Around the Lancaster-Lebanon League for Week 4
Tagged under: District 3, Gameday Hub, News
Carl Frederick | September 17, 2021
Week 4 in the Lancaster-Lebanon League
By CJ Frederick
Game of the Week: Lancaster Catholic @ Columbia
Both teams sit at 2-1, both teams have section title aspirations, both teams do not particularly like one another! I will be covering this game for 717 Sports Media (@carljfred) looking forward to watching this rivalry unfold. Columbia was victorious last year after losing the previous 4. A player to keep an eye Lancaster Catholic’s Running back Tony Cruz, who is averaging 4 yards per carry and seems to have the Crusaders on the right track in their rebuild.
Lancaster Catholic’s defense will have their hands full with league leading passer in almost every category Robert Footman. Footman has a number of talented receivers that he likes to get involved including Freshman Dominick Diaz who is among the league leader in receptions (16 catches for 273 yards with 1 touchdown).
Game Recap: Hempfield @ Central York
Wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t give the Black Knights credit for the way they battled to the final whistle last Friday night. Coach George Eager and his staff fought back from down 14-0 early to tie the game and had momentum going into halftime. Penn State Commit Beau Pribula and the Panthers showed why they are expected to contend for the state championship this year with a strong rushing attack to put Central York up 35-14 in the fourth quarter. Coach Eager knew they had to play perfect football in order to come out on top and a few special teams miscues hurt them dearly “I am extremely disappointed in our punt, because I run the punt team” Coach Eager said.
Things do not get any easier for Hempfield as Exeter (2-1) comes in to Landisville for their week 4 match up. The Eagles are riding high winning their last two including a 42-14 thrashing of the Wilson Bulldogs.
Player of the Week: Andre Weidman RB/LB Ephrata
Despite the loss to Warwick the Junior Running Back from Ephrata had another excellent game. Rushing for 191 yards on 22 carries with 1 touchdown. Weidman will be a force to be reckon with all season in Section 3. Averaging 8.4 yards per carry, he sits atop the LL League with 497 yards total and 7 touchdowns. He is a play-maker on defense as well, recording a sack against the Warriors, and is arguably the main reason why the Mountaineers have playoff hopes on their mind.
News and Notes
Weston Stolfus from Octorara has the highest Quarterback rating in the league through three weeks at 147. The Braves are one of two teams left remaining unbeaten (Manheim Central being the other) in the LL so far, they will be on the road at Phoenixville this week.
Columbia has two receivers in the top ten for receptions in the LL in Senior Artie Poindexter (21 receptions) and Freshman Dominick Diaz Ellis (16 receptions).
I know its early but if you would have told me that Cedar Crest, Penn Manor and McCaskey sit tied for first place in Section 1 (all are 2-1) I wouldn’t have believed you. That is where were are, Section 1 seems wide open with no clear cut favorite through a quarter of the season.
Solanco @ Lampeter Strasburg will be a fun one for the Mike Jug Traveling Trophy. Can the Pioneers keep their winning streak going under first year head coach Victor Ridenour? After posting back to back shutouts Lampeter Strasburg will welcome Solanco who are also riding high after blanking Muhlenberg 42-0 last week. Both teams quarterbacks Brody Mellinger for the Mules and Berkely Wagner for the Pioneers are their leading rushers early on.
I am anticipating a classic smash mouth type of game my partner Patrick Weider will be there on site give him a follow for live updates on twitter @footballcoach79
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