We’ve still got four games left in the regular season, but there are several big showdowns on tap this week…which puts me in a Doc Holliday kind of mood. If you haven’t seen Val Kilmer’s portrayal of the Wild West anti-hero in the movie “Tombstone,” go add it to your Netflix queue right now.
In Section 1, Penn Manor and Manheim Township will square off in a game that could go a long way toward determining the section championship. And in Section 2, the latest chapter in the much-ballyhooed rivalry between Manheim Central and Conestoga Valley will be written as they go at it with a share of first place in the section on the line.
Incidentally, LancSports.com will be representin’ at both games. Jeff Reinhart will blog live from Central-CV, while I’ll be on hand at the Penn Manor-Township clash. If you can’t get out to the games, please join us.
On to the picks…
SECTION 1
Penn Manor (5-1, 2-1) at Manheim Township (5-1, 3-0):There are some question marks here for Township, which makes this a tough game to get a handle on. Top rusher Brian Sourber and quarterback Jon Yuko are questionable for the game, because both were shaken up in the Streaks’ win over Cedar Crest last week. If they’re in the lineup — and at 100 percent — I like Township a lot. But since I have no way of knowing, I’m leaning toward Penn Manor, which appears to have shaken off its upset loss to Reading two weeks ago. I’ll take the Comets.
Cedar Crest (2-4, 0-3) at Hempfield (3-3, 2-1): The Black Knights sure don’t make it easy on our panel of prognosticators, because you never know which team will show up. Last week, they got pounded by section co-leader Wilson, 28-7. So I guess that means they’re due for a win here, because that’s how the season has gone for them. Cedar Crest is more than capable of springing an upset here, but I’ll side with the Knights.
McCaskey (0-6, 0-3) at Warwick (3-3, 1-2):Man, it’s been a tough go for the Red Tornado, now the proud owner of the longest losing streak in program history (17 games). Up until last week, McCaskey had a lead in every game, but it never got untracked in its 41-12 loss to Penn Manor. And Warwick’s balanced offense will give the Tornado fits, so that streak is probably going to be extended. I’ll take the Warriors.
Reading (3-3, 2-1) at Wilson (5-1, 3-0):Nice rivalry game for Berks County football fans. Reading would dearly love to knock off the Bulldogs in its final season as a member of the L-L League, and it’s not impossible. The Red Knights have posted back-to-back impressive wins over Penn Manor and Warwick. But it’s tough to go against Wilson here; the Dawgs’ winning tradition is too much to overlook. Give me the Dawgs.
SECTION 2
Manheim Central (6-0, 3-0) at Conestoga Valley (5-1, 3-0):The league’s last remaining undefeated team visits its biggest rival with a share of first place in the section on the line. It’s storylines like this that get me more geeked up than Ron Jaworski on a double-espresso bender. CV is the league’s most pleasant surprise this season, while Central’s success comes as a shock to no one. The Buckskins will turn the league’s top rusher, Kevin Kelley, loose against the Barons’ defense and hope for the best. He’s good enough to carry CV here, but I just can’t go against Central. I think the Barons find a way to get it done. Give me Central.
Garden Spot (0-6, 0-3) at Ephrata (0-6, 0-3): Well, something’s got to give in this battle of Oh-fers. Ephrata’s been getting a little better every week (well, not last week — they got dusted 62-14 by Central, but we’ll ignore that). The Mounts have been fairly competitive in four of their six losses. Garden Spot…not so much. I’ll take Ephrata.
Elizabethtown (3-3, 2-1) at Cocalico (4-2, 1-2): If quarterback Matt Carty was healthy, I’d be all over the Eagles in this one. But he’s doubtful for the game with what is believed to be an ankle injury, which shakes my confidence a bit. Cocalico’s offense floundered without Carty in last week’s 33-13 loss to Lebanon. E-town has a good offense, but a suspect defense, but Cocalico’s had a week to adjust to life without Carty. I’d expect a healthy dose of running back Austin Hartman on Friday. I’ll take the Eagles in a squeaker.
Lebanon (3-3, 2-1) at Solanco (2-4, 0-3):Lebanon is suddenly one of the hottest teams in Section 2, and finds itself in a three-way tie for first place in the section race — with dates against co-leaders CV and Manheim Central coming in the next two weeks. Solanco has been decimated by injuries, while Lebanon is rolling with the section’s big dogs. Give me the Cedars.
SECTION 3
Lancaster Catholic (5-1, 3-0) at Northern Lebanon (4-2, 2-1):It’s been two years, but I’ll bet any money that Bruce Harbach and the rest of the Crusader coaching staff still spent the week rehashing Catholic’s 17-13 upset loss to Northern Lebanon in 2007. The Crusaders exacted some revenge in last year’s 61-0 rout, but I’m sure they’d be happy to do the same thing again. Northern Lebanon’s 4-2 record is impressive, but the only team the Vikes have faced that’s nearly as good as Catholic was Elco — and the Raiders hammered them 41-7. I like Catholic here — I think the starters will get more than a half’s worth of work, but they should still win by a comfortable margin. Give me the Crusaders.
Elco (5-1, 2-1) at Pequea Valley (1-5, 0-3):Elco ran into the wrong team at the wrong time last week, visiting a ticked-off Lampeter-Strasburg team just itching to vent some frustration after nearly knocking off Lancaster Catholic the week before. And boy, did the Pioneers ever vent. They blasted Elco 40-14, slamming the breaks on Aaron Achey and the Raiders’ high-powered offense. Fortunately for Elco, the perfect salve comes along this week in Pequea Valley, a team that hasn’t stopped anyone on defense all year. The Raider offense should get healthy again this week — in a big way. I’ll take Elco.
Lampeter-Strasburg (3-3, 2-1) at Donegal (1-5, 1-2):The Pioneers may have salvaged their season with last week’s rout of Elco. If they win out from here, they should garner enough power points to sneak into the Class AAA bracket as a low seed. They’re on the outside looking in right now, but a 7-3 record might be enough — especially if Elco continues to win and give L-S a few extra bonus points. Donegal shouldn’t present much of an impediment to the Pioneers this week; they’ve got too many issues on defense. I’ll take L-S.
Annville-Cleona (2-4, 2-1) at Columbia (0-6, 0-3): The Little Dutchmen are part of a four-team logjam at second place in the Section 3 race, and figure to stay there for one more week at least. Columbia has one of the league’s worst defenses, so its only hope is to win in a shootout. That game plan hasn’t worked out for the Crimson Tide so far, and won’t this week. I’ll take the Dutchmen.
