Renewed rivalries on the field: In-depth previews for Week 2 L-L League football games (2024)

Another week, and another jam-packed slate of games on the Lancaster-Lebanon League football schedule.

And the Week 2 party got started early with four Thursday showdowns on the docket, highlighted by a battle of District 3 Class 6A heavyweights, when Manheim Township welcomes Central York.

There are 28 games in all, including Manheim Central and Ephrata renewing their rivalry for the first time since 2017, and backyard foes Columbia and Donegal squaring off in the first Battle for the Rock trophy game.

Here’s a preview, with all games set for 7 p.m., unless noted.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Manheim Township 28, Central York 10

Conrad Weiser 31, Elco 7

Schuylkill Valley 31, Daniel Boone 27

Annville-Cleona 48, Hanover 20

FRIDAY’S GAMES

McCaskey (1-0) at Conestoga Valley (1-0) — Juicy matchup in Witmer with the Red Tornado (41-14 over John Bartram) and the Buckskins (35-0 whitewash over Penn Manor) coming off impressive Week 1 wins to get everyone’s attention. … All eyes on the quarterbacks here; McCaskey’s Jalen Cintron had four TD passes and CV’s Sawyer Esbenshade had three TD tosses last week. … Key stat: CV D crunched PM in Week 1, holding the Comets to minus-12 rushing yards and just 37 total yards. Boom. … Key kids: Great QB matchup; Cintron went 14-for-22 for 263 yards and Esbenshade — who was as cool as a cucumber in the pocket in his first varsity start — went 10-for-15 for 141 yards up top. … Two terrific special teams fiends also on display here: CV’s Jayden Johnson (94-yard kick return TD vs. PM) and McCaskey’s De’Andre Jones are dangerous return men. … Crux: CV D-backs — Cordell Bair, Seth Frankford, Isaiah Sensenig, Konnor Fisher — can’t let McCaskey’s Alisay Ramos (four catches for 132 yards, 3 TD grabs vs. Bartram) and Jones (TD catch, 2 INT vs. Bartram) roam free.

Manheim Central (1-0) at Ephrata (1-0) — The Barons, who rallied past West Philadelphia 24-8, and the Mountaineers, who raced past Red Lion 35-14, will meet for the first time since 2017 in this showdown between 2023 district finalists — Ephrata in 5A; Central in 4A. … They’re both in 5A this season, by the way. Potential playoff preview here, perhaps? File that in your memory banks. … Central leads the series 46-15, with 16 victories in a row. Ephrata’s last dub: 1997, by a 9-7 score. … Key stat: Central held West Philly to 38 rushing yards and 1.8 yards per carry. … Key kid: Heck of a starting QB debut for Ephrata’s Caleb Grant, who threw for 214 yards with three TD strikes, and he tacked on 117 yards — plus a 2-point run — on keepers. … Crux: Central’s hard-charging D against Ephrata’s O, which churned out 443 yards with 21 first downs vs. Red Lion. … FYI: Central is at No. 7 in the PennLive 5A state rankings.

Warwick (0-1) at Lampeter-Strasburg (1-0) — Pioneers proudly raised the Milk Jug trophy with a 35-9 victory over Solanco, while the Warriors’ offense was stuck in neutral in a 12-3 setback against Avon Grove. Now Warwick is tasked with stuffing L-S’s run, which gouged out 366 yards on the ground last week. … Key stat: L-S produced a pair of 150-yard rushers in Week 1: QB Caileb Howse (165 yards, 2 TD keepers in his starting debut behind center) and RB Dominic Brown (158 yards, 2 TD runs) ran wild, as the Pioneers piled up 444 total yards, and averaged a spiffy 11.1 yards per carry. … Key kids: Kickers in the spotlight here; Warwick’s Tyler Schoffstall booted a 22-yard FG for the Warriors’ lone points in Week 1; L-S’s Peter Fiorello was 5-for-5 on PAT attempts vs. Solanco, and he’s a returning all-star. … Crux: Can Warwick’s edge blitzers — keyed by returning all-star DE Owen Hursh — get pressure on Howse and keep him contained. He busted loose last week; Warwick has to keep Howse fenced in.

Columbia (0-1) at Donegal (0-1) — This backyard rivalry returns, and now with a trophy up for grabs, as the Crimson Tide and the Indians will play in the first Battle for the Rock — named for Chiques Rock, which separates the neighboring school districts. The schools are situated just five miles apart. Donegal has won the last 10 meetings dating back to 2011. Both teams are coming off gut-punch Week 1 results; the Tide had just 42 yards of total offense in a 42-6 setback against river rival Eastern York, while Donegal couldn’t hold a fourth-quarter lead and fell to Middletown 31-24 in OT. … Key stat: Columbia managed just 27 rushing yards vs. Eastern York. … Key kid: Donegal’s Leelan Baughman zoomed for 148 yards with a pair of TD runs, covering 70 and 42 yards, respectively, against Middletown. He averaged 13.5 yards per pop, and the Tide’s D — which yielded 324 yards vs. Eastern York — must keep him under wraps. Baughman and Chase Marshall both took snaps behind center for the Indians. … Crux: Can Columbia’s offense find some firm footing and start moving in the right direction. There’s a trophy waiting at the end of the rainbow for this winner, wrapping up a fun week of activities between the neighboring communities.

Lebanon (0-1) at Garden Spot (0-1) — Spartans came up on the short end of a wild 71-64 final against Notre Dame-Green Pond, while the Cedars saw their losing streak hit 33 straight in a 40-8 setback against Palmyra. … GS QB A.J. Hurst threw for 462 yards with six TD tosses vs. ND-GP; Cedars must be ready to pass defend here. … Key stat: Still letting this one sink in: ND-GP QB Matt Bodnar went 37-for-49 for 608 yards with seven TD throws vs. Garden Spot in Week 1. That’s a season for some kids; a career for others. … The Crusaders piled up 748 total yards and had 31 first downs. Safe to say Sparty Nation will need a better D effort in Week 2. … Key kid: GS WR Jace Conrad had eight receptions for 149 yards with a pair of TD grabs vs. ND-GP. That was the most catches by any L-L League receiver in Week 1. … Crux: Can Lebanon’s secondary blanket Garden Spot’s merry band of wideouts.

Solanco (0-1) at Octorara (1-0) — A really quick start for the Braves, who took down Hamburg 30-7 in their opener. Golden Mules fell to L-S 35-9 in the Milk Jug clash. … Key stat: Octorara held Hamburg to 138 total yards — just 70 through the air, which is the Hawks’ bread and butter. … Key kid: A nifty debut behind center for Octorara QB Collin Wood, who went 15-for-17 for 157 yards with two TD flips vs. Hamburg. It would behoove Solanco to get some pressure on him. … Crux: One week after having to defend Hamburg’s passing attack, the Braves are now tasked with slowing down Solanco’s ground-and-pound machine. Quite a contrast. … The Mules pounded out 277 yards on the ground vs. L-S — 117 by FB Johnny Garcia. Keep an eye on the trenches in this scrap.

Cocalico (1-0) at New Oxford (1-0) — Eagles took care of Elizabethtown 28-14 in their opener, and they’ll get a Colonials’ squad that dropped Bermudian Springs 28-13 last week. … Key stat: Cocalico overcame three turnovers in its win over E-town. … Key kid: Hot start for Cocalico QB Josh Myer; 96 yards and a TD keeper on the ground, and a 60-yard TD pass to Brayden Eppinette through the air in the Eagles’ opener. … Crux: Thinking New Oxford doesn’t see the Flexbone very often, so the Colonials will have to bone up on stopping the triple-option. And fast.

Dallastown (1-0) at Penn Manor (0-1) — Comets had minus-12 rushing yards in their 35-0 setback against Conestoga Valley, while the Wildcats tamed Hempfield 28-9 in their opener. … Key stat: Dallastown had 254 yards through the air vs. Hempfield. … Key kid: Dallastown WR Michael Scott toasted the Black Knights up top with four catches for 130 yards (32.5 yards per grab) and two TD snags. Heads up, PM D-backs. … Crux: Penn Manor needs a bounce-back week after not much went right vs. CV. Comets must curtail the Wildcats’ hot O here.

Jenkintown (1-0) at Pequea Valley (1-0) — A dominating Week 1 win for the Braves, who stuffed Renaissance Academy Charter 49-0 behind a blistering D that held RAC to minus-48 rushing yards and minus-55 total yards in the dub. The Drakes blanked KIPP DuBois Charter 16-0 in their lid-lifter. … Key stat: PV feasted on five turnovers vs. RAC. … Key kid: PV RB Trevor Vollmer had an 18-yard TD run and a 5-yard TD catch against RAC. … Crux: Can PV keep the good times rolling. They cake-walked in Week 1.

Lancaster Catholic (1-0) at Delone Catholic (0-1) — Crusaders got 188 rushing yards and three TD runs from Brandon Way, and outlasted reigning D3-2A champ Camp Hill 42-41 in a double-OT thriller. The Squires fell to Susquehannock 26-10 in Week 1. … Key stat: A win for the Crusaders, yes. But Camp Hill QB Drew Branstetter threw for 388 yards with six TD strikes against Catholic’s D, which bent but ultimately did not break. … Key kid: Catholic’s Colton Hegener returned a kick 85 yards for a TD in the opener. He was one of seven L-L League players to take a kick back to the house in Week 1. That’s a bunch. … Crux: Does Delone’s D have an answer for Way. Squires can’t let him see green, or he’s way gone.

Kennett (0-0) at Elizabethtown (0-1) — Bears fought the good fight before falling to Cocalico 28-14. This is the season opener for the Blue Demons, who went 3-7 last year. They call the Ches-Mont League home. … Key stat: E-town had eight penalties and two turnovers vs. Cocalico; Bears want to clean that stuff up. … Key kid: E-town QB Trent Kauffman — who once again shared the signal-caller duties with Brayden Huber in Week 1 — had a pair of third-quarter TD keepers vs. Cocalico. … Crux: First game at refurbished Thompson Field for E-town. New turf surface. New field house. That should boost the Bears’ confidence against a Blue Demons’ squad hitting the field for the first time. … A 9-game schedule awaits for Kennett, which played two scrimmages, vs. Marple-Newtown and St. Mark’s (Delaware).

York (0-1) at Hempfield (0-1) — Big-school Class 6A squads collide in Landisville, where the Bearcats are coming off a 40-6 loss against CD East, and the Black Knights are looking to pick up the pieces after a 28-9 setback against Dallastown. … Familiar foes split their last two meetings; Hempfield won 35-32 in 2022 and York won 28-25 last year. … Key stat: Hempfield gave up 254 yards through the air in Week 1. … Key kids: QB Derek Katch threw for 132 yards in his starting debut behind center for Hempfield — seven of his completions went to WR Cam Margeson. They’ll need to jive against the Bearcats. … Crux: Still high expectations in Knights’ camp, despite a Week 1 setback. York is a tricky customer; throw out the Bearcats’ season-opening L in this clash of D3-6A heavyweights.

Spring Grove (1-0) at Cedar Crest (1-0) — Someone is going to 2-0 here; the Rockets soared past Northern York 31-19 and the Falcons downed Lower Dauphin 45-16 in Week 1. Plenty of mo in both locker rooms heading into this battle. … Cedar Crest must curtail SG QB Davis Baum, who aired it out for 339 passing yards vs. Northern. … Key stat: SG WR Kayleb Allen had six catches for 197 yards (32.8 yards per snag) with a pair of TD grabs last week. … Key kid: CC RB Isaiah Zimmerman bolted for 217 yards with a pair of TD jaunts last week. … Crux: Heads up, CC secondary; Falcons’ D will be tested here.

Northern Lebanon (1-0) at Oxford (0-1) — Vikings are looking for a 2-0 getaway after blanking Pine Grove 10-0. They’ll get a Hornets’ squad that fell to Great Valley 34-22 in their opener. … Key stat: NL RB Myles Watson zoomed for 200 yards on 27 carries with a TD run last week. … Key kid: Oxford RB Joel McClain rushed for 192 yards with a TD run vs. Great Valley. … Crux: Oxford’s D can’t let Watson get loose. Period.

Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1-0) at Wilson (1-0) — Intriguing clash in West Lawn, where the Bulldogs are looking to build off a 28-20 win over Cheltenham. They’ll get a Colonials’ bunch that dropped Upper Merion 49-14 — and is coming off a 9-win season and a win in the District 1 playoffs. It’s the first meeting between the Bulldogs and P-dub… Key stat: Wilson QB Madyx Gruber had a solid starting debut behind center last week, going 15-for-21 for 172 yards with a TD flip. … Key kids: Double-barreled backfield action for P-W; Everett Baker rushed for 96 yards with two TD runs and Christian DiCiurcio galloped for 89 yards and a TD in the Colonials’ win over Upper Merion. … Crux: Wilson’s D — which held Cheltenham to 15 rushing yards and 0.8 yards per carry — has two backs to keep track of here.

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Wyomissing (1-0) at Haverford School (0-0), 2 p.m. — Early afternoon kick in this tilt, and the Spartans should have plenty of good vibes flowing after knocking off 7-time reigning state champ Southern Columbia 35-21 last Saturday. The Fords, out of the Inter-Ac, are making their season debut after going 5-5 last year. … Key stat: Wyo’s D held Southern Columbia to minus-41 rushing yards. … Key kid: Wyo’s Justice Hardy darted for 119 yards with four TD jaunts in Week 1. Catch him if you can. … Crux: Can Wyo’s Wing-T gash Haverford’s D. … FYI: Wyo is at No. 3 in the PennLive 4A state rankings.

Muhlenberg (1-0) at Reading (0-1) — Battle of the Border trophy is up for grabs, and the Muhls are feeling fine after beating Section 5 favorite Schuylkill Valley 29-20. A lot of chatter about that score this week. Meanwhile, the Red Knights fell to Phoenixville 41-16, but they’re out to defend the trophy, which should provide plenty of motivation. Reading leads the series 11-9. … Key stat: Reading’s D was singed for 307 rushing yards and 437 total yards vs. Phoenixville. … Key kid: Huge opener for Muhlenberg’s Freddy Lacey, who returned a kick 95 yards for a TD, and he had a 10-yard pick-6 INT TD to spark the opportunistic Muhls. … Crux: More than anything, Reading must guard against Muhlenberg’s momentum — which is a real thing. Muhls will be packing a punch when they touch down in Shirk Stadium.

Boyertown (0-1) at Exeter (1-0) — Eagles blanked Daniel Boone 36-0 for Pig Iron Bowl trophy glory for the 12th season in a row, and they’ll host a Bears’ team that is coached by former Wilson standout and longtime L-L League assistant Jami Sands. Boyertown fell to Upper Perkiomen 31-21 in Sands’ debut last week. Exeter has won 10 in a row in this series, and leads Boyertown 12-2 overall. … Key stat: Exeter’s D held Boone to 32 rushing yards in Week 1. … Key kid: Boyertown RB-LB Nick Boletta rushed for 104 yards and a TD and he had a team-best 11 tackles vs. Upper Perk. … Crux: Big test for Boyertown’s D, with Exeter — which piled up 422 yards vs. Boone — flashing playmakers all over the place. Pick your poison.

Selinsgrove (1-0) at Twin Valley (1-0) — Seals — fresh off a 13-win season, with a D4-4A title and a trip to the PIAA playoffs, where they were undefeated before falling to eventual champ Aliquippa 52-32 in the semifinals — invade Elverson for a showdown against the Raiders. … TV took down Berks Catholic 42-16 in Week 1 behind QB Evan Myers, who passed for 236 yards with two TD tosses and he rushed for 112 yards with a TD keeper. Selinsgrove edged Juniata 14-6 in Week 1. … Key stat: Selinsgrove’s D was especially gnarly vs. Juniata; Seals held the Indians to 11 rushing yards, had 11 tackles for losses, two sacks, broke up two passes and had a pick. They’ll need that same kind of pressure against Myers and his weapons. … Key kids: TV wideouts Ben Grundy (4 catches for 91 yards, 22.8 avg., 47-yard TD grab) and Matthew Knight (2 catches for 93 yards, 46.5 avg., 44-yard TD grab) both did damage up top in Week 1. … Crux: Looks like Selinsgrove can defend. But can the Seals defend TV’s high-octane, multi-pronged offense — with a stable of vet blockers up front leading the charge — which produced 524 total yards vs. Berks Catholic. Really good matchup here. … FYI: TV is at No. 8 in 4A in the PennLive state rankings. Selinsgrove — which beat Manheim Central for 3A state gold back in 2009 — is an honorable mention.

Fleetwood (1-0) at Upper Perkiomen (1-0) — Tigers took care of Kutztown 48-12 to retain the Hall of Fame trophy; the Indians beat Boyertown 31-21. … Fleetwood is 4-1 in the last five meetings vs. Upper Perk, which won 28-24 last year to snap Fleetwood’s 4-game W string. … Key stat: Fleetwood RB Jason Petion rushed for 178 yards on just seven carries (25.4 yards per tote) with a TD run vs. Kutztown. … Key kid: Fleetwood jack-of-all-trades Tristin McFarland had a 33-yard TD run and a 20-yard pick-6 INT return TD in Week 1. … Crux: Upper Perk’s D has to be ready for just about anything here; McFarland and Chase Domenech took snaps vs. Kutztown; Domenech had a TD keeper.

Governor Mifflin (1-0) at Perkiomen Valley (0-1) — Mustangs kicked up a fuss in Week 1 with a 35-0 rout over Pleasant Valley — minus rookie coach Nick Morrissey, who will also miss this game while serving a 2-game suspension. … Don’t let the record fool you; the Vikings are a tough out, and they went tooth and nail before falling to District 1 power Chester 19-14 last week. … Key stat: Perk Valley LB Carter Euker piled up 10 tackles vs. Chester. … Key kid: GM FB Grady Garner rumbled for 104 yards with four TD runs vs. Pleasant Valley. … Crux: Perk Valley must solve Garner and the Mustangs’ Veer.

Berks Catholic (0-1) vs. Executive Education Academy Charter (1-0) at Kutztown University — Saints are back at the drawing board after a 42-16 setback against Twin Valley. EEAC, out of D11 in Allentown, pasted Palisades 36-8 in its opener. BC KO’d the Raptors — at the time a state-ranked team — 19-14 last year. … Key stat: Berks Catholic’s D was singed for 524 yards vs. TV. Gotta tighten that up. … Key kid: BC QB Zach Suski clicked on 12-of-17 passes for 141 yards with a TD toss in Week 1. … Crux: Tricky road trip for BC, which gets a Raptors’ squad that is a perennial playoff contender.

Hamburg (0-1) at Midd-West (0-1) — Bit of a head-scratcher start for the Hawks, who mustered just 138 yards in a 30-7 setback against Octorara. Midd-West doesn’t want to hear about anyone else’s woes; Mustangs have lost 19 in a row, they were outscored 456-34 with seven shutout losses last year, and they fell 41-0 to Central Columbia in their opener. … Key stat: Midd-West’s last win was a 48-14 triumph over Halifax on Sept. 2, 2022. … Key kid: Hamburg’s Daniel Brady returned a kick 95 yards for a TD for the Hawks’ lone score vs. Octorara. He also caught four passes. … Crux: Can Hamburg punch it into gear and get its O moving in the right direction.

SATURDAY’S GAME

Kutztown (0-1) at York Tech (0-1), 1 p.m. — Cougars are looking for a better effort after falling to Fleetwood 48-12 in the Hall of Fame trophy game. Kutztown beat Tech 42-7 last year to take a 2-1 lead in the series; Spartans dropped a 15-13 squeaker against James Buchanan in their opener. … Key stat: Kutztown couldn’t overcome four turnovers vs. Fleetwood, with three picks and a fumble. … Key kid: Kutztown QB Wyatt Stoess had a TD keeper and a TD pass in Week 1; he shared the signal-caller duties with Colten Mathias. … Crux: York Tech needs to be in run-stuff mode from the jump against the Cougars’ Power-T attack.

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