‘All the stars are aligned’ for Lancaster-Lebanon League championship weekend

It’s pretty hard to overshadow a season-ending showdown between Wilson and Manheim Township.

Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League is where the big boys play, and the Bulldogs and Blue Streaks have been at the top of the standings for years. One or the other has earned the section title in each of the last 18 seasons.

The Bulldogs and Streaks don’t dominate the headlines this weekend. Not even close.

There are major battles all across the league, with four of the five sections to be determined by head-to-head match-ups.

None is bigger than the Section 2 battle between Exeter and Manheim Central, a pair of unbeaten, state-ranked teams which have been gunning for each other for months — longer in the Barons’ case.

They’re still stewing from last year’s beatdown in Manheim where the Eagles built a 36-0 halftime lead on their charge to their first District 3 Class 5A champiohship.

“We ruffled a lot of feathers over there,” said Exeter senior Joey Schlaffer.

The Barons own 27 section titles — Wilson has the league record with 29. The Eagles have never won one; they’re in their first season in the league, along with 12 other Berks schools. No doubt the Eagles have entered on top with a lot of momentum and a loaded roster. They’re one of the few teams in the district capable of playing with a team as strong as the Barons.

“Big, physical,” said Manheim coach Dave Hahn in describing the Eagles (5-0, 9-0). “They’ve got some speed where you need speed, at the quarterback and at receiver, and they’ve got a lot of length.”

Exeter coach Matt Bauer is equally impressed with the Barons (5-0, 9-0).

“They remind me a lot of us,” he said. “They’re physical, they like to run the ball, their quarterback makes good decisions, is elusive. It’s gonna be a battle, for sure.”

Elsewhere in Section 2, Gov. Mifflin (2-3, 3-6) plays at Warwick (3-2, 4-5) and Muhlenberg (1-4, 2-7) in at Conestoga Valley (2-3, 4-5).

In Section 1, Hempfield (5-0, 7-2) needs a win at Reading High (1-4, 3-6) to nail down its first outright section title since 1994. It last shared the Section 1 title in 2005.

A Red Knights upset would give either Wilson (4-1, 7-2) or Manheim Township (4-1, 7-2), who play in Landisville, a share of the title. The Bulldogs have claimed the last two titles outright.

In Section 3, Solanco (5-0, 9-0) can clinch the outright title — its first since 1990 — with a win over visiting Garden Spot (4-1, 7-2). The Spartans will share the title with a win.

Daniel Boone (0-5, 1-8) plays at Fleetwood (0-5, 2-7), each looking for its first Lancaster-Lebanon League win. Each is also looking to snap a six-game losing streak.

In Section 4, Lampeter-Strasburg (6-0, 8-1) and Wyomissing (6-0, 9-0) meet for the title Saturday at the A-Field. The Pioneers have won eight straight since a season-opening loss to Solanco. The Spartans have won a Berks-record 34 straight regular season games. Wyomissing won or shared section titles in its last three seasons in the Berks Football League.

Also in Section 4, Berks Catholic (3-3, 3-6) is at Elco (1-5, 4-5) and Conrad Weiser (2-4, 3-6) is at Cocalico (4-2, 5-4).

The Section 5 title will be decided Friday when Lancaster Catholic (6-0, 9-0) plays at Schuylkill Valley (5-1, 6-3). The Panthers, in their 50th season, have never won a football champiohship. A win will give them a share of the title.

Also in Section 5, Columbia (1-5, 3-6) is at Hamburg (4-2, 7-2) and Pequea Valley (1-5, 1-8) is at Kutztown (2-4, 3-6). The Cougars can win back-to-back games for the first time since 2016.

In non-league play, Twin Valley (5-4) is at Hatboro-Horsham (1-6). A win gives the Raiders consecutive winning seasons for the first time in their 27 seasons.

The biggest of the big games will be played in Manheim; it’s one of a handful of games in Pennsylvania involving two state-ranked teams. The Eagles are ranked No. 2 in Class 5A; the Barons are No. 6 in Class 4A.

“It’s definitely special,” said Bauer. “Things like this don’t come along very often, and some teams never get opportunities to play in games like this. It’s great for the league, it’s great for Pennsylvania football, to have something like this where all the stars align.”