L-L League football 2024: Predicting how the section races might look at the finish line (2024)

It’s time to dust off the prognostication hat.

I hope it still fits — and still has some magic in it.

The 2024 Lancaster-Lebanon League football season is barreling toward the starting line, and the section races will have a new feel this time around.

Realignment — based on school enrollment figures via PIAA program classifications — has produced new-look section formats, making things a little dicier in the prediction department.

After making several lists and checking them a lot more than twice — trust me — here’s what I came up with. Hey, it’s mid-August, so most of these are gut-hunches, and what things look like on all of this paper piling up on my desk.

Of course, they don’t play games on paper. Either way, I’m standing behind my selections, which look a little something like this ...

SECTION 1

1. Manheim Township: But the Blue Streaks lost that record-smashing QB and WR combo to graduation, you’re asking? You can’t possibly put them on the 1-line again? I just did. Manheim Township has the weapons — especially up front, and with plenty of thunder on D — to repeat. Section 1 goes through Neffsville. Again. … Key kid: RB-LB Declan Clancy rushed for 1,100 yards on O and he was the Streaks’ top tackler on D last fall. He’s back for his fourth varsity season as a key-cog in Manheim Township’s attack.

2. Wilson: Bit of a dry spell lately for the Bulldogs, with a transition season of sorts — for them — on the horizon. Still, Wilson will be there late. It’s what they do in West Lawn. Hang a star: Wilson at Manheim Township in Week 10. … Key kid: TE-LB Christo Hunsicker made a huge splash on both sides of the ball last year. He’s ticketed for even bigger things this time around.

3. Hempfield: Gotta believe the Black Knights have flushed a wonky 2023, and are motivated to make a triumphant return to the lead pack this fall. … Key kid: K Brady Biscoe. Never underestimate the importance of a strong kicking game, and the Knights have a specialist who can really boot it. If Hempfield gets bogged down on a drive, Biscoe can get a quick 3 points for the Knights.

4. Penn Manor: Say hello to your Section 1 sleeper team. Some intriguing pieces in Millersville. If Penn Manor can put the puzzle together, don’t sleep on the Comets. … Key kid: ATH Adrian Smith can scoot out of the backfield, and he’s a headache on special teams.

5. Cedar Crest: Some graduation hits and a first-year coach in Cornwall, but here’s thinking the Falcons will ride the good vibes from last year’s playoff trip. … Key kid: OT-DT Tristan Long will anchor both lines for the Falcons. He’s one tough customer in the trenches.

6. McCaskey: A lot of key parts back under the hood for the Red Tornado, including a vet pitch-and-catch combo and some big uglies up front. Have a sneaking suspicion that McCaskey is going to do some things. … Key kid: QB Jalen Cintron is back to maestro the O, and he can make plays on his feet, and with his right arm.

7. Reading: Still getting readjusted to the Section 1 grind. But the Red Knights return some talented pieces. Enough to challenge? Time will tell. … Key kid: Blue-chip OT Keyshawn Efese (a rugged 6-5, 315-pounder) is a real people-mover and pancake-producer in the trenches, and the Knights will lean on him to keep the QB upright, and to help blow open holes at the line of scrimmage.

SECTION 2

1. Exeter: An excellent talent pool for the Eagles, who are set to return key playmakers, tacklers and trench protectors all over the field. Can Exeter run the table? Should be fun finding out. … Key kid: RB Jayden Zandier burst on the scene last fall with a tour-de-force 1,300-yard rushing season. Breakaway back is poised for more crooked numbers and plenty of TD scampers this time around.

2. Conestoga Valley: Speaking of talent, the Buckskins are also returning a lot of it — from a playoff team that won a district game and beat Exeter last fall. CV at Exeter in Week 9. Be there. … Key kid: ATH Jayden Johnson can beat you running the ball, catching the ball, and returning the ball in special teams. You better tackle him, or else.

3. Ephrata: Talk about raising the bar. The Mountaineers are coming off their best season in program history — 12 wins, section title, district championship appearance — and now they find themselves in Section 2, but with a lot of key pieces back in the fold. Can’t wait to see what this bunch does for an encore, with some bull’s-eyes swirling around this time. … Key kid: RB-LB Brayden Brown is a two-way terror. He hit the ground running with 1,300 rushing yards and a gazillion big plays on D last fall.

4. Governor Mifflin: Some holdover talent in some key spots for the Mustangs, who will set sail with a first-year skipper at the wheel. We’ll go ahead and Scotch-tape the sleeper-team tag on Mifflin, which should have plenty of motivation after a postseason trip last fall. … Key kid: RB-DB Reese Hohl will rarely come off the field for the Mustangs. He’s a gamer.

5. Elizabethtown: The Bears are antsy to make another playoff push after coming back to the pack last fall. Now they’re in Section 2, with a new-look schedule and some new-look digs at home base, refurbished Thompson Field. … Key kid: RB Brady Moran has some backfield experience for the Bears. He’ll trigger the running game for E-town.

6. Muhlenberg: A new coach, some fresh schemes, and a bushel of newbies for the Muhls, who are hoping to start climbing the ladder this season. … Key kid: ATH Michael Miller is poised for a crooked-numbers, breakout season. Remember his name.

7. Lebanon: A common Section 2 theme here, with a rookie coach at the helm. The Cedars’ top priority: Rebooting the program and chipping away at the culture. Then snapping that maddening 32-game losing skid once and for all. … Key kid: RB-LB Kai Rivera is a wily vet. He’ll be a feature back in Lebanon’s new-look Wing-T attack. He’ll drop you on D, too.

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SECTION 3

1. Manheim Central: Perhaps nobody in the league lost more skill-kid talent to graduation than the Barons, who must plug in new starters at QB, RB and WR. So why in the heck are they on the 1-line? Experience up front, and some chiseled defenders are coming back. Central will figure out the rest. It always does. … Key kid: OG-DT Tyler Groff knows his way around a line of scrimmage. He’s logged a lot of snaps up front, and he’ll anchor the Barons’ all-important, bread-and-butter O-line.

2. Cocalico: The Eagles also took a big graduation uppercut, but they’re coming off back-to-back district championships, with just enough returning talent from last year’s Section 4 title team to keep this ride going in a fresh Section 3 format. … Key kid: QB Josh Myer returns for his third season to pilot the Eagles’ triple-option attack. He’s been Cocalico’s triggerman for back-to-back D3-5A titles. Can they make it three?

3. Garden Spot: Tons to like in New Holland, with multiple playmakers, line patrolmen, D stickers and 10 all-stars due back from a team that shared Section 3 gold and went to the playoffs last fall. A new QB, yes. But Sparty Nation has the goods to be there at the finish line. They’ll have to leap-frog some longtime juggernauts along the way to do it. … Key kid: A.J. Hurst — a fleet wideout and an all-star DB pick last fall — steps into the QB role for the Spartans. A lot of eyes on him to replace dual-threat wizard Kye Harting.

4. Warwick: Down to the 4-line, and the Warriors also have the weapons to push here. Wow, what a deep and talented section. Don’t count out Warwick. … Key kid: WR-DB Bode Madara is a pick specialist in the secondary, and he’ll help out in the Warriors’ passing game.

5. Solanco: Same deal. Plenty back in Quarryville, and the Golden Mules will keep throwing haymakers with a powerful line and Flexbone attack. So many longtime powerhouse Lancaster County programs duking it out here. … Key kid: FB Johnny Garcia, a punishing 1,300-yard rusher last fall, is back to drag more would-be tacklers. He’s a weapon.

6. Conrad Weiser: Should be one of the deepest Scouts’ squads in recent vintage, with a multitude of full-time starters due back. But Weiser crash-landed in this treacherous section race after realignment. … Key kid: Shifty QB Donovan Gingrich returns to pilot the Scouts’ ship. He’s quick on his feet, and he’ll have some vet air targets at his disposal.

7. Fleetwood: Hate putting the Tigers here — there’s a nice nucleus returning from a team that won a postseason game last fall — but this section is all kinds of stacked. … Key kid: ATH Tristan McFarland is already an accomplished pass-catcher. Might he add QB to his resume? Stay tuned.

SECTION 4

1. Twin Valley: The time is now for the Raiders, who check off a lot of boxes with nine returning all-stars. Should come down to Week 8, when TV welcomes Wyomissing. Protect home field in Elverson, and the Raiders will have a legit shot to hoist the gold trophy after sharing the Section 3 crown last fall. … Key kid: QB Evan Myers is back for his fourth season behind center. Talk about experience in the pocket. He’ll also have a battalion of vet blockers in front of him, and playmakers aplenty at his disposal, as he goes for his fourth straight 1,000-yard passing season. Only Wilson’s Chad Henne has done that in Berks lore.

2. Wyomissing: Some little changes here and there in Spartans’ camp, but Wyo is, well, Wyo. Circle the TV game for sure; spring one on the road there, and the Spartans can reclaim the crown they last won in 2022. … Key kid: FB-LB Chase Eisenhower is a two-way battering ram who should be right smack dab in the middle of everything for Wyo.

3. Lampeter-Strasburg: Strong trench-game on tap for the Pioneers, but a lot of fresh faces in the skill-kid department. Still, reloaded L-S will definitely push. … Key kid: All eyes on newbie QB Caileb Howse to get the Pioneers’ O churning. He’ll knock your block off from his safety spot, too.

4. Elco: A lot back in the mix for the Raiders, who must replace a 2,400-yard rusher. No easy chore there, but Elco is poised to make plenty of noise, while angling for another playoff bid. … Key kid: OT-DE Paul Williams — the last of the Williams brothers in the pipeline — is a brute who does all the little things, and without much fanfare.

5. Donegal: Some trench experience, which is nice. But the Indians must break in some new skill kids — pronto — if they want to be in the playoff picture come mid-October. … Key kid: QB-LB Leelan Baughman — his big brother played QB for Donegal, and his big sister was a basketball standout for the Indians — is poised to slide behind center and steer Donegal’s option catamaran.

6. Northern Lebanon: A bunch of top playmakers — and some brutes up front — are back in Fredericksburg, so we’re stapling the sleeper tag on the Vikings, who shift over from Section 5. … Key kid: QB Kael Erdman will have some vet O-line protectors and experienced skill-kid weapons around him. Erdman and the Vikings’ O are poised to do some things. Beware.

7. Daniel Boone: Made some offensive tweaks to get the ball in the hands of their best playmakers, so look for the Blazers’ offense to do a little more damage this time around. … Key kid: Haydn Moyer makes the switch from RB to QB. The quicker he gets his feet wet there, the better for the Blazers.

8. Octorara: Won’t be long before the Braves are pounding at the door, with a strong sophom*ore class in the pipeline. For now, some growing pains to maneuver through. … Key kid: RB-LB Austin Kurtz is a hammer. He’ll get the tough yards up the gut, and he’s a top tackler on D.

SECTION 5

1. Schuylkill Valley: Panthers’ time to shine here, with plenty of O and D talent coming back. SV was part of a 3-way title tie last year; weapons are here to win it outright this time around. All eyes on Leesport. … Key kid: TE-LB Luke Spotts almost never comes off the field. He’s a multi-purpose, tough-nosed weapon for the Panthers.

2. Lancaster Catholic: Lost some talent to graduation — including an 1,800-yard, all-state RB — but the cupboard isn’t bare, as the Crusaders angle for their third straight section crown. Catholic at Schuylkill Valley in Week 10. Circle that one in red ink. … Key kid: RB-DB-KR Brandon Way is one of the top triple-threats in the L-L. And he’s only a junior. Better tackle him, or you’re toast.

3. Hamburg: Offense is in great shape, with a 2,700-yard passer due back, with experienced runners and pass-catchers at his disposal. If the Hawks can stop people, they’ll be there in mid-October. … Key kid: Triggerman QB Tyler Shuey passed for 2,762 yards with 25 TD flips last fall. Can he top those gaudy numbers?

4. Annville-Cleona: The Dutchmen have some holes to plug, but will sprinkle in enough veterans to be a factor here. Don’t sleep on A-C. … Key kid: ATH Jonathan Shay is a monster. He’ll run it. He’ll throw it. He’ll catch it. He’ll tackle you. He’ll sell hot dogs at halftime, and he’ll sweep up the bleachers and turn out the lights post-game. Do not miss him in your travels.

5. Berks Catholic: The Saints landed in Section 5 after realignment, and they’ll have a first-year coach calling the shots. Gotta replace some line studs, but the O has potential. … Key kid: RB-DB Bryce Gumby should emerge as a playmaker in the slot. And he’s ultra dangerous in special teams.

6. Kutztown: Power-T attack should induce plenty of headaches with a vet backfield returning. Maturation process continues for the Cougars. … Key kid: RB Brenden Ackley zoomed for 1K yards last fall, and he’ll key Kutztown’s run-heavy attack.

7. Pequea Valley: Don’t be surprised if the Braves are 3-0 coming out of the nonleague. We’ll see if any early success leads to some traction in the section race. … Key kid: C-DT Jeremiah Garber was an all-star trench pick last fall. If you run the Wing-T you better block. PV has an experienced road-grader in Garber to help pave the way.

8. Columbia: Lost a ton of skill kids — and a tackle machine ‘backer who piled up 140 stops last fall — so there could be some growing pains in Crimson Tide camp. Be patient; a 1,700-yard passer returns, but everyone else needs to get on the same page. And quickly. … Key kid: QB Cameron McClair aired it out for 1,714 passing yards with 17 TD tosses in his ninth-grade breakout campaign. What will he do for an encore?

TWITTER-X: @JeffReinhart77

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