Lampeter-Strasburg pitches another shutout, advancing to the District 3 4A Championship

Tagged under: District 3, Gameday Hub, News

Carl Frederick | November 20, 2021

Lampeter-Strasburg gathers for a post game celebration

With a showdown against noted powerhouse Bishop McDevitt looming the Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers did not lose focus pitching their school record 5th shutout of Kennard-Dale 31-0. “They are a very good football team; it wasn’t that hard to keep our focus” Head Coach Victor Ridenour said, “You can only play one game at a time, and they absolutely demanded our attention”.

The Pioneers put their foot down early. Giovanni Malatesta picked off Rams quarterback Jacob Copenhaver at the 40 and returned it 30 yards to the 10-yard line. Two plays later fellow Senior Peyton Cunningham found the endzone from 5 yards out making it 7-0. Another three and out by Kennard-Dale set LS up deep in their territory but the drive stalled, and Andrew Reidenbaugh kicked a 32-yard field goal (10-0).

Weston Weaver picked up another interception for the Pioneers, but a Berkeley Wagner fumble at the goal line gave the Rams much needed life. Kennard-Dale could not muster much of anything against the vaunted Lampeter-Strasburg defense though, unable to cross the 30-yard line all evening. Wagner would regroup from his fumble (and an interception early in the second quarter) to hit Malatesta streaking out of the backfield for a 33-yard touchdown pass (17-0).

Hunter Hildenbrand then got in on the action with an interception at the Pioneer 44 and then caught a 35-yard touchdown three plays later. Coastal Carolina commit Nick Delgrande sacked Copenhaver leaving the score 24-0 LS at halftime.

Senior Quarterback Berkeley Wagner (3 total touchdowns) ran in the Pioneers final touchdown of the night from the 19-yard line. While many LS fans and possibly players had Bishop McDevitt on their minds, LS wanted to preserve the shutout. They succeeded with Delgrande notching his second sack of the evening, this time forcing a fumble and the final score 31-0.

A matchup with top-seeded Bishop McDevitt awaits Lampeter-Strasburg next Friday. They will be ready “I give Kennard-Dale props all the way, the fought us hard we were on the field a lot.” Senior Captain Nick Delgrande said, “Bishop McDevitt is a great football, great athleticism and a great coaching staff, that’s all”.

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