We’re still two weeks from L-L League football media day, and three weeks until high school camps open.
But local fans are already excited for the Section 2 race, which — on paper, in late July, anyway — should be a beauty.
The L-L Section 2 race is usually pretty good regardless. But with the addition of Lancaster Catholic (down from Section 1) and Garden Spot (back up from Section 3), the derby immediately got that much more interesting.
Pick a week — any week — and there will be a major showdown in Section 2. Odds are this race will go right down to the last night of league play, on Halloween.
How do you think Section 2 will shake down this season?
Make sure you cast your vote, and feel free to comment below.
Here’s a quick refresher course about how the Section 2 race finished up in 2013:
Manheim Central (7-0, 13-1) — High-scoring, ball-moving Barons won their 21st section title, leading the L-L in total offense and points. Manheim Central landed back in a familiar place, the District 3-AAA title game, but the Barons fell to Bishop McDevitt. Don’t forget: This will be coach Mike Williams’ last season at the helm.
Cocalico (6-1, 11-2) — Super season for the Eagles, who piled up all kinds of crooked numbers on the stat sheet. Cocalico’s two losses: 24-12 to Manheim Central in Week 6 and 42-20, also to the Barons, in the district semifinals.
Lebanon (5-2, 7-4) — Cedars’ record-setting QB Mark Pyles pocketed award after award, and piloted Lebanon into the district playoffs for the first time in five years. Air Raid’s gonna look a smidge different without him behind center.
Lampeter-Strasburg (4-3, 5-6) — QB Bear Shank passed for 2,000 yards, and the Pioneers went to the District 3-AAA playoffs with a .500 mark. Shank’s back. Can he help L-S get back in the lead pack?
Elizabethtown (2-5, 3-7) — Bears dropped final three games after making some early noise, including a win over eventual Section 3 champ Donegal.
Solanco (2-5, 2-8) — Golden Mules snapped an 11-game losing skid, and went 2-1 down the stretch. Will new coach Tony Cox help Solanco build on that momentum?
Garden Spot (4-2 Section 3, 8-3) — In two seasons, the Spartans went 10-2 in league play, and won Section 3 in 2012. Now they’re back up in familiar territory — and with vet QB Mitch Martin back in tow. Welcome back.
Lancaster Catholic (4-3 Section 1, 6-6) — Crusaders struggled mightily early on with a rare 0-3 getaway, then won six of eight to reach the District 3-AAA quarterfinals. How long will it take Lancaster Catholic to adapt to its new surroundings? That is the question.