Around the 717

Tagged under: District 3, Gameday Hub, News

Carl Frederick | October 5, 2021

Around the 717 Week 7

Senior Cody Stough takes it in for the touchdown

Game of the Week: Donegal @ Lampeter-Strasburg

This contest could very much decide the Section 3 race when the Donegal Indians (4-1) travel to face the Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers (5-1). LS is on a five-game winning streak since their opening week loss to Warwick, while Donegal is on a 4-game streak and had their game against Garden Spot canceled last Friday thanks to Covid.

The Pioneers have the best defense in the LL and love to control the clock with their strong ground game consisting of Berkely Wagner (78 carries 459 yards), Giovanni Malatesta (49 carries 280 yards) and Jonathan Mellinger (38 carries 157 yards). The Indians are not far behind defensively only allowing 87 points this season. They also have a three headed monster rushing attack in Jon Holmes (43 carries 430 yards), Noah Rohrer (48 carries 298 yards) and Cody Stough (32 carries 261 yards).

Like Rohrer and Holmes, Senior Cody Stough is a play-maker on both sides of the football. In their match-up against Columbia in Week 2, he had 2 receiving touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown and a 4th down pass break up. Unfortunately for Stough the injury bug has bitten him since going back his sophomore season, he was gracious enough to sit down to discuss all of that and much more below:

CF: You have overcome a devastating knee injury last season and a foot injury this one, what is your mindset as your team begins Section play?
Cody Stough: I’ve actually had two back-to-back knee surgeries, in my sophomore and junior years that were both season ending. My foot had a slight fracture earlier in the year, which I’ve now recovered from and feel 100%. My mindset for our section play is to do the best I can for my team, and for the team as a whole to continue playing our best and compete for the section title. 

CF: We have seen you making plays at numerous positions, what is your preference to play, Receiver, Running Back or Defensive Back?
CS:  I enjoy playing both running back and defensive back. My preference is to play where the coach and the team needs me to play.

CF: Do you intend on playing in college? If so, where?
CS: After my two injuries in the previous years, playing in college hasn’t really sparked my interest. If the opportunity was a good fit for me, then I would consider it.

CF: What can you tell us about LS as a squad, anything in particular stand out about them?
CS: I know they are physical and athletic and are a good football team overall. I think something that stands out has to be their linebacker, #56 (Senior Linebacker/Offensive Lineman Nick Delgrande), he’s a good football player on both sides. 

CF: Give us a fun fact about Cody Stough that we may not know?
CS: I used to be really good at doing back flips, but that all stopped after my first knee injury. I haven’t tried since then.



Game Recap: York High @ Dallastown

A cross town battle that saw some of the best talents in the state on full display, the York High Bearcats ran away from Dallastown 36-20. Jaheim “Florida” White was a man possessed tallying 4 touchdowns with 261 yards rushing on 19 carries. Both he and standout Wildcats Receiver Kenny Johnson (8 receptions 192 yards) were competing with one another all night and both were in attendance together the next day in Happy Valley.

Really impressed with how York was able to come back after their own covid issues to cement their place among one of the top teams in the state. Coach Russell Stoner and company know the task at hand when they return home to face Red Lion this Friday. The Bearcats deserve more recognition in my opinion, beating powerhouse Coatesville and a darn good Dallastown squad should be enough.

The Wildcats who were without their Head Coach Ron Miller (Covid) will look to regroup when they travel to Dover. They must establish Johnson in the passing game as much as possible. Last week we saw that he was taken out too many times when they were inside the redzone.


Player of the Week: Jaheim “Florida” White 19 Carries 261 yards 4 touchdowns.

No need for me to rehash what he has already accomplished as rushing for over 200 yards in a game is impressive enough. Florida was the best player on the field and will be one of the most highly recruited running backs in the state next year. He would have tallied close to 300 yards on the ground if not for a few big runs being called back. I hope my Nittany Lions are reading this and taking notice…


News and Notes

– Congrats to Cocalico Running Back Anthony Bourassa for being the first back to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark. The Eagles had a nice bounce back victory over Solanco. They will need more from Bourassa as they travel to Conestoga Valley to face a Buckskins squad (3-3) that has won two in a row.

– For my game assignment this past week I went back and forth between York-Dallastown and Columbia-Octorara. I am happy with my choice, but man what a game in Octorara with both squads trading scores in the last 4 minutes. Two of the best quarterbacks in the LL did not disappoint as Weston Stoltzfus (13 touchdowns, 0 INTS) continued his interception free campaign, while Robert Footman’s last second heroics pushed the Crimson Tide (4-1) to victory.

– Footman on the season has 16 touchdown and 6 interceptions and he is finally getting the recognition he deserves! Congrats to him and Coach Bud Kyle on their hard-fought victory. They come back home (hopefully Covid Free) to face Northern Lebanon.

– Wilson (3-3) righted the ship with the trouncing of Penn Manor 40-6. Having all star Running Back Jaydn Jones (11 carries 156 yards and 3 scores) certainly helped. They welcome McCaskey (2-4) who after their 2 and 1 start has lost their past three contests by an average of 29 points.

– Special Shout-out to Coach Bob Locker and his Warwick Warriors on their fourth straight win over Manheim Central, knocking the Barons off the undefeated list. Warwick (3-3) came into this game with back-to-back losses; shows a lot about the character of this team to come back and beat a powerhouse in Manheim Central. The Barons (5-1) travel to face Solanco (2-4) who themselves are reeling, losing their last three games.

– Junior Running back Andre Weidman (128 carries for 941 yards) keeps the Ephrata Mountaineers (4-2) moving along. In their victory over Lebanon (0-6) he gashed the Cedars for 254 yards on 28 carries with 5 touchdowns!!!! If it weren’t for some guys named Singleton and Florida, we would be talking more about this young man.

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