2023 Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4 Preview
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 3, News, pfn
Brian Ptashinski | August 18, 2023
Here is your preview on Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League for the upcoming football season
BERKS CATHOLIC SAINTS 3A PIAA CLASSIFICATION COACH Rick Keeley (275-154-3 38th season)
2023 SCHEDULE
2022 Season in Review: (5-6 overall, 4-3 Section 4) Defeated Pine Grove in Eastern Conference 3A Championship.
Key Games: Triple Threat Non-Conference games with Loyalsock, Executive Education and Pope John Paul II before opening up the conference with the “Backyard Brawl” against Wyomissing in week 4. Contests with Lampeter-Strasburg and Cocalico in weeks 7 and 9 are must-see games.
Players to Watch: QB Will Hess: RB-DB-KR Michael Bradley:RB-LB Devin Garcia: OL Ayden Jimenez:OL-DL Joe Polinsky:C-DL Owen Reber: LB Connor Pennington: LB Luke Impellizzeri
What to Expect: Will Hess will lead the offense at quarterback and has two capable backs in Garcia and Bradley. The line will be olid with Polinsky, Reber and Jimenez opening up holes. The Linebacking corps will be strength on defense with Impellizzeri and Pennington returning. We will learn a lot anout the Saints after their first 4 games as those teams were a combined 42-9 in 2022.
Outlook: This may be the most competitive section in the L-L. Anyone could win this section and if the Saints get off to fast start early they can make some noise.
COCALICO EAGLES 5A PIAA CLASSIFICATION COACH Bryan Strohl (20-14, 4th season)
2023 SCHEDULE
2022 Season in Review: (10-5 overall, 5-2 Section 4) Lost to eventual state champion Pine-Richland 34-12 in state 5A Semifinal
Key Games: at Warwick to start the season. Week 2 is a home game with Solanco, last year’s Section 3 champion. Manheim Central follows that and then games with Lampter-Strasburg and Wyomissing in weeks 5 and 7 respectively will really go a long way to seeing where the Eagles season stands.
Players to Watch: RB-DB-KR Brayden Eppinette: RB-DB-P Aaeyn Longennecker: QB Josh Myer: WR-DB Bryce Nash: Wr-LB Dane Bollinger: C-DL Adam Laudenslager
What to Expect: Coach Strohl was named the state’s coach of the year in 5A last year by PSFCA and should be primed to have the Eagles to get back into state contetion with Myer back at QB and Nash and Bollinger having the speed on the outside and Longenecker and Bollinger in the backfield. The Eagles have 21 seniors on this year’s squad.
Overall: Games at home with Lampeter-Strasburg and Wyomissing and tons of experience back from the PIAA State Semifinalist the Eagles should be in contention of a sectional title and maybe a deep run to Cumberland Valley in December
CONRAD WEISER SCOUTS 4A PIAA CLASSIFICATION COACH Alan Moyer (136-87 21st season)
2023 SCHEDULE
2022 Season in Review: (3-7 overall, 2-5 Section 4)
Key Games: Garden Spot and Twin Valley, playoff teams from last year are on the docket. A week 4 match-up with ELCo will kick of sectional play.
Players to Watch: QB-P Donovan Gingrich: RB Ousmane Conde:RB: Sevon Parham: TE-DE Evan Miller: WR Josh Miller: OL Charlie Shimp
What to Expect: Defense seemed to be what was the Scouts protagonist last season. With that the defense will nw go with a 4-4 look. QB Gingrich is a dual-threat and has a potent run game with Parham and Conde. Both Evan and Josh Miller gives Weiser will provide speed on the outside.
Overall: A playoff spot is not out of the question for the Scouts.
DONEGAL INDIANS 4A PIAA CLASSIFICATION COACH: Anthony Sottesante (1st season)
2023 SCHEDULE
2022 Season in Review: (4-7 overall, 3-4 Section 4) Lost to York Suburban 41-6 in opening round D3-$A playoffs.
Games to Watch: opening week versus Elizabethown. Week 4 with Lampeter-Strasburg followed by Wyomissing and Cocalico.
Players to Watch: RB-DB Ruben Mumper: RB-DB Tyler Sload: QB-DB Brock Hammaker: OL-DL Dillon Greenig: OL-DL Jackson Foye: OL-LB Bryden Rineer: TE-DE James Turbedsky
What to Expect: More of a speed option from a spread set is what coach Sottasante will bring to a traditional wing-T set that Donegal is well known for. Hammaker will be the starter under center and will have Sload and Mumper taking most of the carries behind a solid line led by Greenig, Rineer and Foye.
Overall: A tough schedule should bode well for the Indians as they look to get back into the playoffs. A lot of things have to happen to get into the top tier.
ELCO RAIDERS 4A PIAA CLASSIFICATION COACH Bob Miller (56-53, 12th season)
2023 SCHEDULE
2022 Season in Review: (4-6 overall, 1-6 Section 4)
Games to Watch: Week 2 with Annville-Cleona. Week 4 vs Conrad Weiser then on the road at Wyomissing then a home game with Cocalico and then a couple of weeks later they meet Lampter-Strasburg.
Players to Watch: RB=LB-KR Jake Williams: RB-LB Mitchell Frederick: RB-LB Elliott Krieder
What to Expect Jake Williams was named Outstanding Back of the Year in section 4 last yaer and rushed for over 1,800 yards. Gavin Bicher and Steven Rosado will battle for the starting QB Position.
Overall: The Raiders could surprise some teams this year. Williams as break-a-way speed and can change the game completely out of the veer formation.
LAMPETER-STRASBURG PIONEERS 4A PIAA CLASSIFICATION COACH Victor Ridenour (20-5 overall 3rd season)
2023 SCHEDULE
2022 Season in Review: (9-3 overall, 6-1 section 4)
Games to Watch: Week 1 at Solanco then week 5 at Cocalico and week 10 at Wyomissing
Players to Watch: QB Trent Wagner: RB-DB Jonathan Mellinger: RB Louie Malatesta: WR Dean Herr: RB-LB Jackson Heeter: TE-LB Drexton Frank: WR-DB Jack Groff: RB-DB Carson Coleman
What to Expect: So much talent back with QB Wagner leading the way with great set of back in Coleman, Maletesta and Mellinger. Frank and Heteer at LB lead the defense.
Overall: Should be in the mix with both Wyo and Cocalico for a section championship.
OCTORARA BRAVES 4A PIAA CLASSIFICATION COACH: Ed Smith (1st year)
2023 SCHEDULE
2022 Season in Review: (1-9 overall, 0-7 section 4)
Games to Watch: Week 2 with Pequea Valley Section 4 opener with Cocalico
Players to Watch: QB-LB Braedon Wood: RB-DB Chandler Stoltzfus: RB-DB Colton Focht
What to Expect: Ed Smith takes over a program desperate to get back to what they had a few yaers ago as they struggled the past two seasons. Wood will be back at QB and they have a good group of players.
Overall: The Braves will put up a good fight in every game and the kids are looking forwrad to positive outcomes throughout the season.
WYOMISSING SPARTANS 3A PIAA CLASSIFICATION COACH: Bob Wolfum (350-87-1 37th season)
2023 SCHEDULE
2022 Season in Review: (13-1 overall, 7-0 section 4) Lost to Neumann-Goretti 20-17 PIAA 3A Semifinal
Games to Watch: Week 3 at Trinity then “Backyard Brawl in week 4 with Berks Catholic. Week 7 will find the Spartans at Cocalico and Lampeter-Strasburg in week 10. October 14th when Conrad-Weiser comes to town, the field will be named after Coach Wolfrum.
Players to Watch: OL-DL Caleb Brewer: RB-LB Chase Eisenhower: RB-LB Colin Niedrowski: WR Ethan Brower: TE Evan Blickley: RB-LB Ryker Jones QB Logan Hyde
What to Expect: A disappointing end to last season in Philadelphia as the Spartans scored in the last minute to take a 17-14 lead on N-G only to give up a long TD pass on last play of the game. A new QB in Logan Hyde will start the season but the Spartans are loaded with Esenhower and Niedrowski returning. The receiving crew is led by Brower and Blickley. Calvin Brewer is a Penn State commit, will anchor the line. Ryker Jones who was hurt during the playoffs has commited to Princeton will be back as well.
OVERALL: 35 straight regular season wins for the Spartans will make them the favorite again. A bountiful amount of playmmakers and talent are the strength of this squad. Another deep run and possible appearance in the State Championship in December is definite a possibility.
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