A couple of takeaways from Lancaster Catholic football, 2013:
* Crusaders wrapped up their 2-year stint in Section 1 with a 4-3 finish. Lancaster Catholic shifts to Section 2 this season.
* Crusaders went 6-6 overall; Lancaster Catholic’s 5-5 regular season — after a head-scratcher 0-3 start — was good enough for a playoff spot. Crusaders KO’d Lampeter-Strasburg 49-21 in the first round before falling to Cocalico 35-21 in the quarterfinals. Interestingly, L-S and Cocalico will be section rivals for Lancaster Catholic this season.
* Total offense (308.4) and total defense (298.7) numbers were in the middle of the pack, as the Crusaders went through some personnel changes after that 0-3 getaway (Evan Purvis shifted from WR to QB and Nassir Weaver and Trey Miller ended up with the most touches out of the backfield). Despite the rugged start, Lancaster Catholic ended up winning six of seven heading into the district quarters. 2013 L-L football stats.
* Lancaster Catholic produced 16 Section 1 all-stars, including five first-team picks. Section 1 award winners.
* Crusaders made perhaps their biggest news after the season, when coach Bruce Harbach added former Conestoga Valley, Wilson and Cedar Cliff coach Jim Cantafio (offensive coordinator) and former Conestoga Valley coach Gerad Novak (defensive coordinator) to his staff.
We caught up with Crusaders’ seniors Keegan Sheedy — a Villanova recruit — and Nassir Weaver at L-L media day festivities, and got their thoughts about the upcoming season.