2023 Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 Preview

Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 3, News

Brian Ptashinski | August 24, 2023

Here is your preview on Section 2 of the Lancaster-Lebanon for the upcoming football season

CONESTOGA VALLEY BUCKSKINS 5A PIAA CLASSIFICATION COACH Jon Scepanski (5-5 2nd season)

2022 Year in Review: (5-5 overall, 3-3 Section 2)

Key Games: 2 road games to kickoff the season at Penn Manor and Daniel Boone 3 straight home games with Garden Spot, Warwick and Solanco.

Players to Watch: OL-DL Soren Stoltzfus: WR-DB-KR Kyle Jankowski: QB Liam Cheek: QB Garrett Daniels:WR-DB Malachi Santana

What to Expect: A team who was hit hard by graduations but do have some talent returning led by Soren Stoltzfus, a returning all-star. A quarterback battle between Cheek and Daniels. Buckskins have talent at WR spot with both Johnson and Jankowski. The secondary will be patrolled by Malachi Santana.

Overall: Question is can Conestoga Valley improve on that 5-5 season and make a move up the standings in Coach Scepanski’s second year?

EXETER EAGLES 5A PIAA CLASSIFICATION Coach: Matt Baur (105-53 15th season) 2022 Section 2 Coach of the Year

2022 Season in Review: (12-1 overall, 6-0 Section 2) Lost to Cocalico 34-13 in D3-%A championship

Key Games: Opening with Daniel Boone, week 4 Governor Mifflin, Hempfield(non-league)week 8 and Manheim Central in week 10

Players to Watch: RB-DB Gavin Reiking: WR-DB Nate Pashley:TE-LB Genuine Stultman OL-DL Logan Wegman: WR-DB Carter Redding OL-DL Keegan Sneering-Sobotka: WR-DB Nate Pashley TE Zack Zandier

What to Expect: Another team hit hard by graduation but the big men up front will be solid with Sneering-Sobotka and Wegman back and then Ryan and Matt McConnell will be the anchors. Pashley and Meekins will be dominate in the secondary. At TE they have Coastal Carolina commit Zack Zandier.Eagles will have new signal caller Riley Martinez under center.

Overall: Exeter expected to be in the conversation for post-season berth despite all the losses on a 12-1 squad. A good nucleus returning to fill in nicely.

Governor Mifflin Mustangs 5A PIAA CLASSIFICATION Coach: Jeff Lang (46-20 7th season)

2022 Season in Review: (3-7 overall, 2-4 Section 2)

Key Games: at Spring-Ford week 1 D1 power, week 4 at Exeter, 3 out of 4 weeks on the road at Wilson, Lebanon and Manheim Central before closing out at home with Warwick.

Players to Watch: RB-DB-P-KR Travis Jenkins: RB-DB Grady Garner: OL-DL Stewart Janowski: WR-DB Chase Rapp: TE-DE Kabine Toure.

What to Expect: Mustangs struggled last year in the post-Singleton era. Mustangs will have new signal caller in either Javien Pletz or Bryce Wunderlich. Mifflin will be solid up front with Gavin Kelly and Janowski returning.

Overall: This team needs to find it’s own identity after all the success they had with Nick Singleton. Pieces are in place to try to get back as one of the top contenders for a sectional title.

Lebanon Cedars 6A PIAA CLASSIFICATION Coach: Frank Isenberg (3-23 4th season)

2022 Season in Review: (0-10 overall, 0-6 section 2)

Key Games: Palmya in week 1 ten Garden Sot and week 10 at Cedar Crest

Players to Watch: OL-DL Corbett Brickle: OL Cayden Clentimack: OL Mahkye Cotes: OL Colin JohnsonL WR-DB Derrick Briddle: WR-LB Bralon Beaver: WR-DB Paul Trace

What to Expect: Being winless in their last two seasons, the Cedars have some talent returning to end that streak as they are solid up front with Clentimack, Cortes, Johnson and Brickle returning. Cedars have some talent at the receiver position with Beaverand Trace, however a new QB is a concern Brandyn Castro will compete with Kareem Stoner for the job,

Overall: Lebanon trying to snap a 22 game losing streak.

MANHEIM CENTRAL BARONS 4A PIAA CLASSIFICATION COACH: Dave Hahn (80-19, 9th season)

2022 Season in ReviewL (11-2 overall, 5-1 section 2) Lost to Bishop McDevitt 40-0 D3-4A Championship

Key Games: Week 2 against defending Delaware State Champion Smyrna, Cocalico will be up after that, Week 5 versus Warwick and a week 10 contest with Exeter.

Players to Watch: RB-LB-KR Brycen Arnold, WR-DB-KR Aaron Enterline: WR-DB Bode Siple: QB Zac Hahn: OL-DLTyler Groff

What to Expect: Barons are loaded with talent. High-powered offense led by Outstanding back of the year in Section 2 Brycen Arnold who rushed for over 2,000 yards and 34 touchdowns. QB Zac Hahn was two speedy receivers in Enterline, the receiver of the year and Bodie Siple, who was named defensive back of the year. Tyler Groff will anchor the line of scrimmage.

Overall: The Barons will have the bullseye on their back as they seek anther District championship and would really look to a chance to face McDevitt again down the road.

MUHLENBERG MUHLS 5A PIAA CLASSIFICATION Coach: John Lorchak (3-24 4th season)

2022 Season in Review: (2-8 overall, 1-5 section 2)

Key Games: Opening night at Octorara then 4 straight road games at Reading,Daniel Boone, Lebanon and Governor Mifflin Home with Manheim Central and Exeter

Players to Watch: OL-DL Tucker Bellanca: WR-DB Kyle Archie: WR Isaiah Dodson: QB Aaden Lopez: RB-LB-KR Michael Miller

What to Expect: Lopez will lead the offense at QB and Miller will try to follow up what RB Gio Cavanna started last year in rushing for over 1,000 yards. Bellanca will lead the big men up front but this is a rough and tumble section.

Overall: A tough schedule lies ahead for the Muls, if they can get off to good start they can make some noise in this section

WARWICK WARRIORS 5A PIAA CLASSIFICATION COACH Bob Locker (118-112 23rd season)

2022 Season in Review: (5-5 overall, 4-2 section 2)

Key Games: Week 1 vs Cocalico. Seven home dates on the schedule this year Ephrata, Exeter, Cedar Crest and Muhlenberg at home and Manheim Central and at Governor Mifflin on the docket.

Players to Watch: RB-LB Andrew MCClune, LB Mahkel Tate: WR-DE Thomas Jeanes: LB Evan Peters: QB-DB Trevor Evans

What to Expect: The Warriors are another team hit hard by graduation, but do have some talent returning, including QB Trevor Evans and RB Andrew McClune. At the wide-out position Thomas Jeanes will a primary target. Tate will lead the linebacking corps.

Overall: Because of work being done on Grosh Stadium, Warwick played 8 games on the road last year and missed the playoffs for fist time in 5 years. This year 7 home games are on the schedule and the Warriors will be in the chatter to make the playoffs come November.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews