Katch, Hempfield rebound with victory over York

By Will Welliver Last updated Aug 30, 2024

2024 Berks football coverage

presented by UECU

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

By Will Welliver — LNP/Lancasteronline

LANDISVILLE — On a night with positive vibes all around Landisville, Hempfield picked up its first win of the season, defeating York 27-6.

Junior quarterback Derek Katch rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another while the Black Knights defense had a strong game, holding York to less than 3 yards per play from scrimmage in the non-league game.

In the second quarter, Hempfield pieced together a nine-play, 78-yard drive that opened with a Katch 20-yard run. After a pair of Grayson Doyle runs, Katch hit Brayden Charles for 12-yards. Two more short runs by Doyle and Katch set the table for a 35-yard pass from Katch to David Ennis as Ennis stumbled down to the Bearcats’ 2-yard line. One play later, after a York penalty moved the ball to the one, Katch punched it in for a 13-0 lead.

Hempfield went three-and-out on its last two possessions of the first half. On its opening possession in the second half, York’s Armonni Borges jumped a Derek Katch pass at the line of scrimmage and returned the interception 46 yards to cut the Black Knights lead to 13-6.

Momentarily, it seemed that York had Hempfield on its heels. But three plays later, Katch found Philip Krauser along the left hash on a short dump pass and Krauser sprinted down the York sideline for a 72-yard touchdown to return the 13-point lead for Hempfield with 7:20 left in the third quarter.

Katch had a game-high 68 yards rushing on 16 carries and had 180 yards passing.

A week after allowing 380 yards of total offense to Dallastown, the Black Knights’ defense bounced back in a big way — holding the York offense scoreless and allowing 84 yards of total offense (41 on the ground, 43 in the air).

Between the first and second quarters, Hempfield honored alumnus David Martin-Robinson, who was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in May. Martin-Robinson played college football at Temple. The tight end earned a spot on the Titans’ 53-man roster this week and was in attendance Friday night.

York hosts Manheim Township next Friday, while Hempfield welcomes Gov. Mifflin.