We’re down to two games left in the regular season, and things are starting to get interesting. We’ve got a Section One showdown brewing between Penn Manor and Wilson this week, while other teams around the league continue to jockey for position in the upcoming District 3 playoffs.
Wilson hosts the Comets Friday at 7 p.m. (Cheap plug: I’ll be blogging live from the game, so stop by for a visit). If the Bulldogs win, they’ve pretty much got the section crown locked up. If Penn Manor wins, we’ve got a tie for first place — the the distinct possibility of a split championship, even if the Comets would own the bragging rights.
No matter who comes out on top this week, Penn Manor and Wilson are already in the Class AAAA playoff field. Manheim Central is locked into the Class AAA playoffs, while Lancaster Catholic has punched its playoff ticket in Class AA. Nine other league teams are on the verge of locking down berths, but need at least one more win to get in. So the stakes are high in several games on the docket this week.
Got all that? Let’s get into the picks:
SECTION ONE
Penn Manor (7-1, 4-1) at Wilson (7-1, 5-0): I’ve seen the Comets three times this season, and I’m very impressed with the playmakers they’ve got on offense — quarterback P.J. Rehm, running back LaRonn Lee (a Brian Westbrook-type double threat), and speedy wideout Demetrius Dixon are the big-name guys, and they’ll all need to contribute for the Comets to pull off a win. I saw Wilson for the first time last week in their win over Manheim Township, and the Bulldogs have got some home run hitters on their side, too. Running back Kriss Brown, QB Zach Zweizig and bruising tight end Tyler Beck are their top Dawgs. This one could come down to protecting the ball. Penn Manor’s defense generates a lot of turnovers, and Wilson coughed up the ball several times in the second half last week, allowing Township to get back in the game after being dominated in the first half. That said, I just can’t pick against Wilson here. Though their lineup was nearly completely turned over from last year, the Bulldogs just have that big-game mystique going for them — and I can’t see them being that careless with the ball two weeks in a row. I’ll take the Dawgs, but I’m wavering on it.
Hempfield (4-4, 2-3) at Warwick (4-4, 2-3): Put your calendars away — as far as these two teams are concerned, this is a playoff game. The loser is out of the running for a district berth. Heck, the winner will still need a win next week (and a loss by one or two other teams) to get in. This is a tough game to pick, because neither team has shown much consistency this season. I’m leaning toward Warwick. Call it a gut feeling. Call it an educated guess. Or I could just come clean and admit the Warriors won the coin flip.
Reading (4-4, 3-2) at Cedar Crest (3-5, 1-4): Reading’s resurgence continued with last week’s victory over Hempfield. Now the Red Knights’ path is clear to the playoffs. All they’ve got to do is knock off Cedar Crest this week, then take care of winless McCaskey in the season finale. Crest has to be content with playing the spoiler at this point. I don’t think that’s enough motivation to overcome Reading’s potent offense, which is spearheaded by RB Jason Stewart. Give me the Knights.
Manheim Township (5-3, 3-2) at McCaskey (0-8, 0-5): Township picked the wrong time to go into a slump; the Blue Streaks have lost two in a row to section front-runners Penn Manor and Wilson. But they’re still in a good position to make the playoffs, as long as the skid stops here. McCaskey is playing out the string in a long, frustrating season. That frustration seemed to boil over in Monday night’s loss to Cedar Crest, when coach David Given left the field before the end of the game and several parents and fans gathered outside the locker room had to be dispersed by a call to the police. Egads. Not a great environment in Tornadoland right now. I like the Streaks to regain their bearings here. Give me Township.
SECTION TWO
Lebanon (3-5, 3-2) at Manheim Central (8-0, 5-0): The Barons are the only undefeated team left in the league. They’ve got a stranglehold on first place in the section race, and they can wrap up the top seed in the Class AAA playoff field with two more wins. Lebanon’s playoff hopes are all but gone, and even if they weren’t I can’t imagine a way for the Cedars to pull off an upset here. Central will continue its cruise to the playoffs. I’ll take the Barons.
Conestoga Valley (6-2, 4-1) at Cocalico (6-2, 3-2): This is the marquee game on the Section Two docket this week, and Jeff Reinhart will be blogging live from Denver. Both teams need at one win in the next two weeks to clinch a berth in the Class AAA playoffs. CV is currently seventh in the district power points standings, which means the Buckskins would host a first-round game if the playoffs started today. Cocalico is 10th, so the Eagles have some work to do. Good news for Cocalico: there’s a chance that QB Matt Carty, who’s been sidelined for the last few weeks with an ankle injury, could return this week. If he’s back, I like the Eagles a lot. He’s a very good two-way player for them. CV’s Kevin Kelley will get his yards, but I think the Eagles find a way to pull this out. Give me Cocalico.
Ephrata (1-7, 1-4) at Elizabethtown (3-5, 2-3): Neither team is a section title or district playoff contender, so this game’s strictly for pride. Ephrata’s struggled to move the ball all season, but the Mountaineers have been in just about every game. E-town’s been decimated by injuries, but even short-handed, I think the Bears get his one done. Give me E-town.
Garden Spot (0-8, 0-5) at Solanco (4-4, 2-3): The Golden Mules are clinging to a Class AAA playoff berth by their fingernails; they’re tied with Mechanicsburg at No. 16 in the power points standings. Solanco needs two wins and some outside help to get in at this point. At least they get one of those wins on Friday. Garden Spot’s playing out the string of a nightmarish season, and I can’t see that elusive first win coming here. Give me Solanco.
SECTION THREE
Lampeter-Strasburg (5-3, 4-1) at Northern Lebanon (5-3, 3-2): Class AAA playoff hopes are on the line in this clash, the marquee game in Section Three this week. Both teams need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The winner will also need to triumph next week to get in, but (as every football coach in the world has said at least once) they need to take it a game at a time. L-S has been playing for its playoff life all season, ever since the Pioneers started 0-2. I like the Pioneers in this one; they’ve played a tougher schedule, and they’re the hotter team. Give me L-S.
Lancaster Catholic (7-1, 5-0) at Annville-Cleona (3-5, 3-2): Catholic QB Kyle Smith will be going for the state record for career TD passes in this one; he’s currently tied with Manheim Township grad and current Pitt backup Pat Bostick with 94 scores. He should have that record pretty early — and will probably pad it out with a few more TD strikes to boot. No way the Crusaders take their eyes off the prize at this point; they’re gunning for the No. 1 seed in Class AA. Annville will not be much of an impediment. Give me Catholic.
Donegal (1-7, 1-4) at Elco (7-1, 4-1): The Raiders are hoping to set up a showdown with Lancaster Catholic for the Section Three title next week and strengthen their position in the Class AAA playoff bracket, where they’re currently ranked ninth. Donegal will do little to prevent that; the Indians have struggled on defense all season, and the Raiders have one of the league’s most prolific attacks. Give me Elco, and get me a ticket for the Catholic showdown in Week 10.
Columbia (0-8, 0-5) at Pequea Valley (1-7, 0-5): What’s the over-under for this game? About 100? Both teams can move the ball, and neither team can stop anybody. This one’s got shootout written all over it. The winner gets out of the Section Three cellar. I’m leaning toward Columbia, because it’s now or never for the Crimson Tide if they want to get their first win.
LAST WEEK: 12-0
SEASON: 89-23
