What to expect in Section 3 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League this season

By Mike Drago Last updated Jul 30, 2025

Conrad Weiser's' Joseph DePrince runs against Bishop McDevitt. (PhilMarPhoto)

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Solanco had trouble slowing down its Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 rivals last season.

	Projection
1.	Solanco
2.	Cocalico
3.	Manheim Central
4.	Warwick
5.	Conrad Weiser
6.	Garden Spot
7.	Fleetwood

The Golden Mules ranked No. 33 in the entire 37-team league in rushing defense and No. 33 in total defense. They took their lumps against more experienced teams from Conrad Weiser, Cocalico, and Warwick.

Now it’s payback time for the Mules. They return a lot of experienced players, including two of Section 3’s best: All-State fullback Johnny Garcia and Defensive Back of the Year Gabe Forren.

The Mules made a perfect run through the section two years ago. Can they do it again? Cocalico, which is never an easy out, will have something to say about that. So will Manheim Central, coming off a rare down year.

Here’s an early team-by-team glance at how the seven teams stack up.

Check back early next month for more-detailed breakdowns of Conrad Weiser, Fleetwood, and all the Berks County teams.

What to expect in Section 1 this season

What to expect in Section 2 this season

Solanco Golden Mules

Gabe Foren makes tackle vs. Manheim Central.
(Andy Blackburn/LNP photo)

Classification: 5A.
Coach: Tony Cox, 12^th season, 62-52.
Last season: 3-3 Section 3, 5-5 overall.
2024 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: QB Ausin Jarabak, WR/LB Braighton Lenhart, OL/DL Jordan Murray, LB Thomas Leibley.
Who’s back: QB Chase Sensenig, All-State FB Johnny Garcia (1,298 rushing yards, 18 TDs), RB/CB Kris Burgos-Wise (806 yards 12.6 yards per carry), RB/S Anderson Miller, FB/LB Chase Plastino, second-team all-league WR Eric Koch, TE and second-team all-league DE, C Evan Bennethum, G/DT Noah Gote, G/DT Desmond Ferguson, second-team all-league OT Tyler Kreider, OT/LB AJ Haag, second-team all-league DE Bryce Cox, DE Evan Kurtz, DT Frank Lucarino, LB Vincent Henry, Section 3 Defensive Back of the Year S Gabe Forren, CB Schneider Lenhart, PK/P Tristin Brown.
Key early games: Everyone around the league will be tuned into the Week 1 smackdown at Lampeter-Strasburg.
Outlook: Three years ago the Mules displayed a strong kick as they dominated Section 3 on the way to a perfect regular season. After a couple of dormant seasons they’re on top again with a loaded lineup that features All-State FB Johnny Garcia and Section 3 Defensive Back of the Year S Gabe Forren, a triple threat. Lost only a few starters to graduation, chief among them QB Austin Jarabak, who rushed for nearly 600 yards and scored 7 TDs. If they find an effective replacement to run the Triple Option they’ll be a tough team to stop.

Cocalico Eagles

Classification: 5A.
Coach: Bryan Strohl, sixth season, 40-20.
Last season: 5-1 Section 3, 8-4 overall.
2024 postseason: No. 7 seed knocked off Hershey 42-21 in opening round of District 3 Class 5A Tournament before losing at No. 2 Mechanicsburg 42-3.
Need to replace: All-League QB and second-team all-league DB Josh Myer, all-league RB and KR Brayden Eppinette, all-league G and DL Thomas Dattoli, OL/DL Jerry McArdle, second-team all-league DL Derrick Belzince, All-State LB Dane Bollinger, second-team all-league PK Talen Popolis.
Who’s back: QB/LB Jaxon Keffer, QB/S Connor Horning, all-league FB and LB Dane Horning (1,252 rushing, 10 TDs), FB/LB Logan Horning, RB/S/LS/KR Brendon Zimmerman, RB/LB Rocco Rigney, RB/S Chase Breneman, WR/CB David Betz, WR/S Kaiden Boyer, C/DT Kendall Weaver, G/DE Nick McCardle, G/DT Aidan Sola, OT/DE Nate Laudenslager, OT/DE Keegan Rendon.
Key early game: Week 2 clash against Oxford team that strung together a perfect regular season in 2024 could be a litmus test for the Eagles.
Outlook: Eagles graduated a lot of key pieces from their 2022 and 2023 district championship teams, none more important than Josh Myer, a three-year starter at QB and standout DB. Finding the right triggerman to replace him and run the Triple Option will be paramount to a return trip to the district playoffs. Several vets return to the O-line, a key starting point for a ground-oriented team such as this.

Manheim Central Barons

Classification: 5A
Coach: Dave Hahn, 11th season, 94-28
Last season: 1-5 Section 3, 3-7 overall
2024 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: Second-team all-league WR Asher Cook, TE/DB Brodie Daugherty, Section 3 Offensive Lineman of the Year and all-league DL Tyler Groff, all-league C Jason Daugherty, second-team all-league G Hunter Garber, OT/DE Dylan Ingold, DE Matt Stephens, all-league LB Zion Rolon.
Who’s back: QB Ray Lewis (725 passing yards, 5 TDs), QB Gavin Jahnigen, RB/CB Logan Geib, WR/FS Jayvior Morales, WR/LB Cody Hess, WR/CB Xavier Oxceva, TE Malik Cornish, G/DT Dan Gertler, OT James Magot, OT/DT Cooper Nied, DE Cole Bretz, DE Ryan Wisler, NG Bradyn Linder, LB Logan Hamill, LB Jevin Carbonneau, S Lynkin Quigley, CB Isaiah Oxceva.
Key early game: Take your pick: Week 2 vs. Ephrata or Week 3 vs. Dallastown will tell us right away whether or not the Barons are back.
Outlook: The Barons had unprecedented trouble on offense last season, finishing 33^rd in the league in both total offense and scoring; they produced more than two TDs just three times. That led to their first losing record (in a full season) since 1971. There were a lot of QBs vying for the starting spot behind center during the summer and its imperative they find a good one to run their Spread offense. Lots of holes to fill on the offensive line, always a Manheim strength.

Warwick Warriors

Classification: 5A
Coach: Bob Locker, 25^th season, 126-125.
Last season: 4-2 Section 3, 5-6 overall.
2024 postseason: No. 12 seed lost at Shippensburg 20-13 in opening round.
Need to replace: Second-team all-league RB Reece Harper, RB/LB Gabe Sanchez, WR and second-team all-league DB Quinn Care, second-team all-league G Owen Rowe, all-league DE Owen Hursh, Section 3 Linebacker of the Year Jackson Shelby.
Who’s back: QB Thomas Myers (923 passing yards, 6 TDs), RB Heath Schnipke, RB/LB Julien Sweigart, WR Rowen Greenway (10 receptions), WR/S Bode Madara (14 receptions), WR/S Tyler Musser, C Ty Eckert, G/DT Calvin Dent, G Wes Brunken OT/DT Wes Brunken, OT/DE Preston Landis, DE Markus Brown, second-team all-league NG Vinny Bagonis, LB Michael Pluta, LB Jace Conrad, CB Vincent Yacoviello.
Key early game: Week 2 matchup vs. Lampeter-Strasburg will tell the Warriors where they’re at in the pecking order.
Outlook: Warriors had one of the stingiest defenses in the section last season – they ranked No. 12 overall in the 37-team league in total defense and No. 6 in scoring defense – but they couldn’t push the ball across the goal line. They scored more than three touchdowns just once. With the return of four offensive linemen and QB Thomas Myers they’re expected to be much better on that side of the ball this time around.

Conrad Weiser Scouts

Classification: 5A.
Coach: Alan Moyer, 23^rd season, 148-96.
Last season: 6-0 Section 3, 10-1 overall.
2024 postseason: Eliminated by eventual District 3 Class 5A champ Bishop McDevitt in opening round.
Need to replace: Section 3 Outstanding Back and QB Donovan Gingrich, RB Jonathan McQuillen, Section 3 Receiver of the Year Evan Rittle, all-league TE Evan Miller, second-team all-league C Charlie Shimp, all-league G Kaleb Holl, second-team all-league OT Kaleb Britting, all-league DE Ashton Kiebach, second-team all-league DL Adam Williams, second-team all-league LB Davis Keppley, all-league PK Alex Malone.
Who’s back: QB Connor Sellars, second-team all-league RB Javien Rivera, RB Brayden Sweitzer, RB Joseph DePrince, FB Ethan Reinhard, second-team all-league WR and all-league CB Dylan Parr, TE Robbie Giffing, C Ryan Kase, G Cody Sayers, T Nate Gilfert, DE Chase Colon, all-league DT Eugen Booth, LB Luke Walter, LB Owen Kerns, LB Ethan Reinhard, S Kody Kupper.
Key early game: Young team will need to experience some early success; no better time to do that than in season-opener at Abington.
Outlook: Scouts enjoyed a dream season in 2024 but about all that’s left of that are some sweet memories. Only a handful of starters return from what was a mostly-senior unit. Need to find a new QB after three seasons of Donovan Gingrich running the show and add new play-makers after last year’s backfield was wiped out by graduation.

Garden Spot Spartans

Classification: 5A
Coach: Matt Zamperini, 15^th season, 79-77.
Last season: 2-4 Section 3, 4-5 overall.
2024 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: All-League second-team QB AJ Hurst, all-league WR and second-team all-league LB Jace Conrad, all-league WR Trent Hoober, all-league G and Section 3 Defensive Lineman of the Year Cullen Witmer, all-league OT Tommy O’Neil.
Who’s back: QB/S Seth Musselman, RB/LB Gabe Martin (460 rushing yards, 5 TDs), RB Andrew Pemberton (407 rushing yards, 4 TDs), WR Nick Smucker, WR/LB Welles Harrell, WR/CB Brock Swavely, C/DE Ryan Miller, G Hunter Fry, T Chase Hoover, DE Joe Cruz, DT Vern Toalton, DT Teagan Upton, LB Addison Heist, S Brody Torrance, CB Jon Kauffman.
Key early game: Spartans head to Ephrata in Week 3.
Outlook: Spartans were wiped out by graduation, losing 10 all-league players. Not a single returning player earned all-league recognition. Could be a difficult fall in New Holland.

Fleetwood Tigers

Beau Fegely takes handoff from Chase McMonagle.

Classification: 5A.
Coach: Steve Pangburn, third season, 11-20.
Last season: 0-6 Section 3, 3-7 overall.
2024 postseason: DNQ.
Need to replace: Second-team all-league QB/WR and all-league DB Tristan McFarland, QB/WR Chase Domenech, RB and second-team all-league LB Jason Petion, WR Davyan Moore, WR/DB Brody Nowotarski, C Cody Harders, OT Brandon Delgrosso, second-team all-league DE Landon Hare, second-team all-league LB Trey Killian.
Who’s back: QB Chase McMonagle (1,384 passing yards, 10 TDs), RB/CB Nate Kummerer, RB/S Beau Fegely, WR/DE Bryce Ryan (13 receptions), WR/S Chase Adams, WR/CB Josiah Mitchell, C Thomas Calm, G Anthony Garipoli, G/DT Gabriel Narvez, OT Shane Pekuri, OT Dawson Helmick, DE Max Desir, DT Colin Dragan, LB Tanner Zornerk, LB Parker Detwiler, LB Hunter Domenech, LB A.J. Barber, PK/P Gryffin Cappellano.
Key early game: Young team will get a chance for an early win with Week 1 game vs. Kutztown.
Outlook: Tigers looking at another rebuilding season after graduating 16 starters. QB Chase McMonagle showed promise after moving into starting lineup at midseason last year but he saw his top returning target, Davyan Moore, move out of the district during the offseason, his other top weapons graduate. Tigers need to develop other options at the skill positions.