Barons’ defensive gem amidst offensive shootout is play that finished Raiders

By Mike Drago Last updated Nov 20, 2023

Manheim Central's Aaron Enterline steps in front of Lucas Myers to prevent a touchdown with an interception. (PhilMarPhoto)

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By Mike Drago — MikeDragoSports.com Managing Editor

In a game that saw Twin Valley and Manheim Central combine for more than 1,000 yards of total offense, move the chains 39 times and reach the end zone 13 times, it was a defensive play that stood out above all else.

Yes, there was some defense played Friday night during Manheim Central’s 65-28 win in a District 3 Class 4A semifinal at Twin Valley.

Not a lot, mind you, but Barons defensive back Aaron Enterline came up with a defensive gem late in the first half when it was still a one-possession game and with the second-seeded Raiders (10-2) challenging.

Evan Myers, who had guided the Raiders to the end zone on each of their first three possessions, saw a brother Lucas flash open at the goal line and lofted the ball in his direction.

The 6-3 Enterline, as good an athlete as there is in the Lancaster-Lebanon League – and arguably the league’s best all-around player – swooped in and picked off the ball just in front of the goal line.

After seeing the third-seeded Barons go on a scoring spree that saw their first-team offense reach the end zone on each of its nine possessions that play didn’t seem to loom large at the end.

But it was big in the moment.

“Huge,” said Barons coach Dave Hahn. “That was the tide-turner.”

The Barons (11-1) were protecting a 28-21 lead and hadn’t yet slowed the Raiders. That defensive stop – the only turnover of the game – tilted the field in Manheim Central’s direction for good.

A score there and the Raiders go into the half tied with the most successful program in the history of the District 3 Tournament. They were to have the ball first in the second half. They could have taken their first lead.

If all that falls into place maybe it’s a different story – but it didn’t. Enterline, who imposed his will on all three phases of the game, made the kind of play the Raiders never managed to come up with.

“We needed that stop,” said Hahn, whose team advances to play Bishop McDevitt (12-0), the state’s top-ranked team, in the District 3 championship game next week.

Manheim’s Bryce Armold stiff-arms Evan Johnson on his way to the end zone. (PhilMarPhoto)

The Crusaders beat Lampeter-Strasburg 43-7 Friday in the other semifinal.

“When we watch the film,” said Twin Valley coach Brett Myers, “(we’ll see) the first half (we) played really well. The second half we didn’t play well.”

First half, second half, it didn’t matter to Manheim tailback Brycen Armold. He ran wild in every quarter, scoring six touchdowns and rushing for a career-high 369 yards on 24 carries.

Armold was the x-factor in a game that figured to be close. The Barons’ leading rusher hadn’t seen the field in more than a month due to an undisclosed injury. He missed the last four games.

Hahn wasn’t sure what he’d get out of his star back but Armold unwrapped that mystery right away, running around end for 11 yards on his first touch. He opened Manheim’s second drive with a 68-yard run to the 12.

He ran hard and he ran fast and ended the night with eight runs of 19 or more yards. He gained 89 or more yards in each of the four quarters. He scored on runs of 3, 40, 80, 1, 1 and 9 yards.

“He was running back of the year in their section last year,” Brett Myers said. “That’s why. No. 3 (Enterline) is really good; No. 10 (Armold) is fast. We’re still a step slow and they got us; they played a better game than us.”

The game got away from Twin Valley quickly in the second half. It went three-and-out with its first possession, then saw Enterline patiently work his way 43 yards up field on the ensuing punt return.

Zac Hahn gave the Barons their first two-score advantage a few plays later when rolled out, bought time with his feet, then zipped a 27-yard pass to tight end Brody Sipel.

The Raiders answered with a score of their own to make it 35-28 but Armold made their comeback bid seem fruitless when he raced 80 yards on the opening play of the next series, stiff-arming a defender at midfield to free himself for the score.

“I didn’t know what he’d be able to do tonight,” Hahn said of Armold, “so he was kind of questionable. He’s been off for four weeks, so we didn’t quite know. He did great; he looked like he was well-rested, like he had four weeks off.”

Twin Valley, which had the league’s No. 1 offense this season, scored touchdowns on each of its first three possessions and finished with 450 total yards. Still, it couldn’t keep up with the high-powered Barons.

Drew Engle ran for 158 yards to finish the season with a program-record 1,594 yards. He also had four receptions for 93 yards.

Evan Myers ran for 138 yards and a TD. He passed for 157 yards and finished the season with 1,472 yards, 26 short of the program record he set as a freshman.

Those numbers paled in comparison to what the Barons did. They finished with 599 yards and averaged nearly 12 yards per play. They had 10 plays of 25 or more yards.

They even tacked on a pair of two-point conversions for good measure. After Zac Hahn, the holder for PATs, got steamrolled following a TD late in the third quarter Dave Hahn elected to go for two after his team’s final two scores.

That roughing penalty was one of 11 against the Raiders, the total including several personal fouls in the second half.

The 65 points ended up being the most ever allowed by Twin Valley.

Brett Myers said he wasn’t bothered by seeing all those points on the scoreboard at the end.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “A loss is a loss. That scoreboard doesn’t dictate whose these guys are, and who we are as a program. Some days they get you, right? They got it rolling and they weren’t pulling up, and that’s OK.”

Ean Winchester bulls into the end zone. (PhilMarPhoto)

	1	2	3	4	Final
Manheim Central	14	14	21	16	65
Twin Valley	7	14	7	0	28

Scoring summary

1	Manheim Central	Enterline 39 pass from Hahn (Greiner kick)	9:48
1	Twin Valley	Winchester, 1 run (Frey kick)	7:02
1	Manheim Central	Armold, 3 run (Greiner kick)	5;02
2	Twin Valley	Engle, 31 pass from E. Myers (Frey kick)	11:53
2	Manheim Central	Hahn, 1 run (Greiner kick)	7:10
2	Twin Valley	E. Myers, 11 run (Frey kick)	3:50
2	Manheim Central	Armold, 40 run (Greiner kick)	3:20
3	Manheim Central	Sipel, 27 pass from Hahn (Greiner kick)	9:23
3	Twin Valley	Winchester, 2 run (Frey kick)	6:54
3	Manheim Central	Armold, 80 run (Greiner kick)	6:40
3	Manheim Central	Armold, 1 run (Greiner kick)	3:15
4	Manheim Central	Armold, 1 run (Sipel, pass from Hahn)	9:38
4	Manheim Central	Armold, 9 run (Hahn run)	6:20

Team statistics

	Manheim Central	Twin Valley
First downs	21	18
Rushes-yards	36-439	47-293
Passing yards	160	157
Total yards	599	450
Passes	10-15-0	10-18-1
Fumbles-lost	1-0	0-0
Punts-average	0-0	2-40.5
Penalties-yards	6-60	11-120