Manheim Township tunes up for Wilson with rout of Penn Manor
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 Mike Pollis — LNP/Lancasteronline
MILLERSVILLE — At the end of the National Anthem on Friday night, the Penn Manor Student section, undeterred by a driving rain, exuberantly shouted “home of the Comets.” Moments later, decked out for the night’s pink theme, the students repeatedly declared, “I believe that we will win.”
Visiting Manheim Township had other ideas.
They Blue Streaks poured on 42 first-half points on their way to a 59-0 Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 football victory on Millersville University’s Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium.
The win sets up a Week 10 first-place showdown between the Blue Streaks (5-0, 9-0) and Wilson (5-0, 7-2) at Gurski Stadium.
The Township offense wasted no time getting started as Hayden Johnson hit Landon Kennel over the middle for 19 yards. Running back Declan Clancy, who ran for 130 yards in the first half, took over from there, rambling for 23 yards before finally plunging into the end zone from 1 yard out. The initial scoring drive took seven plays to cover 63 yards.
The second drive featured much of the same, with Johnson again finding Kennel for a key pass reception before Clancy ripped off a 32-yard touchdown run.
On their third drive, the Streaks marched right down the field again, Johnson topping it off with a 7-yard touchdown strike to Kennel.
Johnson later added two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter, one a sneak from the 1 and the other a hard-nosed run on fourth-and-goal from the 8-yard line, as the QB barreled over a would-be tackler to plow into the end zone.
Johnson, who scored four first-half touchdowns and completed 11-of-15 passes for 140 yards in the first half, continued his assault on the school record book after having set the career touchdown passing record last week.
Marcos Fernandez scored two rushing touchdowns in the second half.
Township came into the game having outscored its opponents 367-53, and that trend continued on the rain-soaked turf at Biemesderfer Stadium. The Blue Streaks continued their rampage through their L-L schedule and have themselves set up for a possible section title and No. 1 ranking in District Three.
The Township offensive and defensive lines. Sure, the skill players rack up the yards and scores and receive all the accolades, but week in and week out, the Blue Streaks’ lines dominate.
The offensive line created holes for Clancy and allowed Johnson with ample time to find his receivers downfield. Meanwhile, the defense absolutely dominated, limiting Penn Manor to 29 yards in the first half aside from one 38-yard rushing burst by RB Adrian Smith.
The defensive effort was highlighted by a sack and strip sack by Eli Rodriguez which was recovered by Carter Bair.
