LANCASTER — The first high school football Friday night is in the books.
And there are plenty of items to discuss.
Here’s a Saturday Morning Quarterback, L-L League style, for you …
UPSET OF THE NIGHT: We go to York County, where Dallastown, which went 4-7 last season, pinned a 21-6 loss on Lancaster Catholic — the same Lancaster Catholic team that won nine games and went to the District 3 Class AAA semifinals last season, and returned 12 starters — including a hard-hitting o-line and speed to burn in the backfield — from that squad. The Wildcats stepped it up defensively, holding the Crusaders to 133 yards of total offense. And a good chunk of those yards came on Lancaster Catholic’s only TD of the game, a 36-yard toss from C.J. Gantz to Randolph Speller. For the record, Dallastown took Lancaster Catholic to the wire in last season’s opener, falling 41-33. That’s the night Roman Clay romped for an L-L-record 442 yards and six scores. No score-fest this time around. And not much O for the Crusaders. Coach Bruce Harbach is probably scratching his head. And it won’t get any easier in Week 2 for Lancaster Catholic, which hosts Governor Mifflin — the same Governor Mifflin team coming off a humbling, turnover-filled 38-7 loss to rival Wilson on Friday.
CRAZY GAME OF THE NIGHT: Easy — Hamburg 55, Elco 54. Whoa, Nellie. The Raiders bolted to a 41-19 lead at the half, only to watch the Hawks drop 36 unanswered points. Elco soph QB Jeff Martin had a huge night through the air, completing 15-of-27 passes for 315 yards and a pair of TD tosses. But Hamburg survived five turnovers, churned out 476 yards of total offense and shocked the Raiders.
HAPPY HOMECOMING: Jim Cantafio made a triumphant return to Conestoga Valley on Friday night. Cedar Cliff’s coach spent 15 years coaching the Buckskins, guiding Conestoga Valley to six Section 2 titles. His 1985 team — Mike Brown, Eric Esbenshade, Bob Aungst, Sam Turner, et al — went to the District 3 Class AAA title game, falling to Ricky Watters and Bishop McDevitt. Cantafio and members from that team were honored Friday night. On the field, Cantafio’s Colts dismantled his old team to the tune of a 53-7 victory. Virginia Tech recruit QB Andrew Ford — felled by a shoulder injury suffered in a scrimmage last Thursday vs. Manheim Central — not only played, but he was flawless. Ford’s line: 17-of-20 for 209 yards and four TD passes. So Cantafio wins his homecoming, while Conestoga Valley first-year head coach Mark Pieters falls in his debut. Meanwhile …
BURKE WINS DEBUT: James Burke is 1-0 as Columbia’s head coach, after his Crimson Tide rallied past host Eastern York in their annual river rivalry game. The Golden Knights were playing their first game on their stadium’s new turf field. Columbia trailed 7-6 at the half before winning 25-21. Burke said during the preseason that he was expecting big things from Eastern transfer Michael Roberts, and he didn’t disappoint in his Tide debut, with a 2-yard TD run and then a 56-yard TD jaunt in the fourth quarter, which put Columbia ahead for good. Roberts rushed for 106 yards.
SHOUT OUT: Get well soon, Manheim Township senior LB Tucker Evans, son of Blue Streaks' coach Mark Evans.
SATURDAY SLATE: A pair of 1 p.m. games featuring L-L League teams today — Pequea Valley is at York Tech and Donegal will play Elizabethtown at Lebanon Valley College’s Arnold Field. I’ll be in Annville for the Indians-Bears clash. Stay tuned to PennLive.com for coverage Saturday.
More Week 1 High School Football:
Complete coverage: Box scores, recaps and more | Videos
Schedule/Scoreboard: Mid-Penn | L-L | Tri-Valley | York-Adams | Berks
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