District 3 Class 4A Playoff Preview. Round 2

Tagged under: District 3, News, Playoffs

Billy Splain | November 9, 2023

**ALL GAMES FRIDAY NIGHT**

Milton Hershey (6-5) @ Bishop McDevitt (10-0) – 7:00 pm

It’s a tall task to beat a team twice in one season. The Crusaders handled the Spartans quite easily earlier this year with a 55-14 win. With players like Stone Saunders, Rico Scott, Nazir Jones-Davis and Maurice Barnes, that task is a little easier for the defending class 4A champs. They’ve run the table pretty much untested by all teams PA on their schedule. We all know the secret here. Saunders will be the main gear on offense. The Crusader defense is also a very tough squad led by Ty Kephart and Chase Regan. For the Spartans, they’ll need to play a perfect game to have a chance.

Lampeter-Strasburg (8-2) @ East Pennsboro (9-1) – 7:00 pm

How bout that East Pennsboro team? Their only blemish has come at the hands of Northern York. It hasn’t been easy for this team. They’ve played several very close games. Keith Oates III leads the way behind center with 2,000 yards passing and 16 td passes. He is also a threat to run the ball but for the most part that job belongs to JJ Gossard who has over 700 yards on the ground. Both are capable of breaking away for the big score. For Lampeter-Strasburg, this is as blue collar a team as you can get. Quarterback Trenton Wagner and running Back John Mellinger have each gained 1,300 yards for this offense. Wagner has 19 tds in the air and Mellinger 14 on the ground. Defensively for the Panthers it’s Oates who leads the way. He’s the caption on both sides of the ball. For the Pioneers they’re a tackle by committed team with Julian Lopez, Emory Fluhr and Jackson Heeter leading the way. I like this game as it has the makings of a classic, at least on paper.

Susquehanna Township (7-3) @ Manheim Central (9-1) – 7:00 pm

The Barons have just one blemish on their record, a 48-28 loss to 5A Cocalico. Other than that, it’s been a pretty simple path through Pennsylvania. Quarterback Zac Hahn has thrown for over 2,300 yards and 33 tds. This is a high scoring offense that averages 44 points per contest and Hahn has several weapons at his disposal. But his number one weapon is Aaron Enterline who has hauled in 1,245 yards worth of Hahns throws with 22 trips to the paint. Bode Sipel is also a great target. On the ground, you’ll see a whol lot of Brycen Armold. Were he just a little bigger, he’d be on his way to Division I in college. But don’t let size fool you, Armold is a stud. He’s run for nearly 1,300 yards and 17 scores. Defensively it’s Brodie Daugherty, Zion Rolon and Sipel leading the way. And it’s a stingy defense, only giving up 8.7 points per game.  Hanna Township won’t be scared. They have the fastest player in the state in D1 recruit Lex Cyrus. He’s a threat to break loose any time he has the ball. Dorian Smith is your typical work horse at the running back spot, able to run over and through defenders for the tough yards. Quarterback TD Evans is also a threat to run as well as throw. Township will need to slow down the Barons when on defense and get the ball back into the hands of Cyrus and company to have a chance.

Eastern Lebanon County (8-3) @ Twin Valley (9-1) – 7:00 pm

Twin Valley is having quite the season. Their lone blemish came to Ephrata three weeks ago. The TV Raiders are battle tested having won several close games against playoff teams. Evan Myers has compiled over 1,600 yards on offense from the quarterback position, 1,200 through the air with 8 td passes and 8 scoring runs. Drew Engle and Evan Johnson have combined for over 2,200 yards on the ground and 25 trips to the endzone. For ELCO, it’s not a secret. They’ll be looking to get Jake Williams and his 2,200 yards rolling right away. He’s their main cog in a machine that is run first. Elliott Kreider, Steven Rosado and Mitchell Frederick are his partners in crime that have racked up 3,265 yards on the ground. The TV Raiders score 41 per game and give up 18. ELCO scores just 29 per outing while giving up 21. They’ll need to lower that points allowed amount with a heavy, steady dose of Williams for a shot at the win.

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