Week 8 Glance: Conrad Weiser hopes to defend spot atop Section 3 vs. Warwick
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Warwick has fought its way back into the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 race with defense.
The Warriors aren’t a threat to light up the scoreboard – they hadn’t scored more than three touchdowns in a game until last week – but they don’t need to.
Their defense is that good.
They held Solanco’s potent offense – ranked No. 1 in the league, by the way – to a season-low seven points. They kept Cedar Crest out of the end zone. They shut out Fleetwood for the first three quarters last week, en route to a 35-14 win.
The only teams in the league to have allowed fewer points are all unbeaten: Exeter, Lampeter-Strasburg, Manheim Township, Conestoga Valley and . . . oh, Conrad Weiser.
That makes the Warriors’ visit to Robesonia Friday night especially interesting. Not only will the game match two of the league’s stingiest defenses but it’ll be a key determinant in the Section 3 title race.
The Scouts (4-0, 7-0) are in first place, a nudge ahead of Cocalico (3-0, 5-2), which has played one less league game. The Warriors (3-1, 4-3) are just a tick behind. If they leave Robesonia with a win they’ll have a chance for a share of the section title.
There’s a lot on the line for the upstart Scouts, who weren’t considered a factor in the Section 3 by the league’s coaches in the preseason. They’re one of six unbeaten teams in District 3 Class 5A and currently ranked fourth in the power ratings; the top four teams receive opening-round byes.
And then there’s this: The Scouts are looking for their first 8-0 start since 1996, when they completed a perfect regular season.
If the Scouts get past Warwick unscathed they’ll have a chance to nail down the Section 3 title next week with a trip to Cocalico, which plays Solanco Friday. Even with a loss to Warwick the Scouts will still have a chance to share the title should be beat Cocalico.
Week 8 kicks off with a pair of Thursday games, including Berks Catholic’s visit to Columbia.
In other key games Friday night:
- Wilson (3-0, 6-1) looks for its fifth straight win against struggling Penn Manor (1-2, 1-5), which has been shut out three times, including last week against Hempfield. This is perhaps the most lopsided series in league history: The Bulldogs are 32-0 all-time against the Comets, who were a Section 1 contender for several seasons about a decade ago.
- Exeter (7-0) tunes up for its Section 2 showdown against unbeaten Conestoga Valley next week with a non-league visit from Hempfield (3-4). The Eagles played the final 2 ½ quarters last week without starting quarterback Riley Martinez, who went out with a sprained ankle. Jayden Zandier went for 262 yards and four touchdowns last year against the Black Knights; he also scored four TDs last week against Muhlenberg.
- Rob Flowers thought his Muhlenberg (1-3, 3-4) team turned a corner last week in the way it battled unbeaten Exeter. The Muhls are already the biggest turnaround story in the league; if they knock off Ephrata (1-2, 3-4) they’ll earn yet more Coach of the Year votes for Flowers. The Mounts have had trouble finding the end zone in losing four of their last five; that hasn’t been problem for the Muhls, who have the league’s most productive back in Cameron Small. This was scheduled as Homecoming for the Muhls but the game was moved to Ephrata due to turf issues at Muhlenberg Stadium.
- In what may be the biggest game in the state this week Wyomissing (4-0, 6-1) visits Twin Valley (4-0, 7-0). The Raiders are ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 4A, the Spartans No. 4. The winner will have a leg up in the Section 4 race; each has a game remaining against unbeaten Lampeter-Strasburg.
- In terms of tradition and local rivalry it doesn’t get any bigger than the Frost Bowl and Schuylkill Valley’s visit to Hamburg Friday. The Panthers (4-0, 5-2), who have won four straight, need a win to keep their hopes alive for an outright Section 5 title. The Hawks (3-1, 5-2) are smarting from two straight losses in this all-important series and still have a chance to share the title.
Good as Warwick’s defense has been this season, Conrad Weiser’s has been even better. The Scouts are ranked No. 3 among the league’s 37 teams in total defense, No. 5 against the pass, and No. 7 against the run.
Defense was a sore spot last season when the Scouts won just two games and gave up nearly 350 yards per game. They’re allowing roughly half that much this season. Only one team, Solanco, has scored more than seven points against them.
The Scouts have a balanced defensive unit and are getting contributions from all over. Linebacker Davis Keppley leads the team with 42 tackles. End Ashton Kiebach has eight sacks and three fumble recoveries. Cornerback Dylan Parr has picked off three passes.
Unlike Warwick the Scouts have some of the league’s top offensive weapons; they’ll be the most potent offense the Warriors have faced since a 21-0 loss at Lampeter-Strasburg in Week 2.
Donovan Gingrich is completing nearly 74 percent of his passes and is ranked No. 4 among league passers. He has 11 touchdown passes and just one interception. He needs 23 yards to reach 4,000 for his career.
His top target is wide receiver Evan Rittle, who’s challenging for a Triple Crown: He leads the league in receptions (35), receiving yards (561), and TD catches (9).
Gingrich has also become a dangerous weapon with his feet. He leads the Scouts in rushing, is averaging 8.8 yards per carry, and has scored seven TDs.
| SECTION 1 | League | Overall | PF | PA | Up next | |
| Wilson | 3-0 | 6-1 | 225 | 109 | @ PennManor | |
| Manheim Twp. | 3-0 | 7-0 | 256 | 55 | @ Reading | |
| Cedar Crest | 2-2 | 4-3 | 213 | 121 | @ McCaskey | |
| Hempfield | 2-2 | 3-4 | 167 | 159 | @ Exeter | |
| Penn Manor | 1-2 | 1-5 | 34 | 222 | Garden Spot | |
| Reading High | 1-3 | 2-5 | 137 | 224 | Township | |
| McCaskey | 0-3 | 2-5 | 96 | 227 | Cedar Crest |
| SECTION 2 | League | Overall | PF | PA | Up next | |
| Exeter | 4-0 | 7-0 | 322 | 54 | Hempfield | |
| Con. Valley | 3-0 | 7-0 | 260 | 61 | @ E-town | |
| E-town | 2-1 | 2-5 | 123 | 153 | Con. Valley | |
| Gov. Mifflin | 1-2 | 3-4 | 172 | 165 | Lebanon | |
| Ephrata | 1-2 | 3-4 | 120 | 154 | @ Muhlenberg | |
| Muhlenberg | 1-3 | 3-4 | 212 | 252 | Ephrata | |
| Lebanon | 0-4 | 0-7 | 72 | 315 | @ Mifflin |
| SECTION 3 | League | Overall | PF | PA | Up next | |
| Con. Weiser | 4-0 | 7-0 | 246 | 65 | Warwick | |
| Cocalico | 3-0 | 5-2 | 113 | 98 | Solanco | |
| Warwick | 3-1 | 4-3 | 106 | 73 | @ Weiser | |
| Solanco | 1-2 | 3-4 | 221 | 203 | @ Cocalico | |
| Garden Spot | 1-3 | 3-4 | 184 | 183 | Penn Manor | |
| Fleetwood | 0-3 | 3-4 | 163 | 151 | Manheim | |
| Man. Central | 0-3 | 2-5 | 82 | 189 | @ Fleetwood |
| SECTION 4 | League | Overall | PF | PA | Up next | |
| Twin Valley | 4-0 | 7-0 | 342 | 40 | Wyomissing | |
| Lamp.-Stras. | 4-0 | 7-0 | 284 | 54 | @ Elco | |
| Wyomissing | 4-0 | 6-1 | 266 | 80 | @ Twin Valley | |
| Elco | 2-2 | 3-4 | 105 | 214 | Lampeter | |
| Octorara | 1-3 | 3-4 | 100 | 185 | N. Lebanon | |
| N. Lebanon | 1-3 | 2-5 | 48 | 181 | @ Octorara | |
| D. Boone | 0-4 | 0-7 | 105 | 222 | Donegal | |
| Donegal | 0-4 | 1-6 | 102 | 231 | @ Boone |
| SECTION 5 | League | Overall | PF | PA | Up next | |
| Sch. Valley | 4-0 | 5-2 | 206 | 122 | @ Hamburg | |
| Hamburg | 3-1 | 5-2 | 157 | 113 | Sch. Valley | |
| Lanc. Cath. | 3-1 | 4-3 | 246 | 187 | @ Kutztown | |
| Ann.-Cleona | 2-2 | 3-4 | 224 | 190 | @ Pequea | |
| Berks Cath. | 2-2 | 3-4 | 180 | 178 | @ Columbia | |
| Pequea Valley | 2-2 | 4-3 | 181 | 129 | Ann.-Cleona | |
| Kutztown | 0-4 | 0-7 | 151 | 244 | Lanc. Cath. | |
| Columbia | 0-4 | 0-7 | 49 | 311 | Berks Cath. |