Top players to watch in Section 3 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League in 2023
Solanco made a huge move last year, improving from 3-7 in 2021 to go unbeaten in the regular season and win the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 championship.
The Golden Mules edged playoff-bound Elizabethtown 35-32 and held off much-improved Twin Valley 32-25 in a pair of key midseason battles to stay on top.
Ephrata’s Andre Weidman, running behind Section 3 Offensive Lineman of the Year Weston Nolt, was the section’s Outstanding Back. Garden Spot’s Tyler Hurst was the section’s Outstanding Lineman.
Solanco had 11 all-league first-team picks, but just two return; the Mules will be hard-pressed to repeat after graduating 26 seniors.
Twin Valley has more top-notch talent returning than any of the section’s other six team and is the early favorite to win its first Lancaster-Lebanon League title.
Here’s a look at the top players in Section 3 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League.
Later in the week we’ll take a look at Section 2 and Section 1.
Gavin Cox, Solanco
The unanimous first-team all-league center brings vital experience to a squad that graduated 26 seniors from its championship unit. The Mules must replace nine first-team all-league picks, including a pair of O-linemen. Cox is one of just two returning all-league picks.
As a junior the 6-2, 250-pound Cox helped blow open holes for an offense that hammered out 3,666 rushing yards on the way to an 11-0 opening record.
Reed Gruber, Garden Spot
The two-way lineman was critical for a Spartans team that averaged 410.5 yards per game and went to the district playoffs.
The undersized lineman earned second-team all-league honors as an offensive tackle and first-team credit as a defensive end. He made 65 tackles, 12 for losses, with 11 sacks, eight QB hurries, three pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles.
Kye Harting, Garden Spot
Harting put together a rare 1,000/1,000 season in his first extended varsity action behind center. He threw for 1,970 yards with 20 TDs and ran for 1,108 yards and 13 TDs. His haul: Section 3 first-team all-league, plus a PA Football News All-State nod.
Harting epitomizes the term “dual-threat” QB. He throws a nice pass with good pocket presence and if he gets flushed or takes off on a designed QB keeper, of which Garden Spot will call quite often, watch out.
Evan Johnson, Twin Valley
Showed explosive potential by running for three long touchdowns and 205 yards in district playoff win over Milton Hershey as a sophomore. Finished with 992 rushing yards, team-high 17 TDs and 7.7 yards-per-carry average. Also had 12 receptions.
Rising junior and three-year starter will put his 4.6 speed to good use as a defensive back and in the kicking game, as well as out of the backfield. Second-team all-league pick on both sides of the ball last year.
Jordan Kephart, DE, Solanco
While Cox returns to anchor the Mules’ O-line, Kephart is back in the saddle to anchor Solanco’s D-line. He was plenty active off the edge last season, with 18 tackles and a pair of sacks, on the way to earning Section 3 first-team D-end all-star honors — while helping the Mules win section gold on the way to a glittering 11-0 start.
Jeremiah Knowles, Ephrata
Mountaineers’ 5-9, 160-pound burner rarely came off the field as a junior when he was a two-way all-league first-team pick and top kick returner. Check his stats: 37 receptions for 509 yards with four TDs; a head-turning 109 tackles with four picks and a pair of pass breakups; 374 yards on punt returns and 538 yards on kickoff returns. He’s an all-purpose-yard machine.
Paul McClune, Twin Valley
Senior guard will anchor massive offensive line that will bust open holes for speedy backs Evan Johnson and Drew Engle and QB Evan Myers.
That crew averaged 6.5 yards per carry last season and figures to fatten that number this time around.
All-League second-team pick has tacked 25 pounds onto his 6-4 frame; look for the Raiders to run behind his 295 pounds, especially in short-yardage situations.
Sam McCracken, Ephrata
Mounts’ gunslinger QB had a big season in first extended varsity run, completing 122-of-214 passes for 2,002 yards and 21 TDs. Was one of four passers in the league to eclipse 2,000 yards — and he did it in 10 games.
With Knowles and Quintin Pfautz back on the flanks the 6-foot, 186-pound McCracken could hit 2K again as a senior.
Mason Musitano, Fleetwood
Wide receiver caught 27 passes and scored team-high six touchdowns as a junior despite a Week 5 hip injury that ended his season. He’s taller, stronger and faster than a year ago and, with Jack Riffle back to throw to him, should double that figure this season. Also will be factor at DB.
Fundamentally sound and with high football IQ, the 6-2, 180-pound senior is getting Ivy League and PSAC looks.
Evan Myers, Twin Valley
Third-year starting quarterback will trigger offense that figures to have the Raiders contending in Section 3.
He’s elusive and fast and a good decision-maker with the ball. He’s stronger and faster than last season and will also be an athletic presence in the defensive secondary.
The rising junior passed for 1,207 yards with just three INTs last season while averaging better than 6 yards per carry and scoring 11 touchdowns.
Quintin Pfautz, Ephrata
An injury limited the 6-2, 205-pounder to just five games as a junior but he did some serious damage on both sides of the ball when he was healthy.
Exhibit A: All-League first-team honors at tight end after catching nine passes for 132 yards.
Exhibit B: All-League first-team honors at linebacker after collecting 57 tackles, six for losses, with two sacks and four QB hurries.
Ean Winchester, Twin Valley
The Raiders’ strongest and most physical player will impact the game on both sides of the ball, as a hard-blocking, pass-catching tight end and as a defensive tackle. He was an all-league second-team pick at both spots as a junior.
The 6-2, 265-pounder moves well, even after adding 30 pounds since last season when he caught 14 passes, made 70 tackles, and registered nine sacks.
Others to watch
- Angel Collazo, WR-WR Ephrata
- Jace Conrad, WR-LB, Garden Spot
- Drew Engle, RB-DB, Twin Valley
- Hayden Haver, RB-LB, Elizabethtown
- Max Heffner, WR-CB, Daniel Boone
- Anthony High, TE-LB, Daniel Boone
- Ethan Kryman, WR-DB, Daniel Boone
- Dominic Lindsey, LB, Elizabethtown
- Tristin McFarland, WR-LB, Fleetwood
- Jordan Meyer, OL-DL, Daniel Boone
- Jake Myers, RB-LB, Daniel Boone
- Jack Riffle, QB, Fleetwood
- Dean Rotter, QB, Daniel Boone
