME: No. 11 Conestoga Valley Buckskins (7-4 overall; Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2) @ West York Bulldogs (10-1 overall; York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 2), Friday, 7 p.m.; District 3 Triple-A quarterfinal.
WINNER GETS: No. 2 Susquehanna Township (10-1) or No. 7 Cocalico (9-2) in the semifinals.
LAST WEEK: Kevin Kelley rushed for 173 yards and three scores – giving him 2,085 rushing yards and 26 TD this season – and Conestoga Valley’s D held Northern York to 38 yards and two first downs in a 35-0 first-round upset win over the No. 5 Polar Bears. It was the biggest upset – seeding-wise – in the first round of the District 3 playoffs. … Corey Harris carried 35 times for 258 yards and scored four TD – all career bests – in West York’s 35-28 first-round win over pesky Mechanicsburg.
CONESTOGA VALLEY SEASON REVIEW: Hempfield (W 28-10), Warwick (W 9-7), Cedar Crest (L 24-21), Garden Spot (W 24-7), Elizabethtown (W 35-28), Solanco (W 41-20), Manheim Central (L 36-0), Lebanon (W 35-14), Cocalico (L 21-14), Ephrata (L 34-24), Northern York (W 35-0).
WEST YORK SEASON REVIEW: Central York (W 20-6), Dallastown (W 52-7), Red Lion (W 28-21), Hanover (W 67-0), Eastern York (W 42-14), Northeastern York (W 47-14), York Suburban (W 33-20), Kennard-Dale (W 35-14), Susquehannock (W 56-20), Littlestown (L 47-21), Mechanicsburg (W 35-28).
COMMON OPPONENTS: None.
NOTABLE: West York saw hunt for 10-0 regular season, and the No. 2 seed in Triple-A, go by the wayside with a 47-21 loss to Double-A Littlestown in Week 10. … Conestoga Valley won the District 3 Triple-A championship in 1991 (over Middletown), and the Buckskins also lost in District 3 Triple-A title games in 1985 (to Bishop McDevitt), 1992 (to Manheim Central), 1994 (to Manheim Central) and 2000 (to Manheim Central). … West York is the reigning Triple-A champ; Bulldogs beat Manheim Central in last year’s title game.
THE GAME: No. 5 Middletown Blue Raiders (8-3 overall; Mid-Penn Conference Liberty Division) @ No. 1 Lancaster Catholic Crusaders (10-1 overall; Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 outright champ), Friday, 7 p.m.; District 3 Double-A semifinal.
WINNER GETS: No. 2 Delone Catholic (10-1) or No. 3 Littlestown (9-2) in the District 3 Double-A championship game.
REMATCH: This is a rematch of last year’s District 3 Double-A title game, won handily by Lancaster Catholic, 41-0.
LAST WEEK: Rodney Ramsey rushed for 154 yards and Middletown limited Trinity to 15 second-half snaps on the way to an 11-3 first-round win over the Shamrocks. Middletown got a safety, a TD and a 2-point conversion for its points, and QB Aaron Lupia passed for 154 yards for the Blue Raiders. … QB Kyle Smith rushed for 119 yards, passed for 303 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, and Jordan Stewart rushed for 130 yards and three TD in Lancaster Catholic’s 48-21 first-round win over York Suburban.
MIDDLETOWN SEASON REVIEW: East Pennsboro (W 28-21), Susquenita (L 20-17), Boiling Springs (W 37-19), Waynesboro (W 38-0), James Buchanan (W 49-18), Steel-High (L 33-21), Trinity (W 14-7), Camp Hill (W 20-0), Milton Hershey (L 34-21), Palmyra (W 28-20), Trinity (W 11-3).
LANCASTER CATHOLIC SEASON REVIEW: Trinity (W 42-0), Ephrata (W 35-7), Manheim Central (L 42-12), Donegal (W 45-0), Lampeter-Strasburg (W 14-13), Pequea Valley (W 62-7), Northern Lebanon (W 59-17), Columbia (W 48-0), Annville-Cleona (W 49-7), Elco (W 51-28), York Suburban (W 48-21).
COMMON OPPONENTS: One – Trinity. Middletown has played Trinity twice, in a league game and in the first round of Districts, and the Blue Raiders won both times: 14-7 and 11-3, the latter last week in the first round. Lancaster Catholic torched Trinity 42-0 in the season opener back in September.
NOTABLE: Middletown has appeared in three District 3 Triple-A championship games, beating Elizabethtown in 1986 and Manheim Central in 1988, while falling to Conestoga Valley 43-14 in 1991. … Lancaster Catholic won District 3 Double-A titles in 1982 (over York Suburban), 1983 (over Bishop McDevitt), 2005 (over Littlestown) and last year (over Middletown). The Crusaders also lost in the District 3 Double-A title game in 1999 (to Delone Catholic), 2004 (to Littlestown) and 2006 (to Wyomissing). … Much more on this later in the week, but Lancaster Catholic RB Jordan Stewart is the Crusaders’ single-season leader in rushing yards, and QB Kyle Smith continued his climb up the career passing yards chart.
Helmets courtesy PA High School Helmet Project
