(Senior members of the E-town football team talk before the team banquet last night).
I was invited to attend the E-town football banquet last night, and I have to say, it was really great. The banquet committee had the high school cafeteria decorated wonderfully. They even cut out a lot of the football articles I had written this year and had them on display at the entrance, which definitely made it more awesome (or awful, depending on how what you think of my writing). Seriously, though, thanks to them for inviting me and for doing a great job transforming the cafeteria. It looked great.
If you've never been to a football banquet (this was my first one in E-town), the seniors are seated in front of everyone else at a head table. Behind each of them, their jersey hung with their names added to the back. In front of them was a mini E-town helmet complete with their number on the back. Very, very cool. It's definitely something they'll always treasure. I sure wish I got those back in high school. I just got a certificate and a pat on the back while we dined on chicken patties leftover from that afternoon's lunch. Good times.
Senior wide receiver/defensive back Steven Nunez served as the emcee for the start of the banquet, introducing EASD Superintendent Amy Slamp and EAHS Athletic Director Shane Piper before turning the microphone over to head coach Jeff Polites. Jeff did a great job of mixing in humor and offering heart-felt memories of all 14 seniors. He also recognized some cheerleaders, the assistant coaches, the game managers, the trainers and the many other people that make up the Elizabethtown football family.
The food was also great – especially the ham loaf.
After dinner, Polites introduced head junior high coach Ray Livingston, who talked about his teams' season and thanked his coaches. After that, head JV coach Eric Clair (who has been with Polites during all 11 of his seasons as head coach) talked about the JV squad and talked to the seniors a bit.
The varsity was last, and Polites kicked it off with some awards. Here are the awards and their recipient. Academic Awards – named after former EAHS player Steve Sczobocan (sorry Steve, if I spelled that wrong). This award goes to the player with the highest GPA in each grade for grades 10 through 12. Grade 10 winner was Joe Martin. Grade 11 winner was Zach Myers. Grade 12 winner was Evan Good (for the third straight year, I believe.)
Ironman Awards. These are given to players who have perfect attendance for all team functions. And considering the amount of meetings, film studies, practices, etc. football teams do, there was an incredible amount of winners here, which goes hand-in-hand with the Bears' recent successes. The winners were: Dylan Allison, Steven Nunez, Kyle McNeil, Ryan Heistand, David Kennedy, Alex Kirchner, Tyler Clark, Conrad Heisey, Shane Rosenberry, Zach Myers, Josh McMasters, Andy Breault, Andrew Haldeman, Mitch Light, Jared Danneker, Tyler Miller, Travis Eppley, Mike Rehrer, Brock Rutherford, Joe Martin, Brendan Kain and Jamie Guzman.
Polites then handed out varsity letters or pins to all of the underclassmen who earned them.
Finally, he spoke of the 14 seniors. They were: Nate Clarke, Tyler Miller, Jeremi Jones, Kyle McNeil, Larrian Payne, Conrad Heisey, Shane Long, Shane Rosenberry, Jamie Kehler, Alex Kirchner, Evan Good, Corey Hutchinson, Josh McMasters and Steven Nunez.
One by one, Polites called them up to the podium, where he shared a story about each and what that player meant to the team. This was my favorite part of the banquet. The night is essentially all about the seniors and the way Polites recognized them was very special.
The evening ended with a great highlight tape compiled by Bill Hunking, who takes photos for the team. He had tons and tons of absolutely AMAZING photos of players, coaches, trainers, ball boys, cheerleaders, you name it, all set to music. He also mixed in some video, which was shot by Dwayne Hernley. There was also a special segment at the end dedicated to the seniors. There was one baby picture, the player's individual team photo, the parent's night photo, one action shot and then one video clip for all the seniors. Amazing job.
All in all, it was a great night and I think the football program for allowing me to attend and witness it.
As I type this, The Bears Den is sitting on 9,998 hits and by the time you read this, we will likely be at 10,000. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who takes time out of their day to visit the Den and read the ramblings of a schlub. Of course, 8,000 of those hits are probably by my mother, who recently learned to use the Internet. Yes, I'm proud of her technological prowess.
Seriously, I am very grateful for the amount of hits we have gotten in just one year's time. I didn't put the hit counter up until February, and it's already at 10K, which means we are very likely past that point already.
So thanks again to all of you and to everyone who has put a link to this blog up on their respective Web sites. I hope you like what you are seeing so far, and I have some more ideas that I hope to implement in the near future (like the Journalist vs. Jocks videos). Remember, if there is ever anything that you see here that you like or don't like, or something that I haven't done that you think I should do, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail at sports.etown@gmail.com.
In the coming week or so, I'll be posting previews of all the EAHS varsity winter sports programs. And we begin today with the E-town ice hockey team, which has already begun play. The Bears are off to a great 3-0 start, scoring at least 7 goals in all three of their games so far. They are scheduled to play again tonight. Here you go:
Head Coach: Steve Lokey, third year.
2007-2008 record: 17-3-1. Beat Garden Spot 6-2 in division championship. Beat the Crusaders 5-0 in the first round of the CPIHL playoffs. Lost to Annville-Cleona 2-1 in the CPIHL quarterfinals.
Current Record: The Bears are currently 3-0 and tied for first place in the Tier 2 – Lancaster/Lebanon/Berks division of the CPIHL with Cocalico.
Key Returners: Brian Milici, senior co-captain, forward (5 goals, 5 assists this season); Josh Carter, senior co-captain, forward (6 G, 3 A); Steven Dombrosky, sophomore, defense (2 G, 4 A); Michael Van Horn, junior, defense (3 G, 2 A); Harry Rhodes, senior, goalie (2-0, 2.50 GAA); Thomas Dombrosky, senior, forward (1 G, 1 A); Devin Shay (1 G, 1 A); Derrick Anderson, junior, forward (1 G 4 A); Brandon Lancaster, junior, forward (3 G); Lindsey Shuler, junior, forward (4 A). E-town returns 12 players and eight seniors from last year’s 17-win squad. The Bears are led by Milici, an all-star last year and the team’s second leading scorer, and Carter, who is the team’s co-captain along with Milici. The Bears have plenty of talented, spearheaded by these two.
E-town has a ton of talented offensive players, and that has been evident so far as the Bears have scored 23 goals in their first three games.
Adding to the offensive firepower will be Shuler, Thomas Dombrosky, Shay, Lancaster and Anderson, all of whom are experienced players capable of making big plays on the ice.
On defense, the Bears are led by Van Horn and Steven Dombrosky, both of whom can also be playmakers on offense. Behind them is Rhodes who is in his third year of varsity and gives the Bears an experienced net-minder.
Experience is definitely on the Bears’ side with this group.
“With eight seniors on the team, there is a wealth of experience and an abundance of talented players,” said head coach Steve Lokey. “Providing leadership and focusing on team play will be very important in our success this year.”
Key Newcomers: Justin Hoover, senior, forward; C.C. Davis, freshman, forward; Brent Boyer, sophomore, goalie (1-0, 1.0 GAA). With so many experienced players returning, it will be tough for the newcomers to make an immediate impact, but both Hoover and Davis are good hockey players who simply need to adjust to the team’s philosophy.
“The two new forwards will have to work hard to understand the style of play our team likes to use,” Lokey said.
Rhodes won’t be able to play goalie every game, so Boyer will be relied on to play well this season. He has already proven himself as a solid backup to Rhodes as he made 10 saves and allowed only one goal in a 7-1 win over Cedar Crest earlier this season.
“Brent is a capable goalie to give Harry a rest in games,” said Lokey.
Key Losses: Alex Reinhold, senior, defense (injury); A.J. English (graduation); Derek Hallet (graduation); Dillon Filepas (graduation); Hunter Peirce (graduation); Zach Lokey (graduation). Reinhold is an integral part of the Bears’ defense, but is sidelined right now with injuries. When he returns, though, Steve Lokey said he will be a huge boost to the defense.
The Bears took a pretty big hit with graduation, losing a lot of leadership and talent. English, Hallet, Filepas and Peirce were all playmakers and were major reasons for E-town’s recent success.
But the biggest hit may come from the departure of Zach Lokey. Lokey was the team’s leading scorer for each of the past four seasons and had an amazing year last season, scoring 41 goals and dishing out 31 assists, on his way to being named the CPIHL All-Star MVP. He leaves a void in the offense, but the Bears have plenty of weapons to step up and score in his absence.
Strengths: Experience, scoring, goal tending. With so many players returning from last year’s section-championship team, there won’t be many situations E-town faces on the ice this season that the bulk of its players hasn’t seen before. And that will make E-town a very dangerous team.
This group has been with Lokey for three years now, and has a firm grasp on his coaching style and the strategies he has implemented. That comfort level will go a long way, especially in close games. If the Bears get down in a game, they won’t panic. Instead, they’ll stick with their gameplan and, with the kind offensive firepower they have, are never out of a game.
Defenses won’t be able to key on just one player to stop, because the Bears have so many capable offensive threats. E-town already has 10 players who have registered at least two points and it has only played three games. Being so versatile will help the Bears skate with just about anyone.
In goal, Rhodes takes over as the main man after splitting time last year with Steven Dombrosky, who is moving out and becoming a defenseman. So far, Rhodes has been as good as expected, but E-town is coming into a tough portion of its schedule and the Bears will need him to be at his best.
“He will be put to the test in our upcoming games,” said Lokey.
Weakness: Defense. With the injury to Reinhold, the Bears are down to only three true defenseman, which means forwards are still adjusting to helping out on defense. Against good offensive teams, this could hurt the Bears, but Lokey is happy with how they have looked so far.
“So far they have done and excellent job,” he said. “But they will need to make improvements as the season progresses.”
The defensemen that the Bears have healthy right now are very good, and as they season chugs along and the forwards adjust and the Bears get Reinhold back, the defense will become even better. Which isn’t good news for the Bears’ opponents.
Outlook: The Bears have been very successful in the CPIHL in recent years and will be looking to build off the momentum of last year’s division championship and trip to the quarterfinals.
There aren’t many chinks in the Bears’ armor right now, and they will only get stronger as the season progresses. That doesn’t mean, however, that the Bears don’t have anything to work on. E-town has an abundance of talent, but it must harness it into playing team hockey to be successful.
“We have to focus on playing as a team instead of counting on individual talent to carry us,” Lokey said. “They also have to understand everyone’s responsibility when they are playing and cover up for each other if a mistake occurs.”
That is one thing that experience gets you – the ability to adjust to another team and help out your teammates when someone makes a mistake.
There aren’t as many CPIHL teams this year, meaning the talent isn’t as spread out, which equates to tougher competition night in and night out for the Bears, and Lokey knows it.
“We will have our hands full in almost every game we play. Starting 3-0 was a pleasant surprise,” he said. “Everyone has a good understanding of what we need to improve on as we get into the tough part of our schedule.”
Lokey also stressed the importance of having team chemistry. Sure, the Bears return 12 players, but they also lost some of the key players from last year’s team, meaning they have to adjust to life without them.
But so far, so good for the Bears. They are stocked with talented, smart players who understand what is expected of them. All of the pieces for a run at the Viola Cup are in place, it’s now up to the players to make it happen.
With their experience, they certainly know what it will take to get there.
I've just learned of a schedule change for the EAHS boys basketball team. Apparently, Donegal scheduled too many games and had to drop one, and chose to drop the Dec. 22 scheduled game with Elizabetown.
So the Bears won't be playing the Indians this year. Instead, E-town will host West York on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. So now you know. And knowing is half the battle, right G.I. Joe?
Five members of the Elizabethtown Area High School boys soccer team have been named Lancaster-Lebanon League Section Two all-stars. E-town had three players named to the all-section first team, goalie Quinn Cozzens and midfielders Kevin Romanauskas and Sean Strangeway. Defender Jason Good was named to the second team and midfielder Nathan Clarke was named an academic all-star.
Strangeway led the Bears this season with six goals and also had one assist. Romanauskas added five goals. Cozzens earned three shutouts in goal for the Bears, who went 9-6-2 this season and qualified for the District Three playoffs.
Good was the anchor of E-town’s defense and Clarke added one goal and one assist this year.
Six players from the Elizabethtown Area High School field hockey team were named Lancaster-Lebanon League Section One all-stars. Back Abby Curtin and goalie Becca Bigler were both named to the first team. Midfielder Mandi Shearer was named to the second team and midfielder Jamie Ahern was an honorable mention selection. Curtin, Hannah Olnick and Anna Libby were all named academic all-stars.
Curtin was the rock for the Elizabethtown defense this season and Bigler was one of the best goalies in the section, earning four shutouts this year. Shearer contributed a goal and two assists from midfield this season and Ahern added one goal and two assists.
Olnick was a co-captain of the team, but missed the season due to a knee injury. Libby scored three goals and had one assist for the Bears, who went 5-11-1 in a very talented Section One.
Adele Roeder and Dustin Horning were each named Lancaster-Lebanon League all-stars for their performances for the Elizabethtown Area High School boys and girls cross country programs.
Horning was named to the first team for the boys. He won every race in the regular season except for the season finale, took 10th place in the District Three meet and finished in the top 50 in the PIAA state meet. He also led the Bears to a 16-6 regular season record.
Roeder was named an honorable mention all-star. She was a force all season long for the Bears, and was often the first E-town runner to cross the finish line. She helped lead the Bears to a 15-0 start to the season and an eventual 19-3 overall record.
Ally Stengel and Kelly Sebzda were both named second team Lancaster-Lebanon League all-section players.
Stengel had a standout senior season as E-town’s setter. Most of her sets were hammered for points by Sebzda, who was a force from outside hitter. The Bears finished the season 4-10 overall.
If you might remember, a month or so ago I did a special insert in our print edition commemorating the 2008 inductees of the EASD Athletic Wall of Honor. One of those inductees was Tommy Miller, E-town's only state wrestling champion. I interviewed E-town wrestling coach Mike Sernoffsky about Miller, but unfortunately, we didn't catch up until after deadline and I couldn't get Mike's quotes into the story in time. But he had some very nice things to say about Tommy, and I wanted to pass them along. Here's what Sernoffsky had to say about his state champ:
Tom Miller is definitely a special person. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to coach him as an outstanding high school athlete.
Tom qualified for districts in three sports his senior year – football, wrestling and track. He also ran cross country one year. Tom was also a top student. Tom did all the extras, running on his own, putting in extra practice, staying late for more repetitions.
It was great to coach someone who believed in his coaches and himself. He never put himself above the team. I started at E-town Tom's freshman year. It was easy to recognize he was a special kind of kid. I never saw Tom lose twice to the same wrestler in high school. His sophomore year was the only time he did not win the sectional tournament (he finished second). The following week at districts, he pinned the lad who had beaten him. His last two years in high school, he was 61-1, losing only in the state finals as a junior.
I was very fortunate to have a wrestler in the state finals three times in my first four years at E-town. (Dennis Rosenberry in 1984, Tom Miller in 1986 and 1987.) Tom's senior year at the state meet, a reporter asked me if something was wrong with Tom after his first match because he "only" majored his first round opponent in the state meet (his opponent's record was 35-2). After Tom's semifinal victory in overtime (I think he was watching the other semi match most of the time he was wrestling), we went to eat and I knew no one would touch him in the finals because he was so relaxed.
He told me, 'well at least no I can't do any worse than last year.' He never showed it, but he put a lot of pressure on himself to excel. My only concern during dinner before the finals was that he might receive a forfeit in the finals and be robbed of the opportunity to wrestle for the medal. His finals opponent won in the semis by injury default via a slam. He did wrestle and Tom pinned him in the second period.
Tom is definitely a special person. My wife still refers to him as our 'first' son.
Tonight, the winter sports programs at EAHS officially begin practicing. Time flies, doesn't it? Hard to believe that winter sports are here already, but they are. I'm beginning to work on previews for all of the teams and I'll post them as I get them done.
Also, be on the look out for Lancaster-Lebanon League All-Stars from E-town for the fall sports, which I'll be posting in the coming days.
Winter's here, everyone, get your mittens out. It should be a great season for all of E-town's teams, so stay tuned.
The 2008 EAHS football team had a great season, reaching the district playoffs for the second straight year. Instead of reading my ramblings on the team, here is a slideshow of the season. All photos were taken by Bill Hunking and Chris Bradley, both volunteers who I could not possibly thank enough for their great work. Enjoy.
Here is a synopsis of the press conference yesterday where E-town senior Becca Bigler announced her intentions to attend Division I Hofstra University to play softball.
Shane Piper, EAHS athletic director. "I would like to offer my congratulations to Becca and her family. It's not every day that we have a student-athlete signing to go to a Division I school."
Andy Derr, EAHS varsity field hockey head coach "You deserve everthing you've gotten and it couldn't have happened to a greater kid."
Mike Pericci, EAHS varsity girls basketball head coach "For the four years that I've had Becca, she been one of the most talented athletes I've seen, boys or girls. She's very humble and modest. On behalf of the girls basketball program, we thank you for being a part of our family."
Gary Wylde, EAHS varsity softball head coach "Becca has had an impact on each of the programs she has been a part of. She's been a tremendous role model and her work ethic is second to none."
"She's had some major accomplishments, but the thing that's special about Becca besides her terrific work ethic is her being a teammate. The things that make her the happiest is the things that her teams do."
Becca Bigler: "To see everyone her to support me is incredible and greatly appreciated."
To her parents: "You are the reasons my dreams became a reality. Without you and all of your sacrifices, this dream would not have been able to become a reality."
Kudos to Shane Piper and the EASD administration for putting together a very nice event. It was an emotional moment for Bigler as teammates from all of her sports came in to support her, including the entire girls basketball program, who took time away from open gym to stop in. For more on Becca's signing, pick up the Nov. 20 issue of the Chronicle.
Becca Bigler is taking her game to Hofstra. E-town's senior star shortstop officially declared her intentions to attend Hofstra University today, putting on a gray Hofstra sweatshirt and signing a letter of intent at a ceremony at Elizabethtown Area High School at around 3:30 p.m.
Bigler has been a standout in all three sports she participates in – girls basketball, field hockey and softball – but will be playing softball for the Division I Pride.
I'll have plenty more on Becca as the week continues, including quotes from today's press conference, but I just wanted to drop in quickly and post her decision. I also wanted to say that I have covered Becca arguably more than any other athlete during my time at the Chronicle. She is a three-sport athlete and has been playing most or all of them at the varsity level since her freshman year. So needless to say, I've seen her in action a ton of times. And she deserves the chance to play at such a high level. She is as hard working of an athlete as you will find and is an incredibly great teammate, which goes a long way in making players around her better. And that's what the truly great athletes do. Congratulations to Becca, and be sure to check back later this week for more. We had some technical issues earlier in the week, but they have been ironed out, so expect some news on youth lacrosse, E-town football, E-town College, and, of course, E-town's newest Division I athlete, Becca Bigler.
Well, it's playoff time already. Tonight, the Bears travel to West Lawn to take on the No. 1 ranked and undefeated Wilson Bulldogs in the first round of the District Three Quad-A playoffs. I caught up with E-town head coach Jeff Polites today to chat a little about tonight's big game. Here is the first playoff edition of Five Downs with Coach Polites. Enjoy.
First Down: How do you prepare for a defense as good as Wilson's? How you think your offense will give them trouble? Coach Polites: We have an attack that is tough to defend with all the possible ball carriers and pass catchers. This will give us an advantage over most defensive schemes.
Second Down: How important is it for your kids to realize that they can play with Wilson? And how do you get them to believe that? Coach Polites: That is the most important thing of all. Nothing else will matter if we can not get over the mental hurdle. We have been preaching all week about the game is played on the field and our effort and execution of the game plan is the only thing we can control.
Third Down: Does this seem like a game that will be won or lost at the line of scrimmage? Coach Polites: Most games are won or lost at the line of scrimmage. Tonight it will be even more important to match the intensity at the line of scrimmage.
Fourth Down: How do you think your returning team leaders will use last year's playoff run to their advantage? Coach Polites: It is always nice to draw from prior experience to help us eliminate any hesitation. Hopefully this will be another step in being a consistent postseason team.
Fifth Down: Is it more difficult to prepare for a team that you've only seen on film? Coach Polites: I like playing a team that we are unfamiliar with. It gives us another experience at a different offense and defense. It is our opportunity to challenge ourselves against a quality opponent.
Oops...wrong Wilson. Sorry. There. That's better. OK, so by now we all know that Wilson is the No. 1 seed in the district and that they're undefeated. The task is certainly not going to be an easy one for the Bears, but one they will be up for. So let's take a look at their opponent. First, here are some quick, bulleted points on The Dawgs.
• Wilson's starting defense hasn't allowed a touchdown in EIGHT games. • Wilson's defense as a whole hasn't allowed a point in nine quarters. • They inflicted the mercy rule on 7 of their 10 opponents, and 6 of the 7 Section One foes. • Wilson is allowing just 7.2 points per game and 160 yards of offense per game (a ridiculous number), and they are the No. 1 ranked rush defense and overall defense in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. • They have outscored opponents 396-72. Wow. • Their schedule this year included wins over district-qualifiers Governor Mifflin, Manheim Central, Downingtown East, Hempfield, Penn Manor and Warwick. • They have forced 26 takeaways.
Stats: Offensive leaders: QB: Steve Huber, 53-101, 774 yards, 7 TD, 2 INT. Missed some time in the first half of the season with a knee injury. RB: Zacc Groff, 112 carries, 955 yards, 15 TD. He's their gamebreaker. FB: Dylan Stopper, 60 carries, 428 yards, 15 TD. Bruiser with a nose for the end zone. WR: Alex Fegley, 26 catches, 519 yards, 11 TD. Nearly half of his catches are for touchdowns. Amazing.
Defense: We already went over what to expect from Wilson's D. Stuff the run, pin you back, pin you back, make you punt from deep in your own territory, give the offense a short field to work with. Repeat. Here's who to keep an eye on in that defense: LB Colton Weaver. Arguably the best defender in the league. He'll be all over the place. LB Pat Zerbe and LB Jordan Holbert. Two tough, fast kids who will be playing football at the next level. Linebacker High School, huh? Tomorrow (or possibly later today, depending on if I can get this technical glitch fixed) we'll look at E-town's stats, chat with Coach Polites and I'll give you my thoughts on the game.
If anyone was interested in purchasing tickets to tomorrow's E-town/Wilson District Three playoff game tomorrow night, they are on sale at the high school now.
Tickets can be purchased in the EAHS main office (600 E. High St.) from now until 3 p.m. tomorrow. Prices are $5 for adults and $3 for students. At the gate, all tickets are $5.
For more information, call the high school office at 367-1533.
Today's forecast is: bloggy (man, I'm corny)...so expect a ton of tidbits on the big football game tomorrow night. I'll be posting stats, analysis, links to videos, all kinds of crazy stuff. So check in early and often.
OK everyone, here are the official brackets for your enjoyment. I'll list the games below, but you can open the brackets yourself by clicking here.
No. 16 E-town (6-4) at No. 1 Wilson (10-0), 7 p.m., Nov. 7. No. 9 Muhlenberg (7-3) at No. 8 Hempfield (8-2), 7 p.m., Nov. 7. (Winner of these two games meet in the quarterfinals).
No. 13 Red Land (6-4) at No. 4 York (9-1), 7 p.m., Nov. 7. No. 12 Red Lion (6-4) at No. 5 Bishop McDevitt, 1 p.m., Nov. 8. (Winner of these two games meet in the quarterfinals).
No. 15 Warwick (6-4) at No. 2 Cumberland Valley (9-1), 7 p.m., Nov. 7. No. 10 Dallastown (7-3) at No. 7 Penn Manor (8-2), date and time TBD. (Winner of these two games meet in the quarterfinals).
No. 14 Harrisburg (6-4) at No. 3 Central York (9-1), 7 p.m., Nov. 8. No. 11 Central Dauphin (7-3) at No. 6 Governor Mifflin (8-2), 7 p.m., Nov. 7. (Winner of these two games meet in the quarterfinals).
There you have it. Plenty more on the E-town/Wilson matchup coming this week...
OK, today's action is complete, and Harrisburg won and McDevitt lost, which shakes up the picture a little bit. Here are you first round Quad-A District Three Football match ups:
Friday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m. No. 16 Elizabethtown (6-4) at No. 1 Wilson (10-0) No. 9 Muhlenberg (7-3) @ No. 8 Hempfield (8-2) No. 13 Red Land (6-4) @ No. 4 York (9-1) No. 14 Harrisburg (6-4) @ No. 3 Central York (9-1) No. 11 Central Dauphin (7-3) @ No. 6 Governor Mifflin (6-2) No. 10 Dallastown (7-3) @ No. 7 Penn Manor (8-2) No. 15. Warwick (6-4) @ No. 2 Cumberland Valley (9-1).
So there you have it. And in case you were curious, here's the rest of the matchups for E-town's fellow section two teams, which will all be in the Triple-A bracket. All these games will be at 7 p.m. next Friday. No. 12 Elco (6-4) @ No. 5 Manheim Central (8-2) No. 13 Susquehanna Township (5-5) @ No. 4 Cocalico (9-1) No. 10 Garden Spot (6-4) @ No. 7 Lebanon (7-3)
Don't know the final yet, but the last score I saw was 42-0 Harrisburg at HALFTIME. So, odds are Harrisburg won today, which means the Bears will play top ranked and unbeaten Wilson in the first round of the District Three Quad A playoffs. Again, not official, when I have those, I'll post 'em. But that's what I know right now as I watch the Gators get revenge on Georgia.
I stink at math, so I really wouldn't even attempt to predict the District Three Quad-A playoff brackets, but Rod Frisco over at the Patriot-News is much better at the calculations, and he predicts the way the Quad-A brackets will shape up following Bishop McDevitt and Harrisburg's games today. You can check it out by clicking here.
Here's basically how it shakes out for the Bears. (They are in, by the way).
1. If Harrisburg wins today (the are playing Altoona as I type this), E-town will likely be the No. 16 seed in the district, which would mean a matchup with No. 1 seed Wilson, who is a perfect 10-0.
2. If Harrisburg loses to Altoona, the Bears would likely be the No. 15 seed, which would mean a date with No. 2 Cumberland Valley, who is 9-1.
Those seem to be the two most likely scenarios for E-town, so it all hinges on the Harrisburg game today. Remember, this is not official, and when the official brackets are released, you can find them here immediately. That could me later tonight, or tomorrow.
OK gang, let me just start by saying that I do not know the first round District Three playoff matchups yet. There are still some games to be played tomorrow (most notably Bishop McDevitt), so the bracket won't be finalized until then. Of course, when it is, you can find it here, because I will post it immediately.
For those who spent the night with the kids trick or treating or handing out candy, the Bears lost to Lebanon 28-21 tonight. It was a good game throughout, with both teams coming out firing and running to a 14-14 tie at the end of the first quarter. But then the defenses showed up and slowed down the offenses. Lebanon picked off three passes in the first half and that went a long way to them holding off the Bears. E-town ended up turning the ball over 4 times, but still had a chance to win. That tells me two things: 1. Lebanon cannot expect to have a ton of success in the playoffs with forcing 4 turnovers and not blowing a team out. 2. E-town can hang its hats on having that many TOs and still finding itself in the game late in the fourth. That said, the Bears absolutely can't turn it over that many times in the playoffs, or they won't make it far.
So, yeah, based on my calculations (for what it's worth), the Bears are in. I think they would've been in no matter what, but Township's loss to Hempfield definitely helped the cause. If I were to pose and early GUESS on who the Bears would play next week, I'll say McDevitt or Cumberland Valley, but I'm leaning toward McDevitt. Don't hold me to that, but that's my thought. We'll know for sure after tomorrow.
E-town did an OK job limiting the Lebanon offense tonight. Any time you keep the Cedars from scoring inside the 5, you're doing something. E-town did it twice. But turnovers killed the Bears tonight. Much like video killed the radio star. I'll get more into the game after we know who E-town will play next week, though. But let me just say this. Lebanon QB James Capello impressed me tonight. He did make a couple bad throws, but the 44-yard TD pass he threw to Jordan Clentimack off his back foot with pressure in his face might be the best throw I've ever seen a high school kid make. The kid can play. Probably not major DI, but he's got I-AA stuff.
Again, more on the brackets as soon as I get them. Don't stray too far, they'll be here soon.
Off to bed for me.....good night and, as always, stay classy Elizabethtown.
