Barons’ Fast Start Buries the Pioneers @LSFootball1 @CoachHahnMCFB

Tagged under: District 3, News

Phil Myers | October 8, 2018

Playing in front of a vocal homecoming crowd at Elden Rettew Stadium in Manheim, the Manheim Central Barons opened the scoring quickly and then continued to find the end zone throughout the first half in dismantling the Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers 43-7.  The win increased the state ranked Barons’ record to 7-0, while the Pioneers’ record fell to 4-3.

Manheim’s Ben Wagner took the opening kick 85 electrifying yards to the house to give the home team a 6-0 lead twelve seconds into the game.  Nico Gavala tacked on the extra point.  “The kickoff return was huge.  It was a nice way to start the game.  We’ve been talking about making special teams special this year,” stated head coach Dave Hahn.

The Barons’ stars, QB Evan Simon and RB Tyler Flick then took over the game offensively as the defense limited Lampeter-Strasburg to one touchdown and 158 yards of total offense.  Simon threw for 210 yards and two scores.  He added a rushing tally too.  Flick led all rushers with 77 yards on limited duty in the second half.  He also scored two touchdowns on short runs.

Manheim raced to a 19-0 lead after the first quarter on Simon’s one-yard sneak and Flick’s three-yard TD carry.  Will Rivers hauled in a Simon pass and raced 74 yards, then Flick ran the ball in from five yards out to increase their lead to 33-7 midway through the second period.  Joey Underwood had caught a 31-yard TD pass from Sean McTaggart for the Pioneers only score early in the second stanza.

The final points of the half came on a Gavala 34-yard field goal, boosting the Baron margin to 36-7.  “I think the defense played real well.  We gave up their touchdown, the one big play.  Just miscommunication.  Overall, our defense was pretty tough,” cited Hahn.

The only scoring in the second half came when Simon connected with Isaac Perron for a ten-yard touchdown.  Manheim Central ended the game with 383 total yards.  The Baron defense produced a couple of turnovers.  Ben and Colby Wagner each stepped in front of a McTaggart pass, with Colby’s setting up Manheim’s fifth TD when he scooted 36 yards to the Pioneer 34 with his pick.

Other game notes: McTaggart was 16 for 28 passing for 112 yards.  He had a touchdown and the two interceptions.  The Pioneers ran the ball 21 times for 46 yards.  Rivers and Perron caught three passes each for the Barons.  Rivers had 103 yards and Perron 49.  Chris Shaw toted the pigskin 10 times (all in the second half) for Manheim, gaining 56 yards.  Lampeter-Strasburg’s band had an excellent show before the game and received a nice ovation from the Manheim faithful.  Manheim’s band did a nice job too.  Manheim travels to Conestoga Valley next week and Lampeter-Strasburg visits Solanco.

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