Cocalico runs down unbeaten Lampeter-Strasburg

By Jeff Reinhart Last updated Sep 23, 2023

2023 Berks football coverage presented by

Utilities Employees Credit Union

(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)

By Jeff Reinhart — LNP/Lancasteronline

DENVER — Cocalico knew all about Lampeter-Strasburg’s razor-sharp defense coming into their Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4 showdown Friday night.

But the Eagles didn’t blow up what they do. No tricks. No gimmicks.

Just the big boys getting a push up front. And, of course, Cocalico’s trusty Triple-Option attack. And it worked. In a big way.

Aaryn Longenecker rushed for 150 yards — including a back-breaking third-quarter touchdown sprint — Sam Steffey rumbled for 120 yards, including a 27-yard, first-half TD bolt, and the Eagles gouged out 356 rushing yards in all and picked off the Pioneers 24-10, handing L-S — which brought the league’s top-ranked defense into the game — its first loss this season.

“As a team, we love these kinds of games because it keeps you on your toes and it keeps you going,” Longenecker said. “Games like this really bring you together as a team. And we played with a lot of passion.”

After a Week 1 setback against Warwick, Cocalico ripped off its fourth straight victory, all by doing what the Eagles do best: Sticking the ball on the ground, winning the trench battles, and getting all the right reads from quarterback Josh Myer, who was up to his old tricks again Friday.

Cocalico’s Sam Steffey runs for a touchdown. (Chris Knight/LNP)

Myer rushed for 74 yards — adding to the Eagles’ haul — and his 1-yard dive opened the scoring Friday, giving Cocalico a 6-0 lead late in the first quarter.

“Our kids came back (after Warwick) refocused and determined, and we’ve played some quality programs,” Cocalico coach Bryan Strohl said. “I’m very proud of the effort and the execution on both sides of the ball.”

Steffey’s 27-yard run — and his ensuing 2-point conversion plunge — gave the Eagles a 14-0 lead. And Cocalico (2-0 L-L, 4-1 overall) grabbed a 17-0 cushion when Todd Bucker drilled a 35-yard field goal with 1:22 left in the first half.

L-S (1-1, 4-1) finally put a drive together and put three points on the board at the second-quarter horn, when Peter Fiorello booted a 34-yard field to slice the Eagles’ edge to 17-3 at the break.

Cocalico sputtered a tad after intermission; L-S’s defense finally flexed its muscles, forcing back-to-back three-and-punts. And the Pioneers were able to cut into the Eagles’ lead in the third, when Trent Wagner zipped a 4-yard TD stroke to Dean Herr, and it was 17-10 with 2:28 to go in the third.

That’s Longenecker took matters into his own hands. Bogged down for the third drive in a row in the third, Longenecker took a pitch-out from Myer, broke a couple of tackles, bobbed and weaved and raced 75 yards for a comfortable 24-10 lead with 1:29 to go in the third.

“Our kids know that they’ve pounded every team they’ve played,” Strohl said. “But we have a slightly different offensive look that a lot of teams around the league. As much quality as their defense has, they were going up against a different kind of a look this week.”

Longenecker thwarted a fourth-quarter L-S drive with an interception at Cocalico’s 10. Earlier, Aiden Williams stopped another Pioneers possession with a pick, and L-S was stymied. Owen Weaver also blocked a field goal and had a key sack for the Eagles.

“There’s still a lot of football left,” L-S coach Victor Ridenour said. “You have to tip your cap to their guys. They re-established the line of scrimmage all night. They did a good job up front. We had a couple of drives going and we turned it over. And that hurts. But you have to tip your cap to them. Up front, they did a better job there offensively and defensively.”