2023 Lancaster-Lebanon High School League Football Preview

COMING BACK FOR MORE

Business as usual in the L-L, as contenders abound across the 5 sections

Year Two of the big LancasterLebanon League/Berks County League football unification is in the starting gates and ready to roll.

Year One, for all intents and purposes, went really well for the new-look, 37team league. The five section derbies went right down to the wire, with a couple of electrifying Week 10 matchups to settle those races. Six league teams went to District Three championship games, with Class 5A’s Cocalico and Class 3A’s Wyomissing claiming crowns. What’s on tap for the 2023 campaign? Here’s a look at all five sections, and how those races are shaping up.

Section One

Hempfield won all six of its league

games and captured its first section championship since 2005 last fall.

The Black Knights will go for back-toback titles this time around behind rugged two-way interior line standout Deyvid Palepale, who committed to Southern Cal

earlier this summer.

Is a repeat in the cards for Hempfield?

Manheim Township, with a long list of returning all-star players, and Wilson — no surprise there — will certainly have something to say about that.

The Blue Streaks are bringing back ace QB Hayden Johnson, a Lehigh commit, and a battalion of skill kids and top tacklers. The Bulldogs, who are angling for their 30th section title, should be strong up front and bring back QB Tommy Hunsicker.

Meanwhile, Cedar Crest and Penn Manor will look to break out of the middle-of-the-pack range and push the usual suspects. The Falcons and the Comets have been on the cusp of earning playoff bids, and they’ll keep punching this time around.

Reading and McCaskey, who will return key cogs on both sides of the ball, but are both breaking in new quarterbacks this year, will play tough football while trying to break through into that crowded lead pack.

Section Two

Exeter romped to a 12-0 getaway last fall, holding off Manheim Central in Week 10 to win the section crown and barrel all the way to the District Three Class 5A title game. The Eagles fell to Cocalico there, and then took some graduation lumps. But Exeter has reloaded and is primed for another run.

It looks like Manheim Central might be the team to beat here. The Barons are set to return 2,000-yard passer Zac Hahn, 2,000-yard rusher Brycen Armold, sure-handed receivers Aaron Enterline and Bode Sipel, and defensive ringleader Xander Kolk.

The Barons should also be plenty motivated after a gut-punch loss to Exeter and then the setback against Bishop McDevitt in last year’s District Three Class 4A championship game.

Two teams are on their way back up: Governor Mifflin and Warwick are looking to rebound after missing out on the playoffs last fall. Conestoga Valley is coming off a .500 season and is looking to build off that, and all three of those squads are hoping to make Manheim Central and Exeter sweat.

Muhlenberg and Lebanon, which will

lug a maddening 22-game losing streak into the season, continue to retool, and will certainly keep everyone honest.

Section Three

Solanco body-slammed its way to an 11-0 start and the section crown here last year, using its powerful triple-option attack to capture its first league title since 2015. The Golden Mules were hit hard by graduation, but they’ll return a nice nucleus in Quarryville.

There should be plenty of contenders here, including Solanco, which certainly has some good vibes flowing. Off the top, Garden Spot should be one of the squads in the lead pack.

The Spartans are set to return plenty of trench talent — remember the names Reed Gruber and Cullen Witmer — plus QB Kye Harting, who passed for 1,900 yards, rushed for 1,100 yards, and accounted for 33 touchdowns last fall, is back.

Definitely keep an eye on Twin Valley, which returns plenty of beef in the trenches — they’ll average 6-foot-3, 280 pounds per man there — plus playmakers like QB Evan Myers and RB Evan Johnson. The Raiders will be a tough out. As will Ephrata, which brings back 2,000-yard passer Sam McCracken and some talented skill players around him.

Elizabethtown might be the X-factor team. The Bears put up all kinds of crooked numbers and went to the playoffs in 2022. But graduation was not kind in E-town.

Don’t sleep on Daniel Boone or Fleetwood. They’re both returning some talented skill kids — DB QB Dean Rotter and Tigers QB Jack Riffle are names to know — and they’ll give everyone headaches. SECTIONS, page 13

L-L League Football 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

• Season Overview:

What’s in store this year 2

• Cover Story: Hempfield’s Deyvid Palepale prepares for his senior season — and his NCAA Division I future at USC ......4-5

• Section One: Capsule previews of Cedar Crest, Hempfield, Manheim Township, McCaskey, Penn Manor, Reading and Wilson ..........................................6-7

• 2023 Schedule: Team-by-team grid ..........................8-9

• Section Two: Capsule previews of Conestoga Valley, Exeter, Governor Mifflin, Lebanon, Manheim Central, Muhlenberg and Warwick 10-12

• Section Three: Capsule previews of Daniel Boone, Elizabethtown, Ephrata, Fleetwood, Garden Spot, Solanco and Twin Valley 14-15

• Section Four: Capsule previews of Berks Catholic, Cocalico, Conrad Weiser, Donegal, Elco, Lampeter-Strasburg, Octorara and Wyomissing 16-17

• Section Five: Capsule previews of

Annville-Cleona, Columbia, Hamburg, Kutztown, Lancaster Catholic, Northern Lebanon, Pequea Valley and Schuylkill Valley 18-19

EDITOR

Laura Eckert Thompson

SPECIAL SECTION WRITERS

Jeff Reinhart • Mike Gross

PHOTOS

Andy Blackburn • Chris Knight

Mark Palczewski

Full team previews for each L-L squad will appear exclusively at LancasterOnline.com/Sports

PREVIEW WRITERS

David Bohr • Dave Byrne

Mike Gross • Jason Guarente

Andrew Koob • Brian Markley

Kyle Morgan • Matt Pawlikowski

Jeff Reinhart

ON THE COVER

Hempfield’s Deyvid Palepale takes part in a photo shoot on Aug. 4 at the 2023 Lancaster-Lebanon League Football Media Day in Lancaster. Like many other L-L players, Palepale is getting ready to kick off his senior season. But for him, an NCAA Division I berth is waiting in the wings at USC.

4 COUNTIES 37 HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS

1 Source for L-L Football Coverage

LNP|LancasterOnline has the best high school sports coverage in Lancaster County! Our award-winning team of sports reporters takes to the sidelines to bring you all the highlights, stats, scores and stories from around the L-L League

Remember, when you subscribe to home delivery of LNP, you’ll enjoy unlimited access to LancasterOnline.com. Never miss a touchdown, goal, serve or spike, subscribe today! Call 717-291-8611 or visit Lanc.News/Start.

Or get a $4/month DIGITAL-ONLY SPORTS PASS at Lanc.News/Sports.

POINT OF ATTACK

Hempfield expects USC recruit Palepale to be in the middle of everything for his senior year

DEYVID PALEPALE STARTED PLAYING FOOTBALL AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 6.  “I DIDN’T REALLY LIKE IT THEN,’’ HE SAID AT LANCASTER-LEBANON LEAGUE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY ON AUG. 4. “DEFINITELY NOT AS MUCH AS I DO NOW.’’

The game started to click with Palepale as a kid living in Anchorage, Alaska, he said, “the first time I saw Marcus Mariota with the Oregon Ducks, and also Christian McCaffrey, when he was at Stanford.’’

In Anchorage, the now-gutted Pac-12 Conference, then including Oregon and Stanford and especially USC, was the closest thing to a regional home league.

Mariota, a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, was, like Palepale, Samoan.

McCaffery, now with the San Francisco 49ers, is a running back. So was Palepale, a running back and linebacker, all the way through junior high school, after his family moved to Lancaster County.

Palepale is 6-foot-3, 315 pounds now, an all-state defensive tackle for Hempfield. He committed last month to play college football at USC, which won a recruiting battle with Penn State and Michigan.

Palepale: Hempfield looks to USC recruit for strength, leadership

“He wasn’t always built the way he is now,’’ Hempfield coach George Eager said of Palepale. “When he came to Hempfield, he wasn’t 300 pounds, but on the field, he always had impact.’’

Palepale is the latest example of a recent trend that’s hard to miss: The best players in the L-L, at least according to major college recruiters, have been massive linemen.

The highest-ranked college recruit in L-L history was Nolan Rucci of Warwick High School, now at the University of Wisconsin.

Since then, there have been Ryan Brubaker (Cocalico/South Carolina), Nick Del Grande (Lampeter-Strasburg/ Coastal Carolina) and Jven Williams (Wyomissing/Penn State).

All since 2021. And Wyo will send another road-grader, Caleb Brewer, to Penn State next year.

Palepale is among them, yet different, and not only because he’s likely the only one who’ll play defense in college. He’s a big-play guy with a nose for the football, uniquely so for his position.

“After playing linebacker all my life, defensive line is really dumbed-down,’’ he said. “You don’t do anything but go right, left. Just push (the guy blocking you) back and go get the ball.’’

In a four-week stretch of the 2022 season, Palepale intercepted a pass, returned a fumble 23 yards for a touchdown and forced a fumble, in the end zone, that a teammate recovered for another TD.

“He’s a leader by being an every-down football player,’’ Eager said. “He’s the guy everyone looks to to make a play.’’

Another difference is Palepale’s Samoan heritage, and that heritage’s place in football culture. He is one of 180,000 Samoans living in the U.S. Another 55,000 live in American Samoa.

From that group, there were 50 Samoans in the NFL as of 2020, according to University of Pittsburgh sports historian Rob Ruck, and another 200 playing

NCAA Division I college football. Palepale has a cousin, Penei Sewell, with the Detroit Lions. USC’s defensive line coach, Shaun Nua, is Samoan. So is a family friend, Domata Peko, who played at Michigan State and in the NFL and now lives in Southern California.

So, of course, are Troy Polamalu and the late Junior Seau, and Tua Tagovailoa, the aforementioned Mariota, and two Trojans who hosted Palepale at

USC during his visit.

“For me, it’s a very comforting thing,’’ he said. “Polynesian culture in general has been a big thing at USC since the Reggie Bush era. It reminds me of Alaska. It’s like a home away from home.’’

Palepale came here with his family at age 14. Anchorage is a city of nearly 300,000, but Lancaster County felt bigger, in some ways.

“It’s more fast-paced here,’’ he said. “The amount of people in the schools,

how big the malls and things are — it was a big difference, at first.’’

His first moments on the field at Hempfield got his attention.

“Here, everybody can hit,” Palepale told LNP’s Jeff Reinhart in 2022. “In Alaska, you’d go up against teams with one or two players who would really hit you.”

Palepale started up front for the Black Knights as a sophomore in 2021. He said it took him a few weeks to get settled.

“I was kind of afraid,’’ he admitted. “I’m not sure what I was afraid of.’’

By the end of that season, however, he was first-team all-L-L Section One at defensive tackle and second team at offensive tackle. More importantly, he was on the radar of major colleges.

Louisville gave Palepale his first DI scholarship offer in April 2022. He made enough of an impression at a Penn State camp that July that James Franklin offered in September.

At that point Palepale was still mostly unknown nationally in the recruiting media, but by the beginning of his junior year he was 290 pounds, and the early weeks of the 2022 season proved he had grown without losing athleticism.

In a heady two-week stretch last November, offers came from Notre Dame, Miami, Wisconsin, Kentucky — and USC, the team he had grown up in Anchorage rooting for.

Elite high schools were also recruiting him. In December of last year, Palepale announced he would play his senior year at IMG Academy, an elite athletic academy in Bradenton, Florida.

“It’s about preparing for college,’’ Palepale said then. “I’ll be going against the best players in the country, and playing the best schedule you can play.’’

Eager was stunned.

“I felt I had a very good relationship with him,’’ he said. “He had offers coming in from Notre Dame, places like that. I felt like, ‘What went wrong? What more can we do?’ ’’

For me, it’s a very comforting thing. Polynesian culture in general has been a big thing at USC since the Reggie Bush era. It reminds me of Alaska. It’s like a home away from home.

L-L SECTION ONE: TEAM BY TEAM

CEDAR CREST FALCONS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 6A

n Head coach: Rob Wildasin (10th season, 46-43)

n Base offense: Zone Option

n Base defense: 4-3

n 2022 results: 5-5 (2-4 L-L)

n Key players returning: RB-DB Alex Abreu, WR-DB Owen Chernich, QB Jackson Custer, LB Caleb Dorshimer, C Nick Lambros, DT Tristan Long, RB-DE Fernando Marquez, TE-DE-P Aiden Schomp, OG-DE Cam Simone, WR-DB Leo Tirado, WR-DB-KR Jack Waranavage, OT-DT Christian Weaber.

OUTLOOK

n There is a solid nucleus here — particularly up front, with the return of Lambros, Long, Simone and Weaber to man the trenches — and Custer really came on last year after taking over the QB reins around the midseason mark. Abreu and Marquez have both toted the rock under the varsity lights, and Schomp is a must-see kid on the edge; he’s been stockpiling scholarship offers. Don’t sleep on the Falcons.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Middle of the pack for now, but Crest certainly has the pieces to give everyone fits. A bounce here or a bounce there, and the Falcons could put themselves in position for a playoff push. A win against any of the usual section suspects would definitely give a jolt to this crew — and get everyone’s attention.

HEMPFIELD BLACK KNIGHTS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 6A

n Head coach: George Eager (fourth season, 20-12)

n Base offense: Pro Style

n Base defense: 3-4

n 2022 results: 9-3 (6-0 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-KR Micah Gates, QB-P Jackson Landis, OT-DE Deyvid Palepale, OG-DT Mike Shaffer, WR-DB Elias Sherrick, C Quentin Sneed.

OUTLOOK

n It’s a good time to be in Hempfield’s

program, as the Knights are coming off a section title and second straight deep postseason journey. The good news is that multiple key cogs are due back — Landis, Gates and Sherrick will lead the skill-kid brigade — but here’s the rub: Hempfield must replace nine starters on defense. Palepale, a Southern Cal commit, is a wrecking ball, and he, Sneed and Shaffer will anchor the trenches. But there will be a lot of newbies flanking those guys.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Lead pack for sure, even if that tricky early schedule gets wonky at some point. And the Knights get Manheim Township and Wilson at home, which is huge. Take care of business there, and Hempfield has the goods to defend its section title. But it won’t be easy.

Manheim Township’s Lex Haberbosch, left, grabs hold of Hempfield’s Jackson Landis during a District Three Class 6A semifinal in Landisville on Nov. 18, 2022.

MCCASKEY RED TORNADO

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 6A

n Head coach: Ben Thompson (third season, 3-17)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: 3-4

n 2022 results: 1-9 (0-6 L-L)

n Key players returning: OG Alexis Beriguete, QB Jalen Cintron, OG Adrias Collazo, WR-KR-P DeAndre Jones, RB-LB Steven LavenderGray, C Aaron Martin, QB-DB Xavion Martinez, RB Joshua Morales, DE Jan Ramos, LB Eliezer Santiago, WR Ian Santiago, LB Luis Santiago, LB Eh Klu Soe, DB Junior Solivan, WR-DB-KR Quimeak Talton, WR-DB Kenta Williams.

OUTLOOK

A lot of key pieces are due back in Tornado Alley, as McCaskey tries to shimmy its way up the section ladder. Good news: There is some beef coming back in the trenches, and that’s always a good thing in this section. Plus, there are some veteran skill guys — playmakers Jones, Lavender-Gray, Talton — due back. Looks like Cintron will get the QB duties. He’s taken some varsity snaps in the past. McCaskey’s bugaboo has been stopping people; D must rise up this time around.

CRYSTAL BALL

Can’t see the Tornado spinning into the crowded lead pack just yet. But can see McCaskey making more steps forward, as Thompson’s troops keep their collective fingers and toes crossed to snap the Tornado’s 10-year playoff drought.

MANHEIM TOWNSHIP BLUE STREAKS

THE

PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 6A

n Head coach: Mark Evans (13th season, 88-40)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: 3-3

n 2022 results: 9-4 (4-2 L-L)

n Key players returning: DT Carter Bair, OT-LB

Tom Capizzi, RB-LB Declan Clancy, RB-DB-KR

Nick Good, WR-DB Lex Haberbosch, QB-P

Hayden Johnson, WR-DB Landon Kennel, OTDL Julian Larue, K Hunter Nguyen, WR-LB Nick Palumbo, WR-DB Don Rodriguez, RB-DE Eli Rodriguez, WR-DB Antonio Vazquez, RB-DE Tyler Veilleux, WR-DB Asher Wolfe.

OUTLOOK

n Positively peachy. The reigning District Three runners-up are bringing back the house, with an impressive list of skill players, trench protectors and tacklers due back across the board, including Johnson, the O triggerman and Lehigh commit who is approaching 5,000 career passing yards. Only area of concern: Offensive line, where the Streaks must replace some studs up front. Get that group ironed out, and this crew has the artillery to do damage.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Bull’s-eye on the Blue Streaks. Manheim Township has the weapons to win gold. It might come down to Week 10 at Wilson, which should make this race mighty interesting to track along the journey to the finish line.

L-L SECTION ONE: TEAM BY TEAM

PENN MANOR COMETS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 6A

n Head coach: John Brubaker (ninth season, 21-57)

n Base offense: Triple Option

n Base defense: Odd Stack

n 2022 results: 5-5 (3-3 L-L)

n Key players returning: DB Kyle Furnier, RB-LB Mikey Hollister, OG-DT Sekai Lewis, OT Carter Rachor, RB-LB Kyle Schmidtke, RB-LB Willard Smith, OG Kyle Sullenberger, TE-DE Dhamir Wesley.

OUTLOOK

n Some great news off the top, as the Comets are strong in the all-important trench area, with Lewis, Rachor and Sullenberger all due back for line-ofscrimmage duty — with a lot of size moving quickly up the pipeline in Millersville. Keep an eye on the QB spot; newbies Collin Robinson and J.J. Boas are vying for the signal-caller gig. Must also mention Wesley, who is a force off the edge on both sides of the ball. The blue-chipper will make PM tick.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Comets are a break-even 10-10 over the last two seasons, just missing out on the playoffs both times. Will the third time be the charm? They’ll probably have to beat one of the usual section suspects to make that happen. Can they? Survey says … stay tuned.

WILSON BULLDOGS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 6A

n Head coach: Doug Dahms (18th season, 178-38)

n Base offense: Zone Read

n Base defense: 4-3

n 2022 results: 8-3 (5-1 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-DB-KR Edison Case, OT-DT Jack Dendall, OG Anthony Geloso, QB-P Tommy Hunsicker, TE Brady Kline, C-DT Logan Kurzweg, OT A.J. Matta, OG-LB Ryan McMillan, K Ben Rada, WR Austin Valukevich.

OUTLOOK

n Plenty to like in West Lawn, where the Bulldogs are set to return nine starters on offense, including pile-drivers Dendall and Kurzweg anchoring the line, dual-threat QB Hunsicker taking snaps, and Case and Kline making catches. Wilson does need to find a new feature RB. Question mark — oddly enough, considering this program’s history — is defense, where the Bulldogs must replace a plethora of body-crunching tacklers. Wilson is also set to begin life after Cam Jones, a dazzling athlete and arguably the best kick-returner in league history.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Lead pack for sure for the Bulldogs, and dates at Hempfield and at home with Manheim Township to cap it off should determine who wins this sucker. Can Wilson make it an even 30 overall L-L section championships? Short answer is yes. But it won’t be a cakewalk.

READING RED KNIGHTS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 6A

n Head coach: Troy Godinet (second season, 3-7)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: Multiple

n 2022 results: 3-7 (1-5 L-L)

n Key players returning: RB Alexis Alvarado, DB Xavier Beatty, OT Keyshawn Efese, OG Romello Fuentes, RB-LB Gabriel Laws, DE Michael Oyedemi, WR Kahlil Samuel, DB Cameron Small, WR Jahsir Wilson.

OUTLOOK

n Year Two for Godinet, who continues to steer the program forward. Fantastic news in Knights’ camp: Efese and Fuentes, a couple of hammers, are due back to anchor the O-line, and Reading’s front seven on D should be strong. There will be a new QB — Godinet wasn’t spilling any beans about that competition in camp — so keep an eye on that. And all eyes on Laws to swarm and spearhead the tackle brigade, and to get more touches out of the backfield. Reading will make everyone earn it.

CRYSTAL BALL

n After the Knights got their feet wet in their return to Section One action last fall, here’s thinking they’ll make a little more noise this time around. Does that mean Reading will be pounding at the door for a section crown and a district playoff trip in Week 10 at Hempfield? We shall see. But don’t overlook this crew.

2023 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Starting with this special capsule edition, plus full season previews of all 37 teams appearing online this week, we’ll have you covered for your L-L football needs this season. Each week has several ways to find football content alongside our traditional previews, features and game coverage.

Midweek, go online for the L-L Football Roundtable, where

writers Jeff Reinhart, Jason Guarente and Mike Gross interview players and coaches, recap the previous week and preview the coming week’s matchups.

Also, keep an eye out for LNP’s new L-L football podcast. More details on that will be coming soon.

We’ll also have our weekly live scoreboard every Friday night at LancasterOnline, and five days a week you can

have the “L-L Football Exclusive” newsletter, curated by Jeff Reinhart, sent right to your email inbox. Each entry brings you news, notes and more.

Or, if you want ALL the sports and stats, you can sign up for our LNP Sports Pass — a sports-only digital subscription — for just $4 a month or $40 a year. For more information or to sign up, visit LancasterOnline.com/sports

2023 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Denotes HOME games

L-L SECTION TWO: TEAM BY TEAM

CONESTOGA VALLEY BUCKSKINS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 5A

n Head coach: Jon Scepanski (second season, 5-5)

n Base offense: Pistol Wing-T

n Base defense: 4-3

n 2022 results: 5-5 (3-3 L-L)

n Key players returning:

LB Jackson Byers, QB Liam Cheek, C-DE Justin Corson, QB Garrett Daniels, TE Dominick Epstein, TE-DE Shymier Hernandez, WR-DB-K-P Kyle Jankowski, WR-DB-KR Jayden Johnson, WR-DB Malachi Santana, TE-LB Brett Schnader, WR-DB Isaiah Sensenig, OT-DT

Soren Stoltzfus, OG-DT Tal Stoltzfus. OUTLOOK

n Some heavy graduation losses, yes. But there is a nice nucleus returning in Witmer, including all-star Soren Stoltzfus, a trench stalwart who will anchor both lines. There will be a new QB — Cheek and Daniels both have some varsity snaps under their belts — but the signal-caller will have a pair of experienced pass-catchers, Jankowski and Johnson, at his disposal. Secondary is also in good shape — keep an eye on Santana back there — but the Bucks must find a reliable RB to take the rock.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Year Two for Scepanski in Witmer, and the Bucks made it through a trying 2022 campaign last fall with a hard-earned .500 record. Here’s thinking they’ll take another bump forward this time around.

EXETER EAGLES

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 5A

n Head coach: Matt Bauer (15th season, 105-53)

n Base offense: Multiple

n Base defense: Multiple

n 2022 results: 12-1 (6-0 L-L)

n Key players returning: C-DT Matt McConnell, OG-DT Ryan McConnell, DB Nigel Meekins, WR-DB Carter Redding, RBDB Gavin Reiking, WR-DB Nate Pashley, OL-DL Keegan Sneering-Sobotka, TE-LB Genuine Stutzman, OL-DL Logan Wegman, TE Zack Zandier.

OUTLOOK

n Graduation was not kind to the Eagles, who saw multiple all-star players exit stage right after last year’s fantastic voyage to the District Three Class 5A title tilt. But the cupboard is hardly bare, and it will start up front with the McConnell twins, SneeringSobotka and Wegman all due back in the trenches. Secondary is in excellent hands

GOVERNOR MIFFLIN MUSTANGS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 5A

n Head coach: Jeff Lang (seventh season, 46-20)

n Base offense: Midline Option, Veer

n Base defense: 4-2-5

n 2022 results: 3-7 (2-4 L-L)

n Key players returning: TE-LB Aidyn Cannon, DB Jason Howland, WR-LB Chase Huber, OT-DE Stewart Janowski, RB-DB-PKR Travis Jenkins, RB-LB Brandon Jones, C-DT Gavin Kelly, WR-DB Chase Rapp, TE-DE Kabine Toure.

with Pashley and Meekins, and blue-chip TE Zandier — a Coastal Carolina commit — is back to catch passes off the edge. All eyes on newbie QB Riley Martinez to steer the ship.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Can’t overlook the heavy grad losses here. But still, a good mix is coming back for the Eagles. Not sure another 12-0 getaway is in the cards. But Exeter — even with some new pieces — will find a way to be there when late October rolls around.

OUTLOOK

n Will this be a bounce-back season for the Mustangs? The pieces are here for that to happen, starting with Janowski and Kelly anchoring the O-line, plus edgerusher Toure blowing stuff up. Jones could be a workhorse back, but Mifflin will be breaking in a new QB to take the wheel; Javien Pletz, who took some snaps last year, and Bryce Wunderlich are in line for that job.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Gotta believe last year was a blip — Nick Singleton did not walk back through that door — after so much recent success in Shillington. This pack of Mustangs should be mighty hungry, and the thinking here is that Mifflin will start its climb back up the section charts and wedge its way into the playoff picture this time around.

L-L SECTION TWO: TEAM BY TEAM

LEBANON CEDARS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 6A

n Head coach: Frank Isenberg (fourth season, 3-23)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: 3-4

n 2022 results: 0-10 (0-6 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-LB

Braylon Beaver, OG-DT Corbett Brickle, WR-DB Derrick Briddell, QB Brandyn

Castro, OT Cayden Clentimack, OT Mahkye Cortes, RB-LB Aidan

Fernandez, DB Jack Herr, WR-DB-K-P

Derek Infante, OG Colin Johnsen, RBLB Kai Rivera, WR-DB Paul Trace, DE Josiah Wright.

OUTLOOK

n Baby steps, Lebanon. The Cedars haven’t won a game in more than two years, but they’ll barrel into this season with a lengthy list of top returning players. That includes Brickle, Clentimack, Cortes and Johnson to man the trenches, plus Briddell on the flanks and Wright off the edge on D. Question mark is QB; Castro, the holdover, and newbie Kareem Stoner are vying for snaps. They’ll have veteran wideouts like Beaver, Infante and Trace at their disposal, as Lebanon looks to get out of this dizzying funk.

CRYSTAL BALL

n This 22-game losing skid — the Cedars’ last victory was a 35-23 triumph over Garden Spot on Oct. 9, 2020, back in the disjointed COVID-19 season — has reached the maddening, hair-pulling stage. The goal in Cedar Country: Keep everyone honest, keep chugging, keep improving and somehow, some way get a W. Then build off that.

MANHEIM CENTRAL BARONS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 4A

n Head coach: Dave Hahn (ninth season, 80-19)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: 4-2-5

n 2022 results: 11-2 (5-1 L-L)

n Key players returning: RB-LB-KR Brycen Armold, WR-DB Sonny Callahan, WR-DB Kadin Dabich, RB-LB Brodie Daugherty, C-DT Jason Dougherty, TE-LB Owen Eichelberger, WR-DB-KR Aaron Enterline, OT-LB Hunter Garber, OT-DT Tyler Groff, QB-P Zac Hahn, C Ethan Jones, DE Xander Kolk, OG-DT James Simpkins, WR-DB Bode Sipel, RB-DB Michael Torres, DT Yancey Turner.

OUTLOOK

n All systems are go for launch in Manheim, where the Barons are set to unleash what promises to be a mustsee offense. Do not miss this four-pack of O performers: Hahn is the maestro; Armold, who rushed for 2,242 yards with 34 TD runs last fall, is a slippery runner; and Enterline and Sipel are sure-handed, home-run-hitter wideouts. Keep an eye on some young-pup linebackers and the O-line; Groff is back to anchor that crew, but he’ll have some fresh faces around him. Secondary is in great shape, and Kolk and Turner return to key the tackle brigade.

CRYSTAL BALL

n We’ll go ahead and put the bull’s-eye on the Barons, who are poised to do some serious damage this fall. Weapons — and motivation — are here for Manheim Central to win its 28th overall section championship. And the Barons would love a rematch against Bishop McDevitt on the District Three Class 4A big stage in November. First things first: Maneuvering through the Section Two meat-grinder, which will be fraught with landmines.

L-L SECTION TWO: TEAM BY TEAM

WARWICK WARRIORS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 5A

n Head coach: Bob Locker (23rd season, 118-112)

n Base offense: 1-back

Pistol

n Base defense: 3-4

n 2022 results: 5-5 (4-2 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-DB Quinn Care, OT-DE Aaron Cash, TE-DE Cristian Cedeno, OT-DE Luke Detter, QB-DB Trevor Evans, DE Owen Hursh, WR-DE Thomas Jeanes, RB-LB Jack Koons, WR Keldyn Loraw, RB-LB Andrew McClune, LB Evan Peters, TE-LB Aiden Richey, WR-LB Jackson Shelby, LB Mahkel Tate.

OUTLOOK

n Some tough graduation losses, and hey, it happens. But the Warriors have a nice

nucleus back in the fold, including veteran ball-carrier McClune, pass-catcher Jeanes and hit-machine ’backer Tate. O-line is going to need some seasoning, and they’ll block for a newbie QB; Evans, an all-star DB, slides behind center. He’s taken some random varsity snaps. Now, he’s got the keys to the O. Perhaps most importantly, Warwick gets seven home games, one year after playing eight road tilts because of construction at Grosh Field.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Odd not seeing the Warriors in the playoffs last fall — it was the first time since 2017 that Warwick missed the postseason bash — and those eight road games simply became a drag down the stretch in 2022. Seven home dates this time around — and some key pieces coming back in Lititz — so here’s thinking Warwick will elbow its way back into playoff position, while keeping Manheim Central and Exeter on their toes in the section hunt.

MUHLENBERG MUHLS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 5A

n Head coach: John Lorchak (fourth season, 3-24)

Brayden Bowles

Brayden , Here’s to a back-to- back winning season with Lancaster Catholic We’re so proud of you and can’ t wait to see you on the field!

Love , Grandma, Richard, Dad, & Cait

Love , MomM om + PopPop

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: 4-3

n 2022 results: 2-8 (1-5 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-DB Kyle Archie, C-DT Tucker Bellanca, TE-LB Wes Clemison, WR-DB Javien Cruz, WR Isaiah Dodson, OT-DE Samson Evans, OT Tony Ferreira, QB Aaden Lopez, WR-K-P Rudy Maduena, RB-LB-KR Michael Miller, OT Robert Mogel, TE-LB Jesus Ostos, OG-DT Zavier Otero, RB Jacob Torok.

OUTLOOK

n The Muhls spent the offseason tinkering with their offense — 1,000-yard speedy RB Gio Cavanna graduated — and the good news is that they’ll have a trench pillar in Bellanca to anchor the line-of-scrimmage crew. Lopez took some snaps last season, and he’ll have Miller, who had a breakout freshman season last fall, and who is stepping into Cavanna’s super-back role this time around, at his disposal. There are a lot of pieces here — Lorchak likes his wideouts and secondary ball-hawkers — but the kids up front must block and tackle in this rugged section.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Can the Muhls wedge their way into the middle of the pack and make the Manheim Centrals, Exeters, Warwicks, Conestoga Valleys and Governor Mifflins of the world nervous? Of course. But they’ll need to gel quickly and prove it.

Palepale

Continued from 5

But Eager still had a trump card: Palepale’s brother, Dehvyn Launo, freshman-to-be, a running back, linebacker (sound familar?) and, according to Palepale, “just a beast.’’

“I decided I really wanted to play with my brother,’’ Palepale said after announcing he’d changed his mind, and was staying at Hempfield. “I wanted to play with (my Hempfield teammates) one last time. I thought that leaving would go against everything I stand for.’’

Meanwhile, offers kept coming … Ohio State, Auburn, Oklahoma. By this spring, though, the race was down to Penn State, Michigan and USC. He officially visited all three in June, and chose the Trojans last month.

There were non-football reasons.

“(USC was) the first time I talked to a professor at any university,’’ he said.

He plans to major in accounting, but he’s also interested in real estate.

“I want to start interning in real es-

Hempfield’s Deyvid Palepale, shown in an Aug. 2 photo, is looking forward to his senior season before he heads off to play football for the University of Southern California.

tate in the summers, and I was talking to people who actually do real estate (at USC),’’ he said. “Just everything

that goes into it, especially in Southern California. That got my attention.’’

There were also football reasons, beginning with a strong connection to Nua.

“One of the things I’ve talked about with him is seeing me play standing up, in a two-point stance, college coaches love that because it shows your athleticism,’’ Palepale said. “Coach Nua said they’re already thinking about packages for me to be on the edge.’’

Eager, meanwhile, has been thinking about solving the eternal problem of blue-chip high school linemen: What if opponents simply run away from you?

“That’s what I’d do,’’ Eager said.

Which is why a lot of the time this fall, the L-L’s biggest big guy will line up right over the ball, at nose tackle. In the middle of the intersection, using his innate football GPS to disrupt game plans. It should be fun to watch.

“It’s hard to run away from a guy who’s right at the point of attack,’’ Eager said.

Sections: An overview of 2023’s L-L football possibilities

Continued from 2

Section Four

The talk last year was that this section might be one of the toughest in the state. And it didn’t disappoint.

Wyomissing bolted to a 13-0 start, won the section and captured its fourth District Three Class 3A championship in a row. After a 3-4 getaway, Cocalico won seven games in a row, stunned undefeated Exeter for district gold and, like Wyo, went to the state semifinals.

Five teams in all went to the playoffs.

Bull’s-eye once again here on Wyo. Yes, the Spartans lost some all-star talent to graduation. But they’ve reloaded, with top talent coming back all over the field.

Cocalico, with some great vibes and outstanding talent due back, includ-

ing 1,800-yard rusher Sam Steffey, will definitely push. And the Eagles get Wyo and Lampeter-Strasburg, another contender here, at home on the schedule.

L-S brings back dual-threat QB Trent Wagner and 1,100-yard rusher Carson Coleman, so expect the Pioneers to be pounding at the door when crunch time rolls around. They should be motivated after falling to Manheim Central in the District Three Class 4A semifinals last year.

Berks Catholic, which won the Eastern Conference 3A playoff game last year, Donegal, a playoff team last fall, Elco, which was 3-0 out of the chute in 2022, and Conrad Weiser, which is itching for a return postseason trip, should all keep Wyo, Cocalico and L-S in line.

Octorara, which is breaking in just its second coach in the history of the Braves’

program, is looking to play spoiler.

Section Five

This was a terrific race last fall, when Lancaster Catholic survived a wild game at Schuylkill Valley on the last night of league play to hoist the gold trophy — and cap a 10-0 regular-season ride.

Annville-Cleona was also right in the race down to the bitter end, and the Dutchmen, Lancaster Catholic and Schuylkill Valley are your favorites going in this time around.

A-C brings back some pile-drivers up front; Lancaster Catholic returns 1,000yard back Elijah Cunningham; and Schuylkill Valley will feature 1,500-yard rusher Dominic Giuffre — who accounted for 30 touchdowns last fall — and 18 returning starters in all.

Hamburg should also be in the mix. Despite some heavy grad hits, the Hawks are coming off a playoff victory and have some key skill kids coming back. Don’t overlook this crew.

Here are two sleeper teams to circle: Kutztown continues to make big strides in its program, and Northern Lebanon is bringing back some talented kids on both sides of the ball, including LB Luke Shaffer, who piled up 140 tackles last fall. Meanwhile, Columbia and Pequea Valley will keep taking jabs, while trying to maneuver their way up the ladder in this tricky section.

n Sports writer Jeff Reinhart covers L-L football for LNP. Email him at jreinhart@lnpnews. com, and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @JeffReinhart77.

L-L SECTION THREE: TEAM BY TEAM

DANIEL BOONE BLAZERS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 4A

n Head coach: J.D. Okuniewski (first season)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: 3-4

n 2022 results: 2-8 (1-5 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-LB-KR Ethan Kryman, WR-DB-K-KR Max Heffner, TE-LB Anthony High, C Reilly Mentzel, OT-DT Jordan Meyer, RB-LB Jake Myers, DB Ryan Poore, QBDB Dean Rotter.

OUTLOOK

n Okuniewski takes over the reins in Birdsboro, and one of the first things the Blazers’ former QB did was install a new spread offense. Veteran QB Rotter will pilot that O, which features this change: Kryman — a former scatback — slides over to wideout, opening the door for Myers to get more carries. Heffner and High will also be key cogs in the skill-kid department. Biggest question mark will be the O-line; Boone lost some thumpers there, and Meyer returns to be the trench leader.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Here’s thinking Boone will make a bigger splash this time around, with some key kids back in tow and a new voice in Okuniewski in the captain’s chair. Never a dull moment in this section — pay attention — and the Blazers have the potential to make life miserable for any of the contenders down the stretch.

EPHRATA MOUNTAINEERS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 5A

n Head coach: Kris Miller (eighth season, 26-41)

n Base offense: Spread

Storm Haney

Lancaster Catholic High School

Bring the thunder, Storm!

Have a great senior year.

Go Crusaders!

Love , Grammie, Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Lori , Mary Elizabeth , Aunt Lisa , Patrick, Sean & Meghan

ELIZABETHTOWN BEARS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 5A

n Head coach: Keith Stokes (second season, 8-3)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: 3-4

n 2022 results: 8-3 (4-2 L-L)

n Key players returning: TE-LB Ian Brosey, K Caleb Fuge, RB-LB Hayden Haver, WR-DB Drew Hitz, DE Dominic Lindsey, RB Brady Moran, LB Zac Steffe.

OUTLOOK

n The Bears’ top-players-lost-to-graduation list is a tad on the lengthy side — 16 starters and eight all-star players are gone — as several key-cog standouts have moved on. The biggest switch, other than unveiling multiple first-time starters, will be on D, where Stokes junked Elizabethtown’s 4-3 set for a 3-4 scheme. Ball-hawkers Haver and Lindsey will spearhead that crew. There will also be a new triggerman; Josh Rudy, a 2,000-yard passer last fall, has graduated. Newbies Brayden Huber and Trent Kauffman are vying to fill his big shoes.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Graduation was not kind to the Bears. But that doesn’t mean Elizabethtown can’t rumble with the lead pack again this time around. Their goal: Making sure those late-season trips to Garden Spot and to Ephrata to close it out are meaningful matchups, with the section title and a playoff bid still on the table.

n Base defense: 3-4

n 2022 results: 6-4 (3-3 L-L)

n Key players returning: OG-DE MacGyver Balmer, RB-LB Brayden Brown, WR-DB Angel Collazo, WR-DB Nate Conover, OG-LB Brennan Frymoyer, K Evan Honberger, WR-DB-KR Nick Keller, WR-DB-KR Jeremiah Knowles, QBDB-P Sam McCracken, OT-DE Jackson Nolt, TE-LB Quintin Pfautz, WR-LB Clay Ringler.

OUTLOOK

n The Mounts keep making big strides, and after a couple of near misses in the postseason bid department, Ephrata will again take aim at a playoff invite. The pieces are here to get it done; McCracken was a 2,000-yard passer last fall, and he’ll have burner wideouts Knowles, Collazo and Keller at his disposal. Brown also got some touches out of the backfield last fall, and he’ll slide in for Andre Weidman, the

leading rusher in program history. Pfautz will be the D ringleader, as the Mounts unveil their shiny new 3-4 scheme. Keep an eye on the trench guys.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Itching for their first playoff trip since 1987, the Mounts should be plenty motivated to get to that sevenwin plateau and nail down that illusive postseason invite. Could a section crown also be in the making for this crew? Gut hunch here is that the Mounts will indeed ride with the lead pack. After that … stay tuned.

L-L SECTION THREE: TEAM BY TEAM

FLEETWOOD TIGERS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 4A

n Head coach: Steve Pangburn (second season, 2-8) n Base offense: Multiple Gun

n Base defense: 4-2-5

n 2022 results: 2-8 (0-6 L-L)

n Key players returning: RB-LB Czion Brickle, OT Brandon Delgrosso, OG Harrison Fisher, TE-DE Landon Hare, C-DE Cody Harders, RB-LB Trey Killian, OG-DT Hunter Leister, K Will Maurek, WR-LB Tristin McFarland, WR-DB Mason Musitano, RB-LB Jasion Petion, QB Jack Riffle, OT Hunter Svoboda.

SOLANCO GOLDEN MULES

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 5A

n Head coach: Tony Cox (10th season, 54-50)

n Base offense: Triple Option

n Base defense: 4-3

n 2022 results: 11-1 (6-0 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-DB Kris Burgos, C-DT Gavin Cox, OG-DE Landon Dunlap, RB-DB Asher Eshelman, RB Johnny Garcia, DT Jordan Kephart, WR-DB Donovan Peters, RB-DB Landon Steele, QB Bradley Weder.

OUTLOOK

n A fabulous 2022 for the Mules, who won section gold for the first time since 2015 and had a playoff victory as the 1-seed in District Three Class 5A. And then 17 starters and 15 all-star performers sashayed across the stage on graduation night. Still, some key kids are set to return, including Cox at center to anchor the O-line, and Kephart at D-tackle to make the D go. Steele is another player to watch on both sides of the ball, and Weder, who took a few snaps in backup duty last fall, slides in behind center as Solanco’s pitch-man.

TWIN VALLEY RAIDERS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 4A

n Head coach: Brett Myers (second season, 7-5)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: 4-4

n 2022 results: 7-5 (3-3 L-L)

OUTLOOK

n Big changes schematically in Tigers’ camp, as Pangburn installed a new multi-gun look on offense and a 4-2-5 set on defense. Those will need to take shape quickly in this tricky section. Skill kids aplenty back on O — Brickle is a tough runner, Dakota Thomas, who transferred in from Kutztown, is a veteran RB, and Musitano and McFarland are sure-handed receivers — and Riffle returns as the triggerman. He’ll need road-graders like Delgrosso, Fisher, Harders, Leister and Svoboda — a William & Mary commit — to keep him upright.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Tigers, with some beef in the trenches, would love to wedge their way into the middle-of-the-pack range, but there are a lot of heavyweights ahead of them. Fleetwood will certainly keep taking jabs.

GARDEN SPOT SPARTANS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 5A

n Head coach: Matt Zamperini (14th season, 70-75)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: 4-2-5

n 2022 results: 7-4 (4-2 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-LB Jace Conrad, OL-DE Joe Cruz, LB Max Davis, RB-DT Nathan Eberly, OT-DE Reed Gruber, QB-P Kye Harting, WR-DB Trenton Hoober, RB-LB Cole Humphreys, WR-DB A.J. Hurst, C Zach Miller, OT-DL Tommy O’Neill, WR-DB Diego Portales, WR Nick Smucker, OG-DT Cullen Witmer.

OUTLOOK

n Plenty of good news for the Spartans, starting with the return of Gruber, Miller, O’Neill and Witmer to man the O-line. That’s a huge start. They’ll protect Harting, who passed for 1,974 yards, rushed for 1,110 yards and accounted for 33 touchdowns last fall, becoming just the 11th QB in league history to amass a 1,000/1,000 season. He’ll have holdover receivers Conrad, Hoober, Portales and Hurst at his disposal.

CRYSTAL BALL

CRYSTAL BALL

n Defending champs lost some firepower to graduation — 26 seniors in all exited stage left — but there are still plenty of good vibes

flowing in Quarryville. Can the Mules keep the good times rolling and repeat? Here’s thinking they’ll be with the lead pack in crunch time. But that race should be mighty crowded.

OT Sam Donnellan, OT Aris Drake, RB-DB-KR Drew Engle, K Sam Fry, RB-DB-KR Evan Johnson, WR Markos Karros, DE Kyle Kline, DB Mason Marks, OG Paul McClune, DB Julian Mendez, OG Grayson Miller, QB-DB Evan Myers, DT Markell Norris, WR Justin Pinciotti, C Noah Roehm, RB-DB Jordan Rose, DE Ben Savidge, DB Ben Spiri, TE-DT Ean Winchester.

OUTLOOK

n Key players returning: WR-DB Ethan Ameisen,

n Some great vibes in Elverson, where the Raiders have put together back-to-back playoff trips, including a postseason victory last year. And with a bunch of key players back in tow, TV is primed for a section-championship run. Names to know: Myers is a dual-threat QB and a feisty field general. McClune

n We’ll put the section favorite tag on the Spartans, and that’s a gut-hunch, with any number of teams here that could go on the 1-line heading into the season. Three of Garden Spot’s ultra key games are at home. And there are several key pieces due back in New Holland. Come and get ’em.

is a blue-chip trench plugger, and he anchors an O-line that averages 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds per man. Winchester is a rugged two-way performer. And Johnson and Engle are legit playmakers. Do not sleep on the Raiders.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Was very tempted to put the bull’s-eye on the Raiders but couldn’t quite pull the trigger. Still, gotta believe TV will be there at the finish line — and in line to win a section title of any kind for the first time since 2007 — especially if it can survive that dastardly Elizabethtown, Solanco, Garden Spot, Ephrata gauntlet in October.

L-L SECTION FOUR: TEAM BY TEAM

BERKS CATHOLIC SAINTS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 3A

n Head coach: Rick Keeley (38th season, 275-154-3)

n Base offense: Wing-T

n Base defense: 4-2-5

n 2022 results: 5-6 (4-3 L-L)

n Key players returning: RB-DB-KR

Michael Bradley, RB-LB Devin Garcia, QB Will Hess, LB Luke Impellizzeri, OG Ayden Jimenez, LB Connor Pennington, OT-DE Joe Polinsky, C-DT Owen Reber.

OUTLOOK

n Some key losses — most notably Josiah Jordan, who was a multi-purpose fiend — but some nice pieces to build around for the Saints, who took the Eastern Conference route to the postseason last fall. Hess returns to run the O, and Bradley and Garcia should be movers and shakers. Reber, Polinsky and Jimenez are back to anchor the trenches, and Pennington is a ball-hawker ’backer. Early schedule is a grind — first four teams on the Saints’ slate went a combined 42-9 last year — so a fast start would behoove BC.

CRYSTAL BALL

n This section is bonkers, and nearly impossible to predict 1-through-8. Gotta believe BC, at worst, is in the middle-ofthe-pack range once again. And if the Saints can take care of business in the nonleague portion, and perhaps surprise one of those heavyweights in section play, they could make a district playoff push.

DONEGAL INDIANS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 4A

n Head coach: Anthony Sottasante (first season)

n Base offense: Spread Option

n Base defense: 4-3

n 2022 results: 4-7 (3-4 L-L)

COCALICO EAGLES

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 5A

n Head coach: Bryan Strohl (fourth season, 20-14)

n Base offense: Triple Option

n Base defense: 4-3

n 2022 results: 10-5 (5-2 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-LB

Dane Bollinger, TE-DE Logan Brubaker, RB-DB-KR Brayden Eppinette, OG-DT Hunter Frable, C-DT Adam Laudenslager, RB-DB-P-KR Aaryn Longenecker, QB Josh Myer, WR-DB Bryce Nash, RB-DB Tim Porter, RB-LB Sam Steffey, TE-DE Owen Weaver.

OUTLOOK

n Rosy. Tons to like in Eagles’ camp, where Cocalico is set to return O weapons aplenty, including pitch-man QB Myer, rugged FB Steffey, an 1,800-yard rusher last fall, speed-demon backs Longenecker and Eppinette, and flank threats Nash and Bollinger. Tack on O-line leader Laudenslager and 21 total battle-tested seniors ready for action, and the Eagles are thinking big. Really big.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Cocalico gets Lampeter-Strasburg and Wyomissing at home, and with a ton back in the tank after last year’s District Three Class 5A conquest and a trip to the state semifinals. Strong urge to put the bull’s-eye on the Eagles, but we’ll stick them on the 2-line for now. But nobody is going to want to play these guys in a couple of months. They’ll be chiseled when the playoffs roll around.

CONRAD WEISER SCOUTS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 4A

n Head coach: Alan Moyer (21st season, 136-87)

n Base offense: Pro-style

n Base defense: 4-4

n 2022 results: 3-7 (2-5 L-L)

n Key players returning: OT Kaleb Britting, RB Ousmane Conde, QB-P Donovan Gingrich, TE-DE Evan Miller, WR Josh Miller, RB-LB Sevon Parham, DB Evan Rittle, OT Charlie Shimp.

OUTLOOK

n One scheme tweak for the Scouts, who junked their 5-2 D in favor of a 4-4 look this time around, as Weiser hopes to do a better job in the people-stopping department. There are some key O pieces back in the fold; Gingrich, a dual-threat, made some nice strides in his first season behind center last fall, and Parham and Conde can both hit the hole with authority. The Miller-Miller pass-catching combo are sure-handed targets — and Evan Miller is a returning all-star at D-end — and Britting and Shimp are back to patrol the trenches.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Bum-rushing that top three in this race won’t be an easy chore, but the Scouts will certainly take their best punch. If you can get around the .500 mark playing in this section, you’ll probably have a shot to make the playoffs based on strength of schedule. That should be the goal in Robesonia, where going to the postseason used to be an annual event. They’re jonesing to go back.

n Key players returning: WR-DB Uri Alkinburgh, OG-DT Jackson Foye, C-DE Dillon Greenig, QB-DB Brock Hammaker, RB-DB Ruben Mumper, OT-LB Brycen Rineer, RBDB Tyler Sload, TE-DE James Turbedsky.

OUTLOOK

n No, you do not see the words “Wing-T” next to Donegal’s offensive scheme. However, Sottasante promised when he took the job that the Indians will still show some Wing-T tendencies — it’s what they’ve done forever in Mount Joy — but with more option plays out of a spread set. It fits the personnel, like Hammaker taking the reins at QB and holdover backs Sload and Mumper to take the rock. Key kids will be holdover O-line types Foye, Greenig and Rineer, who need to learn some new blocking techniques, pronto. And keep an eye on Turbedsky; he’s tough on both sides of the ball.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Donegal’s record didn’t blow anyone away last fall, but the Indians’ strength of schedule earned them a spot in the postseason. Again, crashing the lead pack in this race will be an uphill slog. Getting back to the playoffs would be a feather in their caps for Donegal.

L-L SECTION FOUR: TEAM BY TEAM

ELCO RAIDERS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 4A

n Head coach: Bob Miller (12th season, 56-53)

n Base offense: Veer

n Base defense: 5-2

n 2022 results: 4-6 (1-6 L-L)

n Key players returning: DT

LAMPETER-STRASBURG PIONEERS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 4A

n Head coach: Victor Ridenour (third season, 20-5)

n Base offense: Multiple

n Base defense: 3-stack

n 2022 results: 9-3 (6-1 L-L)

n Key players returning:

OT-DL Braden Bauer, RB-DB

Carson Coleman, TE-LB Drexton Frank, WRDB Damoj Gray, WR-DB Jack Groff, RB-LB Jackson Heeter, WR Dean Herr, WR-LB

Julian Lopez, OG-DE Ezechiel Lukusa, RB

Louie Malatesta, RB-DB Jonathan Mellinger, QB Trent Wagner.

OUTLOOK

n The more things change, the more they stay the same in Lampeter, where the Pioneers have reloaded yet again. Speedy dual-threat QB Wagner is back to pilot the O, and he’ll have 1,000-yard back Coleman and change-of-pace backs Mellinger and Malatesta behind him, plus home-run hitter Herr on the flanks to go up and get it. Defense is also in good shape, with active ’backers Frank and Heeter and D-line punisher

WYOMISSING SPARTANS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 3A

n Head coach: Bob Wolfrum (37th season, 350-87-1)

n Base offense: Wing-T

n Base defense: 3-4

n 2022 results: 13-1 (7-0 L-L)

Chris Bateman, WR-DB Jackson Conners, RB-LB-KR Mitchell Frederick, K Ira Gensamer, RB-LB Elliott Kreider, OT Braden Malloy, WR-DB-KR Justin Smucker, RB-LB-KR Jake Williams, OG Paul Williams.

OUTLOOK

n First order of business in Myerstown is finding a new QB — Gavin Bicher and Steven Rosado are going through the paces in Raiders’ camp — and revamping the O-line, which lost four stud starters to graduation. But the great news: Williams returns as the

feature back after rushing for 1,800 yards last fall, and he’s a bell-cow back in Elco’s Veer. Kreider and Frederick also return for double duty. But the new trench guys need to gel. And fast.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Elco will scare the living daylights out of everyone, especially with Williams toting the rock. Another fast start in the nonleague slate — the Raiders were 3-0 out of the chute last season — would behoove Elco, which will keep lobbing grenades at the usual suspects.

OCTORARA BRAVES

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 4A

n Head coach: Ed Smith (first season)

n Base offense: Wing-T

n Base defense: 4-3

n 2022 results: 1-9 (0-7 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-DB Alijah Boyer, TE-LB Mason Colligan, OG-DT Ben Eberhardt, RB-DB Colton Focht, TE-DE Ross Hershey, RB-LB Austin Kurtz, RB-DE Juju Maurice, C Kyle McCaw, NG Gabe McComsey, RB-DB Chandler Stoltzfus, OT John Taylor, QB-LB Braeden Wood.

OUTLOOK

n The biggest switch at Octorara is at the top, where Smith is settling in to call the shots after Jed King — the Braves’ only skipper since the program was born in 2008 — stepped down. Smith takes over a team with some key pieces back in the mix, including Wood at QB, a couple of nimble runners in Focht and Stoltzfus, and a ball-hawker ’backer in Kurtz. More good news: Multiple O-line protectors are also due back, and that can only help in this wicked section.

CRYSTAL BALL

Lukusa all back, plus Gray in the secondary. O-line is where L-S has gotten it done lately. Bauer anchors that group, but he’ll have some fresh faces around him. Watch the trenches.

CRYSTAL BALL

n L-S has the goods to be on the 1-line

heading into the season — that key-playersreturning list is pretty robust — but Cocalico and Wyomissing aren’t messing around. So, the 3-line at the outset it is for the Pioneers. Not that there’s anything wrong with that in this battle-axe section.

the cupboard is far from bare at Wyomissing. Brewer, a Penn State commit, returns to anchor the line, which will keep brand-new quarterback Logan Hyde upright. The Spartans’ backfield is in terrific shape with the return of Eisenhower and Niedrowski, while Brower and Blickley are sure-handed targets. Jones, a talented runner and run-stuffer who committed to Princeton, suffered a knee injury in the state playoffs last season. He might miss some early action, and the O-line will need some revamping. But there is tons of talent here.

n Braves went back to the drawing board last fall, after a couple of successful seasons that included their first District Three playoff bid in 2021. Now there’s a new sheriff in town, and Smith inherits a squad with a good nucleus — and that is hungry for a bounce-back season. Tricky to stuff the W column in this section. But Octorara will fight the good fight.

kids. Even if Jones misses some time, the bull’s-eye is still clearly on the Spartans.

n Key players returning: TE Evan Blickley, OT-NG Caleb Brewer, WR Ethan Brower, RB-LB Chase Eisenhower, RB-LB Drew Forrey, RB-LB Ryker Jones, RB-LB Collin Niedrowski.

OUTLOOK

n Fine and dandy. The Spartans’ key-players-lost list is a who’s who of all-star and all-state performers, but

CRYSTAL BALL

n Yes, Cocalico is loaded for bear and has plenty of momentum going in its program. But the Spartans have been on a completely different level as of late, with four straight District Three Class 3A crowns and 35 regular-season wins in a row. And Wyo returns a cache of talented playmakers and physical trench

L-L SECTION FIVE: TEAM BY TEAM

ANNVILLE-CLEONA DUTCHMEN

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 2A

n Head coach: Matt Gingrich (ninth season, 47-36)

n Base offense: Veer

n Base defense: 4-3

n 2022 results: 8-4 (5-2

L-L)

n Key players returning:

C-DE Preston Bomgardner, WR-DB Dominic Casciotti, QB-DB-KR Cam Connelly, RB-DB-P-KR Cael Harter, TE-LB Darrian Holloway, RB-LB Bryce Keller, OG-DT Damien Miller, TE-DE Tim Montijo, TE-DE Jon Shay, OG-DT Malacai Victa, WR-DB Cash Watson.

OUTLOOK

n Plenty of terrific vibes still flowing through the Dutchmen’s program, after A-C went to the District Three Class 2A finale last fall and put up plenty of crooked Veer rushing numbers along the way. Phoenix Music, who danced his way to 2,227 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns last season, has graduated, along with some thumper line types and Alex Long, the section LB of the Year. So, the Dutchmen have some holes to spackle. They also have some top returning talent, like Harter, the new full-time speedback; hit-machines Shay and Holloway; Bomgardner and Miller, who will anchor the lines; and Connelly takes over at QB. He knows his way around A-C’s O.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Lead pack for sure, as the Dutchmen return plenty of key pieces from last year’s district runner-up squad. Can A-C raise the section banner? Short answer is yes. But it’s a crowded field with plenty of landmines lurking.

HAMBURG HAWKS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 3A

n Head coach: Matt Hoffert (second season, 9-3)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: 3-5-3

n 2022 results: 9-3 (5-2 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-DB Alex Bentz, K Eli Blatt, WR-DB Cohen Correll, OG-DE Owen Hause, OT-DT Bryce Kamp, RB-LB Leland Moore, RB-LB Aiden Readinger, TE-LB Mason Semmel, QB-LB Ty Shuey, WR-DB Ty Werley.

OUTLOOK

n Some key cogs from last year’s district

COLUMBIA CRIMSON TIDE

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 2A

n Head coach: Brady Mathias (second season, 3-7)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: Multiple

n 2022 results: 3-7 (1-6 L-L)

n Key players returning: RB-LB Stud Campbell, OT-DE Dom Nell, WR-LB Artie Poindexter, WR-DB-KR Demari Simms, WR-DB-KR Quincy Stewart.

OUTLOOK

n A disjointed 2022 for Columbia, which dealt with injuries and ailments — and getting used to a first-year skipper — and ultimately the Tide didn’t defend its section crown. After a round of graduation hits and transfers — all-star WR-DB Dominic Diaz-Ellis and playmaker Darius Diaz-Ellis both went to Bishop McDevitt — Mathias has some holes to plug, especially along both lines, though veteran trench performer Nell is back to lead that new-look crew. Skill positions are in great hands with Poindexter, Simms and Stewart due back on the flanks. Campbell — yes, he answers to Stud — should get ample carries out of the backfield, and he’s a stick machine at LB. Triggerman duties are being played out in camp; Cameron McClair, a freshman, and holdovers Calvin Hagen and Loudon Rupp are vying for snaps.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Odd seeing the Tide slip back in the pack last fall — after a section title and playoff run in 2021 — and they’ll have some heavy lifting to do this time around to get out of the basement and restart their climb.

playoff team have moved on — including fleet RB Pierce Mason, rugged lineman Charles Sheppard and dual-threat QB Xander Menapace — but the deeper you dig, the more familiar names keep popping up. Correll, Werley and Bentz are two-way flank threats. Semmel is a punishing presence at TE and LB, where he’ll spearhead the new defensive look. Blatt’s a reliable kicker, Moore’s an experienced ball-carrier and Kamp and Hause are line linchpins. Figure out the new QB — Shuey knows the system — and Hamburg will reload quickly.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Hawks had a glorious 2022, which included a runner-up finish in the section, a district playoff victory and crooked numbers aplenty on the stat sheet. Then Hamburg graduated some all-stars. It happens. May be some growing pains in certain areas this time. But the Hawks should do plenty of squawking.

KUTZTOWN COUGARS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 3A

n Head coach: Larry Chester (10th season, 26-61)

n Base offense: Power-T

n Base defense: 4-3

n 2022 results: 3-7 (2-5 L-L)

n Key players returning: RB-LB Brenden Ackley, RB-DB David Bates, RB-DB Jayce Gruber, OT-NG Tyler Hallock, RB-DB Ethan Lafferty, OG-DE Alex Reyes, RB-LB Mason Sherry, RB-LB Jayden Swoyer, TE-DE James Undercuffler.

OUTLOOK

n Kutztown continues to kick up a fuss and get pointed in the right direction. Last year, the Cougars flashed a powerful Power-T rushing attack, and three veteran backs — Ackley, Gruber and Swoyer — are due back. They’ll run behind Hallock, who earned top O-line honors in the section last fall. That’s a great start. Keep an eye on the QB spot; Colten Mathias is ready for his rookie debut. Thinking the offense will continue putting up crooked numbers, especially on the ground.

CRYSTAL BALL

program very much on the rise at Kutztown, which continues to make gains. Are the Cougars ready to burst into the lead pack? Perhaps. Call this a prove-it kind of a season for Chester and his crew.

L-L SECTION FIVE: TEAM BY TEAM

LANCASTER CATHOLIC CRUSADERS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 3A

n Head coach: Chris Maiorino (fourth season, 16-14)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: Multiple

n 2022 results: 10-1 (7-0 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-DB Josh Acker, OT Braden Bowles, RB-DB-KR Terrell Crawley, RB-LB-KR Elijah Cunningham, LB-P Zach Dresch, RB-DB Christian Fields, WR-DB-KR R.J. Gonzalez, OG-DT Storm Haney, DB Colton Hegener, C Michael McBrearty, WR-DB Charlie Warren, DB-KR Brandon Way.

NORTHERN LEBANON VIKINGS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 4A

n Head coach: Jason Rice (third season, 6-15)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: 4-2-5

n 2022 results: 2-8 (1-6 L-L)

n Key players returning: OT-DT

PEQUEA VALLEY BRAVES

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 3A

n Head coach: Mike Choi (seventh season, 20-40)

n Base offense: Wing-T

n Base defense: 4-4

n 2022 results: 2-8 (2-5 L-L)

n Key players returning: WR-DB-KR Cameron. Bergman, RB-DB Cayden

OUTLOOK

n The Crusaders are angling for back-to-back section crowns, and despite some graduation gut-punches, Lancaster Catholic is especially strong in the skill-kid department. Cunningham, a 1,000-yard rusher last year, Crawley and Fields are all veteran ball-carriers; Acker, Gonzalez and Warren are sure-handed flank targets; and David Stefanow steps in behind center after taking some random snaps last year. He knows the drill. Haney, Bowles and McBrearty return to anchor the trenches, and Way is a firecracker in the secondary. Repeat? Weapons are here.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Defending champs might look a little different in certain areas this time around — including the all-important QB spot — but we’ll go ahead and ride the hot hand and put the preseason bull’s-eye on the Crusaders. It’s theirs to lose until someone knocks them off. Line forms to the left.

Hayden Adams, K Garrett Bohn, QB Kael Erdman, WR-DE Tanner Feagley, WR-LB Moises Gonzalez, LB-P Eli Ostermayer, TE-LB Luke Shaffer, OTDE Eli Thompson, RB-DB-KR Myles Watson.

OUTLOOK

n After absorbing some solar-plexus punches in a retool season a year ago, here’s thinking the Vikings won’t be as rough around the edges this time around. Nobody outworks tacklemachine ’backer Shaffer, who had

141 stops last season; Adams and Thompson bring experience to the line; Watson can scoot out of the backfield; Feagley and Gonzalez are home-run hitters on the flanks; and Erdman passed for nearly 600 yards in a part-time role last year. Don’t sleep on this crew.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Looking for a sleeper team to crash the party and wedge their way into the middle of the pack and keep the frontrunners on their toes? Hello, Vikings.

SCHUYLKILL VALLEY PANTHERS

THE PLAYBOOK

n PIAA: Class 3A

n Head coach: Bruce Harbach (third season, 8-14)

n Base offense: Spread

n Base defense: 3-4, 4-3

n 2022 results: 6-5 (5-2 L-L)

n Key players returning: TE-LB Dimitri Aletras, WR-DB-KR Colby Crills, RB-LBKR Dominic Giuffre, OT-LB Jaden Gulley, RB-DB-P Cooper Hohenadel, WR-DB Dillon Lackner, QB Logan Nawrocki, OG Alex Rider, OG-DE Nate Searfoss, TE-LB Luke Spotts, TE-DE Theo Wysocki.

OUTLOOK

n We figured it wouldn’t take too long for Harbach to get things turned around in Leesport and — voila — the Panthers won six games, stuffed the stat sheet and went to the district playoffs in his second season on the gig last year. Now what? Even bigger expectations, especially with super-back Giuffre, flank burners Crills and Lackner, line vets Gulley, Rider and Searfoss, and rugged two-way edge threat Spotts all due back in camp. Plus, dual-threat Nawrocki will get a full season behind center, and he’s a whirling dervish. It’s a good time to be in SV’s program.

CRYSTAL BALL

Carter, WR-LB Bishop DeSheilds, C-DT Jeremiah Garber, K-P Peyton Leitch, RB-DE Ashton Martin, OG-LB Logan McGrane, RB-LB James Neff, TE-DE Michael Patterson, RB-DB Dontae Petersheim, TE-LB Adam Shultz, OG-DT Alex Wilkinson.

OUTLOOK

n Year Two in his second stint for Choi, who likes what he has cooking in Kinzers. That includes McGrane, a veteran line punisher; Petersheim, a breakaway back; Bergman, an all-star flank threat; and a couple of key people-movers up front.

There will be a new QB — Myles Furlong and Anthony Stoltzfus are getting reps — and some other random new pieces. Get the football IQ stuff ironed out, Choi says, and the Braves are going to cause some headaches.

CRYSTAL BALL

n Braves are antsy to start making a move, but they’re stuck in a competitive section that sent four teams to the playoffs in 2022. Is this the season PV springs a couple of upsets and makes a charge? Can’t say for sure. But the Braves will battle you tooth and nail.

n If Lancaster Catholic gets the preseason nod, then SV is directly on the 2-line going in. Upstart Panthers took the Crusaders to the wire in last year’s final game, so SV should have plenty of motivation to slam the door this time around.

Or thopedic Ur gent Care When You Need It Most

Accidents and injuries occur when you least expect them. At Or thopedic Associates of Lancaster, you can say goodbye to the steep cost and long waits of the ER, and say hello to fast, af fordable bone, joint, and muscle care with our Or thopedic Ur gent Care ser vices.

To start healing and keep moving—call 717-299-4871.