Final showdown of L-L football crusade

Lancaster Catholic hosts Elco with Section 3 crown on the line

Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era

Nov 06, 2009 00:42 EST

By JASON GUARENTE, Correspondent

 It has become the year of the repeat in Lancaster-Lebanon League football.

Wilson reclaimed its crown in Section One last week. Ditto for Manheim Central in Section Two.

The only defending champ who has yet to secure another outright title is Lancaster Catholic in Section Three. The Crusaders get their chance when they play host to Elco tonight at 7.

Catholic isn't just looking to go back-to-back. The Purple & Gold are trying to grab a fourth outright championship in five seasons, adding to one of the great dynasties the league has seen.

It makes you wonder if section banners are still a big deal at Catholic.

Coach Bruce Harbach says they are.

"Winning a title in anything is never old news, whether it's one year, four years or 10 years in a row," Harbach said.

"It's important. That's a goal on our list: Stay healthy, win a section title, go to district playoffs, win district playoffs, go to state playoffs, win the state. Those have been our goals ever since this coaching staff got here."

Catholic's matchup with Elco is the only game with league ramifications this week. If the Raiders (5-1, 8-1) can find a way to upset the Crusaders (6-0, 8-1), there will be co-champs in Section Three. Under that scenario, Lampeter-Strasburg (5-1, 6-3) could also grab a piece of the title by winning at Annville-Cleona.

L-S is among several L-L teams that could help their District Three playoff hopes with a victory. Warwick, Reading and Solanco are also on the district bubble.

GAME TO WATCH

Elco at Catholic: This showdown at Rossmere Stadium features two of the premier quarterbacks in the league: Catholic's Kyle Smith and Elco's Arron Achey.

Smith's place in L-L history is secure. The 6-4, 215-pound senior has established a state record with 99 career touchdown passes and has already thrown for more career yards than legends Chad Henne and Pat Bostick.

This season Smith has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 1,515 yards and 31 TDs in eight games.

Achey has been a dual threat for Elco. The 6-2, 210-pound senior has thrown for 1,455 yards and 20 touchdowns and also leads the Raiders with 1,109 rushing yards and 13 scores.

Elco coach Mark Evans has leaned heavily on Achey, who will obviously be Catholic's No. 1 concern Friday night.

"Why wouldn't he be?" Harbach said. "He's a good football player. He's a good athlete. I can see why Mark utilizes him so much. (Achey) has some weapons around him that we'll have to contain. I don't think we're going to be able to really stop him. We just want to try to control him and hopefully we can come up with a game plan to do that."

Elco enters this game in a somewhat unusual position. Despite their gaudy record and lofty place in the standings, no one really expects the Raiders to beat Catholic.

That doesn't bother Evans.

"We're definitely the underdog, no doubt," Elco's coach said. "Catholic is such a good football team and has played in big game after big game the last three or four years. They've got it rolling down there."

Catholic's seniors have personal motivation for Friday night. They don't want to end their L-L careers with a loss and the label of co-champs. They're proud of the tradition they've helped establish and they're comfortable with being the perennial team to beat. They want to add to the history.

"We love having the target on our back," wide receiver Seth Graham said. "It's kind of like we know we're the best and we're going to have to bring it because everybody is going to try to take us out. We've got to come with the best we've got every time. We like being on top. We don't mind defending."

Elco last won a section title in 2000 when it shared the crown with Cocalico. The Raiders' only league loss this season was a 40-14 thumping against L-S in Lampeter on Oct. 9.

Catholic hasn't stumbled at all in section play. The only time the Crusaders were tested was during their 14-13 win over L-S on Oct. 2. The defending champs captured their other five section games by an average of 46 points.

Elco figures to be a stiff test for Catholic and it comes at a good time for the Crusaders as they prepare to defend their District Three Class AA title as the possible top seed.

"In the second half of the season, you want to get on a roll," Harbach said. "Rather than playing cupcake teams at the end of the year, we're playing a good football team in Week 10. Win or lose, that should help you in the playoffs."

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Section One Back: QB Gary Gristick of Cedar Crest was 12 of 18 passing for 185 yards against Reading, with 4 TD passes and 1 rushing TD.

Section One Lineman: OT Alex Vigilante of Manheim Township had a high blocking grade on offense against McCaskey. Defensively, he had 4 tackles and 2 assists, with 1 tackle for a loss.

Section Two Back: B.J. Enck of Solanco had 13 carries for 212 yards and 2 TDs against Garden Spot. Defensively, he had 8 tackles and 3 interceptions, returning one for a 40-yard touchdown.

Section Two Lineman: Linebacker Andrew Prevoznik of Cocalico starred against Conestoga Valley with 6 solo tackles, 4 for a loss, and 16 assists. On offense, he had 1 catch for 9 yards.

Section Three Back: Chad Frey of Lampeter-Strasburg had 10 rushes for 172 yards and 3 TDs, plus 3 catches for 27 yards against Northern Lebanon. Defensively, he returned an interception 25 yards for a TD, along with 2 hurries and 4 tackles. He also returned a punt 51 yards for a TD.

Section Three Lineman: Brandon Felus of Columbia had 10 tackles (8 solo), 1 tackle for a loss, 2 sacks and 3 passes deflected against Pequea Valley. He also blocked well on offense.